Herpes or no Herpes??

[Bigtimeworried55]

I've been reading a ton off this site before joining and wanted to share my recent situation.

I had a recent sexual encounter with a girl HSV1 positive. She said she had a severe rash on her forehead at 17 and has had it only 3 times in her life, last time many years ago. She had no symptoms during 3 different unprotected/protected intercourse.

After 2 weeks my penis became itchy and I felt a tingly sensation on the side of my shaft. After scratching I realized the small square area was red, inflamed and slightly raised. This itched for a day and I felt slight pain within my penis. Went straight to urgent care where they prescribe Cipro for the pain (worked within 24 hours) and they said the lesion did not look like herpes.

I know I wasted money, but I tested as followed because I freaked out and have OCD. I tested with IGG Specific at 2 weeks, 5 weeks, and 6 weeks. All negative.

I then felt a weird irritation on my taint (area between scrotum and anus) and saw my first small blister. Foolishly, I squeezed it, it popped, drained liquid and blood. Did not hurt in the least. 30 hours later I was at a STD clinic doing a swab. At this point, the lesion had already dried and looked like a busted pimple. Doctor advised it didn't look like herpes and a ulcer would have been present after popping and it would have been painful. He still did the swab as I insisted, even with the lesion partly dried 30 hours later.

Swab was NEGATIVE! Does fluid still need to be in a blister for a accurate results or can skin cells around the area be good enough?? I went within 48 hours, I just popped the damn thing because I freaked.

I also took 3 IGM Herpes tests during which I was experiencing all these symptoms. All 3 IGM Negative up to 7 weeks!

Do I have herpes? What the hell can coincidently cause a weird, persistent lesion on my penis (never blistered) and then a small single blister on my taint. I also caught a cold right when the blister formed, which lasted a week!

I'm convinced I have HSV1. I had burning anal pain for 4 days, a single blister on taint which I burst with no pain or ulcer, I caught a cold, have a few minor headaches, and a persistent weird lesion every doctor says was not herpes on my penis!

What is going on?'!' Swab, blood all negative. I feel like I have it even tho symptoms are now gone. SOMEBODY HELP!  Are all these blood tests at 7 weeks useless??? Everything has been negative.

[solace21]

Hi,
   From your long post, it is not clear as to whether you have done any complete STD testing, if not , that is what you need to do first. Have you confirmed if you have not contacted syphilis, for example?
Other possibilities are bacterial or fungal infections, may be you need to do a urine,semen test for these. With so many repeated negative tests for Herpes1, I feel you need not have to worry any more about it. Further, it is such a common disease with minimum possible damage.

Solace

[Bigtimeworried55]

You're right man. I have been major stressing this. I had a small "pimple" like bump formed on my buttocks today with another kinda close to it. When I squeezed it, clear liquid came out. I freaked out and ran to have it swabbed.

Physician looked at it, swabbed, and said "dude that ain't herpes, you need to relax." But still, to me it resembled a small blister. Either way, I want to leave no doubt on my status so I had it swabbed. I'll get that back in 72 hours.

Exposed, also took a IGG type specific at 12+ weeks..negative for both types still bro. HSV1: 0.26 HSV2: 0.02.

Not sure what's going on. I pray my swab is negative, but the physician said if he was a gambling man he would go all in on it not being HSV. One more 16igg test and I'm putting this behind me man. I agree.

Just don't want to infect my current girlfriend. My anxiety solely stems from that possibility.

[exposed2hpv]

You are really worrying too much. It is really great that you are taking the right steps and going to doctors, but you have really gone far with this. If you really are still worried, take the test at the 4 months mark, which will highly likely come back negative, and after that you really have to move forward with your life and put it behind you, and accept that you don't have the virus. Good luck!

[Bigtimeworried55]

Just an update guys. Couldn't wait and decided to try a new HerpeSelect Immunoblot test, as I heard this is more accurate for HSV1 than the Elisa.

Results at 10 weeks with Immunoblot is NEGATIVE.

