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Extremely Confused - need some help as to how to move forward
I'm going to run down my entire experience the past 4 1/2 months: If someone out there can please shed some light as to how I should move forward, I will be grateful. I'm a 28 year old, circumcised male.
3/4/12 - Unprotected vaginal intercourse with a woman I didn't know well at all.
30 days post exposure - my infectious disease doctor had me take an IGG Herpeselect blood test - numerical value was .07
35 days post exposure - Had two small lesions develop on the shaft of my penis. It was the weekend and my doctor told me to get acyclovir to see how they responded by Monday - to see if he could diagnose based off of response. Went to the see him on Monday (he's an infectious disease specialist - focus on HIV and STD) and he said they didn't look like herpes at all. Had a couple more lesions develop in the near area, saw a dermatologist who also said he didn't think they looked like herpes. No answer as to what they were.
Throughout the past two months following I have had symptoms crop up from time to time. I would continue to refill the acyclovir because I'm in a relationship and didn't want to be passing anything on, even though I had clearance from my doctor at this time. I will experience symptoms is seems once a week, once every two weeks.... always in the form of a couple of lesions (have never appeared in the same spot, but have always appeared in the "boxer short" area) and some shooting pains, mild itching, but no other REAL bad symptoms. Anxiety whenever I feel anything.
I received another IGG Herpeselect test at 90 post exposure. This test came back at .35 negative. I had still taken acyclovir from time to time before that test - as a precaution..... I have read that the anti-virals can mess up those tests, my doctor thought differently, and I don't know what to believe.
So NOW - 4 1/2 months post exposure - I went to a clinic, the best in Chicago, less than 24 hours after a couple of lesions and symptoms had occurred. They did a cotton swab of the area and sent it off. The results came back this week as negative.
I had been taking acyclovir before the swab test. In case this was an outbreak. I got these results on Wednesday, it's now Thursday, I discontinued taking acyclovir after getting the negative results, and felt like within 12 hours of being off acyclovir - I'm experiencing yet ANOTHER outbreak.........
Questions - is it fair to assume that 90 day igg is accurate?
Would acyclovir affect the swab test results?
Would I experience an outbreak less than 12 hours after stopping the anti viral? (I'm taking 400mg)
The lesions I experience never feel painful. They have never opened up or crusted over. They are typically red, small, seemingly singular, and appear in different areas on my penis or around that area.... had a small rash on my right hip bone... and also experienced an itchy rash on my thighs and between my scrotum and anus...the clinic thought it seemed like jock itch/heat rash...
Does herpes cause a rash like that aside from the lesions?
I know that is a lot of information - I need to figure out what exactly is happening to me. It's been very distressing and I have no idea how to put this whole thing to rest.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
3/4/12 - Unprotected vaginal intercourse with a woman I didn't know well at all.
30 days post exposure - my infectious disease doctor had me take an IGG Herpeselect blood test - numerical value was .07
35 days post exposure - Had two small lesions develop on the shaft of my penis. It was the weekend and my doctor told me to get acyclovir to see how they responded by Monday - to see if he could diagnose based off of response. Went to the see him on Monday (he's an infectious disease specialist - focus on HIV and STD) and he said they didn't look like herpes at all. Had a couple more lesions develop in the near area, saw a dermatologist who also said he didn't think they looked like herpes. No answer as to what they were.
Throughout the past two months following I have had symptoms crop up from time to time. I would continue to refill the acyclovir because I'm in a relationship and didn't want to be passing anything on, even though I had clearance from my doctor at this time. I will experience symptoms is seems once a week, once every two weeks.... always in the form of a couple of lesions (have never appeared in the same spot, but have always appeared in the "boxer short" area) and some shooting pains, mild itching, but no other REAL bad symptoms. Anxiety whenever I feel anything.
I received another IGG Herpeselect test at 90 post exposure. This test came back at .35 negative. I had still taken acyclovir from time to time before that test - as a precaution..... I have read that the anti-virals can mess up those tests, my doctor thought differently, and I don't know what to believe.
So NOW - 4 1/2 months post exposure - I went to a clinic, the best in Chicago, less than 24 hours after a couple of lesions and symptoms had occurred. They did a cotton swab of the area and sent it off. The results came back this week as negative.
I had been taking acyclovir before the swab test. In case this was an outbreak. I got these results on Wednesday, it's now Thursday, I discontinued taking acyclovir after getting the negative results, and felt like within 12 hours of being off acyclovir - I'm experiencing yet ANOTHER outbreak.........
Questions - is it fair to assume that 90 day igg is accurate?
Would acyclovir affect the swab test results?
Would I experience an outbreak less than 12 hours after stopping the anti viral? (I'm taking 400mg)
The lesions I experience never feel painful. They have never opened up or crusted over. They are typically red, small, seemingly singular, and appear in different areas on my penis or around that area.... had a small rash on my right hip bone... and also experienced an itchy rash on my thighs and between my scrotum and anus...the clinic thought it seemed like jock itch/heat rash...
