Herpes, zoster and bells palsy

[redrider]

I recently had a rash on my upper buttocks crack. I went to urgent care, they said looked like herpes. I seen my GP and it was healed, but she said it looked like herpes zoster.  I then requested a blood test.  I got the results and HSV 1 IGG said >5 which is positve, HSV 2 showed .15 which is negative. I had IGM Titer antibodies.  I was last sexually active 2 months prior to this test and about 6-7 weeks prior to this outbreak.  I also had bells palsy last May, and was wondering if this is all related and not sure if I should still be concerned about HSV 2, or if it's Zoster?  I am not sure if the IGM was high because the outbreak was just a week prior.  Also if I was too soon to detect, wouldn't my IGM also be low?  This is driving me crazy because I was always very careful with my partners and safe sex.

[gracefromHHP]

the herpes igm test is a total waste of time and money. It should not be drawn on adults.

At this point - it's too late to tell if you had shingles or genital herpes or even something non-herpetic.  It's unfortunate that the urgent care center didn't bother to do a lesion culture for you :(

If you can't get the partner you were last with to get a herpes igg blood test and share their results - I suggest you repeat your own igg blood test for hsv2 in another 2 months just to err on the side of caution.  Should your rash reappear in the genital area - return to your doctor for further testing.  

grace

[redrider]

My primary care said it looked like Zoster, but not sure if that was a general term or what.  My insurance pays for the test, so my dr. ordered the IGM with the IGG, so at this point, not sure if it's zoster, or HSV1 in an odd place or two developing.  My doctor just said "well they are treated the same" but I know that zoster is not transmitted the same, so that is why I want to know.  This is driving me crazy.