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Test Results.
I know there are many posts on here about IGM tests. I just wanted to see if this may be a new type of test that my family doctor did or if I need to be tested further. About 2-3 days after a possible exposure I noticed severe itching of the anal and genital area. Also noticed two small red blister like bumps on the edge of the foreskin. Now mind you I shave my area quite often and after the possible exposure I got nervous and washed with anitbacterial soap and regular soap. Went to the doctor and he thought it was probably just a yeast infection but he did the blood test just to make sure. Now this test was performed approximately 8 days after the possible expose. He called back at the end of the week and informed me that the tests came back positve for herpes.The symptoms are still going on and I noticed small white bumps on the shaft and one large red bump that seems to be going away. This is the 6th week of the symptoms and the ithcing persists. I have been on valtrex for about two weeks now. I just wanted some insight on the situation. I am not getting my hopes up but I wanted another opinion.
TEST RESULTS. 10-14-08
HSV 1 EIA RESULT - POSITIVE
HSV 1 INDEX VALUE - 0.0 - 0.9 INDEX My result was 4.62 (H) (which my doctor has highlighted)
HSV 2 EIA RESULT - Low: Neg My result was NEGATIVE
HSV 2 INDEX VALUE - 0.0 - 0.9 INDEX My result was 0.08
HERPES G COMMENT - This assay is type specific for HSV1 and HSV2 IgG
HSV 1 IGM RESULT - NEGATIVE
HSV 1 IGM INDEX VALUE 0.0-0.9 INDEX My result was .73
HSV 2 IGM RESULT - Low:NEG My result was POSITIVE (A) (which my doctor has highlighted)
HSV2 IGM INDEX VALUE 0.0-0.9 INDEX My result was 1.58 (H) (which my doctor has highlighted)
HERPES M COMMENT - HSV1 and HSV2 share many cross reacting antigens.
TEST RESULTS. 10-14-08
HSV 1 EIA RESULT - POSITIVE
HSV 1 INDEX VALUE - 0.0 - 0.9 INDEX My result was 4.62 (H) (which my doctor has highlighted)
HSV 2 EIA RESULT - Low: Neg My result was NEGATIVE
HSV 2 INDEX VALUE - 0.0 - 0.9 INDEX My result was 0.08
HERPES G COMMENT - This assay is type specific for HSV1 and HSV2 IgG
HSV 1 IGM RESULT - NEGATIVE
HSV 1 IGM INDEX VALUE 0.0-0.9 INDEX My result was .73
HSV 2 IGM RESULT - Low:NEG My result was POSITIVE (A) (which my doctor has highlighted)
HSV2 IGM INDEX VALUE 0.0-0.9 INDEX My result was 1.58 (H) (which my doctor has highlighted)
HERPES M COMMENT - HSV1 and HSV2 share many cross reacting antigens.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry, I cannot advise about specific treatment options, especially for something that clearly isn't an STD. I'll bet if you call your own doctor and/or the dermatologist and explain your current symptoms, they can find a way to see you before February. Or find another dermatologist. Good luck with it.
Hi. I am just posting a follow up. I went to see another doctor about 2 weeks ago. He told me pretty much everything that you did. He prescribed me diflucan for 5 days which helped with the redness. I also used monistat along with the diflucan. He also referred me to a dermatologist but the best time that they could fit me in was feb. 3. The redness has gone down and the foreskin is pretty much healed but the same lesions are still there that were there 2 months ago. Plus the skin is pretty dry and flaky. The itching comes and goes. Hopefully the dermatologist will be able to figure it out. I just wish I could get an appointment sooner. What should I do in the mean time? Keep trying monistat or just wait it out? Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
With Valtrex treatment, herpes symptoms start improving within 3 days and generally are gone within a week. Failure to respond in 2 weeks is overwhelming evidence against herpes.
The timing of symptoms with sex means little. Look at it this way: every month in the US, probably there are a couple million people who have sex with new partners, and every month a couple million peopleprobably get new genital symptoms with inflammation or irritation. By random chance, the second will follow the first in tens of thousands of people. I haven't a clue whether these particular numbers are accurate, but you get the idea; the sequence of two events does not imply the first caused the second, especially with two very common kinds of events.
Feel free to have another type-specific IgG test at 3 months if you wish. You can be sure it also will be negative.
That will have to be my last comment on this thread, unless or until you return to tell us the actual diagnosis once you learn it. My bet still is on a yeast infection. See a dermatologist.
The timing of symptoms with sex means little. Look at it this way: every month in the US, probably there are a couple million people who have sex with new partners, and every month a couple million peopleprobably get new genital symptoms with inflammation or irritation. By random chance, the second will follow the first in tens of thousands of people. I haven't a clue whether these particular numbers are accurate, but you get the idea; the sequence of two events does not imply the first caused the second, especially with two very common kinds of events.
Feel free to have another type-specific IgG test at 3 months if you wish. You can be sure it also will be negative.
That will have to be my last comment on this thread, unless or until you return to tell us the actual diagnosis once you learn it. My bet still is on a yeast infection. See a dermatologist.
