Wait longer for test, or find a specialist?

Hi Doctor,

I'm having issues getting a diagnosis...My initial thought was herpes because about 3 weeks after exposure I had redness and burning  "there" followed by feeling sick, and swollen lymph nodes in my throat for about a week or 2 and the whole time I have been having needle like feelings "there" no sores, but perhaps a rash like thing/reddness and this has continued on and off for about 3-4 months. I've had a test done at 4 weeks after exposure which was negative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Then I had a test around the 12 week mark and another around the 15 week mark both were negative. Now I heard sometimes antibodies don't show up for 6 months, is this correct? Should I be re-tested again at 6 months or do you suggest looking for treatment for possible vulvodynia or psoriasis of the vulva?

[daisy315]

Herpes would have shown up on your test at 3 months you have something else going on there and should see your Doctor,it is impossible for anyone here to make a diagnosis on what it could be as we are not Doctors ....

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful on this
Daisy

[sincethen]

Thank you Daisy, that is what I thought too, 3 months, I think I will see a gynocologist though and perhaps re-test at the 6 month mark if this doesn't get resolved, Thanks for your reply!

[gracefromHHP]

Have you seen your provider yet and been tested for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally? redness and burning is also a sign of vaginitis which is very common in us gals.

grace

[sincethen]

Yes, I've been tested for bacterial infections so that has been ruled out. I'm just getting upset that I can't get this diagnosised. I had a negative test at the 3-4 month mark. I believe I've heard that some people don't get antibodies until the 6 month mark, is this correct? Either way I'll get another test, but this is getting ridiculous I can't be worrying myself sick over this. Do you believe my pain is herpes related with the symptoms I mentioned?

[gracefromHHP]

Only  a small percentage of folks take more than 3 or 4 months to seroconvert. It's time to start thinking other causes than herpes if you are still testing negative.

What sort of work up have you been thru with your gyn so far?

grace

[sincethen]

I haven't went to the gyno yet. I'm afraid of going because I don't think they will find anything again and I will just be wasting my money, but I've read about having pains there and it's considered vulvodynia or just vulvar pain, but I hear it's hard to find a physician to diagnosis this because there aren't many visable symptoms just pain. I would hate to think this is psycosomatic though, which is what my last doctor suggested, it just doesn't seems like I could make this pain up, you know? I'm just having a hard time with this, it's hard going to doctors and trying to describe my pain. Do you think I absolutely don't have to wait 6 months for another hsv test? Am I honestly in the clear to rule that out? I don't want to have to worry about it and end up going to speacialists if that was what it was all along. Thanks for all your help.

[gracefromHHP]

I'd go back to your gyn or find a new one for a 2nd opinion and go from there.  as I said, it's time to move past herpes as a cause.

grace