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conflicting HSV results, annoyed doctor, need advice please
Hello,
I thought I may have had a UTI around Dec. 31st but doctors test was negative. Found out a week later my bf had been cheating. Had STD screening including hsv2 igg. Result was positive 2.20. My doctor put me on 10 days of antivirals. After reading that the 2.20 was a low positive I decided to have a Western Blot test on the 16th of February. The Western Blot is negative. Now I'm wondering if I did the Western Blot too soon? My doctor is unfamiliar with this test and seems annoyed with me. I'm not sure what to do next since test results were conflicting. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I thought I may have had a UTI around Dec. 31st but doctors test was negative. Found out a week later my bf had been cheating. Had STD screening including hsv2 igg. Result was positive 2.20. My doctor put me on 10 days of antivirals. After reading that the 2.20 was a low positive I decided to have a Western Blot test on the 16th of February. The Western Blot is negative. Now I'm wondering if I did the Western Blot too soon? My doctor is unfamiliar with this test and seems annoyed with me. I'm not sure what to do next since test results were conflicting. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Best Answer
that is why we recommend keeping it all in one post - I don't go back to look at other posts and certainly can't keep all your info in my head!!
if you had a + lesion culture, why are you still going for blood testing? you know what you have and where so no need for more blood testing.
as for other partners, you might never figure out who and when - all that is important is knowing the status of a current partner so you can make educated decisions about what precautions to take together.
if you had a + lesion culture, why are you still going for blood testing? you know what you have and where so no need for more blood testing.
as for other partners, you might never figure out who and when - all that is important is knowing the status of a current partner so you can make educated decisions about what precautions to take together.
Hi Grace,
Just wanted to let you know I got the results of the tests from the guy that cheated on me. He went on May 2nd and had HSV2 IGG test and result is negative. So I'm really confused.
If you have a chance to look this over I would really appreciate it!
My "history"
symptoms of UTI late December 2011.. Went to doctor, urine was negative for UTI. I found out a week later that my boyfriend had started sleeping with his ex-girlfriend early December.
After hearing of this, I went to my doctor for a complete STD check, including HSV2 IGG. Which came back positive at 2.20.(Jan 12, 2012)
That's when I read that a low positive could possibly be wrong and read that Western Blot is the Gold Standard, So I had that done on February 21, 2012 and it was negative. I then read that the Western Blot may not be accurate if last exposure was not greater than 12-16 weeks prior to testing, so I went back to doctor and they did another IGG that was positive at 1.66 in mid March.. Another low positive. Then mid April I had one extremely itchy spot near panty line, I went to Doctor, they sent out for culture and it came back positive for hsv2..I've since had some other odd symptoms. Recently, I had an extremely itchy spot on my thumb. It started to have little blisters. I kept it covered with a bandaid. The blisters never grew or ruptured. It was the same intensely itchy spot that I had in pubic area.
Prior to having sex with this man, my last sexual relationship ended mid July 2011. I was tested for HSV2 mid October 2011 and was negative.
Any idea why this is?
Maybe he is HSV2 positive and just hasn't converted?
I'm sorry for sending you all this, but you're the only person I can go to.
Thank You,
Mayaxoxo
Just wanted to let you know I got the results of the tests from the guy that cheated on me. He went on May 2nd and had HSV2 IGG test and result is negative. So I'm really confused.
If you have a chance to look this over I would really appreciate it!
My "history"
symptoms of UTI late December 2011.. Went to doctor, urine was negative for UTI. I found out a week later that my boyfriend had started sleeping with his ex-girlfriend early December.
After hearing of this, I went to my doctor for a complete STD check, including HSV2 IGG. Which came back positive at 2.20.(Jan 12, 2012)
That's when I read that a low positive could possibly be wrong and read that Western Blot is the Gold Standard, So I had that done on February 21, 2012 and it was negative. I then read that the Western Blot may not be accurate if last exposure was not greater than 12-16 weeks prior to testing, so I went back to doctor and they did another IGG that was positive at 1.66 in mid March.. Another low positive. Then mid April I had one extremely itchy spot near panty line, I went to Doctor, they sent out for culture and it came back positive for hsv2..I've since had some other odd symptoms. Recently, I had an extremely itchy spot on my thumb. It started to have little blisters. I kept it covered with a bandaid. The blisters never grew or ruptured. It was the same intensely itchy spot that I had in pubic area.
