Aa
So I got my blood test results from the Type Specific testing...
Hi all,
Here is my official posting with the Doc for reference:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/urology/messages/32161.html
Open to advice.
First round igm testing: 1.0
Second round igm testing: 1.1
Type specific testing:
Type 1: 1.02
Type 2: .95
So those were not too useful either.
Two years of off and and on penis pain is really getting old (as documented in the url listed above). Been to six doctors and no one seem to know what is going on. I guess Herpes is as good of a guess as any.
.95 result really throws me off because I would have had to have contracted this a few years ago which would definately show up in a test now.
1.02 did not really help me too much either but I guess a positive is a positive.
All and all, two years in, I guess I will give the anti-virals a shot and get re-tested in a few weeks Type Specific and if that comes back inconclusive I will go for the Western blot test unless anyone else has a better game plan.
You would think a group of five Urologists could figure this problem out. My brother is a Urologist and he does not even know what is going on :|
Anyway, thx for reading and any thoughts are appriciated :)
-AdviceSeeker06
Here is my official posting with the Doc for reference:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/urology/messages/32161.html
Open to advice.
First round igm testing: 1.0
Second round igm testing: 1.1
Type specific testing:
Type 1: 1.02
Type 2: .95
So those were not too useful either.
Two years of off and and on penis pain is really getting old (as documented in the url listed above). Been to six doctors and no one seem to know what is going on. I guess Herpes is as good of a guess as any.
.95 result really throws me off because I would have had to have contracted this a few years ago which would definately show up in a test now.
1.02 did not really help me too much either but I guess a positive is a positive.
All and all, two years in, I guess I will give the anti-virals a shot and get re-tested in a few weeks Type Specific and if that comes back inconclusive I will go for the Western blot test unless anyone else has a better game plan.
You would think a group of five Urologists could figure this problem out. My brother is a Urologist and he does not even know what is going on :|
Anyway, thx for reading and any thoughts are appriciated :)
-AdviceSeeker06
Yeah, I know. Anyway, you'd probably want to go to a physical therapist for that kind of internal work. They're all set up for it, and it's legal :-) At least in my state, it's a violation to touch breasts, let alone genitals, lol.
as I said - you have to take that link with a grain or two of salt but I know from my own experiences with my own body just how true it really is. When I had my non-stop genital pain for 3 years - it transferred all the way up into my shoulders and neck even! I understand that there are actually professional medical personel who do internal massage for genital issues but I"m not sure I'm comfortable with a stranger massaging my insides not matter how much training they've had ;) I'm a TOTAL believer in massage therapy done by a professional though for all around general health - ok so even the foot massages my untrained kids give me do me a world of good who am I kidding :)
grace
grace
Thank you for posting that link. I've bookmarked it!
I used to be a massage therapist in a medically-oriented practice, and what they're saying about chronic tension/trigger points is dead-on. My experience is that most people carry an enormous amount of tension in their pelvises--not just the pc muscle, but the piriformis, psoas, glutes, etc.--and are often inactive, to boot.
I used to be a massage therapist in a medically-oriented practice, and what they're saying about chronic tension/trigger points is dead-on. My experience is that most people carry an enormous amount of tension in their pelvises--not just the pc muscle, but the piriformis, psoas, glutes, etc.--and are often inactive, to boot.
"The pain is real. Hits about 5-8/10 on the pain scale for about 2-4 weeks five or six times a year and goes away."
Nobody is arguing with you that your pain isn't "real." Chronic pain is chronic pain. The origin of it, however, is suspect for a physiologic basis. That's all I'm sayin'. It's a common phenomenon that patients actually do feel physical pain in their bodies in conjunction with somatoform disorder.
"You really are a good example of what is wrong with public posting.
Jerk answers really do not help anyone."
Sorry. Nobody put a gun to your head and told you to read it. (Or respond to it.) I'm not sure what was so "jerk" about my "answer," though. It's very obvious from your initial post that you've been looking for a "physiologic disorder" to explain your symptoms. That's why people "doctor shop" and go after opinion after opinion after opinion. My guess is that the one specialist you haven't seen is a psychiatrist or a psychologist. In other words, it either doesn't occur to you that your symptoms could be a somatoform pain disorder, or you are simply in denial about it. And I happened to raise that issue. Sounds like I hit a nerve.
