HSV 1 recent diagnosis

[confusednewby]

Hello, I have a few questions concerning HSV-1 transmission.
I grew up in a family where my father and uncles and aunts had cold sores from time to time. I somehow remained seronegative for HSV1 my entire life until recently. I am a 30 year old male.
Every year I go to my family doctor for a full physical and STD screening. I have been intimate with several new women over the past six months. About 2 months ago I had what appeared to be a rash directly where my belt makes skin contact below my belly button. I didnt think too much of it as I have had folliculitis previously. Each of the bumps had a hair protruding from it. This rash stayed around for about 1.5 weeks with no discomfort aside from a tiny bit of itch from where my pants/belt would irritate it. After receiving the information about being HSV1 positive however I am concerned this might have been a primary outbreak. By the time I was able to get into the doctor for my blood testing the the rash had gone away, right now there is a little bit of red still on my skin and hair missing from these spots.
My question is without knowing exactly where I am infected for sure how can I minimize the risk of transmission to my partner ? I realize that HSV 1 carries a lower risk of transmission than HSV2 when it occurs below the belt. Since the area I am concerned with is above the region I would typically associate with direct skin to skin contact during intimacy does that lower the risk of transmission ? I am not sure if the contact would have to be directly to the area in which I am infected. Also, if I do in fact have HSV1 below the belt line I am not at risk of transmitting HSV1 orally to her am I ?
My biggest concern is transmission to someone I care about !!! As I mentioned previously I am surprised I have not had cold-sores yet, my mother has remained cold-sore free despite having been married to my father for 40 years!
Any advice would be appreciated!

[gracefromHHP]

you already have a + hsv1 result though according to your previous postings in this post.

[confusednewby]

Agreed it is kind of frustrating that they do not specifically put HSV 1 results on the test as well!
In your opinion is there any cause for retesting specifically for HSV 1 or does this conclusively show I am HSV 1 positive and HSV 2 negative ? I am not too concerned about the HSV 1 positive result but just want to make double check that I can indeed be certain of my HSV 2 status.
Thanks for your assistance again Grace !

[gracefromHHP]

this is still the default herpes testing for focus labs and several others. they do a general hsv test and if it's + then they assume you have hsv1 and just test for hsv2. Not the best way to test in general since knowing your hsv1 status is also important.  

[confusednewby]

Was digging through some paper work today and came across my test results. Curious if this is typical test methodology or not.
From the paperwork it appears that initially an HSV 1 and 2 IgG (combined ??) test was performed which came back positive at 3.5. After that the page states as follows -

" The test HSV 2 Glycoprotein G Ab, IgG has been reflexed as confirmation of the positive result of Herpes 1 and 2 IgG."
HSV 2 glycoprotein G Ab IgG - 0.02

It seems as though after a positive result for the combined test they performed a type specific test for HSV 2 which came back negative thus leaving the only other possibility, HSV 1 as the culprit for the positive combined result.

Does this testing methodology seem abnormal to you ? Looking at the dates again this is approximately 10 weeks after the initial rash which prompted me to hurry up and get my yearly physical / Std test.

Thanks again !

[gracefromHHP]

not much we can help with at this point. follow up with your provider as needed.

grace

[confusednewby]

I have not, the area became somewhat red looking similar to where a belt might dig into your skin. There were no sores or anything more than just redness. Not sure if that could be a sign of a recurrence or not ? Its pretty much gone now after 2 or 3 days.
Just curious if red skin such as that could be considered a possible reactivation and if it was could a culture be taken from the skin ?
Thanks!

[gracefromHHP]

have you been to the clinic yet and had this looked at?

[confusednewby]

Over the last few days the area around my belt line has once again become red and irritated without any visible bumps or sores. I would like to get a culture done at some point if an actual sore etc. shows up though not sure it will or if this is even the site of infection!!
My question is does there need to be visible open sores to get a culture ? I am not even sure if this is a recurrence as there has been no discomfort etc associated with it.

[Mistakeguy789]

If you have genital HSV it can be shed from the uthera.

You can't assume or self diagnois because you don't know.  Best to be seen if not by your normal doctor look for an STD clinic.

[confusednewby]

Thanks again grace.
I was not able to make a doctor appointment for last week and it has pretty much healed over the weekend. I am not sure in its current status that a culture could be taken.
My girlfriend is aware of my hsv1 status. It pains me to not know for sure whether i am infected genitally or orally. On one hand it seems oral hsv is more culturally accepted but it seems that to have it elsewhere carries many fewer and less severe outbreaks. I am pushing her to get tested before i start any suppresent therapy.
Assuming i have it on my waist line does that still mean this could be transmitted via my penis?

[gracefromHHP]

odds are this has nothing to do with hsv1.  don't assume that because now you are testing hsv1+ that your rashes on your abdomen/belly button area have to be due to hsv1.  

be seen today or tomorrow for proper exam.

grace

[confusednewby]

Ok so i am back again. This time i have another strange spot on my admonen in fact right inside of my belly button. I am unsure if this is a bug bite or an hsv lesion. I was standing in the store the other day when i had a sharp pain followed immediately by some itching and tingling. When i got home took a look and saw a tiny red spot. Well it has grown now to look like a blister which i believe is hsv. I really wish i knew what to expect with my infection. I know i have hsv1 by serology and from what i have gathered so far is that it is on my abdomen. I have had no symptoms on my penis. The closest spot to my genitals i have had appears to be right below my boxer short waisline. I am confused now because i am wondering how much of my body is truly contagious? Would it just be the spots i have seen sores there past two times. Is my penis also capable of passing this on? Would simply covering my abdomen do the trick and keep me from passing this on? Is my whole body capable of passing this on? Anyway you look at it i have hsv but i feel grateful that it is not on my genitals and have the pain associated with that. I would do anything tk keep the person that I care for from becoming sick!! If i do not have hsv1 orally the virus would not be passed by my saliva correct?
Thanks in advance for any info you guys can share.

[confusednewby]

Thanks for the follow up, the blood test ocurred about a month after the rash so I assumed the two were related. I actually did purchase a new belt with a metal buckle around 3 or 4 weeks prior to the rash. I stopped wearing it unless I had a shirt tucked in to avoid skin exposure and haven't had an issue since. Whatever it was I pray I don't have to deal with it again!

[gracefromHHP]

this doesn't sound like it's genital herpes going on.

if it reoccurs, be seen promptly for proper evaluation. rashes in that area are often nickel allergies from the buttons/snaps on our pants rubbing against our skin.  


grace

[confusednewby]

I was diagnosed with HSV1 via blood test. Value was 3.05

[petal130]

How were you diagnosed as having HSV1? Was it by blood test? If so, what was the numeric value?

Unless the rash you had was swabbed/cultured, you can't assume it's HSV1.