Help

[Chasbaby]

Terri,

First of all I would like to thank you for creating this forum. I’m hoping that you can help me with my worries and/or put them to rest. I’ve seen several doctors and a therapist, but I thought I would ask for some advice from someone who knows what they’re talking about.

I’m a severe hypochondriac with OCD, so this makes my problems and worries even worse. Let’s start at the beginning. On March 21, I had protected sex with a man twice in one night. I checked him for any lesions or bumps & didn’t find any, although i feel like I missed something. We even discussed his herpes status before the encounter and he said he got tested in Jan & came back negative for everything. He also said he hadn’t been with anyone since he got tested, so his results were conclusive. We used protection both times, but I am still worried to death. I got a full STD panel 3 & a half weeks later after the encounter and everything came out negative (except for hsv 1 which I have tested positive for since as long as I can remember). I am going back in July to test again. The test was type specific for 1 and 2, although I don’t know the numbers. I just know I was negative for hsv 2. I haven’t had any symptoms for 2 months, since the encounter.. Not yet at least & I hope it stays that way. Should I be worried that I contractsd genital herpes from this encounter? How conclusive would you say my results are? My Gyno and primary doctor said they have never seen a case where someone tested negative and then came back with lesions after, unless they had sex again. They told me I was way overthinking this. Also, I am still seeing this guy (although we have not had sex since that one encounter because obviously my mind can’t handle it), so I could ask him again if he’s had any bumps or been tested again, but he literally gets so annoyed by me asking these questions over and over- although I understand. I annoy myself.

Also, I’m concerned about my hsv 1 infection. I’ve never had an oral outbreak, not that I can remember, so it’s just odd to me that I have it. Which makes my mind wonder and think what if I have hsv 1 genitally and just don’t know it? I’ve never had any symptoms, but when you start googling online there are many people that have said they didn’t have any symptoms and had genital herpes. I had impetigo when I was young, although I know this is not herpes. The only other thing I can think of is about two years ago I got a bunch of blisters right underneath my nose. It looked exactly like impetigo (or possibly a herpes lesion), so I dismissed it. It went away in about a week & a half. This may have been a herpes outbreak, I just can’t tell the difference between impetigo and herpes lesion. Anyway, I get a lot of canker sores and strange bumps in my mouth (because I worry myself to death), but my doctor always says they are nothing to worry about since the mouth is so fragile and any little friction can cause an ulcer in there. I woke up with a bumpish/lesion inside my mouth the other morning near my gums and accidentally touched my spit/lip & then 10 seconds later touched my genitals. I’m concerned because I’m wondering if these lesions could be intra-oral herpes rather than canker sores or normal bumps.Could I have just given myself genital herpes? I know it sounds crazy, I know. I’m really good at washing my hands after touching my mouth, but I just totally forgot this one time. I know this is terrible, but I’m always touching my genitals to make sure I don’t have any unusual bumps so that’s why this accident happened. I’m hoping you can help me with my worries.

Recap questions:
1. Should I be worried about contracting genital herpes from protected sex during this encounter?
2. How conclusive is my 3 & a half week type specific blood test.
3. Can you give yourself hsv 1 genital herpes from touching your spit while you have intra-oral lesions present, and then touching your genitals?

[Chasbaby]

Also, I would like to add one more thing. Since I started to become deathly afraid of contracting genital herpes, I’ve started obsessing over it- which goes hand in hand with my OCD & nonstop touching. Sometimes I get some itching or maybe tingling, but no sores or bumps yet. It usually goes away after about a minute and then the next day I’m focused on a new symtom. I’m really not sure what tingling would feel like down there, so maybe it’s best you don’t describe that to me so I don’t start obsessing about that too. The only symtom I might of had was burning, but this is almost always after I’ve touched, rubbed and picked at my genitals so I’ve always related it to that. The burning does not stay after I stop touching for a day. Sorry this is so long.

Could this burning be herpes, or self caused from the non stop touching & rubbing?

[Terri Warren]

If your partner is correct in his report of test results and timing, then you do not have a risk here.
Your 3.5 week test is 50-50 accurate. By three weeks from a new infection, 50% of people will test positive on their antibody test and 50% will not yet test positive. But if he is truly negative, then you can’t be positive from him, right? Are you concerned that he is not telling the truth?
Usually herpes sores are not in the mouth, and in fact, the blisters under your nose sound exactly like herpes, so I don’t think you need to worry about having it genitally. If you get them again, please have a PCR or culture done from the blisters so you can be very clear about what you have and where.
It sounds possible to me that your burning is from touching and rubbing and picking of the genital skin.
What sort of therapist are you seeing? Cognitive behavior therapy is the best choice for this sort of disorder, for sure.

