Aa
negative tests but symptoms persist
So grateful that this forum exists!
4 years ago, I was raped and was placed on anti-viral medication to reduce the risk of contracting hiv. I was also tested for all STDs that night and all came back negative. The anti virals made me incredibly sick and I very shortly after beginning to take them had severe itching both vaginally and anally as well as swelling and eventually had patches of peeling skin. I was taken off of the meds and put on a lighter combination of them and received std testing after 1, 3 and 6 months and all results were negative but I had always feared that my the symptoms I had while taking the drugs and after being sexually assaulted were possibly my first herpes outbreak.
Ever since, I've had continuous vaginal burning sometimes with whitish to yellowish discharge and from time to time, some itching but I've never seen any sores. My symptoms, however, do seem to coincide with my menstrual cycle, getting worse the week before. I basically just convinced myself I had herpes and didn't deal with it or date for years but finally met someone and got tested last year with and IgG blood test and found out I was negative:
hsv1 - .2
hsv2 - .04
I was incredibly relieved but my symptoms continued soon after but my doctor insisted the test was "remarkably accurate" and saw no need to retest.
Is my doctor correct? After 4 years of no possible exposure since being raped, and the negative results, should I be concerned that the test was a false negative?
4 years ago, I was raped and was placed on anti-viral medication to reduce the risk of contracting hiv. I was also tested for all STDs that night and all came back negative. The anti virals made me incredibly sick and I very shortly after beginning to take them had severe itching both vaginally and anally as well as swelling and eventually had patches of peeling skin. I was taken off of the meds and put on a lighter combination of them and received std testing after 1, 3 and 6 months and all results were negative but I had always feared that my the symptoms I had while taking the drugs and after being sexually assaulted were possibly my first herpes outbreak.
Ever since, I've had continuous vaginal burning sometimes with whitish to yellowish discharge and from time to time, some itching but I've never seen any sores. My symptoms, however, do seem to coincide with my menstrual cycle, getting worse the week before. I basically just convinced myself I had herpes and didn't deal with it or date for years but finally met someone and got tested last year with and IgG blood test and found out I was negative:
hsv1 - .2
hsv2 - .04
I was incredibly relieved but my symptoms continued soon after but my doctor insisted the test was "remarkably accurate" and saw no need to retest.
Is my doctor correct? After 4 years of no possible exposure since being raped, and the negative results, should I be concerned that the test was a false negative?
Thank you for the quick reply, Terri!
During that time, the antivirals I was on were essentially the HIV cocktail from what I understand. When my system couldn't handle them, I was put on a more gentle version, but as far as I know, I've never been on acyclovir.
Happy to hear that the HSV 2 results sound pretty darn reliable, but from what I've been reading, it seems that the test is not as reliable for HSV 1? I just can't figure out what other problem would be recurring for so long with such similar symptoms! Thank you again for your response!
Much appreciated,
Belle
During that time, the antivirals I was on were essentially the HIV cocktail from what I understand. When my system couldn't handle them, I was put on a more gentle version, but as far as I know, I've never been on acyclovir.
Happy to hear that the HSV 2 results sound pretty darn reliable, but from what I've been reading, it seems that the test is not as reliable for HSV 1? I just can't figure out what other problem would be recurring for so long with such similar symptoms! Thank you again for your response!
Much appreciated,
Belle
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Were you taking antiviral therapy like acyclovir during that time?
If not, then I definitely think you can rely on these test results. No test is perfect, but within a couple of percentage points, the HSV 2 test is darn close!
If you have been taking herpes medicine since then, then you need to come off the medicine and retest in 3 months as the medicine could be interfering with the test results.
Terri
If not, then I definitely think you can rely on these test results. No test is perfect, but within a couple of percentage points, the HSV 2 test is darn close!
If you have been taking herpes medicine since then, then you need to come off the medicine and retest in 3 months as the medicine could be interfering with the test results.
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
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.
