just curious ....

[needsomeclarity]

in july of 2008, after having unprotected sex with a new partner, i started to notice a swelling in my genital area, particularly the outer labia (would this be considerd lymph nodes?) along with a slight tingling/burning sensation that sometimes produced an itchy feeling around the opening of my vagina (especially during intercourse).  after about 2 weeks of these symptoms i noticed a couple of sores on my outer labia.  the pain associated with urinating became unbarable.  i went to the local health department for my routine pap/std testing and they took a look at the bumps/sores ... they weren't able to properly diagnose this condition as herpes because, as they said, it didn't resemble the classic signs (being clusters of blisters), as mine were more isolated bumps.  that same day i made an appt. with my OBGYN and he diagnosed me with herpes.  i have had about 3 outbreaks since the initial one, yet have been able to ward off latter stages of outbreaks with acyclovir taken at the first signs of an outbreak.  however, the last outbreak i had produced a red, raised, rash type area on each side of my upper thighs, in the crease of where my leg meets my genital region.  i am overweight, and i know herpes can spread, so i'm chalking the rash (which resembled the red, swollen area of my outer labia before sores/bumps form) to possible being spread from exposure to where my upper thighs rest against my genital region when i sit down.  here's the catch:  i went today to find out the result of my HIV test (done in july), it was negative, but my herpes antibodies blood work also came back negative for hsv-1 and hsv-2.  is it possible, at the time of testing (which was only about two weeks after unprotected sex, along with my initial outbreak) that the antibodies weren't developed enough to show up on the test, being as it was my first outbreak?  maybe i'm just freaking out, but i know HIV is associated with genital sores also, and sometimes rash, what types of specific sores and skin rashes are experienced with HIV infected persons?  being as my herpes antibody test came back negative, yet i was diagnosed with herpes, and the hiv test came back negative, is there a certian time period or incubation period so to speak before HIV results or antibodies become present or strong enough to show up on a test?

[Teak]

A rapid test won't tell you about HSV but it will tell you status to HIV. Get a full sexual health pannel done. That includes all STDs.

[needsomeclarity]

that's what i thought, i'm pretty sure these signs and symptoms are related to the HSV diagnosis, but it's better to be safe than sorry.   my anxiety seems to be getting the better of me.  what is this 'rapid' test available i hear about?  it's been three months after unprotected sex, so would this rapid test have the capability to conclude reliable results at this time?

[Teak]

You tested to early. You can test 3 months post exposure and obtain your conclusive test result.