Allergic reaction or Herpes?!?! Please HELP

[anonperson]

Dear Doctor,

Hi I recently got a brazilian wax this past Saturday!
I had gotten one of these wax jobs before like a month and a half before and nothing happened like what I am about to explain!Anyways I had wax left on long hairs all day (I got waxed in the morning) I went shopping, walking with wax pulling on these hairs and sweating all day in really tight Jeans (I could feel it pulling and I would have to readjust jeans/panties).
I didn't take a shower that night because I took a shower that morning and was headed to the lake the next morning all day. Well I noticed later the next day the rawness and the sore that was forming after I had gotten off the lake. I went to the lake the next day again (monday). Well after I would get out of the water it would be white in color but would be rough feeling. This is after I had kept rubbing it for a day and a half. But it is still a open wound, swollen and sore it does not look like a ulcer just a sore that is staying moist due to its location... I have never had any symptoms prior to the wax job.
It really only hurts when my jeans rub against it and when I am standing still like a dull pain where the sore is. The sore is roughly the size of a dime and seems to be healing (Boyfriend says it looks like it is!)
It doesn't hurt when urine passes over it or water. I got an STD test 5 months agoAll were NEG.I have been with the same man for 2 years. He has been checked and is NEG as well. Could this be a reaction from the wax? Because this took effect less than 24-48 hours later after the wax. With no prior soreness there before the wax.
I noticed last night that on the same side that my sore is (right side), my lymph node is swollen/tender/tight feeling. I am really scared but I am trying to be realistic about the matter as well. Everyone I have talked to has told me that I am over reacting.
Please HELP ME out because I am freaking out! I don't have any kind of insurance either!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You describe no reason to suspect herpes as the cause of your symptoms and every reason to suspect the obvious -- that you got some irritation from the wax job, followed by a superficial infection, probably with staph, strep, or similar normal skin bacteria.  The lymph node inflammation doesn't mean anything; such bacterial infections are just as likely to cause such symptoms as herpes is.  This is sort of like a patient who gets hit over the head with a baseball bat, then goes to the doctor wondering if his headache is due to a brain tumor.

Of course I cannot diagnose anything from a distance, but I am inclined to agree with your friends who believe you are overreacting.  But the only way to know for sure what you have is to see a health care provider about it.  And if the pain/swelling in your groin indeed is an inflamed lymph node, you might need an antibiotic.  But in the meantime, I really see no reason to worry about herpes.

Best wishes --  HHH, MD

[anonperson]

Also:
I was putting Hydrogen Peroxide on it followed by baby powder. But I stopped with both becuase of the irratation of taking the baby powder off and one of my medical friends told me the the peroxide could be causing more skin damage. So I am sticking with antibiotic ointment as of right now but it is not making things down there feel good! Kind of itchy due to all the stuff I was previously putting down there. I am terribly scared. What happens if the gland on the other side does the same as the other one? Does it mean anything different?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, it would mean nothing different if you had lymph node inflammation on both sides. It would be best to stop using any antibiotic cream or other treatments except to keep the area clean and dry.  In the meantime, there is nothing to be "terribly scared" about.  But do see a provider for reassurance.

[anonperson]

Thank you so much!! What other symptoms should I keep an eye out for just in case!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Almost all initial cases of genital herpes in women cause blisters/sores of the vaginal opening or labia (not the outer skin or hairy areas).  If you develop such a problem, see a health care provider about it. Otherwise, please put herpes out of your mind.

[anonperson]

Doctor,

How accurate is the Herpe Select test? I just came back from Planned Parenthood and that is the test they used. They told me I was posistive for both HSV1 and HSV2. Which I have never ever showed a symptom or symptoms of Herpes. But the nurse practioner who seen me said that I was posistive for both and I had had them for a very long time becuase the numbers where so high. My mom has cold sores and so does my brother but I never have. I have been with the same man for 1 1/2 years to two years. He too has never had a sign or symptoms of herpes. So could this test be wrong? Or what is the deal?

