Aa
Going Nuts, too much info/little knowlege
I have only had 2 sex partner in the last 3 years. Recently, I had what I thought was a yeast infection on my penis (red stops)my Dr saw them and prescribed Clotrimazole and Betamethasone Dipropionate and it the redness went away. Neither partner had symptons of yeast or any other illness. Then a had sex and a few days later had a few little blisters on my penis, used cream it went away. However, my Dr had me test for Herpes. The test came back positive and I was given prescribed Valtrex. I do not know the type of test or exact results. I was shocked and did not ask. Neither I nor my 2 partners have any symptons of anything. I am very worried. I took the Candida spit test and it shows I have Candida the spit got stringy and went to the bottom of the glass. I have many of the Candida symptons and I thought that is what I had. After I was told I tested positive I have had a tingling sensation on my penis head, it comes and goes, maybe it is mental!!! One final note, a coworker recently told me she was told by her Dr she might have Chicken pox.
Couple of question.
1) Should I countinue to worry?
2) Should I retest for Herpes?
3) Could Chicken pox cause a positive result?
4) Could Candida be my problem?
5) How long should I use the cream I mentioned above?
Thanks, Sleepless in Miami
Couple of question.
1) Should I countinue to worry?
2) Should I retest for Herpes?
3) Could Chicken pox cause a positive result?
4) Could Candida be my problem?
5) How long should I use the cream I mentioned above?
Thanks, Sleepless in Miami
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The older HSV tests indeed are a problem. But not because of cross reaction with chickenpox. Whoever told you that is wrong.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
nevermind, disregard previous message. I see you did take the herpes select
I am 100% sure the older herpes tests (aka non CDC recommended tests) can show positive for HSV if the individual had chicken pox in the past. Labcorp (in the united states) issues such tests.
I know because I tested positive for HSV1 and HSV2 using one of these "older" herpes tests.
So I waited 6 months and tested with the Herpes Select (came back negative for both) and then tested with the Western Blot (had blood work sent to University of Washington). I tested negative on that too
I would call your Dr and ask the exact test you took.
If it's not Herpes Select I would be weary of the results
Good luck I'll keep you in my prayers bro
I know because I tested positive for HSV1 and HSV2 using one of these "older" herpes tests.
So I waited 6 months and tested with the Herpes Select (came back negative for both) and then tested with the Western Blot (had blood work sent to University of Washington). I tested negative on that too
I would call your Dr and ask the exact test you took.
If it's not Herpes Select I would be weary of the results
Good luck I'll keep you in my prayers bro
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Everyone with newly diagnosed genital herpes has lots of questions. Many others will come to mind. This is not the place to address all of them, so this is my last reply.
The absence of symptoms in your partners is meaningless; most people with genital herpes don't know it. It is not possible for me to know how long you have been infected--anywhere from a few weeks to several years. You may not have "any of the usual symptoms" right now, but you had them recently, i.e. red spots and "a few little blisters", the most classic of all herpes symptoms.
Your herpes will frequently be "active", at least for the next few years, even when you are not having symptoms. This is called asymptomatic shedding of the virus. During those times, which you will not be able to recognize or predict, the infection can be transmitted to a partner.
That's it for my involvement in your care. Find a herpes knowledgeable provider, or follow up with my previous suggestion about ASHA. Good luck.
HHH, MD
The absence of symptoms in your partners is meaningless; most people with genital herpes don't know it. It is not possible for me to know how long you have been infected--anywhere from a few weeks to several years. You may not have "any of the usual symptoms" right now, but you had them recently, i.e. red spots and "a few little blisters", the most classic of all herpes symptoms.
Your herpes will frequently be "active", at least for the next few years, even when you are not having symptoms. This is called asymptomatic shedding of the virus. During those times, which you will not be able to recognize or predict, the infection can be transmitted to a partner.
That's it for my involvement in your care. Find a herpes knowledgeable provider, or follow up with my previous suggestion about ASHA. Good luck.
HHH, MD
Me again, I know I said no more questions, but. Could I contacted HVS-2 years ago and not known. If so what could have triggered it now? I have never had a partner tell me they had any kind of herpes. This has me confused. My partner will be checked tomorrow, but had not shown any symptons what so ever. Currently, I do not have any of the usual stmptons, except for a little tingling on the top of my penis, where the skin folds. Dose this mean I am presently active?
Hi Doc. Got more info on my case.I got the results on my blood work. Plesae explain!!
HSV 1/2 IGG HERPESELECT-Type Specific AB
1) Herpes Simplex Type 1 EIA Value 0.02
2) Herpes Semplex Type 2 EIA Value >5.00
Everything else was find on the results exclept my red blood cell count (5.84)high and Hematocrit (50.3)high.
I have read a lot of you responses and I am still conflused. This is the last time I will bother you. Please advise should I be concerned? If I retest will it help?
Thank You.
HSV 1/2 IGG HERPESELECT-Type Specific AB
1) Herpes Simplex Type 1 EIA Value 0.02
2) Herpes Semplex Type 2 EIA Value >5.00
Everything else was find on the results exclept my red blood cell count (5.84)high and Hematocrit (50.3)high.
I have read a lot of you responses and I am still conflused. This is the last time I will bother you. Please advise should I be concerned? If I retest will it help?
