What type of test for an old infection and is this a even possible

[Hypoeverything]

Hi. I would like to know what test I should have done for an infection that would almost certainly be at least 17 years old and if my suspicions have any validity. Here's my story...I have been with my current husband for 17 years. If he has herpes he has never had symptoms and I am 99.9% sure that he has never cheated on me and I have never cheated on him. My ex husband would be  the one I would suspect as having infected me but he denies he has it.  What I don't understand is how could I have never noticed an initial outbreak or any other outbreaks for at least 17 years and now I have had  symptoms almost constantly since February 2nd. It did go away for a week after starting  meds for a yeast and bacterial infection on February 14th but came back on February 26 th and since then it seems to almost go away after about 7 days and then gets worse again.  I have seen 3 small red spots at different times, have burning, stinging, itching, anal rash and pain in my left leg. On February 14th i had summoned the courage to go to planned parenthood, tell them what I suspected and was told it wasn't possible to not have any other symptoms for 17 years, and that it didn't look like herpes. Through cultures I was diagnosed with a yeast and bacterial infection and was told I could come back to do an hsv blood test later.  I should have done it then because now I am afraid and embarrassed to go back but know I should. I have always had yeast infections and have been to the doctor multiple times and had cultures that showed yeast but now I am wondering if they were really herpes outbreaks. All of the symptoms I have now seem like herpes but I don't understand why it won't go away for at least a week, it has literally been one day every week that I feel ok.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

WHOAAAAA!  You have completely run with this idea that you have herpes with no evidence at all that you do.  Why, I wonder?  You are driving yourself crazy over symptoms that sound nothing like the way herpes behaves.  Yes, change your child's diapers!  Yes, put cream on her if she needs it!  Why do you think now that you have herpes on your hands?  

You are in serious need here of psychological help.  I surely hope that you will seek it as soon as possible.

Terri

[Hypoeverything]

Have you ever heard of someone having back to back outbreaks for a week at a time with a day in between outbreaks for 8 weeks  or longer? I don't understand why this won't go away for just a few days and give me a break. I am completely exhausted and despondent. I don't know why after 17 years of no symptoms ( I know my current husband did not give this to me)all of a sudden I  have symptoms that won't go away.i am petrified to change my daughters diapers. Should I not put diaper cream on her? I am washing my hands obsessively now but I am worried that I am constantly shedding and she will get this from me. Will I need to start antivirals to make these symptoms go away for at least a while? I have had two negative cultures but I have read over and over that there is such a high rate of false negatives that is seems useless to have a culture.  Thank you for your time Terri.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

While it is possible to be infected for 17 years, it seems unlikely to me that neither you nor your husband, if infected, wouldn't show some herpes specific symptoms by now.  

If you do test positive and so does your husband, it won't be possible to know who gave what to whom unless he has never had another sex partner in his lifetime.

Terri

[Hypoeverything]

I apologize my post was confusing and too long.  No, I did not have an antibody test at all. I have had symptoms that I thought were herpes like such as pain in my left labia and leg and overall vaginal burning, itching and redness burning and pain around my anus that makes me feel sick to my stomach.  I  think that because I did have a yeast and bv infection and that the doctor didn't think it was possible for me to have been infected 17 years ago and not have ever had these symptoms until now, she dissuaded me from getting the antibody test and now I am afraid and embarrassed to go back.
I guess my question is, based on my symptoms and the fact that I would have to had this for at least 17 years before ever having these symptoms is it logical that it might be herpes or am I way off base? I have read that herpes can lie dormant in people for years and then reactivate.
I think the thing about this that is making me so upset is that if I got this from my ex husband and infected my current husband whom I love - and he is ok now, but 17 years later he starts getting sick like me I will never forgive myself.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Oh, and the test you want to take to find out if you have HSV infection is the IgG antibody test.

Terri

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I'm confused here.  Did you have a positive herpes antibody test, is that why you think you have herpes?  Nothing you have described sounds anything like herpes and you have a diagnosis now of yeast and BV.

Herpes is not a constantly presenting infection as are the symptoms that you have now.  

I guess I don't know exactly what's going on here.  Are you wondering if you have herpes or are you trying to recognize outbreak symptoms from a positive antibody test?

Terri