Terri

[Chasbaby]

Thank you for your response!

Yes, I an concerned he isn’t telling the truth but it’s more my mind than it is him.. If that makes sense? He has given me no reason to think he isn’t telling the truth, but my mind always wanders to the negative.

Also, this morning I woke up and my buttcrack was red and irritated. Do you think this could be my first herpes outbreak? I read online that this is normal and happens because this area of the body is so moist. I did also keep touching and rubbing it after I noticed it, so maybe that could be it. Once again, I haven’t had sex since March. Also, I noticed a change in my discharge.. It almost looks like white lotion. I’m prone to getting BV for some reason, even when I don’t have sex. The discharge doesn’t smell or itch but just alarmed me. Are these reoccurring BV infections from herpes you think?

Lastly, last year after I had sex with my ex boyfriend I got a rash down there around my peranium. It was red, slightly itched and burned. It was present for two & a half weeks until I went to the doctor and got medicine. It looked like something I have never seen before. It was like a continuous line of red, inflamed skin almost like dermatitis. There were some bumps, but they weren’t lesions. My Gyno said this was absolutely not herpes, but rather an external yeast infection. I asked her to swab it just to be sure, but she said hun- I can’t swab it because these are not lesions. She said trust me, I’ve seen plenty of herpes infection and this is not that. She gave me nystatin & it cleared up 60-70% by the next day! It was gone within two-three days. During this time I was also positive for BV- which was my first time ever. Could this of been genital herpes?

Recap questions:
Could my irritated and red buttcrack be a herpes outbreak?

So you cannot pass your own oral hsv 1 infection to yourself genitally?

Is reoccurring BV infections a sign of herpes infections?

Could this rash last summer be a herpes outbreak?

[Chasbaby]

Terri,

Thank you so much for answering my questions. You have helped me tremendously. However, I have one last question before I give this a rest.

As you know, I’m a severe hypochondriac with OCD. With that being said, I get tested for STD’s every 3 months just to be safe- whether I have sex with someone or not. I know, crazy. But I just have severe anxiety about my sexual health. I am not very sexually active, and have only been with partner in the past year. With that being said, if I did have genital herpes, it would without a doubt be from him since I got tested before him & had not been with anyone in a long time. So if I did have genital herpes it would be a new infection. How long does it take for symptoms to show? Remember, we used a condom, I got tested at 3 & a half weeks and I haven’t had any bumps or lesions yet. Our encounter was 2 months ago. I was just wondering how long I should be on the look out for symptoms?

Recap questions:
How long does it take for genital symptoms to show from a new infection?

Should I continue to be worried after having no bumps/lesions after two months?

[Chasbaby]

Also, if you have hsv 1 orally- can you get genital herpes from your partner going down on you if they have hsv 1 but don’t have any symptoms present?

[Chasbaby]

I would like to add one more thing to my last post. This is just my OCD and anxiety taking over again.

But I am really paranoid that I could have hsv 1 genitally and orally? I am pretty sure I have it orally because of the lesion I described to you that happened two years ago. Here’s where I am concerned: After my boyfriend and I broke up, I got this lesion approximately 14 days after our last sexual encounter. Unfortunately, we had oral sex around our last sexual encounter as well. It might of been longer than 14 days though. A week and 2 days later I got tested & was positive for hsv 1. I never had any genital symptoms, but my mind is just going to the negative. A part of me believes that it is very unlikely that I contracted it from him and then a week later tested positive. We first had sex on June 6th and ended things on June 19th. But I’m thinking if I contracted it from him during that period, wouldn’t my symptoms of been too far out to be from him for a first infection? This happened in June of 2013 and I got tested on June 28th. During the time of getting this lesion was when I was first diagnosed with OCD and anxiety. I had my first panic attack because I saw an add about abreva on the tv and just wondered if I had herpes. During this time I was severely anxious, so I don’t know if that could of brought out an outbreak from an old infection or what. Just to be clear, we first had vaginal and oral sex June 6th, last encounter was June 19th (although i believe he the last time he gave me oral was around the 6th because I’m not really into that), got tested June 28th and got the cold sore on July 3rd. I also tested positive for hsv 1 before I got the cold sore, so I am not sure if it was from a new or old infection. He did not have any outbreaks or cold sores though.

I guess my BIGGEST question is could I have contracted it from him both orally and genitally, but only had an oral breakout? I’m worried sick. I’ve never had any symptoms genitally. Would it be possible for me to have hsv 1 genitally and not have had an outbreak for two years since the encounter? My boyfriend never had any cold sores or outbreaks present & I do not know his herpes status.