What promoted me to get retested was I had anal and penis discharge and burning in those specific areas. I'm still convinced I have HSV1 and my body is just going to take a long while to show the antibodies.

I saw a Urologist who prescribed me Doxycycline, stated he believes it's bacterial and not related to herpes. Medicine seems to be working so far. I pray it does completely.

My only current issue is the frequent nerve twitching in my legs. I have never had this before this sexual encounter and to me reeks of herpes, as the virus attacks the nerves. Has anyone else heard or experienced frequent nerve twitches in their legs throughout the day that has herpes??

[exposed2hpv]

The bump in the back of my mouth was confirmed a papilloma caused by HPV and I had removed. I'm glad I'm able to help. You don't seem to have herpes for now. Even if you have it, it is not the end of the world. I have almost accepted that the fact that I caught a virus. The right person won't leave you for a skin disease for a stupid mistake. And it seems that a lot of people have herpes 1. Your girl had it, and probably did not contract sexually even. So you also don't want to make her feel really bad about herself. Take care man, and let me know about your test results, I feel they are going to come back negative.

[Bigtimeworried55]

Exposed thanks for your input man. Positive or not your feedback has calmed me down.

I think I am good and dodged a serious bullet. I just got back my second swab results and it was also negative.

You're right, she wasn't having any forehead outbreak at the time of intercourse and hasn't in over 3 years...so there could be substance to your theory. I will say I have had the strangest symptoms, but either way blood doesn't lie and swabs have been negative.

I'll test again at 12 weeks but considering my low HSV levels (all negative) I don't think it will change, as it hasn't from 2 weeks until now.

Wish you nothing but wellness man. I'll update at 12 weeks but it finally feels I dodged a bullet unless I get hit with the ultimate shocker at 12 weeks.

[exposed2hpv]

<0.9 is considered negative I think. When I took my tests, I was <0.2 for HSV1, however I don't know much about the tests. I know HSV2 tests are more accurate. But for now, you seem you're good man. They say 90% of the time symptoms appear within 10 days of infection. Your tests also indicate that you are negative. You can take the test on the 12 week mark (which I'm guessing will be negative) and after that, put it behind and move on. Also, if she did not have an outbreak for quite some time then transmission is less likely, and you said she only had it on her forehead. I suggest you ask you specialist, I don't know much about herpes, and probably a specialist will end your suspense. Good luck.

[Bigtimeworried55]

UPDATE: Just received my HerpeSelect IGG HSV1 and HSV2 test results after 8.1 weeks post exposure.

HSV1 : 0.29
HSV2 : 0.04

This is mark the 3rd time I have taken this specific and recommended test. My levels have stayed exactly the same give or take .02 or HSV1 and have decreased dramatically for HSV2 when compared to my other 2 tests.

Does the numerical value and it's consistency on all 3 tests mean anything? Is it still possible that I have herpes considering I have been negative multiple IGG and IGM tests? I swear I hope at 12 weeks I'm not positive.

I still have immense burning on my buttocks and anus and will be seeing a specialist this week now that I feel more confident in my bloodwork at 8 weeks.

Do you think it's common to have such noticeable burning on buttocks, red irritated skin, NO lesions, and negative blood work and still have herpes? I'm so confused.

Also, would anyone that is familiar with Herpes say I should feel confident I'm negative at 8 weeks and that my 12 week results shouldn't be any different??

[Bigtimeworried55]

Appreciate the kind words man. You're right it won't be the end of the world, but I just rather not have it, lol. I like how I was before all this. I wanna feel and be clean 100%.

If argue I rather have hpv than herpes to be honest with your brother. I hear HPV is cleared by the body in many cases within a few years.

In either case, I'll post and let you know my results man. I'm praying it's negative.

Thanks again for your input and support dude. Wish you the best as well with your anxiety and situation. Hoping you are well.

[exposed2hpv]

she was not really my second girlfriend, she was the second girl I sleep with. I had girlfriends before where relationships didn't last and we only had digital sex, haha. Wishing you the best.

