constant tingling

Hello,

Just wondering if you could give me some insight on HSV. I was diagnosed about 4 years ago. I'm not sure if it was HSV1 or 2 and I was not told any numerical data to support it.Over the years I would have occasional itching which seemed like a yeast infection that would never surface, Since Nov 2010 I have been have recurrent tingling with no visible outbreaks. I have begun taking lysine and red marine algae within the last month. Do you have any idea why I could be having this constant tingle? Should I get retested to find out if it's HSV1 or 2? Do you know if the values change over the years?

Thanks,

FWW

[gracefromHHP]

how were you originally diagnosed? what testing did they do then?

lysine and marine algae actually aren't helpful for herpes.  pretty much wasting your money taking them for herpes.  

herpes doesn't cause a constant tingle either. what sort of work up have you been through since you started with this constant tingle?

grace

[FWW]

I was originally tested with a swab culture which came back negative. Then I had blood test conducted in which they didn't tell me if it was HSV 1 or 2 specific. They just told me the test was positive and prescribed valtrex.

So lysine doesn't help?It's not hurting me though, right? Is there anything that helps besides pharmaceuticals?

Since the constant tingle, I had an HIV test which was negative and a urinalysis which was inconclusive.

FW

[Mistakeguy789]

It doesn't hurt but at this point the only thing proven to help is the antivirials.  

The testing you had done doesn't sound like the proper testing.  Can you get a copy of the results?  I am betting you had an IgM test which isn't a type specific test and has a high false positive rate.  You would need a HSV type specific igg blood test done to get accurate answers.

[FWW]

I am going to schedule a complete STD work up to get everything retested and get exact numbers.

Also, do you know if there are any long term effects from taking antivirals everyday?

Any idea on the constant tingle? To describe it, i feels like electrical stimulation in pin pointed areas like if you were using an e-stim machine. I only feel the "pins and needles" usually one at a time. Sometimes they are stronger than others. It "tingles" in the inner thigh, vaginal area (inside and out) and butt region.

[gracefromHHP]

there aren't any long term side effects to taking herpes antivirals.

constant tingles are not due to herpes.

I agree, it doesn't sound like you had proper testing done at all :(  

[FWW]

Has anyone noticed a difference from taking acyclovir as oppose to valacyclovir? I have read that there is a slight difference in the drugs for treatment.

[gracefromHHP]

valtrex is an acyclovir prodrug. Basicall you swallow valtrex and your body converts it into acyclovir. You get more active acyclovir that way than you do from swallowing acyclovir so you don't have to take valtrex as often.

[FWW]

Hello Grace,

So I got a 7 panel STD screening done and I was negative for everything except HSV 2. My IgG for HSV 2  was 2.71 and IgG for HSV 1 was < 0.9. So basically I'm positive for HSV 2.

If you have any advice I'd greatly appreciate it.... I've been dating this guy for almost 6 months who I really like and he likes me just as much or maybe even more. When we began dating I was figuring him out to see if I really liked him. I'm a mental person so friendship and personality is key to me. Intimacy usually doesn't follow until I figure out that I really like the person. So I'm to the point that I really care about him and feel as if i love him. He has always been into me and professed how he felt about me early on. I know that he really cares about me and he even says he loves me. However, he has been wanting to be intimate for the last couple months. I have been putting sex off because I have been hesitant about telling him I have HSV2. He has been getting frustrated with not being able to be intimate with me and thinks that I am not attracted to him sexually, which is totally not the case. I am very sexually attracted to him but I havn't shown him because I'm afraid of his reaction. I want him to be able to make an informed decision as to whether he would want to "deal" with my issue. The problem is that it kills me every time I think about telling him. I don't want him to look at me differently.... That terrifies me. There's such a bad stigma on HSV that I don't want him to be disgusted. He's a great friend and I don't want this to change our relationship. I almost feel like I'd rather not tell him and just stay friends without sex to keep myself in a positive light in his eye. From what he says, he is not sexually active with anyone presently and is "waiting on me" in a sense. I have just been putting it off this whole time by making up excuses. So up to this point we have only kissed and some foreplay. But now I really want to be intimate with him and trying to find a way to tell him without it sounding so bad. I need help!!!!