Prior to having sex with this man, my last sexual relationship ended mid July 2011. I was tested for HSV2 mid October 2011 and was negative.
Any idea why this is?
Maybe he is HSV2 positive and just hasn't converted?
I'm sorry for sending you all this, but you're the only person I can go to.
Thank You,
Mayaxoxo
Hi Grace,
I apologize for not making my culture results in an earlier message more noticeable.
"Apr 24, 2012
To: gracefromHHP
I have been having unusual neurological symptoms. I'm not sure if they are related to hsv but I'm hoping you may have some advice. I did get one small sore that I never would've suspected to be anything if I hadn't had the blood tests. Anyways, it was positive to hsv2 culture."
I Apologize for the confusion. I put a lot of information in that message and can see how easy it would've been not see that.
Anyways, I will continue to wait for him to send me his results. But everything I can find about cultures says they are always accurate :(
I'm feeling very depressed now. Trying to fight the urge to obssess over it, but right now I'm losing that battle.
I keep finding "sores" in odd areas. on my face and hands:(
Maybe wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't in this situation because of him cheating on me.
Thanks for all of your help,
Mayaxoxo
I apologize for not making my culture results in an earlier message more noticeable.
"Apr 24, 2012
To: gracefromHHP
I have been having unusual neurological symptoms. I'm not sure if they are related to hsv but I'm hoping you may have some advice. I did get one small sore that I never would've suspected to be anything if I hadn't had the blood tests. Anyways, it was positive to hsv2 culture."
I Apologize for the confusion. I put a lot of information in that message and can see how easy it would've been not see that.
Anyways, I will continue to wait for him to send me his results. But everything I can find about cultures says they are always accurate :(
I'm feeling very depressed now. Trying to fight the urge to obssess over it, but right now I'm losing that battle.
I keep finding "sores" in odd areas. on my face and hands:(
Maybe wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't in this situation because of him cheating on me.
Thanks for all of your help,
Mayaxoxo
what positive culture? all you've listed up to this point are blood test results.
Hi Grace,
I spoke with my doctors office and told the nurse my symptoms. She didn't feel I needed to be seen. She called in valtrex 500mg daily. Teice a day for 3 days then once a day for suppression. I've been taking for 4 days. Can't say Ive noticed any changes yet. The blister I had on my finger went away without bursting. That was before I began anti virals. My ex sent me his test results from right before we were first together and his was negative hsv2 igg. He did have sex with a woman 4 or 5 times which was about the time I started having symptoms. Could he have gotten from her and gave it to me in that short of time frame? He said he just went and had blood tests and will send me results. He said he's never had any symptoms.
With my positive culture there's no way it could've been wrong, right?
Do you know if a cure is in the near future?
Thanks
Mayaxoxo
I spoke with my doctors office and told the nurse my symptoms. She didn't feel I needed to be seen. She called in valtrex 500mg daily. Teice a day for 3 days then once a day for suppression. I've been taking for 4 days. Can't say Ive noticed any changes yet. The blister I had on my finger went away without bursting. That was before I began anti virals. My ex sent me his test results from right before we were first together and his was negative hsv2 igg. He did have sex with a woman 4 or 5 times which was about the time I started having symptoms. Could he have gotten from her and gave it to me in that short of time frame? He said he just went and had blood tests and will send me results. He said he's never had any symptoms.
With my positive culture there's no way it could've been wrong, right?
Do you know if a cure is in the near future?
Thanks
Mayaxoxo
not likely to be shingles going on.
go and be seen - a phone call isn't going to cut it for this many issues :(
go and be seen - a phone call isn't going to cut it for this many issues :(
I have not had any follow up.
I feel like they "dread" hearing from me. I called today and the receptionist said she would leave a message for the nurse to call me.
I don't know what to do. I for sure don't want to spread this around. I have a young child. I put a bandaid over the blister on my finger. I'm scared to even hug and kiss my child. Could I have shingles and not hsv? or maybe I both.
This is turning into a nightmare.
Thank you for responding, I really appreciate it!
I feel like they "dread" hearing from me. I called today and the receptionist said she would leave a message for the nurse to call me.
