Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Am I Just Paranoid?

I had unprotected sex [[once]] with a guy + for HSV II (I didn't know he was + at the time).

I tested negative via Herpeselect at 12.5 weeks.  I have not experienced any symptoms at all...however, I wonder if the outbreaks are solely occurring inside the vagina or on the cervix && I can't feel them (or I'm just completely asymptomatic).  Am I just being paranoid?  Would I still notice SOME kind of symptom if that was the case?

Can I put this to bed & move on?  I know that other tests are conclusive at 16 weeks, but is Herpeselect still conclusive at 12?  

I do have HSV I & I know that's been an issue of debate as to whether or not it delays seroconversion.  Dr. HHH is adamant that it doesn't but Dr. Hook & Nurse Warren think it's a possibility.

Thanks for your help!  Any & all experiences/comments will be appreciated.
13 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
101028 tn?1419603004
The only time we discuss quantum physics here on this forum is if we are recapping an episode of "the big bang theory".    Probably chaos theory would be more appropriate when it comes to herpes and sex....he he he

ok, my geek moment over for the day.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree completely.  My entire train of thinking has changed & made me look at the bigger picture.  I still stress over the "what ifs" but time will change that.  I'll stay away from the quantum physics though; I think my brain would explode.

MedHelp is very fortunate to have Grace!  I've read like 13250871145984533 of her posts.  Haha.  They should start paying her.  And you contribute quite often, yourself!   God bless you both!

In the infamous words of Dr. HHH, this thread is over.  Hahahhahaa  (unless anyone wants to add to it, of course)  =)  I just really wanted to say that.
Helpful - 0
1174003 tn?1308160819
I think you are done with this.  I am glad you will be moving on.  May I suggest that you look at the experince and you know what forget it.  You had sex and you know what you learned something but in the long run you are clear clear.  So guess what go out enjoy your life and if you get that weird stress go walk around and look at nature and what has been created.  Or try to understand quantum physicis.  

Truly I wish you the best.  

Also grace is the best and MedHelp is honestly lucky to have suck a person on here.  I speak from experince .
Helpful - 0
1174003 tn?1308160819
Well grace I was going to say something about your bed head but I figured you would beat me and then ground me from my computer.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
glad you have been able to get the answers you need :)  

thank you for the compliments - volunteering here means I don't have to spend money on clothes and not a one of you ever complains about my bedhead :)

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
LOL @ "crotch watch."

Thanks, Grace.  I know you've heard it a billion times, but the time you take to volunteer to this forum is such a wonderful & generous thing of you to do.   Best of wishes to you!

Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
Only 20% of folks are asymptomatic, the rest just don't know what to look for. odds are you would've noticed something with the crotch watch you have going on :)

no reason for more testing even though you have hsv1 already.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ah, yes, oral has risks but HSV II doesn't take well at the mouth & is very rare (as you know).  But, I definitely understand your concern!   Better to be safe than sorry in terms of testing.

Thank you for the link.  Ironically, I'm familiar with that post (I'm ADDICTED to this forum).  As this situation applies to me 100%, I really hope that I can trust the less than 1 in 2500 chance that Dr. HHH offered as reassurance.    

Great odds, but I've never been that lucky of a person.
Perhaps this "infection escape" was my form of a winning lottery ticket.  =D   If so, I'm the luckiest darn girl in the entire world!  hahaa
Helpful - 0
1174003 tn?1308160819
Thanks.  The journal post helps a lot of people and typically I refer to for a lot of reason but it takes someone to see "Hey I tested X times to prove it to myself I was negative".  Another poster here by the name leapoffaith and I used to comment to each other and message each other about the test results and how we wanted to help other posters relax and realize low risk means favors you.  As I said in previous post I did the 23 week test for a kick and giggle to my insurance company (and to my previous company for being jerks but this is a long story).  

The thing to remember is that even though oral sex is just the mouth it is also a form of sex.  Risky would have been had he showing signs of an HSV outbreak. If he knew he was HSV-2 positive (and has had it for a while) chances are that he would know what/when his outbreaks are.  A newly infected person may not and while there is still that chance of shedding again it is not as often.  

An awesome post that I think may also help you to is a recent one on the STD expert forums (not sure if you have seen those forums but they do answer a lot of questions and given you mention the names of them here I think you may have.)  Take a look at the response on this thread.  Maybe this can ease your mind.  

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HSV-Clarifications/show/1306350  

:-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the response.  =)

I had previously read your journal post at 12 weeks & I had no idea you pursued testing after that period!  Honestly, if it was just oral (no offense intended) I would not be paranoid one bit.  But - being that it was unprotected sex - makes me fret that I'm having outbreaks on my cervix!  Lol

I know the odds are overwhelmingly in my favor, but I am concerned that the HSV I status could mask the breakouts (or I could be one of the few that are completely asymptomatic) & delay my seroconversion.  I'm definitely trying to put it past me though, as most people test + by 6-8 weeks & virtually everyone by 3 months.
Helpful - 0
1174003 tn?1308160819
While it is debateable I would agree with grace that you need to remember that not every exposure leads to an infection and that is something all the doctors agree on.  

Given you have HSV-1 I believe that the outbreaks are a little more mild for someone to have caught HSV-2.  The outbreak is still present and for someone to be aware of their bodies looking for a symptom it would be a little harder to miss.  

Something important to remember while the body may take time to seroconvert the timeline (while maybe longer) to a point where the antibody is detected can be a little longer the thing to remember is that the test are more senestive to HSV-2 then they are for HSV-1.  


I know how it feels on the debate of timeline.  Personally just for kicks and giggles for myself I waited the 23 week to test but it was more or less a kick and giggle thing.  Not that I needed to but because I wanted the insurance company to pay for one more thing of blood work (my insurance was up at the end of the month and after fighting them to cover an Ambulance bill I was all to happy to send them the added bill).  

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,

Thank you very much for the reply.  (I promise not to continue on in paranoia past this 1 follow-up).   =P

In general, is it likely to be completely asymptomatic and/or have a delayed antibody response (past 3 months) due to being positive for HSV I?
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
paranoia probably. the risk of contracting hsv2 from a one time encounter are very, very low.

a negatve test at 12 weeks is a good reason to put it behind you.  

grace
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
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.