Does herpes cause a rash like that aside from the lesions?
I know that is a lot of information - I need to figure out what exactly is happening to me. It's been very distressing and I have no idea how to put this whole thing to rest.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
really no reason to think herpes as a cause of your symptoms. best of luck getting to the bottom of it all!
Grace,
I have had lesions examined this past week twice - both times the dermatologist said he wanted to wait for a better specimen to do a biopsy. At this point I've been off any/all acyclovir for a week. (which was never taken suppresively; only when symptoms presented themselves to avoid transmission to my girlfriend)
The two lesions that recently appeared were not next to each other - on either side of my penis shaft - towards the line of my circumcision, and didn't burst or crust over but are going away on their own. They both appeared to have a small dot that formed a day after the blisters form on the center (like Molluscum) but they seem to come and go in a manner that's not indicative of Molluscum.
Any thoughts?
I have had lesions examined this past week twice - both times the dermatologist said he wanted to wait for a better specimen to do a biopsy. At this point I've been off any/all acyclovir for a week. (which was never taken suppresively; only when symptoms presented themselves to avoid transmission to my girlfriend)
The two lesions that recently appeared were not next to each other - on either side of my penis shaft - towards the line of my circumcision, and didn't burst or crust over but are going away on their own. They both appeared to have a small dot that formed a day after the blisters form on the center (like Molluscum) but they seem to come and go in a manner that's not indicative of Molluscum.
Any thoughts?
What were your symptoms average Johnny? Did you have a doctor continually check them out?
When you say Valtrex on and off - do you mean when symptoms would appear? How long between symptom times?
What was your first negative test result value?
Sorry to ask so many questions - I obviously can't self diagnose but it's helpful in moving forward with my Dr's.
When you say Valtrex on and off - do you mean when symptoms would appear? How long between symptom times?
What was your first negative test result value?
Sorry to ask so many questions - I obviously can't self diagnose but it's helpful in moving forward with my Dr's.
I waited almost 5 months to get tested (Igg) and it was negative. I always had mild symptoms coming and going and using valtrex on and off. I got tested again (same test) at 14 months at it was 3.5, which is positive. I still get the same symptoms since day one.
I still need to confirm with swab or WB test but I'm fairly sure I've got (h). So you see it is possible.
I still need to confirm with swab or WB test but I'm fairly sure I've got (h). So you see it is possible.
be seen every time you have symptoms. if they suspect herpes, they should be doing a lesion culture again.
I presently have a lesion, which seemed to appear in the 12 hours of not taking acyclovir. Is that a likely scenario for herpes?
When I asked about a timeline, remember that I've had symptoms appear constantly for a while... once a week-ish right now.
How long will acyclovir keep me from accuracy in tests?
When I asked about a timeline, remember that I've had symptoms appear constantly for a while... once a week-ish right now.
How long will acyclovir keep me from accuracy in tests?
Well can I can some sort of timeline?
If I stop acyclovir NOW, today, when can I expect to have reliable test results since it sounds like none of the tests I've had thus far were even worth taking.....?
Do I essentially have to wait 4 months from today for reliable IGG?
Please advise so I can pass along to my doctor
If I stop acyclovir NOW, today, when can I expect to have reliable test results since it sounds like none of the tests I've had thus far were even worth taking.....?
Do I essentially have to wait 4 months from today for reliable IGG?
Please advise so I can pass along to my doctor
the acyclovir could've reduced the shedding enough to make the culture falsely negative.
it's in your best interest to stop acyclovir and finally find out what is going on for once and for all!
it's in your best interest to stop acyclovir and finally find out what is going on for once and for all!
Grace,
Thank you for getting back to me. Why would acyclovir have caused a negative culture when there was a lesion present to take a swab from? I asked the same question to the nurse at the clinic I visited....But virus would have been present on the actual lesion, right?
I'm confused as to how acyclovir would have kept EVERYTHING negative thus far....
It seems like as soon as I stop taking the anti-viral, I have symptoms, so, I'm scared to stop, clearly.
Thank you for getting back to me. Why would acyclovir have caused a negative culture when there was a lesion present to take a swab from? I asked the same question to the nurse at the clinic I visited....But virus would have been present on the actual lesion, right?
I'm confused as to how acyclovir would have kept EVERYTHING negative thus far....
It seems like as soon as I stop taking the anti-viral, I have symptoms, so, I'm scared to stop, clearly.
no more acyclovir. you were on it when you had symptoms and it could've been why you had a negative culture.
I know it's a pain to be seen every time you have symptoms but it's the best you can do at this point. with negative cultures and negative blood tests, time to start thinking non-herpes causes but lock your acyclovir up so you aren't tempted to take it and mess things up.
grace
I know it's a pain to be seen every time you have symptoms but it's the best you can do at this point. with negative cultures and negative blood tests, time to start thinking non-herpes causes but lock your acyclovir up so you aren't tempted to take it and mess things up.
grace
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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.
