Is it herpes?

[JessMill]

I had unprotected sex with a guy in Dec 2007. I got tested for herpes in October of 2008 and it came back negative. I got the HSV I/II IgG HerpeSelect Type Specific Antibody test. My results were under 0.90. I have been with my now boyfriend for almost 4 years (since /march 2008). Two weeks ago I got these bumps on the inside of my vagina (not all the way on the inside). They have since gone away. They never really looked like blisters and they looked more like some kind of rash. However, when I showed the Dr. a picture, he seemed convinced that it was Herpes. So he ordered another blood test to test for both IgG and IgM antibodies. My question is this: How is it possible to test negative 10 months after the possible exposure and up until this point, neither I nor my boyfriend have shown ANY symptoms of having Herpes? Neither one of us have gotten cold sores, or genital sores. And mind you we have had sex without a condom as well as oral sex, but still have never developed anything in the almost 4 years we have been together. Is it possible that I do have herpes? Even after having the negative IgG test and having almost 4 years of neither I nor my boyfriend showing any symptoms?

What really scares me is that I was tested before, with the test that everyone recommends to get, and 10 MONTHS AFTER the possible exposure and it came back negative. How is it that in 4 years, now all of a sudden I am possibly having my first outbreak, like the Dr. seems to think it is? When I showed him the picture, he seemed sure. However, I think the picture adds more detail than it really was. They may have been small blisters, but I had my boyfriend look and he seemed to think it looked more like a rash. They were painful, but they NEVER popped, made sores, scabbed over and then healed. It was like they were there for a couple weeks, and then they were gone. I just dont know how its possible to test negative 10 months later, then be with a guy for 4 years and neither one of us EVER have any symptoms, and now all of a sudden I possibly have it? Is this even a real possibility? Let me also mention that I have suffered from recurrent yeast infections. Nothing they give me treats them. And right before I got the bumps, I had had a yeast infection for almost 2 weeks straight. Is it possible that the bumps developed from that? and that they eventually just went away on their own because the yeast is now gone?

Everytime I have had a yeast infection, I have been to the Dr, and it has indeed been a yeast infection. I was not self-diagnosing. If it was a herpes outbreak on the inside, wouldn't they have seen it when they were doing the vaginal exam to swab for the yeast? I have been to the DR over 10 times in the past 2 months for yeast infections, and every time it was yeast except for one time when it was a bacterial infection. They checked me for HIV and diabetes and those both came back negative. And the herpes test was negative 10 MONTHS AFTER the possible exposure. And when I got tested for herpes the first time, it was negative and I had NEVER experienced any type of breakout or recurrent yeast infections up until then. But I got the test as a precaution just to make sure. But no one can seem to tell me why after being with a guy now for 4 years, have NEITHER ONE OF US EVER HAD AN OUTBREAK. If I had gotten herpes from that possible exposure in 2007, wouldnt one of us, me or my boyfriend have symptoms by now?

I got tested again for herpes a week ago. Results came back as IgG = 1.07 and IgM= 1.05. Both in the equivocal range. Remember that my test from 2008 (8months after possible exposure was less than 0.90).

[JessMill]

Thanks, I do think that the WB is my next goal. But I go back to the Dr. on the 21st, so I'm going to have him give me something else! I'll keep updating!

[gracefromHHP]

not likely it's a true positive result. follow up with a herpes WB blood test.

boric acid irritated the heck out of me and the discharge it caused annoyed the poop out of me. Why not give the provider a call and see about trying something different?

[JessMill]

So, I wanted to ask your opinion on something. The first test I got for herpes was the Herpeselect test 10 months post exposure of unprotected sex. It came back negative as I mentioned previously. In september of 2011, I had another test done. Not sure, which test they did, but my numbers came back as IgM-1.05 and IgG- 1.07. These are in the equivocal range. I got the test repeated 2 weeks later and the numbers came back as follows: IgM numbers went down, not sure what it went down to, but IgG came back as 1.16. Well, this is in the positive range. My Dr didnt seem to worried about it because as I has explained to him, I still had never gotten any blisters that have came up, popped, oozed, and then crusted over. It's never happened. And neither has my boyfriend. I then went to see a vulvodynia specialist who said that yes it was in the positive range, but he also basically said not to worry about it unless I ever had an outbreak. I did have a herpes culture done, but it came back negative. However, I was not having an outbreak, he just decided to do the culture anyway. The vulvodynia specialist gave me a prescription for boric acid capsules. I've been using those twice a week for about a month now, and I'm really not sure if its working. I still have the constant pain. I still have the discharge, which may be related to the boric acid, but it still constantly hurts down there. Not only that, I've seemed to lost any interest in having sex with my boyfriend, which I can tell you has only been like once in the past month, and maybe like twice in the past 2 months. It hurts to even have sex. I'm so scared as to what could be going on with me because no one has given me any direct answers. I know that part of my problem is still me thinking in the back of my mind that I have herpes. And that may be why I still have that constant pain. But I just dont know what to think. Any advice? Do you think I should quit worrying about having herpes? Do you think I should start taking some type of anxiety medication to help lower my anxiety about it? Not to mention, my legs are always tingling, I still constantly check down there, etc etc. Please help!