Thank you so much for the quick responses. This has just really taken it's toll on me this past month. I have been put on antidepressants and I am really having a hard time with thinking that it might be herpes so forgive me if I am asking alot of questions. Even though I have been taking 500mg a day of valtrex for only about two weeks, it should have done something by now? The timing with all the symptoms and the possible exposure just has me scared because I have never dealt with anything like this. But to really be sure I should wait the recommended amount of time and take another test to see what the IgG is? Thank you so much for your answers. This gives me a better hope for this not to be herpes.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The more information you provide, the more convinced I am it isn't herpes, regardless of your doctor's opinion. The sores, "white bumps", foreskin "redness", or "a large red bump" don't sound like herpes. And the other reasons I stated still hold. For you to have herpes, several atypical aspects (symptoms, duration, lack of response or actual progression [of foreskin redness] while taking Valtrex) all have to break the wrong way. Statistically, the chance of that is virtually zero. And I didn't even comment on the anal itching; although recurrent herpes can involve the anus, I have never seen a case of initial herpes involving both on the penis and anus. (Some slight chance of both if the sexual exposure involved both genital and anal exposure, but unlikely even then.)
As for other causes, this sounds most suspicious of a yeast or other fungal infection. And if you have not been tested for syphilis, that should be done. This would be a very atypical presentation, but syphilis hasn't been called "the great imitator" for nothing.
You came here for my opinion and reassurance about herpes. You have my views. My only other thought is that if your doctor is not a dermatologist, consider asking for such a referral. In the meantime, I am convinced herpes is not your problem.
As for other causes, this sounds most suspicious of a yeast or other fungal infection. And if you have not been tested for syphilis, that should be done. This would be a very atypical presentation, but syphilis hasn't been called "the great imitator" for nothing.
You came here for my opinion and reassurance about herpes. You have my views. My only other thought is that if your doctor is not a dermatologist, consider asking for such a referral. In the meantime, I am convinced herpes is not your problem.
I do have sores. I forgot to mention in the first post that following the itching, I noticed 2 small red sores that looked like blisters right on the edge of the foreskin. They are still there and now I am noticing small white bumps that look like a patch of white blisters. Like I said in the first post there was also a large red bump that is going away now. Now I noticed my foreskin is getting red and is somewhat sore. The doctor said he is convinced its herpes but now that I have read about the IGM tests that he relied on I am wondering if I should get tested later on since the test was performed about 8 days later after possible exposure. The anal and genital itching is still going on and seems to be getting worse. What else could this be?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I meant to add that the apparent persistence of your symptoms while taking Valtrex is further proof against herpes as the cause. You should stop taking the drug.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is easy and straightforward.
You have HSV-1, just like half the US population (higher in most other countries). Statistically, it is most likely that this goes back to a childhood oral infection. Conceivably you could develop oral recurrent oral herpes symptoms (cold sores, fever blisters) at any time, but unlikely if you haven't had them before now.
You do not have HSV-2; your results are unequivocally negative. From all those other posts on IgM HSV testing, you already know that it is completely unreliable. Even though the lab report describes your HSV-2 result as positive, almost certainly it does not indicate you have HSV-2. The lab report gives one important part of the explanation: IgM testing is not type specific, i.e. do not acurately distinguish HSV-1 from HSV-2 antibody; that's what the statement about "cross reacting antigens" means. For additional explanations about why IgM testing is unreliable, see all those other threads on the topic.
Finally, your symptoms don't suggest herpes. Itching without blisters or open sores is not a common herpes symptom. Further, it is impossible that HSV could cause continuing symptoms for 6 weeks; herpes outbreaks always evolve from onset to complete healing (with no symptoms) within 2-3 weeks. Combining your symptoms plus the test results, you can put herpes aside and move on to work with your doctor(s) about other explanations for your symptoms.
I hope this helps. Best wishes--- HHH, MD
You have HSV-1, just like half the US population (higher in most other countries). Statistically, it is most likely that this goes back to a childhood oral infection. Conceivably you could develop oral recurrent oral herpes symptoms (cold sores, fever blisters) at any time, but unlikely if you haven't had them before now.
You do not have HSV-2; your results are unequivocally negative. From all those other posts on IgM HSV testing, you already know that it is completely unreliable. Even though the lab report describes your HSV-2 result as positive, almost certainly it does not indicate you have HSV-2. The lab report gives one important part of the explanation: IgM testing is not type specific, i.e. do not acurately distinguish HSV-1 from HSV-2 antibody; that's what the statement about "cross reacting antigens" means. For additional explanations about why IgM testing is unreliable, see all those other threads on the topic.
Finally, your symptoms don't suggest herpes. Itching without blisters or open sores is not a common herpes symptom. Further, it is impossible that HSV could cause continuing symptoms for 6 weeks; herpes outbreaks always evolve from onset to complete healing (with no symptoms) within 2-3 weeks. Combining your symptoms plus the test results, you can put herpes aside and move on to work with your doctor(s) about other explanations for your symptoms.
I hope this helps. Best wishes--- 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.