[exposed2hpv]

I know how you feel man. I contracted high-risk and low-risk HPV from my second girlfriend (she knew she had them, that is how I assume I have high-risk strain too) and I went through some awful weeks. At least herpes 1 is not that bad compared to herpes 2, really. Even if you have it on your penis, you will only experience a couple of mild outbreaks and then no recurrence, just like the girl you slept with. I'm not saying it is nice to have it though.

Try to relax, for now it seems you didn't catch herpes, all the odds are on your side. The burning you have around the areas you mentioned does not necessarily mean that you have an STD. Sometimes just because you are feeling warm at night and sweating all these areas start to burn and turn red, and this happens to me. Wait for the test and I hope it comes back negative.

[Bigtimeworried55]

Exposed, I know she has HSV1 because at the onset of my first symptoms, I dragged her to a STD clinic to rule out disease and the common denominator. She tested negative for everything except HSV1 - 2.36.

She called her sister who is a nurse and her sister reminder her about the forehead rash she has had 3 times growing up and the medication to treat it, which was herpes medication. So to her shock, she realized those old infections on her face was a form of herpes. How she didn't know that is beyond me, but she didn't I can tell.

She had 0 symptoms during intercourse and oral but as I know now, you can shed the virus even without symptoms. I don't know if I have this, but I have something.

The frequent burning around anus, taint, and buttocks is extremely alarming. The night sweats as well. This has continued over a week BUT with no blister or herpe lesions....that's where I am confused.

I'm convinced I have it but it's just either mild and I don't have classical lesions, or it's something totally different.

My 8 week IGG and herpes swab come back this week. I'm crossing my fingers but I won't be surprised if positive.

My HIV antibody was negative at 8 weeks. So that looks good thank god.

[exposed2hpv]

If she was not having an outbreak the probability is lower for transmission. What makes you believe she has herpes in her mouth or genitals? I am sorry if I am wrong, but you said she had herpes on her forehead only and not on her mouth or genitals.

There is really no way to tell whether what you are experiencing is due to anxiety or symptoms of fighting the virus unless you have real symptoms like a lesion or something. I had unprotected oral sex both giving and receiving with my last girlfriend that said she has never had an STD. At some point my mind started playing tricks on me that I might have contracted something and really stopped giving her oral sex. I started to feel sick, my throat was sore, my mouth was dray, and I was having red skin on my penis. I was smoking heavily at that time and those may have been because of smoking. First I thought I contracted herpes, then when I went for checkup and STD testing, she said she has HPV. Doctor checked me and said no herpes and I also took the tests. He said assume you don't have HPV. Then I developed a wart/papilloma in the back of my mouth, which was within two months of initial exposure. Doctor checked my mouth and said he sees everything is normal until I gave him pictures of the bump that I took with my phone. Then he referred me to ENT. The girl also said she had treatment for the cancer type, which I assume I have in my mouth now, and the low strain showed warts. So in conclusion, they say HPV does not cause symptoms but I was having some mild sickness/sore throat/dry mouth. So I really don't know if it was anxiety+smoking or my body was fighting the virus.

[Bigtimeworried55]

Thank you for your comment. Aside from what doctors tell me I just hear certain people can take months to develop antibodies.
I have clear symptoms, just not classical lesions.

More importantly, I have been having soaking night sweats for over a week every night while I sleep. I feel that's my body fighting the virus for the first time...but I could be wrong and it could be anxiety...but I'm relaxed at night.

I have something, I just don't know what. I'm testing for HIV and IGG specific again right now actually. It will be 8 weeks post exposure.

I will then retest at 12 and 16 weeks. I just hope if I'm negative I figure out what's wrong with me because doctors keep saying it's not herpes.

[exposed2hpv]

I think herpes is a more understood virus than other viruses like HPV (your symptoms are not HPV either). Doctors usually can easily identify a herpes lesion. For now, you can assume that chances are that you don't have herpes. If you were have your experiencing your first herpes outbreak antibodies should have shown on you blood tests. I am not extremely knowledgeable about herpes, so you might wait for more comments.