HSV Symptoms – have you seen this before?

[Wordy99]

Hi Terri!

November, I had intercourse with a new partner and thereafter, experienced some strange symptoms. Sore throat for several weeks; some agitation on the skin inside my mouth (sloughing off); and later a relatively painless, smallish blister inside my cheek where the skin had been sloughing-that eventually filled with fluid and popped inside my mouth. So vile. A day or two later a sore appeared on my face in that exact spot on my cheek (but outside). It is my understanding that HSV does not present inside the mouth… Confused, I did an STIpanel and tested negative but did not test for HSV at the time.

In December I had two consecutive sores on my face, on opposite cheek. Its unlikely they were pimples.

In Feb, I slept with the same partner and felt flu-ish for 3 days after. Acute pain and swelling on the right side of my neck, and twitching and throbbing up and down my legs. Doctor sent me home with a plantar fasciitis diagnosis 💀.

I know my body and sensed there was something wrong. Asked obgyn for another STI panel including HSV. Feb 21, it came back IGM positive 1.40 for HSV1. I discovered your blog posts about false positives and requested an IGG. March 16, test came back IGM Pos 0.94 and IGG 8.0 for HSV1. I have been noticing some recurring skin changes, but nothing like the classic HSV1 symptoms. Another peculiar sore on my face this week. A couple of unusually infected pubic-hair follicles that won’t heal.

Partner says they are not aware of any infection or sores or lesions.

1) With these results and symptoms it safe to conclude that I do have HSV1?

2) Does the prodrome-like feeling suggest that I have it genitally?

3) Do the numbers imply that I likely caught it from this new partner? Previous sexual encounter was 11 months prior.

4) I have never been tested before. Could this be an older infection that just happens to be flaring up?

5) Have you ever encountered skin changes like mine? In correlation with a herpes infection?

TY, Terri!

[Wordy99]

I forgot to mention that April 10th, I also just had an abnormal PAP with HPV, strain unknown. I tested positive for HPV 15 years ago (I’m too old for the vaccine). I have since tested negative for hpv in multiple sti panels. So there is no way of knowing if this is the original hpv infection, or something newer.

I’m wondering if HPV can cause a false positive IGG? My obgyn emailed me your herpes handbook and in there you mention that IGG is highly accurate. But here in these forums I see a lot of comments about how there can still be false positives. Some clarification/stats on that would be so helpful!

On top of both of these diagnoses I also tested covid positive for the first time ever (symptomatically at least.) Three viruses within the same 4 week window. I wonder if something is suppressing my immunity and making me more susceptible to viruses. Above all I’m worried about that. Hoping for the best.

[Terri Warren]

1) With these results and symptoms it safe to conclude that I do have HSV1?
indeed you do

2) Does the prodrome-like feeling suggest that I have it genitally?
I think the symptoms are way to vague to say that, no.

3) Do the numbers imply that I likely caught it from this new partner? Previous sexual encounter was 11 months prior.
We can’t tell anything from your index value of 8 except that you have HSV 1. And are you sure there isn’t a “>” sign in front of the 8?

4) I have never been tested before. Could this be an older infection that just happens to be flaring up
This could be an older infection, period. The lesions on your face and in your mouth may or may not be HSV – really can’t say without a swab test, which I would recommend that you do.?

5) Have you ever encountered skin changes like mine? In correlation with a herpes infection?
No exactly, no

HPV would not influence a herpes antibody test.
And we know now that IgG testing can be quite inaccurate. I don’t know the date of the handbook but that update is in the newer ones we’ve published

Terri

[Wordy99]

Thank you, Terri! There is a > in front of the 8. It appears >8.0 AI. What is the significance of that?

I saw you reply to another inquiry from someone who had a 9.0 igg value. You said you’ve seen false positives in that range and that theirs could be too.

If that’s the case, I’m curious what makes my case more certain. Is it the combination of igm and igg levels?

I have the western blot test kit, but if you’re pretty certain, then I’ll spare myself the trouble and just swab my face next time. Are you aware of a pcr swab test I can ask for that checks for an array of possibilities?

Thanks again!

[Terri Warren]

No significance, really, except that the number is higher than eight. Some labs use eight is their cut off and don’t give specific index values beyond that. I’ve just seen that enough to know.
If I said that I had seen false positives at values greater than nine, that was about HSV two, not HSV one. They are very different. An IgG test for HSV one that is positive at nine is certainly positive.

There is an online place called 247labkit where are you can get a PCR kit together at home and return to them. It is legitimate, and I think it’s a great tool for those who would like to capture fresh lesions sooner than they can get into their own regular healthcare provider or urgent care.

Terri

[Wordy99]

Thank you, so helpful. Couple more. Is there any way at all to find out whether or not this is a recent infection? How about where I am infected? How will I know when I’m most contagious? I don’t want to put new partners at risk.

[Wordy99]

I looked for a broad spectrum pcr kit on the 247labkit website and did not see one! Maybe they discontinued it. Is there another you can recommend?

Thank you!! This conversation has made me feel so much more at ease

[Terri Warren]

here is the kit you need from them: https://247labkit.com/product/hsv-kit-herpes-at-home-test/
With your
index value, it does not look like a new infection to me. And without a lesion with a positive swab test, it is impossible to know the location of your infection. You will know that you’re contagious when you have a sore but you cannot know when you are shedding the virus without a sore. I understand that you don’t want to put a partner at risk but we don’t have enough information to help you sort that through completely.
Terri

[Wordy99]

Thank you, okay I understand. Regarding the kit, I was asking if you’re familiar with a swab test for a broader assay, since we’ve established it could very well not be HSV.

[Terri Warren]

Any health care provider can order bacterial and fungal cultures from an area of concern.

Terri

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