Aa
Prodromes and site infections
Mostly a vent post.
So "diagnosed" with genital herpes (don't know what else it could be/what strain it is but the IgM test did fall into the false positive range) last month and now everything down there is cause for concern. No outbreaks like the first but I have noticed some small bumps around my anus, though they are not at the site infection, and they don't feel to be in clusters. They don't hurt either unless I apply pressure to them, so I guess they could be hemorrhoids. I have noticed tingling but I can't tell if it's due to anxiety or a sign of a prodrome. I am off Valtrex as of two weeks because I want to see how my body handles the virus (is there any proof that the earlier you treat it the less severe it'll be in the long run?).
Can you get an outbreak outside the site infection? I'm not experiencing any symptoms, but could flu symptoms and proctitis come with subsequent outbreaks? I'm pretty sure that's what happened to me during the first outbreak (flu symptoms definitely).
Also for prodromes...how long does the tingling last? Sometimes I'll feel a certain sensation in my anus that lasts for a few seconds and then nothing. It's not very consistent, I've only noticed it a couple of times over the last week, but I was curious about how people recognize their prodromes....
So "diagnosed" with genital herpes (don't know what else it could be/what strain it is but the IgM test did fall into the false positive range) last month and now everything down there is cause for concern. No outbreaks like the first but I have noticed some small bumps around my anus, though they are not at the site infection, and they don't feel to be in clusters. They don't hurt either unless I apply pressure to them, so I guess they could be hemorrhoids. I have noticed tingling but I can't tell if it's due to anxiety or a sign of a prodrome. I am off Valtrex as of two weeks because I want to see how my body handles the virus (is there any proof that the earlier you treat it the less severe it'll be in the long run?).
Can you get an outbreak outside the site infection? I'm not experiencing any symptoms, but could flu symptoms and proctitis come with subsequent outbreaks? I'm pretty sure that's what happened to me during the first outbreak (flu symptoms definitely).
Also for prodromes...how long does the tingling last? Sometimes I'll feel a certain sensation in my anus that lasts for a few seconds and then nothing. It's not very consistent, I've only noticed it a couple of times over the last week, but I was curious about how people recognize their prodromes....
what life360 meant is it's best to just keep adding to your original post instead of making new ones. Asking anyone who reads your post to go back and search for prior posts to read your "story" is time consuming. thanks!
Will do. I hope to not bombard the forum with repetitious questions but it does help...I think I'll have to wait longer than 8 weeks though, the medication as I understand can delay seroconversion
I understand but having a igm which has high false positives, and a combination test on top of that and falling below 3.5 false positive range, you most likely dont have herpes. Do let us know your igG that can be taken at 8 weeks post exposure as a good indicator.
I understand, it's just very very difficult to stop thinking about it, to stop wondering if I'll ever have sex again or if I can ever have meaningful relationships again. I'm gay so it's different than straight people I feel, you're only useful if you can have sex.
Original post:
I'm a gay dude who probably has herpes. The diagnosis is still new (got the results back earlier this month), so I'm vacillating between anger, shame, acceptance, and cautious optimism.
They initially did a culture swab and the test came back negative. Lessions (I'm assuming that's what they were, kind of sucked because I couldn't see them myself, let's call it taint herpes) were relatively new. They put me on the 5x5 trial for Acacylovir and the lessons eventually cleared up. I got an IgM blood test a few weeks later because my paranoid *** just had to know. Results came back 2.85, but as you guys know, could not distinguish between HSV-1/2.
Now, that sucked, but I had done so much research I didn't trip off it too badly. They put me on Valtrex which I took for about 2.5 weeks. Currently off it because I want to see how my body reacts to the virus. Nothing yet but again, the diagnosis is still new.
So I have some questions:
1. Is there any possibility the IgM could've been a false positive? I think between 1 and 3.5 is worth a retest, or at least wait for an IgG, but I might just be in denial. Also, doesn't a positive IgM indicate you're a carrier for one of the herpes viruses? The diction confuses me, "exposed" vs. "infected," I figure if the results come back with a number you have it regardless, but then human error and lesser strains of herpes might be a factor.
2. What is ya'll opinions on an IgM blood test? I understand it's not held in too high regard. I think they can be useful for determining if you HAVE herpes at all, but the lack of distinction can be troubling, especially if, say, you have HSV-1 on your genitals, which I think presents a lower transmission rate than HSV-2. I do understand the lack of distinction can cause people to loose sleep and undue stress, but I don't think they're useless in the sense they don't tell you something relevant.
3. Is there ANY data for transmission rates among gay men with herpes? I guess what I'm really asking is, is anal sex somehow less transmittable then vaginal sex? Given that it's skin to skin contact I'm assuming no, but I figure I'd ask. To my knowledge there isn't any data for this coupling, same with lesbians, which would make for very interesting research and would probably help to further educate communities.
