Feel like life is spinning… Is this real?

[Freakedout22]

Hi,

Two weeks ago, I received a positive hsv 2 result. I was really thrown for a loop because I went in to my doc for a cough and didn’t even realize she had those results. Basically, I have always had a problem with ingrown hairs/folliculitis and 4 months ago I went in to my doc for abx and hadn’t even realized she ran blood tests for herpes. Lo and behold 4 months later she mentions that i have genital herpies.

Anyway, I’m shocked because I’ve never had vaginal sex and I’ve only had one partner and that relationship ended in 2010. We did have oral sex (both ways) but very few times and I never noticed anything like a sore. I don’t think I’ve had any symptoms since then. I have a lot of what looks like acne down there but I’ve always had that, it doesn’t ever completely resolve, doesn’t hurt or ulcerate, and tends to completely resolve with antibiotics. Never had a cold sore or anything around my mouth.

I had my doc try and culture some of the acne I have down there and results all came back negative. My hsv 2 specific igg was 1.5 H. Hsv 1 was neg. hsv2 igm was neg. I’ve read it could be a false positive. I’m looking for any sort of help you could provide as I don’t feel like I can turn to my primary doc for any help.

Thanks so much.

[Terri Warren]

Yes, this could certainly be a false positive and since you’ve not had intercourse, I would bet a lot of money that it is a false positive. You need a herpes western blot to confirm this, but there is an 85% chance that this is a false positive. Our clinic can arrange for that test to be drawn at a lab near where you live if you would like help with that. But I really really don’t think it’s correct.

Terri

[Freakedout22]

Thanks so much for your answer! I was trying to explain to my PCP that my sexual history is lower risk but she said I definitely had it, so it’s good to hear that that may not be the case. I’ve already ordered the western blot but I’m not sure if my PCP will draw the blood for it. If not, how do I go about becoming your patient? I’m in the Detroit area so do you have clinics here that I can go to?

Also, can you explain a bit about hsv2 transmission? Would he have had to have hsv2 orally for me to have it now, because I very rarely received oral sex, maybe 1-3 times total and never saw a cold sore. Or could I have gotten it from kissing and it just traveled down? Basically, what are the chances of only having oral sex (not vaginal or anal) and transmitting hsv2? Could I have gotten it from skin to skin contact with no open sores?

And one more question, exactly what does an outbreak feel like? I know what it looks like, but every time I feel an itch or a tingle down there I freak out and run to the restroom to check for blisters. Is it a ‘if you have it you’d know’ kind of thing?

Thank you so much for listening and all your help!

[Terri Warren]

You just call our clinic and we will arrange for your blood to be drawn and shipped from a lab near you – all you do is show up for the blood draw. This does require a phone consultation with us before we order the lab .

The chance of receiving HSV 2 via receiving oral sex only is so small I can’t begin to describe the statistic.

I honestly think you need to just get this testing done and find out that you likely have a false positive on the screening test. Do you want a reference to show your doctor about false positives?

Terri

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