Have you ever heard of this?

[Gardenia17]

Hi Terri, On February 21st I had unprotected sex with a new partner/old friend (I know, stupid). I had been suffering from what I thought was (and felt like) a yeast infection since February 1st. My OBgyn had told me it was yeast & I was taking terconazole, but after the 21st (following the sex), it got worse. The burning in my vagina was unbearable. On March 10 she tested me for HIV, Diabetes and HSV 1&2. HSV2 came back positive at 22. It was an IGG test by LabCorp. I’m very confused by the things my doctor said to me and I hope you can help. She said there was no way of knowing when I was infected but it had to be more than 3 weeks (which would rule out the new guy?). Then she said I probably had HSV2 for a while and that this is not my first outbreak. She thought my number was so high bcuz I have a strong immune system that is fighting hard. Meanwhile, apart from being in excruciating discomfort for over 2 months now, I have NEVER had a sore/blister and none of the usual symptoms I’ve read about. A week of Acyclovir did nothing and ten days of Valtrex did nothing. She has now put me on Amitriptyline for nerve pain. She seems to feel I could have nerve ganglia. This is very disturbing to me as the meds make me sick. I don’t know what’s worse, the burning or the meds. I should also mention that my doctor has examined my vagina at least 6 times through all this and I saw a nurse on Monday. None of them have seen any lesions in my vagina or cervix. I’ve also tested negative for yeast, bv and all STD’s. My previous boyfriend tested negative, so if it’s not possible for the new guy to have given it to me, then I’ve had it for 2 years or more. I hope you can help me. I’m so active and this is putting a real damper on my life. I can accept my herpes diagnosis but want to move on from this constant burning. Any ideas? Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

I would agree with your doctor that you likely have had herpes for a while but her definition of a while and mine might be different. Since you test almost three weeks after the encounter, I cannot say for certain that it did not come from this person. By three weeks from new infection, 50% of people will have antibody, so that could also be you. It might be best for this old friend to be HSV 2 tested as well.

The thing is that not everything that happens in the genital area of people who have herpes is herpes. What you have going on for two months straight does not sound to me like herpes. Herpes occurs intermittently and last for a week or two at the most with a recurrence and what you are describing really doesn’t fit that pattern. If you are able to figure out an underlying cause for what’s going on other medicines may be less necessary. I especially don’t think this is herpes if the antiviral medicines are not working. That should be a clue that your symptoms are not caused by herpes. I know you’ve seen many providers for this problem and have had no resolution but I would continue to search for the cause of your pain.

I wish I could be more helpful in sorting out your symptoms but I can’t say that I doubt that they are caused by herpes even though you have herpes.

Terri

[Gardenia17]

Thank you. I will ask my friend to get tested. The reason my doctor tested me for HSV is bcuz she said that herpes can present as a prolonged yeast infection. If that’s true, wouldn’t the symptoms of that stop with Valtrex? Does herpes cause discharge? Also, just so I’m sure, you’ve never heard of herpetic nerve ganglia? My doctor made it sound like the virus was attacking the nerves in my vagina and that there was no telling when it would stop which is why she prescribed the nerve meds. Does having such a high positive mean that it’s more likely that I was recently infected or is there no way to tell? If I did a test in 6 months that was lower or higher, would that tell me anything about when I got it? I know that’s a lot of questions but I’m really at a loss, and sadly, my doctor retired recently and this new one has not been easy to deal with. I am seeing another doctor tomorrow. Thanks again.

[Terri Warren]

I would disagree with your doctor about herpes presenting as a prolonged yeast infection. It is certainly possible for herpes and yeast infections to get mixed up, but herpes outbreaks (certainly recurrent ones) don’t last all that long. Herpes can cause a watery discharge, yes, primarily with first infection. I think you might be mixing up a few words in the “herpetic nerve ganglia” There is herpetic neuralgia and sacral nerve ganglia. Just not sure which you mean, if either. While it is possible that you are having herpetic neuralgia, that isn’t very common in my experience though I can’t say it never happens.

Having a high positive suggests well established infection, not new infection, no.

I’m not clear at all that repeating in 6 months would give you more information about when you were infected, no.

You can always keep asking me herpes questions – I’m pretty solid on the information about this disease.

You have one more post on this subscription

Terri

[Author]

Posts