4. Should I continue the Valtrex? The long term effects likely ruin your liver from what I've read, but would taking it every day now have an effect on the virus for the course of my life time? Like, would suppressing it in the acute stage of infection help suppress it for life. Or should I let my body strengthen itself against herpes? So many people have such variegated reactions that I wonder if there's a "wrong" way to handle this.
5. As far as shedding reduction go (everyone's favorite aspect), does every day matter vs. times you feel you're about to have sex/oncoming outbreak? Like if I made plans to have sex, I'd begin taking Valtrex prior to the date. Is that an effective (as effective as one can be against herpes) strategy?
6. And of course: Is there even a remote chance I don't have herpes? The experience has opened my eyes to a very misunderstood infection and for that I'm grateful but still would prefer to be herpes free.
After reading all this, what would you do in my shoes?
Herpes is like HIV's punk little sibling, not fatal overall (I understand herpes can result in some scary complications but these seem few and far between), but so damn transmittable. On one hand, I wish I never got the blood test to confirm, on the other, at least now I can't transmit it.
----------------
I'm wondering if the bumps are due to me going off Valtrex. I can't wait to get an IGG test so I can leas confirm this damn thing and what strain it is.
I'm a gay dude who probably has herpes. The diagnosis is still new (got the results back earlier this month), so I'm vacillating between anger, shame, acceptance, and cautious optimism.
They initially did a culture swab and the test came back negative. Lessions (I'm assuming that's what they were, kind of sucked because I couldn't see them myself, let's call it taint herpes) were relatively new. They put me on the 5x5 trial for Acacylovir and the lessons eventually cleared up. I got an IgM blood test a few weeks later because my paranoid *** just had to know. Results came back 2.85, but as you guys know, could not distinguish between HSV-1/2.
Now, that sucked, but I had done so much research I didn't trip off it too badly. They put me on Valtrex which I took for about 2.5 weeks. Currently off it because I want to see how my body reacts to the virus. Nothing yet but again, the diagnosis is still new.
So I have some questions:
1. Is there any possibility the IgM could've been a false positive? I think between 1 and 3.5 is worth a retest, or at least wait for an IgG, but I might just be in denial. Also, doesn't a positive IgM indicate you're a carrier for one of the herpes viruses? The diction confuses me, "exposed" vs. "infected," I figure if the results come back with a number you have it regardless, but then human error and lesser strains of herpes might be a factor.
2. What is ya'll opinions on an IgM blood test? I understand it's not held in too high regard. I think they can be useful for determining if you HAVE herpes at all, but the lack of distinction can be troubling, especially if, say, you have HSV-1 on your genitals, which I think presents a lower transmission rate than HSV-2. I do understand the lack of distinction can cause people to loose sleep and undue stress, but I don't think they're useless in the sense they don't tell you something relevant.
3. Is there ANY data for transmission rates among gay men with herpes? I guess what I'm really asking is, is anal sex somehow less transmittable then vaginal sex? Given that it's skin to skin contact I'm assuming no, but I figure I'd ask. To my knowledge there isn't any data for this coupling, same with lesbians, which would make for very interesting research and would probably help to further educate communities.
4. Should I continue the Valtrex? The long term effects likely ruin your liver from what I've read, but would taking it every day now have an effect on the virus for the course of my life time? Like, would suppressing it in the acute stage of infection help suppress it for life. Or should I let my body strengthen itself against herpes? So many people have such variegated reactions that I wonder if there's a "wrong" way to handle this.
5. As far as shedding reduction go (everyone's favorite aspect), does every day matter vs. times you feel you're about to have sex/oncoming outbreak? Like if I made plans to have sex, I'd begin taking Valtrex prior to the date. Is that an effective (as effective as one can be against herpes) strategy?
6. And of course: Is there even a remote chance I don't have herpes? The experience has opened my eyes to a very misunderstood infection and for that I'm grateful but still would prefer to be herpes free.
After reading all this, what would you do in my shoes?
Herpes is like HIV's punk little sibling, not fatal overall (I understand herpes can result in some scary complications but these seem few and far between), but so damn transmittable. On one hand, I wish I never got the blood test to confirm, on the other, at least now I can't transmit it.
----------------
I'm wondering if the bumps are due to me going off Valtrex. I can't wait to get an IGG test so I can leas confirm this damn thing and what strain it is.
Its very difficult to go back and re-read your other posts so thats why is best to add to your original post but to answer about tingling, it should not last more than a few days before a sore appears and you can have outbreaks in other areas but most always occurs in the same spot give or take an inch.
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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.
