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Prior HSV-1 w/o symptoms?
Hi Everyone,
I am having some terrible symptoms/pains that my urologist has dismissed as "not herpes" even though I was seropositive for HSV-1 -- despite never having a single symptom of oral (or other) herpes in my life. I am going to seek another opinion but wanted to get the group's advice:
On March 22, I saw one woman (let's call her K) and received unprotected oral sex. On April 2nd, I saw another woman (call her T) and, also, had unprotected oral sex. On April 3rd, I had painful urination and swollen testicles, saw a urologist, who thought I had some kind of epidydimitis (gonorrhea and chlamydia were negative) -- within a few days it cleared up, but I also had a full barrage of STD tests done on April 5th that showed me to be HSV-1 positive based on a blood test (IgG type-sensitive, but was told not to worry about it because it's very common and it "doesn't mean anything").
I saw K again on 4/25 and again had oral sex (remember, the doctor said I was fine). For the last week, since around 5/9, I have had terrible pains (feels like I constantly need to urinate, tingling on penis, and bumps). I had night sweats, chills, awful stomach/abdominal pain, etc. Much worse than April 3rd.
I saw a urologist again who claims I don't have herpes (no lesions, just irritated skin) and thinks it's all in my head although she agreed that the penis glans was irritated. I know my penis better than she does and something is REALLY wrong. Every day more bumps/blotches appear. A blood test done this Monday showed, again, HSV-1 positive, with an even higher antibody count (7 v 5).
I've told all of my partners and they all claim they are negative, but more based on symptoms. I'm almost positive that I have genital HSV-1, as I cannot think of ANYTHING else that could cause this, and the blood test confirms 100% that I have HSV-1.
My question for this forum is this: supposedly HSV-1 is very common, but I have NEVER had a single symptom in my life. I'm pretty confident I must have gotten this from K or T, and likely from K on March 22nd.
Has anyone else gone through something like this before? What else could this be?
Thanks!
I am having some terrible symptoms/pains that my urologist has dismissed as "not herpes" even though I was seropositive for HSV-1 -- despite never having a single symptom of oral (or other) herpes in my life. I am going to seek another opinion but wanted to get the group's advice:
On March 22, I saw one woman (let's call her K) and received unprotected oral sex. On April 2nd, I saw another woman (call her T) and, also, had unprotected oral sex. On April 3rd, I had painful urination and swollen testicles, saw a urologist, who thought I had some kind of epidydimitis (gonorrhea and chlamydia were negative) -- within a few days it cleared up, but I also had a full barrage of STD tests done on April 5th that showed me to be HSV-1 positive based on a blood test (IgG type-sensitive, but was told not to worry about it because it's very common and it "doesn't mean anything").
I saw K again on 4/25 and again had oral sex (remember, the doctor said I was fine). For the last week, since around 5/9, I have had terrible pains (feels like I constantly need to urinate, tingling on penis, and bumps). I had night sweats, chills, awful stomach/abdominal pain, etc. Much worse than April 3rd.
I saw a urologist again who claims I don't have herpes (no lesions, just irritated skin) and thinks it's all in my head although she agreed that the penis glans was irritated. I know my penis better than she does and something is REALLY wrong. Every day more bumps/blotches appear. A blood test done this Monday showed, again, HSV-1 positive, with an even higher antibody count (7 v 5).
I've told all of my partners and they all claim they are negative, but more based on symptoms. I'm almost positive that I have genital HSV-1, as I cannot think of ANYTHING else that could cause this, and the blood test confirms 100% that I have HSV-1.
My question for this forum is this: supposedly HSV-1 is very common, but I have NEVER had a single symptom in my life. I'm pretty confident I must have gotten this from K or T, and likely from K on March 22nd.
Has anyone else gone through something like this before? What else could this be?
Thanks!
these don't sound like herpes symptoms. not likely you'd have a primary genital hsv1 infection present with these symptoms for this short amount of time and no obvious herpes lesions ( your bumps don't sound at all like herpes going on ).
most people who have hsv1 orally, don't get obvious cold sores to know that they are infected. if you've never been tested for herpes before, no way to know if it's recent or not. 1 out of every 3 of us though contract it before we enter public school - it really is that common.
continue to follow up with your urologist as needed. make sure that all sexual contact, even oral is protected.
grace
most people who have hsv1 orally, don't get obvious cold sores to know that they are infected. if you've never been tested for herpes before, no way to know if it's recent or not. 1 out of every 3 of us though contract it before we enter public school - it really is that common.
continue to follow up with your urologist as needed. make sure that all sexual contact, even oral is protected.
grace
Thank you so much for your response.
Is there any data on typical IgG levels for 2-3 weeks post exposure? Or what they look like over time? The value has gone up from 5 to 7 in the last month, along with falling Lymphocyte counts when I was feeling so ill last week (with the urination pain etc), which is another reason (in addition to the bumps, etc) I thought it was Herpes.
Just want to make sure I don't have a fast-acting immune system of sorts.
My main interest here is informing my other partners...I would hate to knowingly infect anyone. I know HSV-1 is common but it seems that most people have some recollection of an outbreak. I've asked my parents and they don't remember a single outbreak.
Is there any data on typical IgG levels for 2-3 weeks post exposure? Or what they look like over time? The value has gone up from 5 to 7 in the last month, along with falling Lymphocyte counts when I was feeling so ill last week (with the urination pain etc), which is another reason (in addition to the bumps, etc) I thought it was Herpes.
Just want to make sure I don't have a fast-acting immune system of sorts.
My main interest here is informing my other partners...I would hate to knowingly infect anyone. I know HSV-1 is common but it seems that most people have some recollection of an outbreak. I've asked my parents and they don't remember a single outbreak.
It is unlikely that your test would have showed such a high value -- more than 5 -- so close to your initial infection. You have probably had this infection orally since childhood without any symptoms, which is very common.
Continue to be seen for your symptoms, but have confidence that they are not related to GHSV-1.
Continue to be seen for your symptoms, but have confidence that they are not related to GHSV-1.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