I wrote up earlier how I got waxed and I was concerned it was herpes well I did get checked after that before this test and the Doctor said it was a burn no doubt. But I did a whole STD check and this is what I got back!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The HerpeSelect test is generally accurate, but it has the potential for giving false positive results for HSV-2.  The chance your HSV-2 result is false depends a lot on the detailed test result.  Please contact the provider who did the test to learn the exact numbers that were reported for both your HSV-1 and HSV-2 results.  In addition, you might look at some previous threads.  Just enter HerpeSelect in the search window for this forum; you will find many discussions about it.  For sure see this one:  http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/593272.

[anonperson]

Doctor,

Ok I just called and received the results... Here they are
HSV 1 igg: 3.28
HSV 2 igg: greater than 5.0

But I have never showed a symptom. Does that mean I never will or what? Do I have it or do I need to go get tested somewhere else? I was tested 6-7 months ago for HSV and came back Neg on both and keep in mind been with the same man for almost 2 years.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

HerpeSelect HSV-2 results over 3.5 are highly reliable.  You definitely have genital herpes due to HSV-2.  Further, the conversion to positive from a negative result 6 months earlier proves you were infected sometime between those two tests.  Despite the atypical nature of your symptoms and the timing after the wax treatment, it now seems more likely that I was wrong, that herpes might have been part of the problem at that time.

Most people with positive HSV-2 blood tests and believe themselves to be asymptomatic in fact begin to notice symptoms once they know what to look for.  Pay attention to even minor itches or sores, and if something appears, see a herpes-knowlegeable health care provider immediately (within a day or two) for confirmatory examination and testing.  Research shows that about 2/3 of people in your situation in fact learn to recognize the symptoms of mild recurrent outbreaks.

The most important thing now is for you to find a health care provider who understands genital herpes.  Your own primary care provider or ObG is the place to start, but don't hesitate to ask pointed questions about their experience with herpes.  If in doubt, ask around; or call the American Social Health Association (www.ashastd.org), which can provide expert counseling and also maintains lists of expert herpes providers in many geographic areas.  (Full disclosure:  Dr. Hook and I are on ASHA's Board of Directors.)  Another excellent source of online information is the Westover Heights Clinic of Portland, OR (www.westoverheights.com).  Finally, take advantage of MedHelp's excellent herpes community forum, whose moderators are highly expert nurse cliniican/counselors.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[anonperson]

Another question is other than taking pills daily is there a cure coming out for this virus? Money is no obstacle here at all! I read in an article that they have found a way to finally kill the herpes virus. Here is the link http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25511729/

Am I hoping for to much here?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Unfortunately, there is no cure and there will not be one in the foreseeable future.  All HSV infections are lifelong (although that doesn't mean recurrent outbreaks continue for life).  The research you cite is very theoretical, not even tested in animal models, let alone humans.  Even if it pans out, it likely would take 10 years for something to be available by prescription -- and at this point, I would predict that it won't work anyway.

I suggest you not waste time searching online for cures.  Limit your energies to other management aspects, like symptoms control, protecting partners, treatment (and not with quack stuff like lysine).  And please stick with professionally run and/or professionally moderated online sources.  There are lots of sites that don't meet those criteria and most are not worth your time.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Another comment I meant to include above.  Two of them, actually.  First, although I now believe the symptoms after the wax job might have been due in part to herpes, that is not where you acquired your infection.  Somewhere out there is a sex partner from whom you caught HSV-2.

Second, I recommend that you not start "taking pills daily".  Usually it is smartest to hold off on suppressive anti-herpes therapy for a few weeks or months, until your symptomatic recurrence pattern is known.  There can be exceptions to this, in order to protect a partner from transmission.  Still, generally it is wise to wait.

