8 Weeks symptoms, HSV-2?

[Confused777]

Hi Terri,
I had unprotected oral and vaginal intercourse this fall. 2 days later I started feeling pins and needles in groin and thighs, pelvic pain, swollen groin, testicle pain and pain in the tip of my penis. Additional symptoms include light nausea, loss of appetite, frequent urination, and exasperated symptoms after sitting. These have all been intermittent and changing by the day or hour for the last 7 and a half weeks. I’ve had no full days of relief from some kind of pain. I have been to the doctor 3x. The first time she tested me for Chlamydia, Ghonhorrea(both neg) and HSV-1 and 2 IgM and IgG.

Here are the results:
HSV, IgM I/II Combination 0.97 High
HSV 1 IgG, Type Spec <0.91
HSV 2 IgG, Type Spec 18.60 High

I’ve been taking Biotin at 5,000 MCG/day. I’ve read that this can skew results, and since my HSV-2 value was so much higher than anything I’ve seen online, I was curious if maybe this was throwing of my results. Do I have Super Herpes or something?

I have been taking Advil, Tylenol, and hot baths as much as possible.

Then after 4 weeks They had me try 1g of Vacyclovir 2x/day for 7 days. This didn’t seem to have any effect on symptoms either.

Here I am at almost 8 weeks now and my symptoms are still intermittent by the day.

The doctor did another full bill of blood tests and urine, and everything looked fine.

They also commented on the HSV-2 test and said that honestly they wouldn’t have done that test and it could mean I was exposed, but also possibly not.

I had these symptoms 5 years ago with no test and it went away after ~6 weeks.

My questions are:
Does my HSV-2 test seem irregularly high, what does that number mean and should I get a different test?
Is this normal to have these “prodromal” symptoms for 7.5 weeks or could this be something else?
What else can I do to alleviate symptoms?

[Confused777]

Hi Terri, Have you had a chance to look at my questions? I noticed a few others had been addressed.

[Terri Warren]

I believe, with a high degree of certainty, you are infected HSV 2. It is possible, I suppose, that this is a false positive, but if it is, it is the highest that we’ve seen ever. i certainly wouldn’t count upon that.

There is no such thing as “exposed”. Either you are infected or you are not. If you are infected, you are potentially infectious to others.

The fact that you are having symptoms for so long may have nothing to do with a herpes infection.
If you have any question that you are indeed infected, you could do the western blot. But I do think you are, given this high number. That doesn’t mean that these symptoms are due to herpes – it could be something entirely different.
L

Let me know if I can do anything do help you with this.

Terri

[Confused777]

Hi Terri,
I wanted to follow-up and see if you might have any additional ideas for me. I think I still have a couple follow-ups from my initial payment. If not, let me know 🙂

It’s been 13 weeks now since this began and I’m still having tingling in genitals, itchy thighs, mild groin pain. But I’ve had NO LESIONS. And I’ve checked everyday, because it feels like they could be there, but they aren’t.

The doctor thought it may be a hernia, but we tested and did an ultrasound for that and it was negative. We’ve done full blood work and tested for Clamydia, Gonorhea and HIV and they are negative.

My questions are:
Is this likely me constantly shedding the virus for 13 weeks or is this potentially an after-effect of having it?
They says the first outbreak is the worst, but I had similar symptoms 5 years ago and it went away in 5 weeks and I never felt anything like it until now. Have you seen anything like this before?
Does a longer outbreak (like 13 weeks) maybe mean my next outbreak won’t happen for a long time?

Any other ideas you have about my situation would be greatly appreciated. Even if there are posts you could refer me to where people have had extended symptoms like mine.

Thank you,
Telluride is awesome by the way!

[Terri Warren]

Awww, you recognized Telluride. Cool. We love it there
Groin and thigh pins and needles feeling, pelvic pain, swollen groin, testicle pain and pain in the tip of my penis are not really signs of HSV 2. Neither are light nausea, loss of appetite, frequent urination, and exasperated symptoms after sitting. Some people who have HSV 2 can have the pins and needles feeling but it should not be constant.

I am assuming that you have had a prostate exam? Some of these could be prostate symptoms.
Another possibility here is chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Here is an article about this for your to read: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4756547/

Yes, I believe that you have HSV 2 but not everything that happens in the genitals of people who have HSV 2 are related to HSV 2. And I think people get really mixed up about that sometimes. The fact that the antiviral medication didn’t change these symptoms further suggests that your symptoms are not related to HSV 2.

Terri

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