my doctor said "You may or may not have herpes"

So about 4 weeks ago I had unprotected sex with a friend whom I thought to be free of std's... 3 weeks after sex I had my annual exam. I was tested for the usual, plus std's and herpes and hiv. Std's were negative as well as HPV and HIV. But my doctor said my herpes test came back at 1.13. I don't know what type of test she ran but she said that because of the number I must of had a recent exposure to the herpes virus... but that it was to low/early to tell which kind (whether it were from genital or cold sores). I've never had a cold sore or any signs of genital herpes. I have gotten ulcers in my mouth in the last 8-9 months that my dentist said was brought on by stress. Could this be the cause? But she said it was a "recent" exposure?? She also said that I would need to be retested to see what kind of herpes it was "if it develops". She said "you may or may not get it, we just have to retest in 4 to 6 weeks to know". What does that mean? So is it possible this is a false test? Why would she say she doesn't know which kind? I'm kind of freaking out now because I don't know what to think... help?

[waterwater]

you will need to get a type specific igg test.

[sun1299]

So then why did she say I may or may not have it?

[gracefromHHP]

ulcers in the mouth are canker sores. they are not contagious. you can google them for more info.

your herpes testing was done far too early to have real answers yet. Wait until 3 or 4 months after the last time you had sex and repeat your herpes igg blood testing.

grace

[sun1299]

Grace,
So that is why she told me she's not sure if I have/or will get it then? She said that my body may fight off the infection. Is that possible? And is it possible that it could be a false test since it was so soon?

[gracefromHHP]

no your body won't fight off the infection. once you contract herpes, you have it for life.  

the low positives can be false positives or they can be true positives. since you tested far too early, you'll need to wait and repeat your testing at the proper times and go from there.

[sun1299]

Grace,
Just talked to my doctor. She said that the tests she ran were an igg hsv1/2 (they both turned up negative) she said this test was for "past" exposures. She also ran an igm test that came back with the 1.13 (which is why she couldn't say which type) she said this test was for "recent" exposures. That is why she said that I may or may not get hsv

[sun1299]

Grace,
Just talked to my doctor. She said that the tests she ran were an igg hsv1/2 (they both turned up negative) she said this test was for "past" exposures. She also ran an igm test that came back with the 1.13 (which is why she couldn't say which type) she said this test was for "recent" exposures. That is why she said that I may or may not get hsv and that I would need to retest is 4-6 weeks. So I've read alot about these tests and I don't know what to believe?

[gracefromHHP]

the herpes igm test is a very flawed test. current cdc recommendations are that providers not order it for diagnosing herpes in adults. your provider  needs to update their testing info to better serve their patients.

same advice as before yet though dear - you tested far too early so none of your test results are useful yet. repeat your testing at the proper time to properly cover your bases.

[sun1299]

Grace,
Thanks for the info/advice. I feel a little better about it and I'm scheduled for another test in a month.

[sun1299]

Ok so, last night I noticed an inflamed flesh colored bump on the side of my tongue. Looks like when I bite my tongue or cheek. But there are also a few white dots under my tongue, not clustered together but spaced apart and the tip of my tongue has some inflamed tastebuds. They remind me of when I eat sour candy or burn my tongue, again, not cloistered together but single, individualized. The inflamed taste buds are not white but are red (looks like what I just mentioned) and none of them are sore or hurt. The one on the side that resembles biting my tongue is a little tender but I dont notice when I'm talking or eating. Am I just freaking out or could this be oral herpes and what the igm was picking up? These bumps and irritation are only on my tongue. My blood test is in two weeks... Am I freaking out over nothing?

[gracefromHHP]

doesn't sound like herpes at all.

[sun1299]

Grace,

I know I'm probably driving you insane. Today while showering I noticed a small cut/scrape near my urethra. It doesn't hurt but when touched it is sore. I never would have noticed if I had not touched while cleaning myself. It looks like when you scrape skin with a finger nail. I had scratched myself near there through my underwear earlier in the day. The skin around it looks normal and is not sensitive to touch... The scrape is very shallow, and I never noticed a bump or blister ever being there. The skin where the it is scraped is red at the scrape but normal around, no white border. Does this sound like herpes? Still paranoid and freaking out.

[sun1299]

The scrape is smooth, no overlaying skin or anything... Just a scrape or sound like herpes?

[sun1299]

One last bit of info, this past Sunday (one week ago) I started a new birth control. I went from Loestrin 24 to beyaz.. I think it's triple the hormones. I also had my period end last weekend. Could this have anything to do with it? I haven't noticed any discharge that is unusual but who knows.

[gracefromHHP]

if you are concerned, see your provider.

[sun1299]

Ok, so I went and saw my doc and she said it looked nothing like herpes and said I'm just freaking out. Which she is probably right. Tonight I noticed these clusters of tiny white dots in the corners of my mouth... they don't itch and I only noticed them because one corner of my mouth felt as if I bit it. (Which I think I remember biting my lip recently or maybe my tongue.. I can't remember) But now I'm worried this might be oral herpes! I seriously hate that igm test for getting me so paranoid but I would like to know, how do you know the difference between fordyce's and herpes? I've also noticed the same clusters of tiny white dots in my genitals (which has been there many years). So I'm leaning more to Fordyce's but of course the igm test has got me all wound up and worried. Thoughts?