Thanks for all your help thus far...

[Mistakeguy789]

Give grace a chance to look over your results.  Though have you ever recalled an outbreak?

We can take the steps next once grace tells you what to do.  

[FWW]

When I first went to the doc I had one red spot near my anus and after that I have not had any other sores since. I have had mild itching from time to time but no visible outbreaks. Also, in the beginning before I was diagnosed, I would get recurrent yeast infections. But that's been years ago. I haven't gotten one in years.

[gracefromHHP]

you need to confirm your hsv2 status since you have had a negative lesion culture and your hsv2 igg is in the low positive range.  http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/low-positives---confirmatory-results/show/1097724#post_5968138  is an ongoing post we have here with more information for you.

[FWW]

How should I get confirmatory testing? Do the Western Blot I hear about or go to another clinic for testing? Most of the doctors offices in my area use Labcorp.

If i should get the WB, do I need a prescription from a doctor or can I seek testing on my own?

In the meantime, should I abstain from sex with the new guy or tell him I have HSV2? Still struggling with that....

[Mistakeguy789]

You should get a western blot is the best bet.  You can look for the Biokit but you may not be able to find it.  

You need to contact your doctors office and they will have to write out a prescription for it.  If you can find a clinic for Quest we can give you the lab code to have them use.  Not sure on LabCorp.  

The choice is up to you.  I would say be honest.  You have a low positive HSV-2 test but you need to confirm the testing because there is some known false positive rates with the test.  It is up to him to make the choice if he wants to go there.  Avoid sexual contact if you have symptoms of an outbreak if you do be seen within 24-48hrs for a lesion culture.  

[FWW]

Thanks for your help...

Is Quest the company that performs the Western Blot or the Biokit? Or both? There are facilities near me that use Quest.

[Mistakeguy789]

The UofW runs the Western Blot and is the only lab that does it.  Quest just has a code that your provider can order that does all the stuff needed (drawing the blood and preparing it for UofW).  

Biokit can be done at some providers offices that have it.  I believe if you go to the Biokit's website they have a list of providers that may have it.  I would call them to find out if they have it.  Quest doesn't do the Biokit to my knowledge.  

Get in contact with the providers that use quest and ask if you can have them request the Western Blot for Herpes through their office.  You may have to actually talk to the doctor.  Your doctor can contact the UofW Office for the paperwork themselves.  But like I said Quest just makes it easier.  

[gracefromHHP]

quest offers the WB though it's a send out so you might have to get the lab to hunt a bit to figure out what to send where.  It's test #34534 through them.  another option is to call the U of washington and have them send you the kit to take with you

labcorp doesn't offer the herpes WB.

you can google the biokit folks to contact them to see if anyone near you offers the biokit.  typically doctor offices use it, not national labs.

[FWW]

Hi Grace,

It's been a while since I've been on the forum. However, the constant tingling I had went away about 3 months ago. Over the past 3 months, I've had vaginal itching every now and then. Now, this episode of vaginal itching has lasted for close to 3 weeks. The itching doesn't feel like it's inside the vaginal canal. It is at the bottom of the vaginal opening like around the bottom of the lips of the labia minor, that's the best way I can describe it :). But I have been taking valacyclovir suppressive therapy constantly for the last 3 months to see if this is the best method for me. I normally take a 500mg pill once a day. But since I've had this itching I have bumped it up to 1000mg/day. I'm still having no luck. I feels like a yeast infection just in the area I described and I have used monistat just to see it if would help. It only helps with the itching when its applied but i still see the irritation and feel the itching when i don't use the monistat. I've used the monistat for the entire 3 wks and the problem is still there. It's like the monistat just masks the real issue temporarily. I have an appt with my GYN in a few days.

But I was wondering if you could give me some insight on if this may still be an outbreak or if it could be something else? A little worried bc I've never had an outbreak that has lasted this long!

[petal130]

Did you have the confirmatory testing done? If not, you're still in the same place of thinking you may have herpes when you don't. And, even if you do, not everything down yonder is herpes related.

Valtex won't work a darn if you don't have herpes. And, herpes won't cause itching for 3 weeks, but yeast or bacterial infections surely will, even dermatitis/skin sensitivity. Your GYN can test for both - not really best to try to self treat yeast, and if you are only using Monistat sporadically, it won't be fully effective.

Most likely Grace's advice won't change: Get the confirmatory testing, and also find out what's causing your itching, and go from there.

[FWW]

Thanks for your response. But no I haven't done the confirmatory testing. I've kind of accepted that I have herpes. But it's probably still best to get confirmation. I've been reading some similar post and have heard mention of BV that could cause this constant itching. Do you know the things that can cause BV? Like sex?

[gracefromHHP]

bv is when the ph of your vagina changes and causes an overgrowth of bacteria. It can cause odor, discharge and itching as well as many other symptoms.

bottom line is, at this point, you shouldn't be self treating EVER for anything but being seen each time you have symptoms to get to the bottom of things. Monistat isn't to be used for 3 weeks in a row like this. You are basically using it as a moisturizer more than anything it sounds like.

I wouldn't stress the confirmatory testing if it wasn't worth it. you really need answers at this point. You shouldn't be on daily suppressive therapy because you want to be getting obvious symptoms to get cultured to confirm your status since you are in limbo.

[FWW]

So since I'm doing suppressive therapy, do u think that the dr may not be able to get an accurate culture when I go this week? Or were you referring to the Western blot? I didn't quite understand what you were referring to.

[Mistakeguy789]

If you don't have active symptoms of an outbreak the culture is not helpful.  The antivirals impact the culture swab testing as well.  Go off the antivirials until you know your HSV status.

[FWW]

I already tested positive for HSV2. Are you saying don't take the antivirals until I get the confirmatory test? My doctors appt this week is to see if there is something else going on besides HSV2. Or should I still get a culture swab for it as well even though I already tested positive?

[petal130]

"Then I had blood test conducted in which they didn't tell me if it was HSV 1 or 2 specific. They just told me the test was positive and prescribed valtrex. "

You don't know if you have herpes - this has been discussed in this post. As Grace stated:
Go off of the antivirals. Get the confirmatory blood testing. In ADDITION to the confirmatory blood test, be seen IF symptomatic, and be tested for YEAST, BACTERIA and HERPES.

[FWW]

"So I got a 7 panel STD screening done and I was negative for everything except HSV 2. My IgG for HSV 2  was 2.71 and IgG for HSV 1 was < 0.9. So basically I'm positive for HSV 2."

That is what I posted in April. So I have been tested.

[gracefromHHP]

your hsv2 igg is still in the low positive range and needs further confirmation. we've discussed this already.

I recommended stopping the herpes antivirals so that you hopefully would get obvious lesions if you do have herpes to have cultured to confirm your hsv2 infection. Otherwise you need to get a herpes WB blood test to see if you really have hsv2 or not. Why pay for medication and bother to take it if you don't have to?  

no reason for a lesion culture ifyou don't have obvious lesions to culture.

make more sense?

[FWW]

Makes sense. I will let you know what the doc says after my appt this week. Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

hopefully  you soon get this all figured out so you can get back to normal again :)

[FWW]

Hi Grace,

So I went to the GYN today to see about the symptoms I was having... She took cultures and found no yeast or bacteria or anything that looked like an infection of any sort. She didn't actually swab the irritated area at the vaginal opening. She looked at the irritation I was having and said it didn't look like an outbreak. I told her that I had been using monistat for the symptoms as well. She said that I might have had a yeast infection at that time but she didn't find yeast today. But I told her that I was still having some mild itching. She said the irritation, that was at the vaginal opening, looked like the skin had been pulled apart and hasn't healed yet. So she prescribed mytrex that is suppose to work for yeast and itching, redness, and inflammation. After she took cultures, I told her that I had been diagnosed with herpes and was having a hard time deciphering what was an outbreak and what's not. She said she didn't feel these were symptoms of an outbreak...

Also, I asked her about the Western Blot for herpes and she had never heard of it. However, she has heard of the WB for HIV. She only knew of the herpes serology blood test that I have had already. She didn't feel comfortable ordering the test for me since she hadnt heard about it. So now I have to find a doc that will order the test for me. I called Quest to see if they could recommend some docs but they couldnt help me with that either. I made an appt next week with another GYN just to get a second opinion on my symptoms.