Thank You.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You definitely have genital herpes due to HSV-2. There is no point in retesting. The blood test doesn't tell whether you have a new infection, that is, whether your initial sores were due to herpes or yeast (or both); or whether you have been infected for some time. Either way, you need to be on the lookout for symptoms you might not have noticed before, or that you just didn't pay attention to. Although some infections are truly asymptomatic, most people like you come to recognize mild symptoms if they pay attention. It could be just a red bump, or a small sore or scab.
Your recent sex partners need to be informed that you have herpes so they can get checked out. You also need to tell future partners you are infected before you have sex with them.
Follow up with your doc for further advice; or if not confident in his knowledge about herpes, find a provider who knows more. Your local health department STD clinic or a local Planned Parenthood clinic probably would be a good place to start, if you're not certain about your own doctor's expertise.
Online exchanges like this are unlikely to answer all your possible questions. But check out the website of the American Social Health Association (www.ashastd.org). Among other services, ASHA has a herpes telephone information line. It's not toll-free, but still definitely worth a call to get truly expert advice about treatment, protecting your partners, and so on. ASHA also might be able to help you find a herpes-knowlegeable health care provider in your area.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Your recent sex partners need to be informed that you have herpes so they can get checked out. You also need to tell future partners you are infected before you have sex with them.
Follow up with your doc for further advice; or if not confident in his knowledge about herpes, find a provider who knows more. Your local health department STD clinic or a local Planned Parenthood clinic probably would be a good place to start, if you're not certain about your own doctor's expertise.
Online exchanges like this are unlikely to answer all your possible questions. But check out the website of the American Social Health Association (www.ashastd.org). Among other services, ASHA has a herpes telephone information line. It's not toll-free, but still definitely worth a call to get truly expert advice about treatment, protecting your partners, and so on. ASHA also might be able to help you find a herpes-knowlegeable health care provider in your area.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
I used to think the net was great but now I see it is eveil and filled with so much misinformation. I am thankful I was able to filter through alot of it to find this site and the good Dr. . The anxiety the net creates is unbelievable. I am still going through something and not sleeping at night but I take some comfort in knowing there is a reputable "real" expert here especially one who actually takes the time to explain thigns to people day after day. He has been in this field for 30+ years and I would guess he has seen alot of things that we could not imagine.
Thanks for the great work here Dr.
Thanks for the great work here Dr.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Clearly you didn't read the article about herpes as I suggested. Do it. You will see that most people with herpes have no symptoms and don't know it, but still transmit it to other people. Learn the basic facts about the disease then come back with any questions you still have. You can also search this forum's threads for "herpes diagnosis" to learn more about the fact that some herpes blood tests are more accurate than others.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
Sorry, Dr. But how could I have herpes if neither of my recent partners show any symptons. All iI have is these 2 partners. How could this happen? Could I have had this from years ago?
One more thing the test my Dr conducted was a blood test. I never had any blisters taht crusted over. No other symptons. How could it be? I am confused in some of your answers you say the tests are not away correct. Please explain!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Several comments: Chickenpox in a coworker is irrelvant. Your doctor can provide more information about what herpes test was done and what it means. That will provide much more certainty than anything I can say about it. For example, if it was a blood test for HSV-2, then you indeed have herpes, but it doesn't necessarily explain your symptoms. If it was a positive culture, then herpes probably was the cause of the red spots. You need to learn a lot more about herpes; read the article on it in the link at the top of this forum, "STD Quick Facts and Articles".
Having candida is normal. We all have it; candida lives normally from time to time (or all the time) on everybody's skin, in our intestines, in and around our genitals. It's no big deal when it causes a minor problem like yours. The candida spit test is pure quackery; it means absolutely nothing. The apparent response of your symptoms to clotrimazole and betamethazone indeed suggests you might have had a yeast infection, but I cannot comment on whether that's all you had, or yeast on top of herpes; or herpes only, which happened to get better at the same time.
So the answers to your questions are: 1,2) I can't tell. 3) No way. 4) Yes, candida could cause those symptoms, but if so, it's not a "problem", assuming by "problem" you mean some sort of important health risk. You should be worrying much more about herpes, which is a much more important issue for you. 5) Ask your doctor what to do about the treatment he prescribed.
Bottom line: Don't worry about candida one way or the other--and do not pay any attention whatsoever to the many wacko websites about it. But definitely follow up with your doc to find out whether you have genital herpes--which you probably do.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Having candida is normal. We all have it; candida lives normally from time to time (or all the time) on everybody's skin, in our intestines, in and around our genitals. It's no big deal when it causes a minor problem like yours. The candida spit test is pure quackery; it means absolutely nothing. The apparent response of your symptoms to clotrimazole and betamethazone indeed suggests you might have had a yeast infection, but I cannot comment on whether that's all you had, or yeast on top of herpes; or herpes only, which happened to get better at the same time.
So the answers to your questions are: 1,2) I can't tell. 3) No way. 4) Yes, candida could cause those symptoms, but if so, it's not a "problem", assuming by "problem" you mean some sort of important health risk. You should be worrying much more about herpes, which is a much more important issue for you. 5) Ask your doctor what to do about the treatment he prescribed.
Bottom line: Don't worry about candida one way or the other--and do not pay any attention whatsoever to the many wacko websites about it. But definitely follow up with your doc to find out whether you have genital herpes--which you probably do.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs 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.
