Grace pls help, very confused

[unquietmind]

Hi Grace,

I have posted before, however I have created a new post as this one has nothing to do with the thread I began months ago. I went to the gynaecologist today. I explained that I am under the impression I have contracted herpes 2. Today we did a type specific blood test, or so I requested, but as I mentioned in a previous post the test looks for the DNA of the virus, so I have requested two separate tests: HSV-1 and HSV-2. I know I will be positive for HSV-1 because I had chicken pox and shingles when I was younger.\

My current issue is this. My gynae-who has over 35 years experience- told me that herpes 2 will ONLY present in a blister form. The research I have done says otherwise. I though I had had a recurrent episode, but instead of a blister it appeared that a small section of skin on my vagine looked rubbed away, almost raw. This small section was tiny, less than half a centimetre, he said that was not an ob, even though I told him I took Zelitrex when it appeared.He says HSV-2 can only be given to other people if I am in the before stage, during, or after an OB. He said I will know when I have an outbreak as a blister will appear. I mentioned tingling, which I have on many occasions, and the initial OB was not where the tingling was. WHat he has told me is opposite to everything, including what you have said, and what I have read. He also said suppression therapy is unnecessary. I disagreed with him and he basically said I will become immune to it if I carry on.

I am so confused. I had finally started coming to terms with what had happened to me. So now I am waiting for the blood test results which I'm assuming won't give any numbers, only a negative or positive.
Please help me with all of this info:

-Does tingling DEFINITELY mean I am symptomatic, an OB is happening, about to happen???
-Does suppression tehrapy REALLY not help?
-Does an OB only present in blister form, or does my raw patch discription make any sense to you?
-The tests available, as my GP also said, test for DNA of the virus, do you have any info about this?

Anything else you could explain to me would be much appreciated.
I have read the online handbook and I have watched the clip, this is why I am spo confused and overwhelmed.

The guy who gave this to me will be back from overseas in a week, and I need to confront him, tell him, ask him! WOW I am feeling so overwhelmed, anything would be soothing, pls reply and let me know.

Thank you so much Grace

Unquietmind

[gracefromHHP]

yes they can.

[unquietmind]

Can they do a culture if it is showing as a raw area??

[gracefromHHP]

don't think a sexologist is what you need at this point. you need doctor's to be doing proper testing on you when have actual symptoms.

herpes can present as raw areas.

grace

[unquietmind]

And the raw lesions? Does that sound like herpes? I just need to know in case that is how I present with an ob.

2 Doctors told me about the dna tests and apparently that's the way they do it here, but when done it was done in igm and igg format.

i have another appoinement with a gynae in june. should I go there for a 2nd opinion? I am so sick and tired of this old school info though!!

My 1st dr told me, visually it looked like herpes but a blood test will confirm. so i did it, and apparently it did confirm... now this guy said all the above to me, and i had blood tests again. NOW if i have another ob and i need to have it cultured, what will the ob look like? will it be in the form of a blister or like this raw-lesion thing i have had?

sorry to bug you with such basic questions, but he said i must come in immidiately if i have an ob to have it cultured...

Would a sexologist be able to provide me with better info? Sorry Grace, just trying to think of my options

[gracefromHHP]

a pap test is not the best way to look for yeast and bacterial vaginal infections :(  really sounds like you need a different doctor dealing with this.

You are no getting dna testing of your blood done if it's igg and igm testing. whoever explained the tests to you, explained them erroneously.

lysine does nothing significant for herpes. it's not worth taking.

best thing to do at this point is when you have symptoms, don't take any medication and go and be seen.  herpes typically doesn't reoccur on both sides though the first ob can.

grace

[unquietmind]

Ok, so if i take suppressive therapy, 1 tablet a day, that will reduce my risk of ob's and aymptomatic shedding right? I also take L-lycene tablets, which apparently help, is this recommended?
In my last 'dna' blood test they tested Igm and Igg, Igm said positive for hsv-1 and 2, but negative for Igg, which is understandable as this test should be done 2 to 3 months after first ob right? there were no numbers present.
hsv-1 is so common that i'm not even concerned UNLESS my genital ob was of hsv- type. If this is the case would the ob have been very severe, painful and obvious, if not pls explain what it would have been like?

with regards to the rubbed/raw skin, does this sound like an ob? I have had this raw appearence a few times since my primary ob and when you speak of 'leasions' that's what I think of, is this correct? I took anitvirals when it emerged and, surprise surprise, it disappeared within days. Does this sound typical of an ob??? Also during my primary ob I had 2 or 3 raised red bumps on the outside part (where hair grows) of my vagina, they resembled ingrown hairs, does this too sound like herpes?
I'm just confused because he said an ob is only blister-type, and my research says otherwise!!!

I mentioned to my dr that I have had a discharge since my 1st ob, he said this is irrelevant, after a full std screen I am clean for all other std'd, but does herpes then explain this discharge? He did a pap smear and said any irregularities would show up.
I mentioned my ob was on both sides, which is apparently unusual in herpes ob, he disagreed, is it unusual or does it sometimes happen?

I get a tingling sensation pretty often on my much lower back and inner thighs, however this is NOT where my original ob was. What is this tingling? Is it a sign I will have an ob? Am I shedding when I feel this? sorry to bug u with these basic questions about tingling but I need your factual knowledge here!

Thanks so much Grace, I trust your advice and your knowledge, I'm just feeling so overwhelmed.

[gracefromHHP]

If you had a herpes pcr test done on your blood, you wasted your money. we discussed this in your previous post. the pcr test is the only test that actually looks for herpes dna. since herpes is not a blood borne virus, pcr testing of the blood is a waste of time and money in adults.

chicken pox is the herpes zoster virus, not herpes simplex. herpes simplex is the virus you are testing for now. hsv1 is not the same virus as chicken pox/shingles.

Your provider gave you erroneous info :(  Unfortunately this attitude by providers is why so many folks are under diagnosed for herpes :(  The herpes handbook and the info you've received here in the past is the correct information.

grace