I guess what you needed in your post was a disclaimer, though: "Please do not respond if you feel this might be functional! Or if you are barn babe!"
"At any rate, I guess we are all entitled to an opinion. Having a few doctors in the family has its +s and -s and one minus is that they like to get opinions and I do too."
Oh, come on. Doctors are notorious for their CYA behavior, especially in the litigious society we live in. That's why they order MRI scans and lab testing and x-rays and throw the patients to the "specialists," so that they can cover their asses and avoid malpractice suits. You can sugar coat it all you want and describe it as liking "to get opinions (and you do too)," but let's not kid ourselves here about why many patients are thrown to the specialists when a doc can't pin down a diagnosis.
The other thing many docs like to do is placate their patients by "agreeing" to seconds and thirds and however many opinions because they are loathe to come out and say, "Look, man, there's nothing wrong with you that a trial of Prozac won't help." That happens all the time, too. But that's a form of CYA practicing as well. Most docs are just not going to come out and say, "Look, I'm the seventh (!) specialist you've seen, and I've found nothing wrong with you. How would you feel about a psychiatric referral?" Yeah, like that's really going to happen. Very few docs will do that.
Sounds like you'll keep on with the consultations. Good luck on that. My guess is that you are highly unlikely to be written up in the next New England Journal of Medicine as having a new bizarre form of penile disorder, but knock yourself out with the seventh, eighth, and ninth opinions.
"The idea of posting my results is mainly to see if anyone has had the same problem with similar courses of treatment."
That may have been "mainly" what you wanted when you posted, but I saw no specific request for others with similar symptoms to respond. You asked for "thoughts." (I might add you also stated that any "thoughts" would be appreciated. I guess that excludes mine specifically.)
"Antibiotics such as Roseffin (sic) and bactrim have a proven track record for helping the pain; however, no culture has shown bacteria."
I think you mean Rocephin. And bactrim isn't generic. So I guess these won't work for you, given the "no bacteria" situation. Well, can't say the docs didn't try, eh? Just one more thing ruled out.
"At the end of the day, I am not a doctor. I am just a guy in pain that is overwhelming at times which comes and goes. Generally happy, finishing up my fourth degree, have a pretty nice job, married, eat right and workout three-five times a week etcetera."
Yeah, aren't we all. Except for the married part; I don't believe in it. And I'm not a guy. But none of what you mentioned precludes a somatoform disorder.
"Anyway, think about how your postings might affect people that are really coming here for help without any knowledge going in instead of telling them to check the "mental illness" forum."
I retracted my comment about the mental illness forum. But I stand by my comments that this sounds suspiciously like a somatization disorder and that antidepressants generally work with such problems.
Nobody is arguing with you that your pain isn't "real." Chronic pain is chronic pain. The origin of it, however, is suspect for a physiologic basis. That's all I'm sayin'. It's a common phenomenon that patients actually do feel physical pain in their bodies in conjunction with somatoform disorder.
"You really are a good example of what is wrong with public posting.
Jerk answers really do not help anyone."
Sorry. Nobody put a gun to your head and told you to read it. (Or respond to it.) I'm not sure what was so "jerk" about my "answer," though. It's very obvious from your initial post that you've been looking for a "physiologic disorder" to explain your symptoms. That's why people "doctor shop" and go after opinion after opinion after opinion. My guess is that the one specialist you haven't seen is a psychiatrist or a psychologist. In other words, it either doesn't occur to you that your symptoms could be a somatoform pain disorder, or you are simply in denial about it. And I happened to raise that issue. Sounds like I hit a nerve.
I guess what you needed in your post was a disclaimer, though: "Please do not respond if you feel this might be functional! Or if you are barn babe!"
"At any rate, I guess we are all entitled to an opinion. Having a few doctors in the family has its +s and -s and one minus is that they like to get opinions and I do too."
Oh, come on. Doctors are notorious for their CYA behavior, especially in the litigious society we live in. That's why they order MRI scans and lab testing and x-rays and throw the patients to the "specialists," so that they can cover their asses and avoid malpractice suits. You can sugar coat it all you want and describe it as liking "to get opinions (and you do too)," but let's not kid ourselves here about why many patients are thrown to the specialists when a doc can't pin down a diagnosis.
