Swollen Lymph Node Follow up

Hi Dr.  This is a follow up to the post i mad on 11/9 about a swollen lymph node. I saw the dermatologist, and he did not do any tests.  He was of the opinion that blood tests were inaccurate anyways.  He seemed to think I was fine, and that even if i was not, the only way to know is if I have an outbreak.  I am somewhat frustrated now that i have seen three different doctors, and none of them seem to be experienced with STD's.  Can you reccomend a doctor in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area by any chance?  I have tried contacting a local herpe suport group, but have had no luck.  Also, is the HerpeSelect testing technology only used by Focus?  Both of my previous HerpeSelect Type 2 test have been done by labcorp.(they definitely said HerpeSelect)  I was told that Focus trademarked the HerpeSelect technology, but other labs now use it (or purchase it) from Focus.  Is that information correct?  I just want to be sure since you have said repeatedly that the Focus brand is the only accurate one.  Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Yes, Focus is the manufacturer--i.e., Labcorp and other labs purchase the HerpeSelect test from Focus Technologies.  My understanding is that HerpeSelect is the only herpes blood tested done routinely by Labcorp (good for them!).

Your dermatologist is wrong in generalizing that "blood tests are inaccurate".

Finding a health care provider who knows STDs can be a chore--as frustrating to me, as a specialist, as it is to you and many others.  I suggest you call the local medical society or Univ of Texas/Dallas and ask them for a referral to an infectious diseases specialist; there are some good ones (including people knowledgable in STD in general and herpes in particular) at UT, I think based at Parkland Hosp.

In the meantime, if you have had a negative HerpeSelect test that was done at least a few weeks after onset of symptoms, you can be confident you don't have herpes.

Good luck--   HHH, MD

[monkeyflower]

It's too bad your doctor wasn't responsive to your request for testing. Rather than just searching out doctors who are knowledgeable about STDs, though, why not do the research on your own, then print out your findings and give them to your doctor. That's what I do with my doctor, and he's *always* open to learning new things and greatly appreciative of the info. However, I'd make sure you only give him/her accurate info from reliable sites, or else s/he's probably not likely to take it seriously; go to sites like www.ashastd.org and www.cdc.gov/std. Then, if your doctor is resistant, that's when I'd look for a new doctor. Hopefully, if nothing else, you'll be helping out his/her future patients :-)

[monkeyflower]

Actually, I should have clarified my earlier comment. Although I'm all for educating everyone (if it were me, I'd give the info you find to every doctor you've seen), it probably only really applies if you LIKE your doctor. I think the world of mine, and I'd much rather stay with him than find someone who may be more knowledgeable about certain things. Besides, I think of it this way - no one can know everything, and a family doctor has soooo much to know about so many things :-)

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the comment from monkeyflower.  I agree; one of the ways health care providers learn is from their patients, and STD is a prime area where this is true.  Most docs will be receptive to your input, as long as you present reliable information (not everything on the web is reliable or science-based) and you don't present it with anger or antagonism (doctors are people too!).

HHH, MD