The only thing that is keeping me sane is that I remember when I was in sixth grade, I kissed my boyfriend on the mouth while he had an active cold sore. Dumb I know, but I had no idea that cold sores were herpes back then. I never got an outbreak from kissing him, except 7 months later I got inpentigo. At first my doctor thought it was herpes, but later concluded it was inpentigo. My parents both get cold sores as well if that means anything to this scenario.

Recap questions:
Could I have hsv 1 orally and genitally & only of gotten an oral outbreak for my first infection?

If Ive never had a genital outbreak, especially after the encounter 2 years ago, should I still be worried that I contracted hsv 1 genitally?

• This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by Chasbaby.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by Chasbaby.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by Chasbaby.

[Chasbaby]

Update:

My ex-boyfriend said he has never had any outbreaks or cold sores in his life. He said he was sure.

Is it possible that I contracted hsv 1 from him, although he did not have outbreak/cold sores present during our encounters and has not had an outbreak/cold sore in his life?

[Terri Warren]

Recap questions:
How long does it take for genital symptoms to show from a new infection?

IF a person is going to have symptoms of a new herpes infection, they normally show up in 2-10 days.

Should I continue to be worried after having no bumps/lesions after two months?

I don’t think you need to keep worrying, no.

If you have HSV 1 orally, and so does your partner, it is extremely unlikely that you would then contract it genitally.

Did you test positive for HSV 1 before you were with him?

Terri

While it is possible that you contracted it orally and genitally, that isn’t all that common, especially since you’ve had oral symptoms but no genital ones. But there is just no way to know 100% without a lesions to swab genitally.

You have used all your posts in your two subscriptions. If you want to renew, please do.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by Terri Warren.

[Chasbaby]

Thank you so much Terri.

I have a new update: my doctor informed me that I tested with antibodies greater than 8.0, three weeks post exposure. I had never been tested before him.

Is it likely that this hsv infection happened prior to him since my antibody number was so high?

Would someone test with antibodies greater than 8.0, 3 weeks post exposure?

[Chasbaby]

And I just bought additional questions, thank you Terri!

[Terri Warren]

No, I doubt that you would reach 8.0 three weeks after new infection. It sounds like an older infection to me.

terri

[Chasbaby]

Ugh Terri, I am having trouble moving forward from this.

I am trying to build up the courage to go get re-tested soon, but I am so nervous. What are the chances of me NOT having hsv 2 after having no symptoms for two months and being tested negative at 3 weeks & 5 days (almost 4 weeks)? Remember, I can only be infected by him since I was not with anyone prior to him for months and got tested before him.

However, i started noticing a strange symptom lately. Lately, my butt seems to go numb whenever I sit on it or lay on it for too long. It never gets numb when I’m not sitting, only when I’m sitting. It’ll start to tingle and then go numb. Also, sometimes my veins in my legs feel like ice cold water. The leg pains don’t hurt, do not travel up my leg and only last for seconds and then go away. I’ve been feeling this way for two weeks. I feel like I started noticing this after I read that tingling in your back & leg can be a sign of herpes. But I have no bumps or lesions yet after two months. Is this a sign of herpes or am I really overthinking it?

Recap questions:
What are the chances of me NOT having hsv 2 after having no symptoms for two months and being tested negative at 3 weeks & 5 days (almost 4 weeks)?

Is this a sign of herpes or am I really overthinking it?

[Chasbaby]

Ugh Terri, I am having trouble moving forward from this.

I am trying to build up the courage to go get re-tested soon, but I am so nervous. What are the chances of me NOT having hsv 2 after having no symptoms for two months and being tested negative at 3 weeks & 5 days (almost 4 weeks)? Remember, I can only be infected by him since I was not with anyone prior to him for months and got tested before him.

However, i started noticing a strange symptom lately. Lately, my butt seems to go numb whenever I sit on it or lay on it for too long. It never gets numb when I’m not sitting, only when I’m sitting. It’ll start to tingle and then go numb. Also, sometimes my veins in my legs feel like ice cold water. The leg pains don’t hurt, do not travel up my leg and only last for seconds and then go away. I’ve been feeling this way for two weeks. I feel like I started noticing this after I read that tingling in your back & leg can be a sign of herpes. But I have no bumps or lesions yet after two months. Is this a sign of herpes or am I really overthinking it?

Recap questions:
What are the chances of me NOT having hsv 2 after having no symptoms for two months and being tested negative at 3 weeks & 5 days (almost 4 weeks)?

Is this a sign of herpes or am I really overthinking it?

