Herpes or not?

[justintimeva]

5 weeks ago I had protected sex with a man that performed oral (anal) on me first and also rubbed his genitals on me before putting the condom on.  All action was around the anus.  Was a quick encounter.  Not long after I asked him why he got tested for everything but HSV (showed me results of test earlier), so he went and got tested, so he said.    

So about 3 days later I notice a lymph node in my left arm hurting, which I kinda brushed off because I just changed deodorants and that happens sometimes.  About two weeks later I had a slightly painful bowel movement like I ate something spicy.  I took a picture since I was concerned.  I could see that just inside the anus was a red area where it looks like a layer of skin was missing.  I chalked it up to the sex because I didn't think he used enough lube.  So about three weeks after the encounter he told me he was positive for HSV 1 & 2 and his HSV 2 number was 1.109.  He said he is sub clinical and had no symptoms.  Not sure I believe him but anyway.  Not long after I felt like I was getting tingling in my inner thighs and a warm feeling near my sacrum.  I was freaking out so much I could barley concentrate on anything.  I'm stressing big time, on top of the stress i already have.  So I went and got an IGG test from lab corp about 3.5 weeks after the encounter, and both HSV 1&2 came back negative.  

Now about 4 weeks after I trimmed with a electric trimmer my anus and crack of butt so that i could see better and look for lesions.  Well now at 5 weeks my anus is very red and irritated.  I will admit I constantly touch it and look for signs.  I took pictures again and noticed more of the small areas were skin is missing.  Now I'm convinced it's herpes.  Is it possible that fecal matter and me me trimming are causing the issues?  What about the skin?  What could cause that?

He also told me that he practices unprotected sex with his GF and she came back negative on on both HSV 1&2.  Is that even possible?  

[justintimeva]

LOL  that was not me making that comment.  But given what you said, would a 16 week test be worth it if the HSV1 test is not all that?  I have tested again at 11.5 weeks and all still came back negative.  I'm starting to beleive my testing, but the sequence of events is still extraodinary.  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

The accuracy of the western blot for HSV 1 is about 93-95%, which is also far from perfect.  For HSV 2 it is greater than 99.5%.  I would be interested in your research sources for your information that western blot is not accurate.  Would you be willing to share that with me please?  Journal and month and year please.  Thanks!

Terri

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Your girlfriend being positive for HSV 1 may or may not (likely does not) have anything whatsoever to do with your protected encounter with another man! As I have told you, the HSV 1 test is really not very accurate.  I think you should also be sure what her HSV 1 test was months ago (and make sure it was even done as well as HSV 2), look at the index value, and then look at the index value of this test.  HSV 1 can be iced up on one test and not another sometimes.  Hard to know what is going on here but you are still testing negative for HSV 1, correct?  

You have run with this idea that he infected you and it seems to be what you are going to believe, regardless of what I say to you.  I believe to some degree you are punishing yourself, believe the worst about this situation.  I hope you and your girlfriend do OK with this situation.

Terri

[Bigtimeworried55]

Just to add my opinion, I think what Terri does on here is wonderful, it really is, but something must be said on the accuracy of these tests we have for HSV including the Western blot.

I am seeing more and more people experiencing pretty pronounced symptoms which could be herpes or not, test repeatedly negative through up to 6 months ( even on Western blot), but finally test positive for the virus via swab.

I tend to think HSV1 specifically is where this occurs the most, but I don't understand why these blood tests, which claim to be 93 to 99% accurate, miss all of these infections. Why the body in certain individuals do not develop the detectable antibodies on these tests.

I do not believe these tests are as accurate as they claim, including the Western blot, based on all the research I have conducted. This is happening way to much and you're example of how the tests commercially available failed you and prevented you from affecting your girlfriend because of a misdiagnosis.

Maybe Terri can chime in, but this is happening way too frequently. I'm in the same boat as you.

[justintimeva]

Well you maybe done but I have somethings to update.  

So looks like my GF has been diganosed with HSV1 as I suspected.  Just waiting for a doctor to figure out what is causing my symptoms when I already know.  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

No problem, we are actually done here!

Terri

[justintimeva]

Yes the man is what I was referring to.  Sorry.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I was referring to the contact with the man, not your girlfriend

Terri

[justintimeva]

So update.  My GF gets her official results today.  I thought she had already gotten them,  :/  Also, when you say limited contact was that with the understanding that I had intercourse as well as the oral part?  I reread my intial post and maybe I wasn't clear.  Just want to make sure we are on the same page.  I will let you know what she tells me.  Wish me luck.  

Thanks bunches

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Given the extremely limited contact, I think you can believe the 10 weeks results

Terri

[justintimeva]

Ok, I just got my 10 week results, IGG Herpeselect:

HSV1 negative
HSV2 negative

I'm very happy that this is the case, and I feel like the most tested person on earth.  Am I too happy?  

