Hopeful but probably shouldn’t be.

[Regret28]

Hello, Terri.

In May 2022, I went to get tested for STDs because I had a chronic laryngitis issue. I’ve now learned that sort of issue isn’t very related to STDs. During this time I did have unprotected sex at least once. It was a full panel test, and everything came back negative except for hsv2 with an equivocal: 1.05. It was through quest diagnostics, the results.

I got tested again this year in May 2023, and the result for hsv2 is now 1.44. Negative still on hsv1. My last exposure was possibly April 27th. As one could imagine, I was greatly affected mentally even having nightmares that my result was much higher. I got another test again on June 21st to monitor IGG levels. This result is also through quest. There wasn’t any confirmation test done on the equivocal result and likely won’t be any done on this.

As far as symptoms, from 2022 to 2023 I hadn’t noticed any traditional symptoms. (But I did notice occasional cut like slashes that would occur on and off on my hands and forearms). I hadn’t noticed any genital symptoms until recently on June 16th, at midnight I noticed a pimple with yellowish pus on bottomside of shaft that lasted until 7-9pm the next day before popping on its own and leaving nothing, no scab. It didn’t hurt nor was it tender. The liquid wasn’t translucent. And maybe a week or longer before these symptoms I had tingling/electric zap like sensations on penis head, shaft, forehead, armpit, and maybe feet for about a day. I attributed it to anxiety but I don’t know.

I also got tested for hiv, today (June 21) because I had a fever, a weird rash that looks a bit like karposi sarcoma on my leg, a canker sore, headache, fatigue, and chills. It had a very rapid onset.

Right after leaving the clinic today, I notice something that looks like herpes that would occur on the genitals but instead on my third finger on left hand close to finger nails. A network of small blisters.

I can’t get a WB until July 20th, to make 12 weeks.

[Regret28]

Upon inspecting the bumps on my finger. Im not sure if they’re herpes or cysts. They’re painless, but feels flat when touching them. Aren’t tender. Has a dyshidrotic eczema appearance.

[Regret28]

Update: I tested positive for hsv2 1.09, so the number has went down. June 22. Negative for hiv and negative for HSV-1

[Terri Warren]

I suspect that your low positive and equivocal results represent values that do not reflect HSV 2 infection. I recommend obtaining a herpes western blot for an accurate result. A 1.09 is NOT a positive result, BTW

Terri

[Regret28]

When I got the last testing done for 1.09 equivocal I remembered that I may have taken biotin several days or maybe a week before. I got a bit anxious and thought it could have affect my results but when I looked on quest diagnostics tests list that are affected by biotin their test code for Herpes Simplex 1 & 2 isn’t listed. I think it was more than 3 days between biotin intake and the tests, just can’t remember.

Also, I got a lesion in the corner of my armpit that doesn’t itch. It did itch initially when I first saw it, but didn’t after I scratched it. I also had these two tiny bumps with black dot centers, they itched slightly at first but barely. Now they’re looking like ingrown follicles, one of them is already healing. Could hsv2 come present this way, like one lesion in the armpit where the arm and chest meets?

[Regret28]

Also do cuts, on hands and arms sound like hsv2?
I might try to have the small lesion on armpit swabbed. The cuts to me whenever I get them seem like dermatitis. Sometimes I get lesions on my legs that are like cuts, or minute sores but then they turn red and resemble internal bleeding.

I’ve seen some people on Reddit who claim they are certified professionals and that results like 1.44 are not false positives or that low positive tests are just us in denial. So now I’m on high alert for anything to swab.

Will still get the western blot on July 20th-21st.

[Regret28]

Maybe this is clogging from deodorant.

The tiny ingrown hair looking bumps on inner thigh, look sort of insignificant I guess.

[Terri Warren]

I don’t know what “certified professionals” are exactly, but the CDC and FDA and NIH are all very aware of the high rate of false positive results on IgG tests for HSV 1 and 2. Not every single result in the low positive ranges are false positives but for example, at 1.44, there is an 85% chance that this is a false positive.

The western blot will clarify your situation

Terri

[Regret28]

Something is weird happening with the site when I tried to renew my questions.

I’m ready to work with you on the western blot, Thursday, July 20th. I’ve already ordered the kit some weeks ago from UoA.

Are tingling around the body: hands, feet, tip of penis, groin, or just random areas of body indicative of hsv2? Any lesions I’ve had don’t look herpetic, they either look like zits with puss or ingrown hairs with hair in it, around the inner thigh. Singular in different spots.

[Regret28]

The tingling sensations lasted for like two days again from July 16th to 17th or 18th. I felt a tingle even in my back. To me these are bad signs, hope it isn’t the neuralgia or the sacral nerves being invaded or something. Feels like electricity.

[Regret28]

Sorry meant to say July 20th, will make 12 weeks

[Regret28]

Also, do I need a computer to do an evisit? I don’t have a functioning computer right now, only my phone. (iPhone).

[Regret28]

Hello, due to a financial situation I’m waiting until August 1st to get started on western blot.

[Terri Warren]

that’s no problem at all. You can do the visit on your phone – lots of people do.
All the tingling does not concerns me specifically, no

Terri

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