HSV 2 results

[confusedandscared4]

I am new to this community and scared and confused as heck and I have no where else to turn. I was just recently diagnosed with genital herpes 2 and I am in shock to say the least. Here is my diliema. Over the past 10 years I have had a blister that has popped up in between my bottom way far from my anus that starts as soon as you can open your cheeks. (sorry to be so detailed) It has always been on one side ALWAYS and no where else. I have been to the docotrs and they have all seen where it is. I have never had any sores in the vaginal or anal area at all. I was told by each of them that it was shingles and that it can come back to people who are very stressful (and that would be me). I have even mentioned to each of them that I have had the Shingles before. They didn't seem to worry and just said ok, let me see where it's at they look and "Oh yea, its shingles!" I take medicine everytime it has happened and it clears but ever since the first episode I have pain almost everyday and I know that is common with people who have had shingles. There isn't a day where I don't feel pain in that area. the pain can go from mild to severe. Recently I had a break out in July and went to see the doctor he asked if I had ever had a problem down south and I said "No, never!" he said ok good. I had another breakout in September and luckly I had a refill that he had given me just in case. Before this I hadn't had a breakout for 5 years. The years before that would be 3 years or once a year. It varied and only comes out when I am stressed. I recently went to the doctor to talk to her about my reccurrences because I have become very OCD as well. She asked me have they ever checked me for herpes? I said no. She said Why not? I was like I'm not the doctor I don't know! well here it is I am diagnosed with HSV 2. I am angry, scared and very confused. Why would doctors play like that with somebody's life, feelings after all these years!! I'm also confused about my results. I hope somebody can help me calm down and make sense of this. I am also going to see my OB in a few days. Sorry for this being so long.
HSVab+HSVIGM:
HSV I/II IGG 58.1 HIGH
HSV 2 IGG, TYPE SPEC 4.47 HIGH
HSV, IGM I.II COMBINATION 2.18 HIGH

HSV 1 AND 2 IGM Abs, INDIRECT:
HSV 1 IGM Antibodies <1:10 titer reference level < 1:10
HSV 2 IGM Antibodies <1:10 titer reference level <1:10

Hope somebody can help me make sense to all this.

I must add that I live with the pain everyday where the breakouts have been. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't feel pain, like a shooting pain in the area or itching.

[gracefromHHP]

you would have to be actively shedding the virus when they did the pcr.  you aren't actively shedding 24/7/365

no, lesions aren't always just where you had a point of contact - they can occur anywhere in the entire boxer short area regardless of what sort of sex positions you've ever practiced.  if you have hsv2 on the buttocks/anal area, you also have it vaginally.

get the WB just to be sure about your hsv2 status and go from there. every time you have a recurrence of your symptoms, be seen within 48 hours for a lesion culture or ask to have the pcr supplies at home to do it yourself.  you've had symptoms for a long time so being on valtrex won't affect the results.

[confusedandscared4]

Hi Grace,

So I recieved my full panel of STDs and blood work.Everything came out negative. I was told we don't know what is on my bum. We don't know because I tested positive for HSV I and HSV II. These were type specific for each one.
HSV I 5.01
HSVII 3.57

Here is where I am confused still. I have read over and over and have gone through so many sites and have done my research and still don't feel "reassured". I was also told I don't have vaginal herpes because they have done the Herpes subtype (hsv I,hsvII) real time PCR testing and came out negative. I did turn out to have a BV infection. I told her that I thought you couldn't do a swab if no lesions are current. My gyn said the tests have come far since a long time ago and they swabed my cervix and my vagina and there was no finding of either herpes. I was also told that probably the cause for my location of blisters was the original point of contact. Here are my questions:
1) I have never had sex in the anus so why is it that is where the "point of contact" being? The last two dr.s haven't seen where my blister has been.

2) Can they test for the virus if no lesions are present? I have read that you can because the PCR is DNA findings of the virus and if you have a discharge it could be that you have a "active" lesion that is causing the discharge. I also saw on here a poster but that they also had no signs of lesions present when they were checked for the PCR but had discharge and they were negative as well.

3) Does taking valtrex have an impact on test results? I am on suppressive therapy for about a 1 month almost a month and half. I ask because I have read on here that it can but not dramactically. If you notice I have had a score from a 4.47 and now at 3.57 and I also know my Hsv I score which I didn't before.

4) Can having a high HSV I index influence my hsv II index. I have learned that I have had Hsv I since I was small.

Sorry for such a long post and I hope you can shed some light here. Even if my doctor says I should if anything feel "reassured" I don't have it vaginally. Help!!

[confusedandscared4]

Hi Grace,
I just wanted to stop by and say thank for all the information you have given me. It truley has helped and I thank God there is this site for us to come to.
Thanks again and keep up the GREAT work!!!

[gracefromHHP]

unless someone has had a + lesion culture, confirming all hsv2 igg's under 5 is never a bad idea.  The rates of false positives get lower over the 3.5 range but still worth confirming.

[confusedandscared4]

Ok, I hope to get better more "clear" results next week.

My other question is, what is the highest index number to be "positive" for HSV 2? I only ask because i see people but on here that have results higher than mine and took the WB and came back negative or I have seen that that the index is >5 could be a false positive. I know I have read over and over that it is anything below a 3.5 is considered a "false positive"

[gracefromHHP]

many labs default herpes igg testing is to do the combined test and if it's positive, then do only a hsv2 igg.  It's a very poor way of reporting results and your provider ( or their clinic staff ) should learn to order only type specific testing as well as should stop ordering herpes igm testing on pt's.