concerned about getting the virus

[marisol858]

about two weeks ago, I noticed that I had what I thought was an ingrown hair on the side of my labia. when I tried to pick at it it just ended up kind of creating a what looked like a blood blister, i got the blister to pop open and only a little blood came out. I cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide and left it at that, the next day it appeared to be swollen in that area and began to form what looked like a canker sore/ ulcer. it was not painful, it did not itch or burn, I had no problems with burning pain when urinating. i had no symptoms of fever or aches and pain, i was revealed to me my Roomy had hsv2, i didn’t know until after the sore. we did not have full on sex, but there may have been some skin to skin contact. so it had been about ten weeks from possible exposer. i do remember a week prior to the lesion that i had a minor sore throat and between the last contact and prior to the ulcer / lesion. I did feel a few times a little itchy in that gentile area and a little redness but It only lasted a day or so, which i though could have happened from using a vibrator. at any rate, I did go to urgent care about 48 to 72 hours after the ulcer formed. the doc there suspected, it was hsv2 but was a little encouraging because i had no other symptoms, She stated my outbreak might not be so sever because I already had hsv1 oral. they took a sample of the lesion, which was still wet and sent it off to do testing. they conducted a pcr test which came back negative for both hsv1 and hsve2, I knew i had hsv1 orally because i had my first out break with that about ten years ago, the next day I did follow up with doc who works at the same clinic as my primary care doc. When she looked at the lesion she seemed positive that it was herpes. she did not take a sample from the lesion but did do an IGG test for 1 and 2. prescribed me with valtrex and sent me on my way.
PCR test from lesion negative for 1 and 2. IGG positive 1 and negative two. doc #2 is convinced its hsv1, but that seems really rare to get if you already have it orally from what I understand. The Roommate is HSV2 but also has hsv1.
1, how accurate would the PCR test be if I cleaned it was hydrogen peroxide 24 hours before the sample was taken?
2. is it still possible I may have hsv2 after getting test ten weeks from the first possible exposure? is it likely it would be hsv1 even though I already have it orally? and the roommate has hsv2? the sores did not ever crust over or ooze and flui. in fact i didn’t even take the valtrex, and its seems to be healing no problem, is it has been healing it a week later with minimal sores it itches a little but thats about it. I but neoprene on it like the first doc recommend when they reviewed the results. i am attaching a photo of the sores and wanted to see what you thought. this is a week after they appeared, so more on the healing side of things. i couldn’t figure out how to submit the rest but I hope you are able to tell.

[marisol858]

with the way that the test results came back and the length of time i may have been first introduced, can I feel more confident that this maybe something else and not herpes. How after do false negative blood IGG test show after ten weeks of possible exposer?

The doc that took the lesion pcr test said that it accurate 90% of the time. but was 48 to 72 hours to long to wait before I got the testing done? and do you think that I screwed up and may actually get a false negative results for both virus if I used hydrogen peroxide. the biggest lesion showed up first the smaller two lesions below I didn’t notice until I went in for the screening. The nurse took the sample from the biggest lesion.

Should I be concerned that during the healing phase it was more sensitive than from when the sores where actually open wounds? If its not hsv2 or 1 in the genital area, what else could cause the sore. I tested negative for syphilis and HIV, I am waiting the results for the uraine sample that they are testing for all other possible sti’s and stds. I just had a physical and negative for hpv.

Can stress and hormonal imbalance also cause sores from a non sexual contact. just two weeks prior i had the stress of finding out if I had breast cancer, which i do not.

I really appreciate that you have an open form for questions in this regards. I have read a lot of post from other people and have found them very useful but still had questions from my own. I am really curious to know your thoughts from the photos and from what you think about my tests being negative. thank you again. you do wonderful work!!!

[marisol858]

oh one other thing, I just used neosporen on the area, the sores never crusted over like it seems people have when they have the out break. they seem to be almost gone from the time that I have noticed them I would say it took only a week and a half I can’t see them anymore, the only thing I am dealing with is it just feels a little itchy from time to time.

Thanks again.

[Terri Warren]

The pictures are really too blurry for me to make sense of in terms of knowing if they look like herpes or not. Ten weeks is not long enough to wait to have the final antibody test. How much antiviral therapy did you take? Am I correct that your roommate is male? What kind of contact did you actually have with the other person? I’m a little confused about this part. It will help for me to know to help assess the risk involved. You mentioned that there MAY have been skin to skin contact?

The fact that the lesion was not painful at all is helpful though not everyone with herpes does experience pain with outbreaks.

How long after you treated it at home with hydrogen peroxide did you have the swab testing done, precisely do you think?

Terri

[marisol858]

Sorry for the confusion. I was trying to fit everything in on segment.

Yes , roommate is male. We showered together one evening. I remember him using peppermint soap to wash me down there. The thought was the tingling sensation would feel good. It ended up really irritating my genital. We stopped got out of the shower and went to his room. This is where I am having a hard time remembering about the details. I’m pretty sure there was skin to skin contact. With out gentitals But I had to stop him. Because my skin was stinging from the soap. We have had sex in the past but I had no idea that he had it. Until my problem surfaced and he admitted it and when asking him about the timing. He said sounds about right. So my best guess was he was having an outbreak. I’m not sure if he was taking medicine at the time. But when I described the symptoms. That’s when I became concerned.

Noticed sore Monday morning. Picked at it Monday may 18th evening. Tuesday evening used the peroxide to clean the wound. Wednesday it was swollen. I can’t remember if I out peroxide on the sore that evening. But let’s say I did. Thursday evening around ten pm. They did the swab then. That was also the day I noticed two more much smaller sores. Friday 22nd of may the blood work was done. That Dr gave valtrex. I didn’t pick up the meds until Sunday afternoon. After I had got a call for the negative results from the lab. I decided to start taking it Monday the sore had already begun to heal. With no irritation. The sores never crusted over. I took the valtrex 1 gram twice a day. Until Saturday may 30. I would say the itching started wed or Thursday. Itching like a rash was starting to heal. I wish I has better photos. Or took pics before it started to heal. The 2nd doc is convinced it’s hsv1 genital. But. Isn’t that highly unlikely if I had it orally already. The person has hsv 2. It’s not entirely clear if he was taking the antiviral meds at the time.

Really the sores looked like ulcers. I’m waiting for one more test. I did for chlamydia, gonorrhea and some thing that starts with a t. I can’t remember. But it is my understanding those things may possibly give sores as well.

Blood test hsv1 8.0
Hsv .56 I think
I assumed that it was not enough time for the blood work to give me clear answered. I just wanted to know In your opinion if I have any hope and their are signs it could be something different.

I would add that the sores really starts to look minimal by Tuesday the following week from when I noticed them.
I can remember when I felt it at the beginning that it kind of felt hard like a scab. I think that’s the best way to describe it. When I squeezed it. It became like a blood blister. Then the following day I tried to pick at it with a needle to see if it was an ingrown hair. I have done laser hair removal In that area. But had been 6 months since that treatment has ended. If it mater.
I hope this clarifies your questions.

[marisol858]

Here is a copy of the results from the blood test. I realize that they may be too soon. But are my odds any better if I wait another full 6 weeks? Also if I have hav1 orally does that by chance reduce my odds of being infected by hsv2? I know that’s not 100%. But curious.

I also already deal with w Nero muscular problems. I have FHSD. Muscular dystrophy. I don’t know if that impacts me at all for better or worse. Is it possible with some of the medications. I take for that could cause lesions. I have been under a lot of stress and some hormone issues. I had to get tested for breast cancer. Negative. Thankfully but I read sometimes stress and simply cause ulcer like sores.
Name Value Reference Range
HSV 1 GLYCOPROTEIN G-SPECIFIC, IgG POSITIVE
HSV 1 IgG LEVEL >8.0 AI
HSV 2 GLYCOPROTEIN G-SPECIFIC, IgG NEGATIVE
HSV 2 IgG LEVEL <0.2 AI
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS 1 & 2, IgM NEGATIVE
HSV 1&2 IgM LEVEL 0.72 IV

There was my test results from the blood test. The doc that took the test was almost positive it was herpes. While the first one at the urgent care. Said the same but it was unclear since I did not have any other symptoms.
Thank you again.

[marisol858]

Also when I did use the hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound it didn’t burn or tingle afterwords. It just felt like a cool wet whipe. Never did the sores burn or sting after urination. I didn’t have difficulties with using the restroom. The first week. The 2nd week I experienced cramping like I was going start my period. Cramping in the stomach. But it is also not common for me with some of the meds I take and I not regular. I don’t know if any of these things matter. I’m just trying to give you as much information as I can.

Just to recap. I didn’t notice any itching on the area until a week and a half after my sore had appeared.

In the picture with my fingers. You may see three little marks. Right below. I know you said they were hard to make anything of. But thought that might help as well.

[Terri Warren]

Sorry about the delay in responding, I’ve been dealing with some personal health issues.

So your blood test is certainly negative at this point, but likely too soon for accuracy. Cramping is not a symptoms of herpes. However, the HSV 2 value 0.56 worries me a bit as it maybe creeping up. There are certainly true negatives at that level but normally I don’t see index values quite that high.

I’m thinking that you just need to keep following the testing until you are 4 months out from the encounter. If you are going to test positive, you may do so well before that but 4 months, with minimal antiviral therapy, should be accurate. I know this must be very stressful, waiting and not knowing, but there is just no substitute for time in this situation.

Terri

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