Hi Terri, Please help on my diagnosis

[DrakenX21]

Hi Terri,

Here is some history:

August 2017: Sexually active, 1.5 months.

March 2019: Had 2 weeks of episode related to balanitis or fungal infection on my penis forehead. Resolved after coconut oil application. No sores or blisters that I remember. I was on Dandruff steroids meds that probably triggered it or harsh water/soap. I am uncircumcised as well. The Penis forehead became whitish.

March 2019 to June 2023: no sex from 2017 to 2023 and no issues except above.

25th June 2023: second girlfriend, and had sex (unprotected) but no oral sex was given by her to me.

2nd July: Had oral and sexually active till 9th July. Protected sex 80% time.

10th July: moved to another city and now our relationship is long-distance. I used to frequently masturbate from 2019 to 2023 but this time completely stopped. Joined Gym as well. We used to do sexual video chatting where I used to stay hard but never touched my penis due to my commitment to no ejaculation and gym. I used to involuntarily pre cum during our calls as well.

27th July: I noticed a pain in my scrotum veins, ignore the left side of this image (https://shorturl.at/AHZ67). Pain after 2 days radiated to the back of my testicles. This pain was 5 6 on a scale of 10 and gradually decreased after 5 days to heal 70% in the next 20 days and 90% in total 30 days. I did 5 days of doxycycline and Levoflox course. Levoflox helped to some extent. Urine culture, UTsound, STD panel all -ve. The best explanation the doctor could give me was that it was either a gym injury or the fact I stopped masturbating but was aroused every day so infection in the vas deferens occurred. There was no other prodrome or herpes symptoms. No itch/redness/rash/tingle/urine problem/ejaculation prob etc.. My only symptom was what I mentioned only. No pain in abdomen/butt/leg. The doctor also checked my prostate and checked my genitals as well. No issues were found. The pain was 30% veins and 70% testicles. The pain was so localized.

Continued..

[DrakenX21]

14th August: returned home and reunited with my GF, again sexually active with her and I believe I began to improve as well by being sexually active.

30th August: Pain was now 90% healed. I gave my blood test out of curiosity and tested +ve for HSV1 with 14.7 igg and 0.66 igm. -ve for HSV2.

15th Sept this month: Present GF tested and came back +ve for HSV1 with 26 igg and .62 igm. -ve for HSV2 as well. We both went same lab.

22nd Sept: My ex from 2017 gave a blood test and her HSV1 igg came 56 in a UK private clinic.

Questions:
1) Was my testicle pain related to HSV1 in any way like nerve-related?

2) Given my IGG value (14.7) after 2 months with my current GF, what is more likely? That I contracted it from my childhood, from my ex, or my current one? I still have no classic symptoms to this day. I don’t recall any sores on my lip either.

3) I am really depressed about whether this was my GHSV 1 episode and if things are going to get better or worse from here.

4) Both my ex and present girlfriend said they themselves never faced any symptoms either. Am I really the asymptomatic case and lucky case like the rest of the people? I believe 67% have HSV1 and only a few show symptoms.

5) Do you think if I got the infection from my current GF then my body handled it well as the igg is high and my chances of another OB are very low?

6) Do you suggest retesting my igg after the initial test and comparing the values? Can any conclusion be drawn from it?

7) I Live in India, is there any precaution needed while I am around my family? We all share the home.

8) As far as I remember, my present girlfriend did not have any sores when she gave me oral. And she gave me oral like 2 3 times max in the first 2 weeks of our relationship. then it became long dis. from 10th July to 15th August if I were to get HSV1 after 15th aug, then my IGG wouldn’t be so high in 2 weeks.

9) Should I move on and consider myself immune and that I got it in my past and not recently?

PLEASE HELP

[Terri Warren]

1) Was my testicle pain related to HSV1 in any way like nerve-related?
Unlikely

2) Given my IGG value (14.7) after 2 months with my current GF, what is more likely? That I contracted it from my childhood, from my ex, or my current one? I still have no classic symptoms to this day. I don’t recall any sores on my lip either.
with that number after 2 months with a positive HSV 1 partner, it isn’t possible to know

3) I am really depressed about whether this was my GHSV 1 episode and if things are going to get better or worse from here.
It just isn’t possible to know but the pain that you described doesn’t sound herpetic to me.

4) Both my ex and present girlfriend said they themselves never faced any symptoms either. Am I really the asymptomatic case and lucky case like the rest of the people? I believe 67% have HSV1 and only a few show symptoms.
That is just about the correct statistic and may well apply to you as well.

