Aa
Herpes? Shingles?
Hi there,
Two weeks ago, on Monday the 14th of July 08 I got food poisoning. Two days after on the 16th I was better. On the 17th I started feeling a weird numb, sensitive pain above my top lip. I also had the same numb, sensitive feeling below my right eye and on my right cheek and as well my right eye was hurting from behind.
On the 20th I woke up with two little blisters on my top lip and a few pimple looking bumps (still under the skin) under my right eye. I was scared in regards to the lip sores but thought the ones under my eye were just pimples as I occasionally get them.
On the 21st I woke up to severe pain and a few more tiny blisters on my top lip and additionally, blisters on the right side of my nose, right cheek and under my right eye, on my lower right eyelid, upper right eyelid and a severe splitting headache only on the right side of my head. I called my general practitioner and she had me come in. Based on her viewing on the lesions, she was fixed on it being Herpes 1. She ordered a blood test and prescribed Valtrex. The same day (the 21st) she sent me to an ophthalmologist due to the eye pain and the lesions surrounding the eye.
The ophthalmologist prescribed Doxycyclin and said it looked like it could either be herpes or shingles.
The same day, my girlfriend went and had a blood test for Herpes. Being that she is the only one I've been with and vice versa, I thought if she had it, my circumstances would be explained. She turned up with a negative.
On the 22nd I woke up with more lesions (small clusters that looked like white pimples) on the right side of my forehead along my hairline. Additionally I had splitting pain in my teeth (ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE). The teeth pain was split straight down from the top and bottom big teeth, back to the molars. My doctor prescribed Neurontin due to the nerve pain in my teeth. My face was swollen on the right side only and my right eye swelled nearly half shut (with the splitting headaches continuing on the right side).
On the 28th, my doctor called and said all the tests she ran came back negative, including an early antibody detection test. I went and saw a dermatologist on the 29th and he was under the impression, based on the symptoms, vast area of lesions and specific right side pain that I had shingles. My primary doctor suggested taking another blood test for antibodies in two months. The lesions fully 'bloomed' and all looked like small pimples and have since scabbed and fallen off
Is there anything I can do at this point (1 and a half weeks later) to determine if I had shingles vrs herpes vrs whatever else it could be? Or do I just need to wait and get tested in a few months?
If the conclusion is to be to tested in a few months, when is the earliest date I could/should test for the antibodies to get an accurate result?
Lastly, my girlfriend tested negative, I tested negative and three doctors seems to be under the impression I had shingles. I'd rather wait and make sure I am negative however I am wondering if hugging, sleeping together (non-sexually or sexually without kissing) would be safe. She is paranoid I am going to transmit the virus to her through hand contact or skin to skin touch. Is hand holding, hugging, sleeping together (non-sexually or sexually minus kissing) safe?
Thank You in advance.
Two weeks ago, on Monday the 14th of July 08 I got food poisoning. Two days after on the 16th I was better. On the 17th I started feeling a weird numb, sensitive pain above my top lip. I also had the same numb, sensitive feeling below my right eye and on my right cheek and as well my right eye was hurting from behind.
On the 20th I woke up with two little blisters on my top lip and a few pimple looking bumps (still under the skin) under my right eye. I was scared in regards to the lip sores but thought the ones under my eye were just pimples as I occasionally get them.
On the 21st I woke up to severe pain and a few more tiny blisters on my top lip and additionally, blisters on the right side of my nose, right cheek and under my right eye, on my lower right eyelid, upper right eyelid and a severe splitting headache only on the right side of my head. I called my general practitioner and she had me come in. Based on her viewing on the lesions, she was fixed on it being Herpes 1. She ordered a blood test and prescribed Valtrex. The same day (the 21st) she sent me to an ophthalmologist due to the eye pain and the lesions surrounding the eye.
The ophthalmologist prescribed Doxycyclin and said it looked like it could either be herpes or shingles.
The same day, my girlfriend went and had a blood test for Herpes. Being that she is the only one I've been with and vice versa, I thought if she had it, my circumstances would be explained. She turned up with a negative.
On the 22nd I woke up with more lesions (small clusters that looked like white pimples) on the right side of my forehead along my hairline. Additionally I had splitting pain in my teeth (ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE). The teeth pain was split straight down from the top and bottom big teeth, back to the molars. My doctor prescribed Neurontin due to the nerve pain in my teeth. My face was swollen on the right side only and my right eye swelled nearly half shut (with the splitting headaches continuing on the right side).
On the 28th, my doctor called and said all the tests she ran came back negative, including an early antibody detection test. I went and saw a dermatologist on the 29th and he was under the impression, based on the symptoms, vast area of lesions and specific right side pain that I had shingles. My primary doctor suggested taking another blood test for antibodies in two months. The lesions fully 'bloomed' and all looked like small pimples and have since scabbed and fallen off
Is there anything I can do at this point (1 and a half weeks later) to determine if I had shingles vrs herpes vrs whatever else it could be? Or do I just need to wait and get tested in a few months?
If the conclusion is to be to tested in a few months, when is the earliest date I could/should test for the antibodies to get an accurate result?
