IgM and IgG confusion

[etc24]

Hello Dr.

I just got diagnosed with Herpes, although I have my doubts.  I have had no sexual contact within the past 5-6 weeks (possibly more than that, i cannot quite remember) and the results concluded that I only have IgM antibody present in my blood.  This is what my results look like:

HSV 1/2 IGG, Herpeselect Type Specific AB
Herpes Simples Type 1- 0.93
Herpes simplex Type 2- 0.09

HSV IGM Antiobody W.Refl titer
HSV IGM Antibodies were detected/ Ref. range was not detected
HSV IGM Titer was 1:20

What does this mean?

In addition to that, is there any way to tell wether I have type 1 or type 2?

Should I get tested again soon?  The Doctor put me on Valtrex and told me to do a follow-up in two months (I think that is only for my liver/kidney analysis).  I have been reading alot about the virus and the presense of IGM without IgG...could this elude to another infection.  Do I really have genital herpes?  What do you suggest?  How long does it take for IgG to become detectable?  How long does IgM remain detectable?  

Please help.  I appreciate your time.

[jambalaya]

Thanks again Grace you seem to be very helpful to this forum

But why do many people are supposed to wait longer than one month do to a blood test?
As I read in articles that it sometimes takes 3 months untill you build IgGs.
How could her and my body for sure be protected already? Is that where the IgMs come in?
I am not questioning you, it just needs to come logical to me in order to sett my mind.
I hope you understand. Thanks a lot.

[gracefromHHP]

Nope - a month ago is fine. You started developing protective antibodies against herpes from the moment you were infected.  btw it's igg and igm - not lgg and lgm ;)

You won't make it worse in each other or anything like that!

grace

[jambalaya]

Thanks grace for the quick response. I apreciate your help.

haha and sorry I can see you are getting bombed by responses.

I though if either of as already had HSV-1 orally it would have been very hard to get HSV1 genitally so I suppose we both dont haven it before.

Juts to confirm your statement. I aquired it three to four weeks ago. So I have to assume I will not have antibodies (LgGs) yet and so wont she.
Considering that, would you stick to the information you responded?
Because I am afraid of her and me reinfecting herself/myself genitally or aquireing a cold sore.

Thanks again.

[gracefromHHP]

Lesions can turn up anywhere in the entire boxer short area.  Sometimes they are near the point of contact - sometimes they aren't.  Same with they don't have to be bilateral either with the first ob. Usually recurrences aren't bilateral but I've even found that to be untrue sometimes.  

As for scabbing over - lesions in the genital area do not scab in the same way say a skinned knee does. It's not that obvious of a scab.

Why not repeat the blood test now?  it's 2 1/2 months - pretty darn close.

grace

[etc24]

No, they didn't test me for a UTI...they just did the Urine Analysis and it came back negative.  

I would like to get retested sooner than July...would you recommend any place?  I feel like the IgG antibodies should be present by now if my last exposure was in the beginning of March...would you agree?  

Curious...do lesions usually show up at the point of contact?  So if you vaginal sex, do lesion usually occur on or around the vagina?  and...i also read that they are bilateral...is this usually true?  Do all blisters break and then scab over?  I have never had a scab "down there" before...

so many questions...
You are so great!  Thanks Grace!

[gracefromHHP]

If you have genital hsv1 and your partner has hsv1 genitally too - nothing to worry about. Just don't perform oral on each other when you have active genital symptoms just in case either of you were lucky enough not to have contracted hsv1 orally at the same time too ( we don't have good stats on that but chances are good that either of you might've even if you didn't get obvious cold sores - that said - it's not an issue since you both have hsv1 already in your bodies ).

Now go have fun!

grace