I don't know what to do. I for sure don't want to spread this around. I have a young child. I put a bandaid over the blister on my finger. I'm scared to even hug and kiss my child. Could I have shingles and not hsv? or maybe I both.
This is turning into a nightmare.
Thank you for responding, I really appreciate it!
Hi Grace,
I have been having unusual neurological symptoms. I'm not sure if they are related to hsv but I'm hoping you may have some advice. I did get one small sore that I never would've suspected to be anything if I hadn't had the blood tests. Anyways, it was positive to hsv2 culture.
I can deal with that but the other symptoms are driving me crazy.
Painful electrical zaps in my right nostril. Numbness/tingling in my upper lip. My nose itches soo bad sometimes. I've never had these sensations before. I did notice a small rash on my belly, a blister on my pointer
Finger that i dont recall burning on anything and my skin feels very sensitive all over. Also, every other day I feel like I'm getting a UTI. I've also had fairly consistent pain dull pain in my upper let's abdomen area. Seems soo bizarr!
I don't know what to do.
Please let me know if you can put the pieces together- do they add up to hsv?
Thank you.
Mayaxoxo
I have been having unusual neurological symptoms. I'm not sure if they are related to hsv but I'm hoping you may have some advice. I did get one small sore that I never would've suspected to be anything if I hadn't had the blood tests. Anyways, it was positive to hsv2 culture.
I can deal with that but the other symptoms are driving me crazy.
Painful electrical zaps in my right nostril. Numbness/tingling in my upper lip. My nose itches soo bad sometimes. I've never had these sensations before. I did notice a small rash on my belly, a blister on my pointer
Finger that i dont recall burning on anything and my skin feels very sensitive all over. Also, every other day I feel like I'm getting a UTI. I've also had fairly consistent pain dull pain in my upper let's abdomen area. Seems soo bizarr!
I don't know what to do.
Please let me know if you can put the pieces together- do they add up to hsv?
Thank you.
Mayaxoxo
it was just a hsv2 igg you had done this time it appears. You know, the same test I advised against getting since you already had a low positive previously on an igg test. you can order the test just specifically for hsv2, you don't have to order hsv1 and hsv2 testing at the same time.
since you got another low positive, at this point just wait another month or two and get the WB again to get a more accurate answer from this partner.
since you got another low positive, at this point just wait another month or two and get the WB again to get a more accurate answer from this partner.
Hi Grace,
My doctors office said there is a test that only checks for HSV2 and wouldn't pick up HSV1(which I have been positive for as long as I can remember). So I had the blood test. They called with my results and said it was positive at 1.66. The nurse didn't know which test was used. I tried to look up which test only checks for HSV2 and from what I can find, the only tests that do that don't give a range, only a positive or negative? I thought if that was a good test I wouldn't have to pay out of pocket for another WB. Not sure I'm any better off now than prior to that test. I'm mainly concerned because I don't know if any of my "symptoms" are HSV related. If that is what I have, I don't want to spread it to any other areas or give it to anyone else.
Do you know if it sounds like I had a reliable test done?
Thank You!
My doctors office said there is a test that only checks for HSV2 and wouldn't pick up HSV1(which I have been positive for as long as I can remember). So I had the blood test. They called with my results and said it was positive at 1.66. The nurse didn't know which test was used. I tried to look up which test only checks for HSV2 and from what I can find, the only tests that do that don't give a range, only a positive or negative? I thought if that was a good test I wouldn't have to pay out of pocket for another WB. Not sure I'm any better off now than prior to that test. I'm mainly concerned because I don't know if any of my "symptoms" are HSV related. If that is what I have, I don't want to spread it to any other areas or give it to anyone else.
Do you know if it sounds like I had a reliable test done?
Thank You!
Blood test or culture test with antivirals can give you a flase negative. I think you will need to repeat you test again but stop antivirals first.
What is you symptomes?
Good luck
What is you symptomes?
Good luck
Grace,
Hello and Thank you for replying to my post.
Since finding out about the other woman I am no longer with him. I told him I was getting tested and he said he would too. That was over a month ago and now he doesn't return e-mails, etc. so I doubt he followed through or if he did he doesn't feel it's necessary to share with me.