5) Do you think if I got the infection from my current GF then my body handled it well as the igg is high and my chances of another OB are very low?
Again, I cannot know

6) Do you suggest retesting my igg after the initial test and comparing the values? Can any conclusion be drawn from it?
I see no point at all in doing that.

7) I Live in India, is there any precaution needed while I am around my family? We all share the home.
No. If you get a cold sore on you lip, don’t kiss people on the mouth

8) As far as I remember, my present girlfriend did not have any sores when she gave me oral. And she gave me oral like 2 3 times max in the first 2 weeks of our relationship. then it became long dis. from 10th July to 15th August if I were to get HSV1 after 15th aug, then my IGG wouldn’t be so high in 2 weeks.
That is correct – your IgG would be very very unlikely to hit that number after being infected for only two weeks.

9) Should I move on and consider myself immune and that I got it in my past and not recently?
I’m not clear why that matters so much to you – can you clarify?

Terri

[DrakenX21]

Hi Terri, Thanks for the reply. I have been waiting to hear from you for a very long time.

1) I have seen/observed in this forum and on Reddit that usually in 2 months, people hardly get high numbers on igg tests. Is it possible I can have this value in 2 months, my IGM was .50 when I got tested.

2) Also, my current girlfriend is Asymp. with hsv-1 26 igg (probably means she must not be virally shedding much) and the chances for her passing it to my genitals were low at that time. You have sometimes stated that genital hsv1 shows visible symptoms but in my case, I have not developed sores or classic symptoms. how likely is GHSV1 in my case?

3) The reason I asked whether it’s from the past or not is that I can make peace with myself that I was infected in the past and since I did not have an actual OB till yet then I have a very high probability that I will live rest of my life OBs free.

4) If I got infected by my present girlfriend and my testicle/veins pain was not related to GHSV 1 then what are the chances that I am yet to get an OB probably in the next upcoming months or so? Do you see this happening given my igg value of 14.7

5) Since my current girlfriend and I both are positive. Do we need to take any precautions with each other? Given our igg values. Can we pass it to each other at different locations of our body? Do we need condoms to protect ourselves or are we fine with each other as long as we are monogamous?

6) Will the above answer apply if we have OB present? Let’s say my gf has oral OB present. Even though she herself does not the location of her hsv1. Can she pass it to me if I have OHSV1?

7) Is there any way to confirm the location if one has never got a visible OB?

8) Is penis head itching or tingling related to hsv1? I notice that sometimes when I use harsh soap. I get itch, usually goes in a day or so. I also notice the itch sometimes the next day when I have unprotected sex. probably friction. Are these related to GHSV1?

[Terri Warren]

1) I have seen/observed in this forum and on Reddit that usually in 2 months, people hardly get high numbers on igg tests. Is it possible I can have this value in 2 months, my IGM was .50 when I got tested.
The IgM is not useful to discuss. I think it is possible to get an index value that high in two months though that would not be common

2) Also, my current girlfriend is Asymp. with hsv-1 26 igg (probably means she must not be virally shedding much) and the chances for her passing it to my genitals were low at that time. You have sometimes stated that genital hsv1 shows visible symptoms but in my case, I have not developed sores or classic symptoms. how likely is GHSV1 in my case?
I think it is not possible to know this as you have no previous negative result to draw upon for a reference.

3) The reason I asked whether it’s from the past or not is that I can make peace with myself that I was infected in the past and since I did not have an actual OB till yet then I have a very high probability that I will live rest of my life OBs free.
OK, but I can’t really help with that I’m afraid.

4) If I got infected by my present girlfriend and my testicle/veins pain was not related to GHSV 1 then what are the chances that I am yet to get an OB probably in the next upcoming months or so? Do you see this happening given my igg value of 14.7
Since we don’t know if your infection is oral or genital, I don’t know what your future might be with HSV 1

5) Since my current girlfriend and I both are positive. Do we need to take any precautions with each other? Given our igg values. Can we pass it to each other at different locations of our body? Do we need condoms to protect ourselves or are we fine with each other as long as we are monogamous?
I think you an be unconcerned about your sexual behavior with regards to HSV 1

6) Will the above answer apply if we have OB present? Let’s say my gf has oral OB present. Even though she herself does not the location of her hsv1. Can she pass it to me if I have OHSV1?
That would be extremely unlikkely

7) Is there any way to confirm the location if one has never got a visible OB?
No

8) Is penis head itching or tingling related to hsv1? I notice that sometimes when I use harsh soap. I get itch, usually goes in a day or so. I also notice the itch sometimes the next day when I have unprotected sex. probably friction. Are these related to GHSV1?
Not usually, no

TErri

[DrakenX21]

Hi Terri, Just bought questions.