I have stopped taking the antivirals since Sat. But I'm debating on whether I should use the mytrex or just wait until I see the other GYN.

I still kind of feel like I didn't get any concrete answers...

What do you think?

[gracefromHHP]

tell your gyn to read the 2010 cdc herpes guidelines. terrific info in there on the herpes WB and why to have it done.

if your provider uses quest labs, it's test #34534.


topical steroids can make herpes reoccur. should you get a worsening of symptoms from using the cream you were given, be sure to be seen for a lesion culture to try to confirm your status.

you might also want to google vestibulitis.

[FWW]

Vestibulitis or vulvodynia sounds very similar to what I experience. I will try to the cream and get tested asap if more irritation occurs.

I will still keep my next GYN appt just to get other opinions and see if they know of the WB. I wonder if I can call doctor's offices to find out if they use Quest... I guess I'm gonna try all avenues.

Thanks for your responses. You've been very helpful.

[gracefromHHP]

some folks have also had luck calling the U of washington lab, talking about their testing situation and then they can arrange a WB through your local lab. Not sure of the details, just know it's worked for some folks who have posted about it.

[FWW]

Hi Grace,

So I have used the Mytrex for the past four days and don't seem to be getting any relief. It's not necessarily getting worse but just not getting better. The doc told me to use the cream for 5-7 days. By day 4 if I'm not really getting much relief, I don't think it will work. Since using the cream, I've noticed a pale white color of the vulva almost like a yeast infection but not quite. It doesn't itch or anything. The irritated area around the vaginal opening is still reddish pink and itchy tho. I have a discharge but no accompanying odor or cottage cheese consistency, just white in color.

I've been looking online to find something with my symptoms but it seems like it could be a number of things. I researched the anatomy of the vestibule of the vagina, and based on the pictures of where its located, it doesn't seem like the same place where I'm having the irritation...unless it can occur in other areas as well.

I just wish I could get to the bottom of things. I have another appt this week...

[gracefromHHP]

if it's not better by next week, return to the gyn to be seen again.

[FWW]

Hi Grace,

So it turns out that I have chlamydia... :(  I got a call from the labs today saying that my cultures were positive for it. So i took azithromycin dose pack. Well at least I got down to the bottom of my problems, hopefully...

Any idea on how long it takes to effect my reproductive organs if untreated? I have probably been infected for about a month now, or possibly two months since my last annual pap smear which was normal.

Now I have to tell my partner to get checked.

[gracefromHHP]

having it for a few months isn't a risk to your fertility.

hopefully you are getting better answers now and feel better soon :)

your partner should be treated regardless. tell him to call his provider and let him know you were diagnosed and that he needs treated.

[FWW]

The itching immediately cleared up. Do you know if its common to have a brown discharge after taking the medicine?

[gracefromHHP]

the infection causes the discharge. it'll get better.

[FWW]

Hi Grace,

I haven't been on in a while but I did take your advice and get a Western Blot which stated that there was evidence of past infection for HSV2. Since then I began taking the generic brand of valacyclovir daily for suppression. I don't know if it's actually working for me. I still get a sensation that feels like my nervous system is active in the genital area. By that, I mean that it feels like the nerves in the that area feel like tingling from time to time or a like a mild shock is traveling down a few of the nerves to the genital area. It's not constant all day but whenever I'm not busy or focused on something I feel it. I have been tested for all other STDs and I am negative. The actual outbreaks that I notice are few but that sensation I feel quite often. I have gone days without feeling it. But for the most part I still feel it. Should I talk to my doc about another treatment plan or see an infectious disease specialist. I've thought about going off of the medicine to see how that works. When I first was diagnosed, I felt that same thing but it went away and I didn't really have any problems. But within the last 18 months I have been feeling this sensation and the only thing that I can attribute it to is HSV2. I know these are not symptoms that are commonly listed but I can't help but to think that HSV2 is causing it...it is a nervous system condition... What are your thoughts?

[gracefromHHP]

perhaps see a neurologist to see if you have a peudendal nerve injury or something related going on at this point?