He and I dated for four months before sleeping together. We both had std screening before first being intimate, including hsv igg for 1 and 2. Mine was negative for type 2. He said his was negative as well but I never asked to see his results..
I am dissapointed with the lack of knowledge the doctors in my area have on testing. When my results came in I was told I got genital herpes since my last check up and that was that. I had glanced at the paper and noticed the HSV 1 was a lot higher than the HSV 2, so that was my reason to "investigate" further.
When reading low positives can be false I then found info on WB. My doctor didn't know about the test. The lab didn't even know how to draw for it. I printed out all the info and took it in to them.
I was relieved when the WB came back negative for HSV2, but after reading more, it seems likely that I may have tested too soon?
I took that test at about 7.5 weeks post exposure.
The Igg test I took was about 6 weeks post exposure and was done through labcorp. I called them to see which test they use but they didn't know...
I will defintely encourage my physician to get updated! I've just begun nursing school and this has been an eye opening experience for sure. I know genital herpes isn't the end of the world. If I have it I won't die, but the not knowing really sucks, Especially since I thought I was doing things right having both of us tested prior to sleeping together...I'm sure the emotional impact from the betrayal is playing into this.
I did call my doctors office today and ask what if anything I shoud do now. She said the WB is gold standard and since it's negative I shouldn't worry about it....
I asked if she would allow me to repeat the IGG since my insurance covers that one. She said that would be fine. It's been almost 3 months now since last possible exposure. Would you suggest repeating the IGG and if negative than I'm ok? If positive again, especially low, I should repeat WB?
Sorry for so much info. I haven't really had anyone to talk to about this.
Thank you again for reading and replying!
Mayaxoxo
Hello and Thank you for replying to my post.
Since finding out about the other woman I am no longer with him. I told him I was getting tested and he said he would too. That was over a month ago and now he doesn't return e-mails, etc. so I doubt he followed through or if he did he doesn't feel it's necessary to share with me.
He and I dated for four months before sleeping together. We both had std screening before first being intimate, including hsv igg for 1 and 2. Mine was negative for type 2. He said his was negative as well but I never asked to see his results..
I am dissapointed with the lack of knowledge the doctors in my area have on testing. When my results came in I was told I got genital herpes since my last check up and that was that. I had glanced at the paper and noticed the HSV 1 was a lot higher than the HSV 2, so that was my reason to "investigate" further.
When reading low positives can be false I then found info on WB. My doctor didn't know about the test. The lab didn't even know how to draw for it. I printed out all the info and took it in to them.
I was relieved when the WB came back negative for HSV2, but after reading more, it seems likely that I may have tested too soon?
I took that test at about 7.5 weeks post exposure.
The Igg test I took was about 6 weeks post exposure and was done through labcorp. I called them to see which test they use but they didn't know...
I will defintely encourage my physician to get updated! I've just begun nursing school and this has been an eye opening experience for sure. I know genital herpes isn't the end of the world. If I have it I won't die, but the not knowing really sucks, Especially since I thought I was doing things right having both of us tested prior to sleeping together...I'm sure the emotional impact from the betrayal is playing into this.
I did call my doctors office today and ask what if anything I shoud do now. She said the WB is gold standard and since it's negative I shouldn't worry about it....
I asked if she would allow me to repeat the IGG since my insurance covers that one. She said that would be fine. It's been almost 3 months now since last possible exposure. Would you suggest repeating the IGG and if negative than I'm ok? If positive again, especially low, I should repeat WB?
Sorry for so much info. I haven't really had anyone to talk to about this.
Thank you again for reading and replying!
Mayaxoxo
has your partner been tested for herpes? are you still with this partner?
encourage your provider to update their herpes testing knowledge by reading the 2010 CDC herpes guidelines. Knowing about the low positives and how to deal with them is very important to their practice - both to their patients and to their own protection from malpractice claims!
grace
encourage your provider to update their herpes testing knowledge by reading the 2010 CDC herpes guidelines. Knowing about the low positives and how to deal with them is very important to their practice - both to their patients and to their own protection from malpractice claims!
grace
Have an Answer?
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.
the 10 day course of valtrex wouldn't affect your blood test results either.
If you really need the peace of mind, repeat the WB 4 months post encounter.