Have you ever seen someone turn from negative to positive, after testing negative at 3 & half weeks?

What is the likelihood of my negative results staying the same?

[Terri Warren]

Recap questions:
What are the chances of me NOT having hsv 2 after having no symptoms for two months and being tested negative at 3 weeks & 5 days (almost 4 weeks)?

50% of those who are going to become positive on the HSV 2 antibody test will have done so by 3 weeks, and by 6 weeks, 70%. I don’t have an exact number for 4 weeks, but somewhere in between

Is this a sign of herpes or am I really overthinking it?

No. It sounds to me like you’ve compressed a nerve or something while sitting. Herpes would be symptomatic regardless of your position.

You have paid for 9 questions and you’ve posted 10 (I’m not counting the one you posted twice). If you have more questions, you will need to renew your subscription.

Terri

Have you ever seen someone turn from negative to positive, after testing negative at 3 & half weeks?

yes, about 50% of people who get herpes.

What is the likelihood of my negative results staying the same?

See above.

Terri

[Chasbaby]

Thank you Terri. I just bought a new round of questions.

If I were your patient, would you be concerned and have me test again at three months- being that I had one encounter (protected sex twice in one night), have not had symptoms after two months, and have already tested negative at 3 & half (almost 4 weeks)?

Do you think my exposure was high risk?

Should I still be worried that I could have contracted hsv 2?

[Chasbaby]

Also, this morning as I was looking in the mirror I saw what is like a line inside my labia minora. It doesn’t hurt, itch or burn. It may of been there before, it may haven’t. You know when you’re concerned about something, so you literally look for anything that may be unusual? Yeah, that’s me. I know I have other “lines” inside my labia minora that have been there since I can remember, so I don’t know if this is just part of my anatomy & i’m way overthinking this.

Is this line consistent with the “paper like cuts” some women get?

And would I be getting symptoms after 2 months post exposure?

[Chasbaby]

Last thing, about a month & half after the exposure I noticed a tear inside my anus. I went to the bathroom and then went to check in the mirror for some reason. When I looked I was bleeding a little bit, so I wiped the blood away and what was left looked like a tear. This happened on Monday. I went to the doctor on Friday and my primary care doctor said this is not herpes, just a tear. She asked if I practice anal sex because this is how I could of gotten it. I said no, and just told her i had being going to the bathroom and looking frequently. I could not tell if it itched because my anus always itches (I think i have internal or some kind of hemorrhoids). It didn’t burn. Maybe stung a little after I wiped the blood off, and was kind of sore after pooping with it for a day or two. It healed in five days. I want to say the tear was just the color of my anus. Like clear or whatever color you anus usually is. It was not red or anything. Sorry to bombard you with all of these questions at once.

Could this have been herpes a month & a half after my encounter? Or is this too long to get symptoms?

[Terri Warren]

It sounds like you could have a little anal fissure. Or maybe just a little tear from the bowel movement?
It is too long to get the very first symptoms from a new infection, yes.
Did your doctor think it was worth swab testing for herpes?

Terri

[Chasbaby]

No, she just said it was a tear and reassured me it wasn’t herpes.

If I were your patient, would you be concerned and have me test again at three months- being that I had one encounter (protected sex twice in one night), have not had symptoms after two months, and have already tested negative at 3 & half (almost 4 weeks)?

Do you think my exposure was high risk?

Should I still be worried that I could have contracted hsv 2?

Also, this morning as I was looking in the mirror I saw what is like a line inside my labia minora. It doesn’t hurt, itch or burn. It may of been there before, it may haven’t. You know when you’re concerned about something, so you literally look for anything that may be unusual? Yeah, that’s me. I know I have other “lines” inside my labia minora that have been there since I can remember, so I don’t know if this is just part of my anatomy & i’m way overthinking this.

Terri, I would really appreciate if you could describe asymptomatic patients to me. I do not want to keep bothering you with my annoying questions. I really think I need a better understanding because I don’t think i quite get it. If I did get hsv 2 it would most definitely be a new infection, because I hadn’t been with any before my partner for a long time. Plus I was tested before him. I never got symptoms after my partner’s & I last encounter, except for the anal tear- but that was a month & a half later. And from my understanding you have stated that patients that are newly infected will not get symptoms like this a month & a half later. Also from my understanding, asymptomatic patients never get outbreaks. As in, they don’t wake up 9 months later and have outbreak. is this true?

Recap questions:
Do you think my exposure was high risk?

Should I still be worried that I could have contracted hsv 2?

Is this line consistent with the “paper like cuts” some women get?

Could you explain asymptomatic patients to me?

Do asymptomatic patients ever get an outbreak?

