Serology testing for herpes is not accurate

[herpesforsure]

I have been dealing with this nightmare for three years Having been exposure to HSV1 & HSV2 three years ago. Prior to this I have been in a relationship for 25 years. I received oral and kissed the woman who we later found out she was positive and I also masturbated her with my hand. My symptoms were a sever rash on my penis, severe skin sensitvity in my thighs, what I believe was a cold sore on my upper lip line and continued burning around my lips along with a sore that was on my hand that I used to masterbate this woman. I never went to the doctors during the inital symptoms I should have but I didn't. I went for IgG type specific testing 4 weeks after exposure. I was negative for both HSV1 & HSV2.  I did a bunch of IgG testing for 3,6,9,12 months all negative. I also did did 2 WB and those came back negative for both as well. Every doctor/specialist I saw and consulted with said you ar enegative of herpes. Still not feelign well and having skin pain in the spot on my lip where this sore was even years later I decided to make myself an experiement. Between all the doctor visits and testing I spent over $6,000. I started to do PCR swab testing. Trying to find a doctor to do this was not easy considering they all thought why bother but I needed to know.  The reason I did this was becaue my longtime parter started to show signs of herpes. Sores around her mouth, Vaginal discomfort, anal fissures, just to name a few. Well she was diagnosed with HSV1 both genitally and orally. Just not coincindental these issues started to happen after we started to have sex again after I finally believed the doctors. So I started doing the swab test and it took awhile but I finaly found out I have HSV1 both orally and genitally. It took less time to find out I had it orally but the shedding definitely does not happen as oftem genitally. I share this because I have read many of these threads over the years and I feel for so many people.

I beleive herpes testing defintiely has it flaws. I also believe the stat that herpes test miss 1 out of every 10 is probably higher than that but still 1 out of 10 is high. I am devestated not only having herpes but the fact I passed this on to someone else that I love and care about.

I read a recent article from a well informed doctor in Boston and the main theme to the article is assume everyone has herpes it is that common. Great advice! unfortunately for me and for many I read this to late. But for others take it to heart and make your choices accordingly, I am pissed that I did this and when I say it was one time it was one time so yes even though it is rare or 1 in 1000 as some of the doctors will tell you it does happen. The person I was with showed no sign of herpes and they did not even know they had it until I asked them to get tested. I still have one last question as to why my arm burns I had two blisters there a few years ago but I never did any swab testing in that area. This disease has changed my life because of what I beleive is some post herpetic nueralgia. I know they say this is rare or doesn't exist but I can only attribute it to the sore I had in that area.

I am well educated and a very logical person and from what I  have learned nothing is zero or 100 % in medicine so anything is possible. We all react differently to medications and diseases.  

If you feel off or your body tells you something is wrong well I believe for the majority of the people you are probably correct.

[larry123456]

This scares the crap out of me, I feel I may be in the same situation.

[sunshineone]

Sorry you have gone through all of this.  Have you and your partner considered going on daily suppressive therapy?  I don't know much about the daily therapies but maybe it will be a good option for the both of you if the daily therapies will drastically reduce any symptoms you could experience.

I have suspected that I have HSV-I orally and possibly genitally.  The one IGG test I had said I was negative for both HSV-I and HSV-II but I'm not sure b/c of symptoms I get.  I have considered trying daily supressive therapy to see if it makes a difference.  I plan to get the WB sometime next month or in early January to confirm.

One thing I have realized is that unfortunately, our medical system isn't as advanced as we would like to think and there are still alot of things scientists are still trying to find out.  You don't realize this until you start looking for answers to a medical issue and find that the answers are sometimes very gray and not black or white.

Ultimately, you exercised extreme due diligence in your situation to protect future partners so no one can fault you.  The fact that you cared so much definitely says something about your character.  I hope that supressive therapy relieves the symptoms that you and your partner experience and that you can move on and live a happy life.