blister on base of penis, then aching left testicle to numbing thigh

[nogood71]

Good day doc,

This is the following thread to my previous post http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/blister-on-base-on-penis--is-it-herpes/show/1387521?personal_page_id=1870788#post_6330487

below is the summary of my symptoms. I experienced 4 small blisters on the base of my penis on oct 21st then took valacyclovir for three days starting from Oct 26-28 and went in for a blood test on Nov 3rd,

1st test turns out to be IgG 14.7 igM 0.253 which is in the normal range.

2nd test on Dec. 6(about 6 weeks after the symptoms) which the result IgG 25.8 (normal is below 22EU/ml) IgM 0.222 positive for IgG value.

3rd test on Jan 31st (about 10 weeks after the symptoms), the results. IgG 23.6 IgM .172 IgG still positive above 22 but lower then my second test.
The lab advised me that i caught HSV II from way back, thats why the values are not high, these are my body's memory of the antibody. What are the chances of FP from your professional point of view?

However iam still experiencing mild aching in the left testicle, then the aching spread to my thigh and cause numbness to my left thigh and leg. From my research, i understand that chlamydia and gonorrhea causes epididymitis that could explain to my testicle problem. However i do not experience any other symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea. What are the chances that i caught these during my encounter? Thanks very much.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This pain/iscomfort without lesions, when considered with your other information does not suggest HSV.  EWH

[nogood71]

good day doc,

its been almost 6 months and i have not experienced any signs of recurrence blisters. Some times i experience mild tingling on the same spot that blisters occurred but no blisters does show up. However, iam still experiencing mild pain on left inner thigh(same side as original blisters occurred) of femoral triangle, more pain if pressure is applied. I am trying to forget about this but i do understand this could be a sign of herpes and it is still a concern in my mind. Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to the Forum. I will try to help.  I've read your earlier interaction with Dr. Handsfield and agree with the advice he has already provided.  IgM tests are a waste of time an should not be performed. If they are performed, positive results should be ignored as unreliable.  As far as your IgG test is concerned, like Dr. Handsfield, I have little experience with this manufacturer’s test.  That said, and extrapolating from much experience with other types of specific tests of the sort Dr. Handsfield has already described, the test results you have fall into the "low positive" range where the majority of such results are, in fact, falsely positive.  I will not repeat how to sort out false positives as Dr. Handsfield has already done this.  I will point out however that the values for all IgG tests of this sort tend to "bounce around" a bit and that the variation in your tests over time almost certainly reflects this and is not significant variation from test to test.  I suspect that because your results have been stable over time, the lab has told you this reflects established rather than newly acquired infection.  It could however, also represent a stable false positive result which is what I suspect is occurring.

Testicular discomfort of the sort you describe does not suggest herpes and without other signs and symptoms really does not sound like epididymitis either.  If you are concerned (and nothing you've said would make me concerned) you could be tested when you see your doctor.  

Hope these comments are helpful. EWH