Too early to test?

[newtothis966]

I recently had unprotected sex.  He tested  negative for all STD's prior to our sexual encounter.  I was in a long term relationship and thought nothing about being tested.  After some very rough sex, every day, at least 2-3 times a day for over a week - he is very large.  I was sore.  I had a bacteria infection, yeast infection and bladder infection.  I also had some cuts (which very well could have been from the rough sex).  My doctor did a culture (3-4 days later) that turned out negative and 2 weeks later ( i know that's early) did an IGG and IGM test (I know from my research IGM means nothing).  My IGG test was 2.03.  I retest again on Friday.  I know it is considersed a "low psitive" if it is between 1.1 -3.5)...however, I am concerned that when I go on Friday my numbers will increase becasue I was tested at two weeks.  There are two things that scare me.  I had painful blisters on my nipples and my index finger had an infection on it.  Is this typical for positive HSV test?  OR again - could it have been part of the rough sex.  He was bitiing and sucking on my nipples - quite hard.  They were sore the next morning.  He was tested again and it was negative again.  I am a nervous wreck, sick to my stomach, and was hoping for some answers before Friday.  My Doc isn't as open to a lot of these discussions.  Any help would be great!  Thank you!

[newtothis966]

Will do - and I will keep you posted!!  Thanks for all your help and support!

[gracefromHHP]

Your provider seems to not understand herpes testing.  they are repeatedly wasting your money on the wrong testing .  saying you have hsv2 based on the testing you had done is actually malpractice :(

wait until 3 months post encounter and seek out type specific herpes testing either from a different provider or order it up yourself thru an online source like healthcheckusa.

[cottonmike]

Grace,

I had unprotected sex with a girl 2 weeks ago and she since has informed me that she is positive for hsv2. 4 days ago I noticed a rash and two small bumps on both sides of my scrotum. For the last three days I have had flu like symptoms-tight chest, generally achy, headache low grade fever-but no upper respiratory congestion.

How should I proceed? Is it too early to test? Should I go to the Doc and get on a anti-viral? No medical insurance and unemployed-would the county health dept help me with this?

Thank you,

Michael

[newtothis966]

Hi Grace
I know it is still a little early - but here is where I am at:
Week 4 - HSV 1/2 (combined) - 2.03 IGG & 2.38 IGM (My Dr. insists this is an important number - however, I know different)
Week 6 - HSV 1/2 (combined) - 2.90 IGG & 3.23 IGM

She said the lab will not seperated the HSV 1 and 2 - she explained that I am definetly HSV 2 positive.  She continued to say that "millions of people are HSV 2 Positive and you are not going to have any more children so there is nothing to worry about - just take suppressive therapy and move on.  There is no reason to keep testing."  OK - it's not that simple in my world!  I want to know for sure if I have herpes and if I do is it 1 and/or 2.  From what I can understand if they don't seperate the numbers there is no way for her to tell if I have HSV 1 or 2, correct?  All my cultures were clean.  Please help!  I am beside myself and haven't spoken to anyone about this accept for the person I have been having a sexual relationship with.  BTW - he is testing negative.

Should I find a doctor to send me to UofW for Western Blot as my next step?  What are your thoughts?  I can say this - I am frustrated with the lack of knowledge my OB/GYN has regarding Herpes!  

[newtothis966]

Yes.  She told me that it was an hsv 1/2 test.  It was not seperated...And "a reflex can be performed if the results say to do that" (I don't understant that and when I asked what that meant she said she couldn't disclose that to me my doctor would have to) ....then they would seperate HSV 1 or HSV 2.  Does any of this make sense to you?  Then she spoke of the A/BTiters...not sure what that means either.  I have been talking to the University of Washington a couple times a week trying to figure some things out.  I am stressed, confused, angry, depressed...you name it...I'm it!  And none of it seems to make sense to me.  THe test they performed doesn't even make sense.  Your thoughts?

[gracefromHHP]

so that was a combined herpes igg and not a hsv2 igg result?

[newtothis966]

Hi Again
I just got off the phone with my Doctor's office and I am a bit confused and frustrated.  I had an HSV 1/2 IGG test called enzyme Amino Assay Multi Plax Beads Assay and that number was 2.03 along with an A/B Titters test (if that is the IgM) then the number for htat was 2.38.  My vaginal culture was negative for all STD's.  I called the lab because the doctor's office couldn't answer me - they said that they did not seperate the HSV 1 or HSV 2 because a "reflex can be performed if the results say to do that".  What the hell does that mean?  I am so frustrated!!!  The lab where my doctor sends Herpes tests does not do Elisa or HerpeSelect.  Any suggestions from here?  Should I go to my Doctor on Friday or schedule for somewhere else?  I may just be a patient to them but this is my life we are talking about!!

[gracefromHHP]

correct - if you have another low positive at 3 months and haven't had any genital symptoms to culture to confirm infection, then a herpes WB after 4 months is the next step.

[newtothis966]

I will wait it out - these are the longest days of my life right now and I am trying to really stay positive and focused .... I will keep you posted as things progress.  Thank you for your honesty.  If, by lucky chance, I do end up with anther "low positive" a WB is recommended if I'm not mistaken.  I will also keep an eye on my finger and nipple.  Nothing since ealy November, but that may not mean a thing.  No itching or bruning in my vagina either....or any other signs for that matter.  I am an eternal optimist and I am holding onto a lot of hope at this time!

[gracefromHHP]

herpes wouldn't show up the next day. sounds like your partner was a tad too rough.  

[newtothis966]

So there is no actual prof at this point at has to do with HSV?  and do you think that that it is unusual to have big blisters on your nipples the day after sex?

[gracefromHHP]

if it was me, would I be concerned? Indeed I would be but unfortunately nothing you can do at this point to see what your true status is.

[newtothis966]

One more question - do you think I am getting too excited about the "low positive" at this point?

[gracefromHHP]

correct - far too early yet to figure out if it's a true positive or not. You will need to wait and repeat testing in 2 months. don't waste time or money testing before then.

should you get a return of symptoms on  your finger or nipples, be seen.  no way to know what went on at this point .

[newtothis966]

Grace I am so glad you responded to me.  I love reading your posts.  I finally got the guts up to write one of my owen.

No I didn't have them look at the nipples or finger.  I actually didn't think anything of it at the time. It was November 9, 2012 that I last had sex.  Do you think that the low positive is actually too earlly to tell if it is a low positive?  Do you think the blisters on my nipple are a sign of HSV?  How about the the finger?  The finger actually looked like an infection...and the nipples were very sore and big blisters not clusters.  They actually were there the day after the first time we had sex.

[gracefromHHP]

when did you last have sex prior to testing? you have to wait at least 3 months post encounter for your herpes igg blood testing to be accurate. don't bother retesting before then.  

did you have your nipples and finger looked at when you had symptoms?

grace