Hashimoto’s & HSV 1,2 – Differing Results

[HerpesPerplexed]

Hi Terri,

Firstly, thank you for your devotion to honoring these concerns.

I’m 45, single, female. Diagnosed Nov 2019. Never married. I’ve had numerous sexual encounters throughout my life, protected and not. I say I’m predominantly asymptomatic, bc to me the following symptoms are not conclusively herpes related—or are they?

After I got my ParaGard IUD in 2016, I broke out with what was observed to be my first ever cold sore on my lip. Surmised it to be my body reacting to a foreign object in its interior, possibly fighting it off, flaring up HSV. Didn’t get tested at the time. My mother and ex both get cold sores. Decided oral HSV was something I could live with.

In 2019 I developed weird dermatitis around my mouth. Even with the help of my naturopath, investigating potential allergies, nothing reduced flare-ups. A visiting practitioner told me it could be complications of HSV (undiagnosed at this time). My OG doc told me what I was dealing with was most likely not HSV related.

Later that year, I started dating a new guy. Prior to intercourse, we discussed STI history. I told him about this one doc suggesting my rash was HSV. He freaked, so I got tested. Strangely, at that time I also developed a small and painful bump on my labia. Hm.

(LabCorp) – 11/19
HSV 1 IgG = 1.23
HSV 2 IgG = 7.72

I decided to take Acyclovir. The bump never materialized into anything. About a year later, the same sensation appeared in the same place. 2 days of the medication, it dissipated. Never took the meds daily.

I decided to get tested again, bc I was so bugged about the diagnosis w/o having conclusive symptoms. Unsure if the meds helped or if my body healed from something else naturally.

(WestPac) – 5/22
HSV 1 = .81
HSV 2 = 5

Relieved, but not?

In addition, I have Hashimotos. I read HSV can “produce” this disease in our bodies. (https://hashimotoshealing.com/the-herpes-virus-and-hashimotos/)
If so, can the opposite be true?
Can presence of T3 antibodies affect HSV igG?

[Terri Warren]

So you are relieved, why? Because your HSV 1 index value dropped below 1.1? I’m a little confused. Your HSV 2 5 likely is preceded by a “>” sign as many labs report results that are greater than 5 in this way. The IgG test for HSV 1 is poor and yields 30% false negatives so I don’t think you can rely upon this result to think you don’t have HSV 1 oral infection

I am not aware of T3 producing any antibodies to HSV, no.

I don’t think I am understanding fully why you are relieved. Can you help me understand?

Terri

[HerpesPerplexed]

Hi, Terri, sorry to be confusing. I was running out of characters and had to truncate concerns near the end of my question to fit it all in…

You are correct, my IgG HSV 2 result is preceded by <, so true, I don’t know my exact value in that result.

I said “relieved, but no” bc my Dr. told me I wasn’t positive for HSV 1, according to the .81 result being less than 1, even though I tested positive previously. And, I have only ever had a cold sore, or any evidence of HSV, on my lip, so I was pretty sure I was/am infected with HSV 1.

Is it common for IgG test results to fluctuate like this? And if so, does that mean my HSV2 results may also fluctuate?

And, do you think any positive result at any time provides certainty? Positive always means we’ve been in contact with the virus, right? So what exactly does a low positive mean? We’ve been in contact but are not comtagious?? Or it’s indiscernible if it’s HSV?

I understand the WB test will offer the best results. Do you think from what you know of my experience with testing that I am a good candidate for the WB?

In essence, like so many others with varying results and who are predominantly asymptomatic, it’s important to me to know what I have prior to disclosure and before getting into a relationship with another positive person thinking we share the same virus when perhaps we do not. And I want to help others, like me, either learn to accept results and move on or continue to investigate to get more conclusive answers.

It makes sense to me that T3 antibodies are a separate test, but it is interesting to me that autoimmune disorders and HSV are often correlated. My armchair medical sluething is novice at best. I just want to understand my body and treat it properly. And if I’m treating it and my relationships like I have HSV and there’s a chance I don’t, well, gosh…

[Terri Warren]

the IgG test for HSV 1 is unreliable – your cold sore history is far more reliable and indicates that you have HSV 1 infection. And yes, it is normal to have it vary

The IgG tests in general also have problems with false positives. Especially in people who have low positive index values. Any real positive means that you are infected with that type of HSV and potentially infectious to others, regardless of index value.

You are an excellent candidate for the western blot. Do it.

Terri

[HerpesPerplexed]

Ok.

Thank you, Terri, for the encouragement.

It feels like the right thing for me too…to have conclusive results.

The only hesitation is the money, of course.
But I can make that happen in time.

[Terri Warren]

Remember that you can do this test through your own health care provider – insurance might at least cover the office visit charge, but UW will not bill insurance for the test itself.

Terri

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