The other thing many docs like to do is placate their patients by "agreeing" to seconds and thirds and however many opinions because they are loathe to come out and say, "Look, man, there's nothing wrong with you that a trial of Prozac won't help." That happens all the time, too. But that's a form of CYA practicing as well. Most docs are just not going to come out and say, "Look, I'm the seventh (!) specialist you've seen, and I've found nothing wrong with you. How would you feel about a psychiatric referral?" Yeah, like that's really going to happen. Very few docs will do that.
Sounds like you'll keep on with the consultations. Good luck on that. My guess is that you are highly unlikely to be written up in the next New England Journal of Medicine as having a new bizarre form of penile disorder, but knock yourself out with the seventh, eighth, and ninth opinions.
"The idea of posting my results is mainly to see if anyone has had the same problem with similar courses of treatment."
That may have been "mainly" what you wanted when you posted, but I saw no specific request for others with similar symptoms to respond. You asked for "thoughts." (I might add you also stated that any "thoughts" would be appreciated. I guess that excludes mine specifically.)
"Antibiotics such as Roseffin (sic) and bactrim have a proven track record for helping the pain; however, no culture has shown bacteria."
I think you mean Rocephin. And bactrim isn't generic. So I guess these won't work for you, given the "no bacteria" situation. Well, can't say the docs didn't try, eh? Just one more thing ruled out.
"At the end of the day, I am not a doctor. I am just a guy in pain that is overwhelming at times which comes and goes. Generally happy, finishing up my fourth degree, have a pretty nice job, married, eat right and workout three-five times a week etcetera."
Yeah, aren't we all. Except for the married part; I don't believe in it. And I'm not a guy. But none of what you mentioned precludes a somatoform disorder.
"Anyway, think about how your postings might affect people that are really coming here for help without any knowledge going in instead of telling them to check the "mental illness" forum."
I retracted my comment about the mental illness forum. But I stand by my comments that this sounds suspiciously like a somatization disorder and that antidepressants generally work with such problems.
The pain is real. Hits about 5-8/10 on the pain scale for about 2-4 weeks five or six times a year and goes away.
Yes, I am well aware of the treatments for CPPS and a pain management clinic is usually a good place to start.
You really are a good example of what is wrong with public posting.
Jerk answers really do not help anyone.
At any rate, I guess we are all entitled to an opinion. Having a few doctors in the family has its +s and -s and one minus is that they like to get opinions and I do too.
The idea of posting my results is mainly to see if anyone has had the same problem with similar courses of treatment.
Antibiotics such as Roseffin and bactrim have a proven track record for helping the pain; however, no culture has shown bacteria.
At the end of the day, I am not a doctor. I am just a guy in pain that is overwhelming at times which comes and goes. Generally happy, finishing up my fourth degree, have a pretty nice job, married, eat right and workout three-five times a week etcetera.
Anyway, think about how your postings might affect people that are really coming here for help without any knowledge going in instead of telling them to check the "mental illness" forum.
Not a cool thing to say to people that need help :|
-AdviceSeeker06
Yes, I am well aware of the treatments for CPPS and a pain management clinic is usually a good place to start.
You really are a good example of what is wrong with public posting.
Jerk answers really do not help anyone.
At any rate, I guess we are all entitled to an opinion. Having a few doctors in the family has its +s and -s and one minus is that they like to get opinions and I do too.
The idea of posting my results is mainly to see if anyone has had the same problem with similar courses of treatment.
Antibiotics such as Roseffin and bactrim have a proven track record for helping the pain; however, no culture has shown bacteria.
At the end of the day, I am not a doctor. I am just a guy in pain that is overwhelming at times which comes and goes. Generally happy, finishing up my fourth degree, have a pretty nice job, married, eat right and workout three-five times a week etcetera.
Anyway, think about how your postings might affect people that are really coming here for help without any knowledge going in instead of telling them to check the "mental illness" forum.
Not a cool thing to say to people that need help :|
-AdviceSeeker06
"just getting second third opinions."
That's exactly my point. Six doctors (!) "don't know" what you have. I'd say that's a pretty good indication that you have nothing serious, and in fact a very high probability that what you have is functional.