Should I retest at 12 weeks and be done with it?  What are my chances that it would turn positive at this point?  

Thank you for all your responses.  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I'm not going to respond to more posts until you have a new set of results

Terri

[justintimeva]

My GF has had a HSV test in November (6 months after we started dating) that came back neg, and looks like this one did as well.

I am still having skin irritation around the anal area that no one can seem to explain.  Dermatologist, GI, GP, no one.  I had an MRI to look for abcesses in the rectum and such and everything came back ok.  If I had Herpes with symptoms starting at the end of March, would I still be having these issues?  I have read that irritation could happen with out blisters and last up to 6 weeks.

I will go get another blood test soon. (10 weeks)  The individual I had the encounter with got retested and he said it came back inconclusive.  So I'm still not 100% positive if he has it.  If my test comes back negative I will wait until the 14 week mark and retest, but I will feel better.  

I'm sure I'll have another update on Tuesday.  

[Bigtimeworried55]

I'm anxiously following this post closely. Please report your girlfriends results. Thanks.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Even if she has herpes, it doesn't mean that you do.  She could have had this on her own without any input from you if she has had other sex partners in her life.  Let's just wait and see.

Terri

[justintimeva]

So my girlfriend had a discoloration and it looked kinda crusty, on her butt.  I asked her about it and she was siad she wasn't sure and that she was going to ask her Dr. about it.  She had an appointment that day for a regular check up.  She also said she had something similar on her left forearm.  

Well when she went to Dr's they said it could be herpes or Shingles or maybe even some type of allergy.  They had her do blood work that to my knowledge has not come back yet.  She said that they didn't itch or hurt in any way.  I'm nervously awaiting her results.  This would have been about 7.5 weeks after she might have been exposed by me.  :(  

Could lesions pop up and crust over in less than a week?

I'm still having what feels like fissures on my anus, that no doctor can seem to see.  I have read that Herpes can cause fissures in stead of blisters.  

Would fissures caused by Hepres be very painful?  I guess my real question is how obvious would it be if they were caused by Herpes, like open cracks or just irritation?  

I'm sure that this drama will be over soon.  I'm approaching 10 weeks since my encounter and if her test don't show positive than mine would within the next couple of weeks per what I have read.

I'll be surprised if I have HSV and it didn't show on my 7.5 week test, but I really do at this point think I have it.  I'm trying to stay positive, but it's hard.  Especailly with what I'm seeing on my GF.  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Seven.5 weeks is probably 75-80%.

Terri

[justintimeva]

Ok, my results have come back from what would be 7.5 weeks from the potential exposure.

IGM - Neg
IGG HSV 1 - Neg
IGG HSV 2 - Neg
All else - Neg

Is the IGM worthless?  I know you said 6 week negative (IGG) still leaves about 30% chance.  so what about 7.5 weeks?  

Girlfriend has shown what looks to be a lesion, but never was ichy and didn't hurt. (looked to be healing)  

This has been like a roller coaster.  Good news one day, bad news the next.  I'm just praying that we don't have it.  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

There are certainly antibiotics to treat certain STDs, yes, bacterial ones.
He must be seeing something that concerns him.  Guess you'll just have to wait until test results come back to know more.

Terri

[justintimeva]

Also, is that anti biotic used to treat any STDs?

[justintimeva]

Ok, so here is what has happened recently.  My anus issue got worse and last friday it was sore and I had blood on the tissue paper after I had a bowel movement.  I went to see my GP and he gave me Protozone and AMOX TR-K CLV and asked me to get a RPR? HIV, HEP B/C, HSV II blood work done.  So I'm guessing he suspects STDs even tho he didn't say it.  

I have been continuing on like I was all good like I mention above and after having many long session of sex over the week end I noticed an area at the base of my penis getting sore.  It has now raised up to form a firm bump, but there is nothing to pop.  Can vigorous sex do that?  What could that be if not herpes?  Little freaked again.  :/  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

That's the PERFECT attitude!  

Terri

[justintimeva]

So I just got back my test for HSV1 & 2 and both were negative post 6 weeks.  I'm going to take a deep breath and unless I see actual lesions, on me or my girlfriend, I'm going to concider myself good to go at this point.  I will most likely go back in a couple of months to test again and leave no doubt at all, but this is good news.  I have a strong immune system and would think that I would have seen something by now.  

I was 50/50, and now I'm on the better side of 70/30.  

Someone is having a drink tonight.  

Do you think this is the right attitude?  Should I be this happy?  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are not a risk here.  If anything, your symptoms sound fungal to me.

terri