Lastly, my girlfriend tested negative, I tested negative and three doctors seems to be under the impression I had shingles. I'd rather wait and make sure I am negative however I am wondering if hugging, sleeping together (non-sexually or sexually without kissing) would be safe. She is paranoid I am going to transmit the virus to her through hand contact or skin to skin touch. Is hand holding, hugging, sleeping together (non-sexually or sexually minus kissing) safe?
Thank You in advance.
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grace
grace
I just recently had a small bump in my genital area (female) and so I got scared it was herpes and I got it checked out. It was fairly small and raised, but not a blister and it did not have puss in it. It was a little sore and thats why I noticed it in the first place. I have not had any burning, itching, or tingling sensations and no burning during urination.
After the doctor examined the bump she immediately told me that it didnt even look like close to what herpes would look like and that I had nothing to worry about. Me being the paranoid person that I am repeatedly asked her if she was sure and she said that I was fine but to ease my mind she would have me do the Herpes Titer. Well, my doctor just called me the other day and told me that the results came back positive as did my HPV results for abnormal cells (I dont think HPV and herpes are related). She didnt say for which kind of herpes. So I immediately was devasted and started doing as much research as I could and found out that there are different tests out there. and I found that some tests are more accurate than others. I called my doctors office yesterday to find out what test was done and the nurse told me that the doctor had ordered an HSV test for IGG and IGM. The IGM test came back positive and the IGG came back negative.
From what I have been reading the IGM test is unreliable. What is the likelihood that I actually have Herpes? Can the IGM test determine if it is HSV 1 or HSV 2? If so, is it still unreliable? When do I get re-tested? Should I get a second opinion right away? The last time I had sex was a little over 4 months ago and I have had no symptoms. Can someone also tell me about the symptoms as far as when they should appear and if this adds up at all because to me it doesnt. Do symptoms always appear? Do the majority of people or does everyone who contracts it have symptoms? Any help would be great...I have been feeling super depressed about everything and now a little confused.
Thanks
After the doctor examined the bump she immediately told me that it didnt even look like close to what herpes would look like and that I had nothing to worry about. Me being the paranoid person that I am repeatedly asked her if she was sure and she said that I was fine but to ease my mind she would have me do the Herpes Titer. Well, my doctor just called me the other day and told me that the results came back positive as did my HPV results for abnormal cells (I dont think HPV and herpes are related). She didnt say for which kind of herpes. So I immediately was devasted and started doing as much research as I could and found out that there are different tests out there. and I found that some tests are more accurate than others. I called my doctors office yesterday to find out what test was done and the nurse told me that the doctor had ordered an HSV test for IGG and IGM. The IGM test came back positive and the IGG came back negative.
From what I have been reading the IGM test is unreliable. What is the likelihood that I actually have Herpes? Can the IGM test determine if it is HSV 1 or HSV 2? If so, is it still unreliable? When do I get re-tested? Should I get a second opinion right away? The last time I had sex was a little over 4 months ago and I have had no symptoms. Can someone also tell me about the symptoms as far as when they should appear and if this adds up at all because to me it doesnt. Do symptoms always appear? Do the majority of people or does everyone who contracts it have symptoms? Any help would be great...I have been feeling super depressed about everything and now a little confused.
Thanks
Thank you both for your responses. I sought three opinions in addition to my primary doctor's and they all conclude I had shingles. The lesions have since healed and the swelling has gone down. Headaches are still present but I had those before all this so I'm assuming I'm back to "normal" if you will.
On day 1 (the 21st), my primary doctor prescribed 1000mg Valtrex for me to take three times a day. At this point, now 11 days later she is still under the impression it was HSV1 so she wants me to get re-tested in a month and a half to two months. I guess that's all I can do because she initially put that doubt in my mind and now it seems she has too much pride to back down from her day 1 diagnosis. But she's the "professional" so I guess I just wait at this point.
Thanks again!
On day 1 (the 21st), my primary doctor prescribed 1000mg Valtrex for me to take three times a day. At this point, now 11 days later she is still under the impression it was HSV1 so she wants me to get re-tested in a month and a half to two months. I guess that's all I can do because she initially put that doubt in my mind and now it seems she has too much pride to back down from her day 1 diagnosis. But she's the "professional" so I guess I just wait at this point.
Thanks again!
This actually sounds more typical of shingles than hsv1. I see no reason to doubt your diagnosis. Did they prescribe the higher doses of valtrex for you after they decided it was shingles and not hsv1?
grace
grace
COMMUNITY LEADER
You'll just have to wait, unfortunately.
There is nothing that can be done sooner, however, if you don't have a positive blood test now, and your gf is negative, and the only person you've been with is her, you can't have herpes.
Its possible you got hsv1 orally from kissing a relative, but in the absence of a cold sore on them, its unlikely. So far, signs point to shingles.
Aj
There is nothing that can be done sooner, however, if you don't have a positive blood test now, and your gf is negative, and the only person you've been with is her, you can't have herpes.
Its possible you got hsv1 orally from kissing a relative, but in the absence of a cold sore on them, its unlikely. So far, signs point to shingles.
Aj
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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.