[anonperson]

Doctor,

Sorry to have bugged you again..
But other than the wax mess up I have had no symptoms never had of herpes. I went and seen a doctor about the burn I had from the wax and she said no way could that be herpes didn't even look like Herpes that it was already starting to leave a scar and herpes doesn't do that (it left a big scar). She said first there were no blisters, no sickness, no pain with urinating, no pain to the sore (other than when I wore really tight jeans and walked a long way and it hurt at the end of the day and a day after that kind of) and only when I used peroxide with baby powder and it hurt cleaning that stuff off :( ), no itchyness/pain before or anything like that or pain in buttocks or leg. She was knowledgeable of herpes. But I had a wax before done by the same place and person and never had any affects like this. And the WAX was hot I jumped like a little girl when it ran down to the place I got the burn lol

So what I am asking is since I have not been having any symptoms will I get symptoms being greater than 5.0? The doctor who tested me said I had had it for awhile since it was so high. So I didn't know if that meant my body has already built up antibodies to fight off breakouts or what?

My Partner went and got tested today we should know in a few days.
What is the chance he has it, if indeed he didn't give it to me? We have had unprotected sex ever sense we have been together 2 years almost. We both agreed that we are not passing blame if we both have it. We both have never showed any kind of symptoms of herpes. He gets what looks like one or two pimples every now and then on his penis but our dogs also sleep with us and sometimes have fleas. And he has other bites on him, they never turn into blisters or ulcers.  But he does have cold sores aka HSV 1.

What is the likely hood of me going this long without any symptoms to ever showing symptoms? Or could I be one of the lucky ones who never show symptoms?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Almost certainly you have been infected for under 6 months, i.e. since the negative blood test.  There is a slight chance, however, that your earlier blood test was falsely negative.  But if your boyfriend is your only sex partner during the past 6 months, you can assume he is the source of your infection, and his test for HSV-2 probably will be positive.  Since he is likely the source of your infection, I suggest not worrying yet about the chance you might infect him -- that can be addressed if his blood test comes back negative.

The height of your blood test result does not predict one way or the other whether you might have symptoms or, if you do, how severe they might be.  The blood test results and symptoms are completely unrelated to one another.

Feel free to come back with one last brief exchange when your partner's HSV-2 test is back.  Other than that, this has to be the last comment on this forum.  You need personalized counseling and medical advice that goes way beyond what a forum like this can offer.

[anonperson]

Ok here are his blood test results:

HSV 1 igg: greater than 5.0
HSV 2 igg: 1.76

He is the only partner I have had in almost 2 years. I have had 3 STD test including HSV testing as well (know for a fact they tested for HSV) in the last year and a half and one before we got together. So I know I was clean and there was no way that 4 test showed a false negative... But why is his number so low on the HSV 2 and mine is so high? Does that mean I gave it to him or that I have a great immune system (which I do) and my body builds up antibodies quickly? Or what?

I called back and talked to my doctor who seen me for my "burn" and asked her if that it could have been an outbreak and she said no. It looked like a classic burn.

So am I going to start showing symptoms or what? What is the % I will show symptoms or he will or what not.

Thanks you  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your partner's test results show he might or might not be infected with HSV-2.  It would take a confirmatory test to know for sure.  But given the evidence you had a recent HSV-2 infection, if indeed he is your only possible source of infection, it is likely he has HSV-2.  As to whether or not the apparent wax-related burn was just that or complicated by a simultaneous HSV-2 infection, I cannot say.

The strength of your positive test or your partner's says nothign at all about how long you were infected.  There is no particular reason (at least none known) that some people with HSV-2 have higher ELISA values and others have lower ones.

Some HSV-2 infections simply remain mysterious, and it is a fair possibility you will never know for sure when and where you were infected.  If you want to pursue this further, have your partner get a confirmatory test, such as Western blot.  If that shows he does not have HSV-2 after all, then it would be reasonable for you to be tested for HSV-2 once again.  Although false positive results are rare with the high ELISA ratio you had, it could happen.

As to whether or not you will have symptomatic recurrent outbreaks, that is difficult to predict.  Most people in your situation come to notice recurrent symptoms, even if not appreciateed before the test result proved they were infected.  But many remain asymptomatic and it is not possible to predict.

As you are learning, genital herpes and HSV-2 are complex subjeccts.  As I said in an earlier reply, you really need to get direct, personal advice from a herpes knowledgeable provider.  We're glad to help here, but no forum or other online source can provide all the information you want or need.  If you want to post the results of confirmatory testing of your partner and/or yourself, feel free.  But other than that, it's time to end this thread.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD