Dreaded IgM

[ConfusednScared]

Hello Terri
Thank you in advance for answering my questions. In August 2014 and February 2015 I tested negative for HSV IgG. On May 14 I drunkenly hooked up with a coworker. All I recall is that he digitally penetrated me (possibly using saliva as lube) and I preformed unprotected oral sex on him (he ejaculated in my mouth, I swallowed). The next day I had a sore throat but chalked it up to a rough night. A few days later I developed irritation in my/around my vagina and decided to see an OBGYN. On May 22 I visited the OBGYN who stated that I was visually normal. She swabbed me and drew my blood
• HSV 1 IgG – 0.40
• HSV 2 IgG – 0.11
• HSV 1 & 2 IgM Titer both 1:40
She said to come back in July to retest
I started taking a friend’s expired prescription for Valacyclovir and asked that he refill it when that ran out (~3 days of the expired meds and ~7 of the new scrip)
I saw two more OBGYNs who stated that while I had a blocked gland/cyst inside my vagina I was visually normal. One said my itching was due to eczema and prescribed Clobetasol (which worked for a few days until I developed a rash which cleared with vaseline application) and the other said my irritation was due to self-examination
I have seen several doctors for my sore throat, all of whom said it was due to allergies/post-nasal drip and/or tonsillitis (tested neg for strep/mono). I was given a steroid shot and a scrip for Arythromycin (I finished the full course)
I had my bum looked at and was told I have hemorrhoids and anal fissures
I started using antihistamines and saline washes for my throat/post-nasal drip, a vaginal anti-itch cream (with Benzocaine, Resorcinol and aloe vera) and diaper rash cream for my bum (I discontinued use of Vaseline) but my sore throat and vaginal pain/irritation persist in-between doses/applications. The only other symptoms I have had are lower back pain and pain in my butt and legs. I woke up one morning with a pain in my foot so bad it lasted most of the day. My friends insist my symptoms are mostly to do with my anxiety over my test results (and lack of sleep)/psychosomatic.
My coworker claims nothing more happened than I remember. He also claims that he does not have herpes though I don’t know if he has ever been tested for it. He has already refused to get tested because it turns out he is married.
I understand that the IgM is a flawed test, but how likely is it to be accurate in this case? Do you think my sore throat and vaginal itching/irritation is due to herpes? My vaginal irritation is almost non-existent today after persisting for over a month. Could this indicate it was part of an initial outbreak? I understand it is fairly rare to contract HSV 2 orally but how common is contracting genital HSV 1 orally? That is, if he has HSV 1 genitally would it be easy for me to contract it orally? I am assuming the Valacyclovir would have suppressed any outbreak that might have occurred why did it not get rid of the irritation?

[Terri Warren]

I’m so sorry that your doctor ordered an IgM test. The CDC in their STD treatment guidelines of 2015 state specifically that they should not be used to diagnose herpes. They have a high degree of false positives – I have yet to see someone who has a positive IgM go on to develop a positive IgG. That is not to say that it could never happen of course but I’ve not seen it yet. I am very concerned about your continuing use of valacyclovir. It will most certainly impact your future test results if you continue to use it. How much have you taken?

If you had genital herpes and were symptomatic, it is likely that you would have more than just vaginal irritation. Beside, how would it get there if you did not have genital to genital contact? And you were not the receiver of oral sex? I think it is extremely unlikely that you would get this from the use of saliva as a lubricant.

I honestly do not think your symptoms in the throat and genital area are due to herpes no. If he had HSV 1 genitally, it is shed infrequently anyway. I think you’ve gotten completely carried away here. It is understandable if you didn’t understand the poor quality of this test, however.

Terri

Terri

[ConfusednScared]

Hi Terri,

Thank you so much for your quick response!

I only took the ten days worth (~20 pills total). So I was done with them on 6/9/15.

I guess I was worried that more happened than I was able to recall in my drunken haze and I no longer think this is someone I can trust to be entirely honest (for obvious reasons) so when he confirmed all that I remembered is all that actually happened, I guess I got carried away worrying he was lying to cover his butt.

The second OBGYN mentioned that HSV in the throat is “more common” these days, so that didn’t help settle my concerns.

I do appreciate you saying you think the symptoms are unrelated. I did notice what looked like a canker sore in my mouth a few weeks back, but it didn’t hurt and was gone by the next day. I also had what I thought was irritation on my lip from food but when I looked closely I thought it might look like a blister, so I did put Abreva on it and it was gone the next day (just a little rough spot of skin on Saturday, not a scab, and completely gone by Sunday). Could those be HSV related? Or am I still over-worrying?

Do you suggest that I retest in July to see if the index numbers are rising? Or just wait until September as that will be the 4 month mark?

I apologize for getting carried away. I have never had an STD/STI in my life and those test results completely floored me. And then when it became clear I couldn’t exactly trust this person, I became even more concerned.

[Terri Warren]

You don’t have to apologize to me for getting carried away, I just don’t want you to be feeling really badly about all of this! Good, only 10 days of medicine is great. Now if you want to test again more accurately down the road, don’t take any more for now. I do understand that this is stressful and scary but nothing will really take the place of waiting for another test.

Terri

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