October 1st: I was doing good since the pain in the scrotum was going away.

October 2nd: Started b12 supplements 500mcg twice a day. I didn’t do any b12 tests tho. This info could be relevant so I am telling.

October 11th: I woke up in the morning and notice an itch in my butt area and some tingling over my body. Just scratched it and carried on with my day. I don’t remember whether I was tingling for the rest of the day.

October 12th: Pain in the scrotum was 99% healed.

October 12th to 15th: Was in a different city with my GF. felt very mild pain in the big toe on my foot. Went away once I got up from the bed. Didn’t remember whether I was tingling there or not.

October 16th and 17th: I got home and started noticing tingling again(pins and needle feeling too). It was all over my body. A mild tingling sensation behind my ears, arms, legs, back, and sometimes head and shoulders
I read on the internet that the b12 can cause what I am having so stopped taking it on the 17th.

October 18th: Same symptom as above plus some tingling over the skin of my butt, near the eye, and penis foreskin(very mild and 2 seconds). The frequency of this was 3 to 4 times a day
Talked with my urologist and he wrote me dizat tablets and also told me to stop the b12 and other supplements. I talked to a neurosurgeon who said to continue the b12 for 2 months more. Conflicting statements

Some observations: No tingling on my mouth lip, inside penis glands, or penis head(not talking about foreskin here).

Questions:
1) Does it look like herpetic tingling to you?
2) Let’s assume I caught hsv1 3.5 months ago, the location of which is unknown, and no OB so far. Do you know what is happening to me?
3) Is this prodrome that Started 5 days ago?
4) How long does herpes tingling last if this is indeed hsv1 tingling?
5) Can tingling occur after my 14.7 igg level meaning my body has a good defense system?
6) Should I not touch anyone in my family as I am tingling

[DrakenX21]

Hi Terry, Just wanted to give an update on my condition. I hope this doesn’t count as a question but rather an ‘update on my health comment’ and I don’t lose my 2 remaining follow-up questions. I will make sure I don’t ask any questions in this comment. I am not a US national so even $25 dollars is a lot to me. I request your understanding of what I am trying to say.

October 19th: Symptoms were more or less the same.

October 20th: I started a b3 supplement as someone on Reddit told me that it was a b12 allergy and b3 counteracts it. Talked to a derma and he said HSV tingling/prodrome is not everywhere on the body and doesn’t last long before the OB comes. He told me to take an anti-allergic or wait it out and suspected a b12/pain med allergy.

October 21st: I noticed the b3 was helping me. It was either b3 or the placebo but the symptoms were getting better. The day went well, I was also outside so didn’t notice much. I tend to notice these things when I am at home alone otherwise these things are hardly noticeable once I am outside or enjoying the time with my friends or girlfriend. At night, had sex and noticed my penis foreskin and penis gland was itching. Could be because it was rough and I had a condom on which had some glue. I took b3 and slept. Nothing unusual the next day.

October 22nd: Symptoms were getting better.

October 23rd: Comparitively better. Still taking B3 but in fewer small dosages.

To conclude:
I had a minor itch/some tingle in the initial days ->
Some toe pain ->
Tingling ->
pins and needles ->
itch, slight pins, and needles ->
Less tingling and more of weird sensations ->
some very mild tingling/pins/weird sensations and some joint very mild pain/discomfort here and there.

These symptoms were 90% on the body and 10% on the groin area. Nothing on my mouth or face.
Requesting your opinion on all this. Also, there was no nerve pain or anything in any area of my body. I stopped all my supplement which is zinc, multivitamin, lysine, b12.

[Terri Warren]

1) Does it look like herpetic tingling to you?
No
2) Let’s assume I caught hsv1 3.5 months ago, the location of which is unknown, and no OB so far. Do you know what is happening to me?
I don’t really know what is happening to you, no.

3) Is this prodrome that Started 5 days ago?
maybe – hard to say
4) How long does herpes tingling last if this is indeed hsv1 tingling?
maybe a few days
5) Can tingling occur after my 14.7 igg level meaning my body has a good defense system?
yes, it can
6) Should I not touch anyone in my family as I am tingling
no, herpes is not transmitted to family members unless you have a cold sore on your lips.
Pain in your big toe if very likely not related to herpes. Your symptoms are quite vague and in my opinion, unlikely to be related to herpes since 90% of them are in your body, not your genitals or mouth

Terri

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