[JessMill]

I think I'm gonna take your advice and try to see a specialist. I've been to 2 different gynecologists already. I'm hoping somebody will be able to tell me what's going on.

[gracefromHHP]

this isn't herpes causing  this.  with all your repeated negative testing, you shouldn't even be thinking herpes as a possibility at this point.

I recommend seeing a vulvodynia specialist at this point.  At the very least, look for a different gyn to see for a 2nd opinion.

[JessMill]

Its now November... I don't know what to do anymore. It's like it's never ending. It still hurts. My vaginal area is red, all the time. Discharge, its a constant nuisance. A constant pain. Still have not developed any blisters or lesions. Maybe some bumps, but I can't even tell anymore. I'm really at a loss. Wht do I do?! This has been going on since September. Almost 2 months now without ANY RELIEF. No yeast infection medicine works. The blood tests didn't give anything out of the ordinary, the herpes culture came back negative. The DR. prescribed a mycolog cream that I've used for the burning, but it hasn't helped. :-( I have looked at myself down there everyday, multiple times a day for the past two months and I don't know what to do.

[JessMill]

Yeah that's what I have read... but they are running the IgG test... they forgot to the first time... but my Dr called them.... and so I will be getting the IgG results in the next day or so.

[gracefromHHP]

the igm test is a waste of time and money. Providers should not be drawing it at this point on adults.

[JessMill]

just an update:

went to the Dr... and the culture he did came back NEGATIVE.

2 weeks ago my IgM level was 1.05. This time it was 0.99.

I will get the results from the IgG test tomorrow or Thursday.

[JessMill]

Thanks Grace. I appreciate it. I'll be sure to post an update after my Dr appt on Tueday.

[gracefromHHP]

even if you do have genital herpes, it wouldn't be causing all these yeast infections.

there are always false negatives potentially but the odds of one 10 months post encounter are around 2%.

[JessMill]

I've tried diflucan many times. At first, it would help, but then it stopped working. And actually, I've tried that combination once before, but took one weekly for 4 weeks after the initial first two. Before the issue of herpes came up, the Dr had talked about trying boric acid. I think at this point, it is worth a try because nothing else has worked. I've even tried over the counter treatments, and have been prescribed terazol (which I'm currently doing now), but I've even used the terazol before and it didnt work.

The thing is, I've never had any obvious lesions, besides those bumps I had a few weeks ago. My Dr didn't even notice them. Because when I asked him if he noticed them, he said no. And now I have this painful bump (and its only one bump) and I'm not sure what to make of it. Its kind of hard, and its pretty much the color of my skin. Getting slighty red now. But I don't go back to the Dr until Tuesday.

I've tried to convince him to go, because I'm sure he would have had results back by now, but he won't because he still doesnt think its herpes. (Because after 3 and 1/2 years being together, neither one of us have ever had anything, up until now, and all these issues with me).

But I'm just curious, is it possible that my HerpeSelect Type specific IgG test 10 months after the possible exposure was a false negative? I know that's the test to get. I figure if I had herpes then, the antibodies surely would have developed by then.

[gracefromHHP]

he needs to find out his own status at this point. talk to him and see if he can call his provider this week to arrange for the testing to be done. it'll give you faster answers in general at this point.

A culture without obvious lesions usually is a waste of time.

have they used oral diflucan at all yet for your yeast? You might benefit from taking 1 now, 1 3 days later and then taking one weekly for 6 weeks to try to get rid of this pesky yeast issue instead of topical creams.

[JessMill]

No, he hasn't been tested at all. I think he is waiting on my results. I did have a herpes culture done last Monday along with another blood test this past friday since it had been two weeks since the previous one. I didn't have any type of lesions when I got the culture done (unless they were on the inside, but he never mentioned it). I think he did the culture because no one else has. But I will get those results on Tuesday when I go to the Dr. It is all so frustrating.. especially since I've been through this all before with getting the blood test and it coming back negative almost 4 years ago. But I'll be sure to up date once I get my results on tuesday. Thanks for responding. I do appreciate it.

[gracefromHHP]

has your current bf been tested at all for herpes during all of this?

you need to be seen every time you have symptoms. If they suspect herpes, they can do a lesion culture and typing on your symptoms.

at this point you've had a lot thrown at your very delicate genital area. Hard to tell just what all is going on which is why even though it's annoying as all get out, you need to continue to be seen for new symptoms.

grace

[JessMill]

so I have now developed a single blister in my pubic area on the right labia majora. I also got two other blisters further up in my pubic area. They never popped and they didn't hurt, and they have kind of flattened. However, the blister that is on the labia hurts. Im not sure what to make of this. I'm really scared now that it still might be herpes. Or could it simply be ingrown hairs? :-(

[IDTB]

No problem Sunny. I agree, reading everyone's stories always helps with understanding the different experiences and possibilities we all might experience. Good luck and hope you continue to get helpful advice.

