Concern about Possible Herpes Diagnosis

[MoPo14]

Hey Guys,

I would really appreciate any advice anyone can offer. On May 2, I noticed a red nodule-like bump on my back. It was a little sore to touch. I thought it would go away so I didn't pay much attention to it until Monday, May, 4 when I noticed to small red bumps on the top of my butt. I don't have the best skin but this was unusual. So, I went to urgent care on Monday, May, 4.

I was prescribed bactroban. The physician I saw said it was a mild skin infection. I used the ointment and on Tuesday, May 5, I woke up with a killer headache and a sore  tongue. I continued to use the bactroban until Wednesday, May 6. My tongue was white so, I went back to urgent care. The physician said that I was probably having an allergic reaction to the bactroban and prescribed me an oral antibiotic. I used the new medicine with no issues. However, on Thursday, May 7, I woke up and my tongue was still sore and white.

The most noticeable difference is that my vagina was swollen. I went to urgent care again. The physician diagnosed with my oral thrush. She asked about my sexual history. I had never had vaginal sex only oral sex. The last time I had oral sex was November 2014. She prescribed me medicine for the oral thrush and yeast infection medicine. She drew blood and took vaginal swabs for viral and bacterial infections as well as autoimmune diseases. She also referred me to a gynecologist.

When I went to the gynecologist on Tuesday, May 12, so was convinced that it is genital herpes. I was incomplete shock. She also drew blood and took swabs to test. I called urgent care on May 12 after my gynecologist appointment to see if they had my test results. Unbeknownst to me, the urgent care physician requested a herpes blood test (type specific igg) and a herpes culture test (all testing from Labcorp). I came back negative for both (>0.91). However, my gynecologist insist that I have herpes. So, I'm still nervous about the test results from her office.

I guess my questions are: If I was exposed to herpes, it was months ago (at least five). Wouldn't the blood tests be able to detect the antibodies in my blood by now? Wouldn't the culture from the sore come back positive? Could the blood and swab taken by my gynecologist come back positive? Also, why did I get other illness (oral thrush and skin infection) right before a possible herpes outbreak?

[Life360_Dave]

Im the Community Leader here and have read from  A to Z about herpes for the last 2 years including most of the advise given by Doctors and Nurses in the expert forum that were here before. But theres always a new issue that pops up that i research before replying.

[MoPo14]

Hey Life360,

I really do appreciate you answering my questions. I feel a lot more reassured. Do you mind me asking about your medical background (e.g. are you a nurse or very knowledgeable about herpes in general, etc.)?

[Life360_Dave]

Not in respect turning a negative into a positive.

[MoPo14]

Thank you!

I have one more question. I mentioned before that I had a hsv 1 and hsv 2 specific igg test and a hsv culture and typing test. They both came back negative. However, my gynecologist drew blood and took a vaginal swab for testing as well. The blood and samples for the test results I received were taken on May 7. Blood and samples that the gynecologist took were taken on May 12. Is there any possibility that the results will be be different? The sores had just occurred on May 7.

[Life360_Dave]

Blood tests are 90% accurate. Irritations from BV and fungal infections

[MoPo14]

Thank you Life360 for your quick response.

I have a couple more questions. Do you know of anything else that would cause sores like herpes? Also, if you have herpes, will it always be detectable by a blood test like the hsv 1 and hsv 2 specific igg test?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, your blood test was taken at the correct window waiting time and is conclusive you dont have herpes.