But here's the money quote:
"CPPS or PPS are possible candidates; however, mental illness is really not."
Okay, you lost me on the abbreviations there, so I did a quick Google; but that's all I did. Sounds like it's some kind of chronic pelvic pain you are talking about.
I rest my case.
I think it's pretty much understood that these chronic "myoneuropathic" problems can have underlying psychological bases. Interstitial cystitis is another diagnosis of exclusion that comes to mind. And by the way, you do know about diagnoses of exclusion, right? That means they "can't find anything wrong," so they'll attribute it to....CPPS or PPS as possible candidates.
IANAD, but I stand by my opinion that you've got a constellation of symptoms that sounds functional.
But just for sh*ts and giggles, do you happen to know one of the best treatments for chronic pain states? Antidepressants.
I will, however, retract my comment about the "mental illness" forum. It turns out there isn't one.
So I will recommend the Anxiety forum.
Cheers.
That's exactly my point. Six doctors (!) "don't know" what you have. I'd say that's a pretty good indication that you have nothing serious, and in fact a very high probability that what you have is functional.
But here's the money quote:
"CPPS or PPS are possible candidates; however, mental illness is really not."
Okay, you lost me on the abbreviations there, so I did a quick Google; but that's all I did. Sounds like it's some kind of chronic pelvic pain you are talking about.
I rest my case.
I think it's pretty much understood that these chronic "myoneuropathic" problems can have underlying psychological bases. Interstitial cystitis is another diagnosis of exclusion that comes to mind. And by the way, you do know about diagnoses of exclusion, right? That means they "can't find anything wrong," so they'll attribute it to....CPPS or PPS as possible candidates.
IANAD, but I stand by my opinion that you've got a constellation of symptoms that sounds functional.
But just for sh*ts and giggles, do you happen to know one of the best treatments for chronic pain states? Antidepressants.
I will, however, retract my comment about the "mental illness" forum. It turns out there isn't one.
So I will recommend the Anxiety forum.
Cheers.
You do not have herpes. I don't know why you've locked onto herpes and not some other problem as the source of your discomfort (perhaps they're emotionally linked), but it's safe to say it's not herpes.
I'm totally with monkeyflower on this one - your hsv2 is negative and since your symptoms have been going on for 2 years now there's no reason to even retest for herpes. You are also negative for hsv1. Herpes is not the cause of your symptoms so move on past it.
2 years of symptoms and it's going to be hard to stop the cycle easily unfortunately. Have you tried any of the chronic pain medications at all to see if they help? I'm pretty sure you've posted on other boards ( herpes homepage I think ) and probably I already posted this website for you but if not I think it's a worthwhile read because it points out how pain in one part of the body can just lead to more and more pain because of the way our bodies react to it all - http://www.pelvicpainhelp.com/excerpts.html take it with a grain or two of salt but I think the overall message is a good one.
grace
2 years of symptoms and it's going to be hard to stop the cycle easily unfortunately. Have you tried any of the chronic pain medications at all to see if they help? I'm pretty sure you've posted on other boards ( herpes homepage I think ) and probably I already posted this website for you but if not I think it's a worthwhile read because it points out how pain in one part of the body can just lead to more and more pain because of the way our bodies react to it all - http://www.pelvicpainhelp.com/excerpts.html take it with a grain or two of salt but I think the overall message is a good one.
grace
"After consultations with six different docs, if you can't figure out what the problem is, then you are on the wrong board.
Try the Mental Illness forum."
Two GPs and four urologist just getting second, third opinions etcetera.
Telling somoene to try the mental illness forum is fairly rude btw. CPPS or PPS are possible candidates; however, mental illness is really not.
However, thank you for your vote of confidence lol.
-AdviceSeeker06
Try the Mental Illness forum."
Two GPs and four urologist just getting second, third opinions etcetera.
Telling somoene to try the mental illness forum is fairly rude btw. CPPS or PPS are possible candidates; however, mental illness is really not.
However, thank you for your vote of confidence lol.
-AdviceSeeker06
O don't know. My doc and Nurse practitioner just said either it is pos or neg and if pos you have it. They said don't mess with all of those inaccurate tests. Get the herpes select test (which I had), or the western blot test and none of the other highly inaccurate tests.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the STDs / STIs 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.