[Chasbaby]

If I were your patient, would you be concerned and have me test again at three months- being that I had one encounter (protected sex twice in one night), have not had symptoms after two months, and have already tested negative at 3 & half (almost 4 weeks)?

[Chasbaby]

Just wanted to let you know, I also bought a new round of questions.

[Terri Warren]

Do you think my exposure was high risk?

No, I definitely don’t think two incidents of protected intercourse represent a high risk, no.

Should I still be worried that I could have contracted hsv 2?

I think it is reasonable to wonder if herpes is a risk but worrying might be too much of a reaction.

Is this line consistent with the “paper like cuts” some women get?

That’s harder. Sometimes herpes does present as a paper cut,yes.

Could you explain asymptomatic patients to me?

That just means people who test positive accurately for herpes antibody but show no symptoms.

Do asymptomatic patients ever get an outbreak?

Depends upon how you define it. All people with herpes are asymptomatic sometimes and can be shedding. but if you mean never asymptomatic then no.

I would recommend testing if you needed reassurance, j, but only then.

Terri

[Chasbaby]

Thank you Terri.

Last question about the the lines or cuts. They are flesh colored and do not hurt, itch or burn. I’m wondering if they are just part of my anatomy? They’ve been there for several days and a lot of the times I don’t even notice them. I think I was just overlooking everything. Like I said I have other lines or tears down there that have been there as long as I can remember.

Also, I noticed these two months after my exposure. I do not think I would be getting symptoms after two months of a primary infection, correct?

[Chasbaby]

Terri,

I also went in to re-test today and my doctor gave the IGG and IGM test. Is this okay?

Obviously I know I will be positive for hsv 1 because I’ve tested positive for it for years and I know the IGM is not a reliable test. I just do not want my HSV 1 positive to interfere with hsv 2 on the IGM.
But since he ordered both, will this be okay?

[Chasbaby]

Terri, I was hoping you could put my mind at ease while waiting for my results.

I saw my results from 4 weeks pos exposure & it listed <.2 (less than). I don’t know if this mean less than .2 or exactly at .2? I am scared to death because I’ve seen a lot of other people’s numbers different. Most of them varying from .05 to .18 and I’m not sure if that’s relative to my number. I know everyone have different proteins that react when getting tested, but I also read someone on this forum that you said people are only truly negative if they are between .02 through maybe .2 and I am right off at that cut off line. I have seen a few other people with .25 and up below .9, but I’ve seen it be more common that they are between .02 through .2.

I know I’ve asked you so many questions, so if you could focus on this one, that would be great.

Questions:
Does <.2 mean less than .2 or exactly at point .2?

If it is less than, then why did they put the EXACT numeric value?

If my numbers fluctuate, but stay under .9, should I be worried? I am testing at 11 weeks.

[Chasbaby]

Terri, I was hoping you could put my mind at ease while waiting for my results.

I saw my results from 4 weeks pos exposure & it listed <.2 (less than). I don’t know if this mean less than .2 or exactly at .2? I am scared to death because I’ve seen a lot of other people’s numbers different. Most of them varying from .05 to .18 and I’m not sure if that’s relative to my number. I know everyone have different proteins that react when getting tested, but I also read someone on this forum that you said people are only truly negative if they are between .02 through maybe .2 and I am right off at that cut off line. I have seen a few other people with .25 and up below .9, but I’ve seen it be more common that they are between .02 through .2.

I know I’ve asked you so many questions, so if you could focus on this one, that would be great.

Questions:
Does <.2 mean less than .2 or exactly at point .2?

If it is less than, then why did they not put the EXACT numeric value?

If my numbers fluctuate, but stay under .9, should I be worried? I am testing at 11 weeks.

[Terri Warren]

Does <.2 mean less than .2 or exactly at point .2? If there is a "<" sign in front of it, then it means less than .2 I have no idea why they would put an exact value. You might call the lab and ask If it is less than, then why did they not put the EXACT numeric value? If my numbers fluctuate, but stay under .9, should I be worried? I am testing at 11 weeks. No, if they stay well under 0.9, then you should not be worried. Terri

[Chasbaby]

Thank you Terri.

I have had some genital itching and burning, but believe the burning may be from touching and irritating.

It’s been 2 & a half months since my encounter.

Questions:
Should I be worried about that this could be the beginning of an outbreak?

What do you believe the chances are that my 11 week hsv test will be negative since I have not had an outbreak yet, used protection and tested negative at 4 weeks already?

[Terri Warren]

No, I don’t believe this is likely to be a first outbreak. I think the chances you will be negative at 11 week are excellent.

Terri

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