And Jess, thanks for sharing your situation with everyone. Hope everything works out.

[Sunny2406]

Sorry I didn't mean to hijack your post either. I do have a post and have been getting good advice. I should have dug through your posts, IDTB, to get your story.

Jess- I understand the redness thing. I am having good results currently with a cortisone cream prescribed by my doc. Have they tried that for you? I hope you get this figured out. You're in my thoughts.

[IDTB]

Sunny2406, feel free to start a new thread with your story and we'll give you some feedback. Also post you results on there so Grace and some others can respond.

Thanks.

Jesse, didn't mean to highjack your thread with my story. At first I thought you had asked me, that why I posted.

[Sunny2406]

Thanks for sharing your stories. It helps to read these threads. I had negative HSV2 igg at 15 and 22 weeks and hoping they are accurate. Not sure if I should retest. Having symptoms of something and awaiting biopsy results. No lesions but have had the thigh pain. Three providers all say no.

[IDTB]

Oops, sorry JessMill, I meant to respond to Sunny's question about my symptoms and why I tested.

[IDTB]

Ok, well since you asked, here's my little story,

I had tested because I had some on & off itching at the top of my butt crack for a month or so. Kept scratching it and finally a little pimple came up and a little bit of rash around it. No bigger than the area of a pencil eraser head. This was a few weeks after I had had a possible risky encounter with oral sex performed on me. I also noticed some pain while urinating so I got suspicious and went to the clinic. A nurse practitioner looked at me and decided right then I must have contracted herpes.  First did the urinalysis which came back negative for anything. Then she scraped the tiny pimple for a culture, took blood and ordered an IGG test for HSV2.

In the meantime while waiting on these results, a little birdie in my head said, "eh, I'm not so sure about the hasty conclusion she made and how 'anxious' she seemed to diagnose me with herpes by just looking at me. Almost exicted to diagnose me as contracting herpes. And she was kind of cold about it, "well you got it so there's nothing you can do about it, blah blah" (yet she also said, it wasn't typical of what she 'd seen herpes ob, it didn't hurt or itch once the pimple had come up after I scratched the area, and it wasn't in the usual spot on the buttocks which is usually more towards the outside, etc). So I decided to seek out my dermatologist for a second opinion while waiting on the results. He took one look and said, nope, this isn't herpes. Doesn't look like a herpes patch. It's more likely contact dermatitis of some sort from irritation of sitting so much or whatever which I do alot at a computer.  Well, the results came back later that week and they were negative. I went back to the dermatologist, told him about it and said, since I had had orsal performed on me, could we order a type specific for HSV1 just to make sure in my mind this isn't herpes. He agreed. Did the test, and it too came back negative. All thsi was only a little over two months after potential exposure. So, in minf=d mind, I still had a little doubt even though I wasn''t having any symptoms, and the urine pain even though had gone away, was never explained. (And to this day I still don't know what it was.) In addition I've been getting random lilltle pimples on my legs here & there that I never really noticed before. Dermatologist said those were just little puss pimples.

Anyway, a few months later I was driving and I had a slight irritated feeling on my back thigh flare up of one leg. Got home and noticed little tiny pinhead sized bumps had popped up on the back of my thigh. They were spread out, not in clusters and not blisters of any type in an area about where the car seat rubs against my thigh. So, I got upset again and went back to the clinic. This time a PA looked at me and he said, no way these were herpes, that it was probably a heat rash or something. I asked if he would do a swab and he flat out refused, said he was confident these weren't herpes. Even rubbed his bare hand across them several times. So, I said, ok, but this time it's been almost 4 months since my encounter so I want one more round of blood tests to confirm. So, he did type-specific IGG tests for both HSV1 & HSV2. (That was the last clinic trip I described before). I waited two weeks before I got up the nerve to go pick them up because I was still nervous and not sure. Went in and both results were negative for Herpes. So, That's my story and I feel pretty confident that two rounds of type specific tests with negative results and no symptoms to speak of pretty much means I'm negative. But it was a stressful 4 months for me just the same and mostly because of that original visit to the clinic where the nurse had me convinced that I possibly had herpes.

I still get the occasional itching in that same spot when sitting for long periods of time, but I just put a little hydrocortizone cream on it. ( I personally think it may be an irritated nerve that starts tickling under the skin occasionally. Can't figure anything else it could be.) But if I don't scratch it constantly, no rash or pimple appears. I've heard that ecxema acts that way too. (And some cases of ecxema can look like a herpes rash, complete with blisters in some cases) If you continuously scratch any part of your skin often enough, an irritated rash will appear. And that's apparently what happened with me.
Also, I have on and off itching on my legs lately but I've got dry skin lately because of no rain this past summer so that may have contributed to some as well.

[JessMill]

thanks... me too!

[Sunny2406]

Thanks for sharing. I know your frustration. I hope you get answers soon!