Herpes-like symptoms but negative IgG Herpeselect tests

[MikeVon]

Hello,

I had a question concerning strange symptoms I've experienced over the past year and a half.  In March of 2011 I had an initial outbreak of some sort in which symptoms included painful urination, enlarged groinal lymph nodes, and lesions of some sort in the penis/testicular area.  The lesions were not particularly itchy or painful, but my first worry was herpes, given the symptoms.

At that time I was given a full battery of STD tests, though unfortunately no direct swab of the lesions.  These tests included those for HIV, Herpes (Herpeselect IgG type-specific), Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis.  At the time, I tested negative for everything, though since my blood test occurred shortly after a potential initial outbreak, I understood that I needed a later blood test.

Similarly, my then-girlfriend was tested for everything and came back positive for HSV-1 via the same blood test.  My concern, obviously, was that I had picked up a case of genital HSV-1, though my girlfriend had been lifelong asymptomatic (no cold sores above or below) and did not realize she was carrying this.

Since that time, approximately 15 months, I had no other symptoms.  A month ago or so, the above relationship ended, and I knew I should probably be re-tested.  Weirdly, a couple of weeks after deciding this, I had another outbreak of some form which involved a raised, reddened area that progressed to include canker-sore looking ulcerations near the underside/base of my penis and enlarged groinal lymph nodes.  The irritated area, again, did not really itchy or hurt (unless I mechanically irritated it), but I got another blood test (no swab, again, unfortunately), the same HSV 1/2 IgG Herpeselect test.  Note that this would be 15 months since my initial outbreak in March of 2011.

My results came back again negative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 (< .9 for both).  I am somewhat baffled by my symptoms, as I am not really aware of any other condition which presents in this format, i.e. an area of irritated skin + enlarged groinal lymph nodes implying an infection of some sort.

My doctor seems to think that I do not have herpes, but I am not sure I am 100% confident in this, particularly in light of a lack of swab.  My understanding is that I should have antibodies 15 months after an initial outbreak, however, and I have had no partners or sexual contact aside from the previous relationship described.

My concern at this point is that if I somehow have HSV-1, I may not present with symptoms for a long period of time (my reading indicates that many people with genital HSV-1 have extremely infrequent outbreaks, in my own case it would have been 15 months between first and second outbreak) and I would be left without a viable, alternate means of testing for herpes.  I think my biggest issue is not knowing what to tell any prospective, future girlfriends in terms of my STD status as I keep testing negative (for herpes).

Thank you for listening/reading,

-Mike

[helpthisprude]

I hate to say this but studying Med field and personal experience, lymph node swelling isn't something that is a good thing,have you had your prostate or colon checked for possible cancer? The lesion could be chaffing from the enlarged lymph nodes.  I'm having a pimple like right at the buttick area I get This frequently and I have a hood ring and it would rub the sides of my abnormally small vagina and last year I'd put it back in and someone forced themselves and they we're kind if big and it swelled and cut the taunt area and there was a bump along with basically repiercing by hood and it was swelled and secreting the Er doc said HSV did a swab it was just an infectuin and I know I had a yeast infection and the ring irritated and tore the sides like paper cuts and I've been with others since then even my ex while I had a cut I've been getting these since age 14 or so they're little paper cut tyoe things and my clit enlarges but anyhow none of the guys have gotten anything. But that Er Dr scared me saying the swabs can be wrong and I only get like maybe one bump here or there look nothing like the pics and it seems to happen when u shave so u think that could be connection my On/Gyn seen the cuts when with mg ec and getting them and said bc my lios fully close and how tight I keep my butt from exercise it's moisture and to use hair dryer.  But I'm so scared it could be HSV I was with my ex from 13-27 but maybe he was a born carrier bc we tij each others virginity and he was a loner at the time of these other things but would get them and they'd turn pimple like and with the swelling etc by the taunt area maybe hemroids?? Idk. But avoiding my new partner who also says he ha razor burn atm but scared to pass anything. Also these things occur after sex esp after sex if in dry lime a rug burn just putting all symptoms out there. Email me at ***@**** with input also in here  thanks  

[kris_b]

In 10/2011 i went in for a pap and had my usual STD testing which included hetpeselect, a few days after my pap my gyn called and told me i was positive for hsv2 and negative for hsv 1. In 05/2012 i went to an allergy and immunology doctor and was  sent to a lab for several blood tests: iga, igm, ige, igg  and a few other tests and they all came back negative. My question is if i tested positive for hsv 2 previously should my igg test be positive also?

P.s. i have never had any out breaks only a rash which was treated with nystatin/triamcinolone

[gracefromHHP]

anything can cause lymph node swelling - not just herpes.  fungal and bacterial infections are very common and can cause them too.

[MikeVon]

Hi Grace,

Thank you for the response.  I wouldn't say that the lesions were entirely comfortable, I was just "surprised" that Herpes lesions would only itch a little and not really hurt unless I directly irritated them.  Some people do seem to have very mild outbreaks, however, so I thought I might be one of these people.

I would accept that there could be an alternate explanation for my symptoms but am still confused about the swelling in the lymph nodes down there when these lesions appear.  To the best of my knowledge that implies serious infection by something, and am not sure what else would be recurrent like this.  I'm not the only one as medical people don't seem to know what to tell me, either.

-Mike

[gracefromHHP]

herpes lesions are itchy and painful when touched. Your symptoms most likely were most likely due to something else.  

at this point, not much else you can do unless you get a return of symptoms. If you do, be seen promptly for exam and if they suspect herpes, make sure a lesion culture and typing is done but odds really are these were something else going on from your description of symptoms.

grace