[gracefromHHP]

this doesn't sound like oral herpes going on.

[sun1299]

I just got my second blood test results back. My doc called and left a message. She said nothing of my igg scores so I'm assuming those are negative again. But she said that my igm was 0.98 and before it was 1.68. So that they have ruled this as not a concern. That the test is highly known for false positives. So I feel good about that. My only concern is 3 days ago I noticed a very tender hard raised bump on my buttocks cheek and had a very small one next to it. It does not itch nor burn. I squeezed it and it only came out clear liquid but did not burst. Reminded me of a pimple. The next day it was still there this time with a large puss filled head. I squeezed it, dumb I know, and some thick white stuff came out and then began to bleed. Now it seems to be healing. Again, I think it was probably a pimple but I don't want to over look anything that may be herpes. It doesn't hurt now and there's still a little bit of raided skin.

[catinbarefeet]

Hi Sun 1299 - take a deep breath, my dear. I can tell you're quite frightened, and that's understandable. I'll try to answer some of your questions:

If you're truly worried about the blisters, go to your doctor and ask to get them cultured. Do this right away. If you wait more than 48 hours after they presented, they may generate a false negative.

The IgM test is almost useless. Though it can detect HSV antibodies from an early infection, it sometimes mistakes other herpes viruses, including chicken pox and shingles, as HSV.

To be absolutely sure, you'll want to repeat the HSV IgG type-specific blood test in 3-4 months. 4-6 weeks might still be too soon, because the tests look for the antibodies, which don't fully generate until 3-4 months after infection.

The blisters inside your mouth don't sound like herpes. If you were to have an outbreak, it would probably occur on the outside of your lips. However, if you're truly worried, ask to have them cultured. It sounds like it's a little late to do that, though your doc could culture them for a variety of organisms and maybe pinpoint the cause. They may be nothing more than bacteria.

I hope some of this helps. Please feel free to contact me directly with further questions. Many hugs.

[sun1299]

the bumps in my mouth I was worried about are still there and have not changed at all, so I chalked that up to paranoia and never having noticed them before. I am concerned about the bump on my buttocks. It already has a scab on it from when I popped it and is healing. I feel like this is a pimple just because it was thick white puss that came out when squeezed and was followed by blood. (It was a pretty big bump) The inflammation of the skin around it is almost back to normal. My only concern for still feeling this way is because 1) I'm paranoid now and I noticed a few red circles that are not raised but a little different texture than that around it on the opposite side of my buttocks. 2) The small spot next to the large "pimple" is still there, not raised, not painful... and I can not tell if it is a blister or not. 3) The fact that again my igm came back with a score above negative. (0.98 vs the 1.68 the first time 6 weeks ago) I'm having a hard time believing two false positives in a row. Even though my doctor said that they are seeing this score as "insignificant, unless there is a presence of sores" and that they feel "I have nothing to be concerned about". Of course, I can't get in to them to see this stuff and now its healing... and I don't want to go in and pay hundreds of dollars if its just a pimple. Thoughts?

[sun1299]

One other thing, can/does herpes secrete thick, white pus and bleed?
Also, I have not experienced any itching, tingling, or burning in the area.

[gracefromHHP]

once again - no more herpes igm testing.

see your provider for symptoms if you are concerned. at this point nothing else to do since it's too early to repeat your igg testing to get the final results.

[Evieff]

This morning I notices that 2 of my taste buds on opposites sides of the tip of my tongue HURT, I mean EXTREAMLY SORE. It's two just two, no others around or near them, but they are both on the tip, just right on the fold of the tongue.
The only thing that has been different in my routine, is and was having oral sex with my spouse. Oh my (I CAN SEE ALL THOSE RES FLAGS OUT THERE). Ok, for the curious, he is a confirmed cheater, both were coworkers. The first one (10+ years ago), lasted a year or so before the signals where everywhere. Yes I stayed, he did look really sorry and I've never seen a man cry, crawl and beg all at the same time, for hours.
She quit her job and moved on with her life, now #2 still works with him and they got caught because he left the phone she got for him on vibrate and I just so happened to be in the phones proximity when it buzzed. The good thing about the phone is that there were pictures and texts. He could have been texting me, so many phases that he wrote to her about how much he loved her, blah, blah, blah - VERBATIM.  Oh yes here it come in between the two that I know of we had a baby girl. And at that moment she was four, beginning her 4K program, in an area that has a WONDERFUL School System. Excuses are Excuses, but when the future of a child is involved well the decisions have to and most be a lot less "SELFISH". And NO HE HAS NEVER LAYED A HAND ON ME WITH AGRESSION "EVER"!!

Now back to my concern the pain on the two tongue buds, as I just took yet another look they have both become extremely pail yes almost white, but the one on the left has become a bit swollen. Ok this is as far as I can go, while keeping it together.
             PLEASE HELP !!!