hsv2 in shingles area

[misha]

Hello, I was diagnosed with hsv2 about 4 months ago but I only went to the doctors because I had a few bumps on my right ribs on my tattoo. I thought I had gotten an infection from the tattoo so I went to my doctors to get a test and when the blood test came back she said I had herpes. I have been single for about a year and have had a few partners with unprotected sex. So when she said that I assumed it was sexually, but I found the lesions on my ribs so I’m confused if I can still transmit it since those are two different nerve endings and I haven’t gotten an outbreak on my genitals and it’s only been on my ribs. I haven’t gotten any other symptoms down there or on my ribs since but I’d like to know if there’s any other testing I can do to determine if I can still transmit it thru sex or if I can still transmit it by touching my ribs or if someone else touch my ribs can they get it? I’m thinking I might have gotten it by sharing a razor with a friend of mine when we were at the gym showing & i only used it to shave my stomach. Could it be shingles?how can I find out which one it is? Mostly I’d like to test myself in a way to determine if I can pass it thru sex or if I’m okay since it’s in a different nerve area that isn’t connected. Please help my confusion, thank you

• This topic was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by misha.

[Terri Warren]

So the diagnostic test was an antibody test, not a swab test, right? Was it an IgG or an IgM? What were the value reported for these test results. This is very important. If need be, can you get a copy of your test results?

Terri

[misha]

It was an IGG. My results for a hsv2 IGG inhibition, positive. My results for HSV 1/2 IgG, herpes select with reflect (quest), hsv-1<. 90 hsv2 >5.00 [red]
I haven’t had a swab test,not on my ribs where my herpes outbreak was found or on my genitals area where the outbreak should be. How can I find out if my herpes is also shedding in my vaginal region? ? I’m willing to do any type of test.

[Terri Warren]

I’m still just slightly confused.
Yes, you have HSV 2 infection and the vast majority of the time (>95%) it is at least genitally.
Why do you feel that the lesions on your ribs are herpes? That’s the part I’m confused about. There are other causes of skin lesions, of course

If you want to know if you are shedding from the genital tract (which I would bet a whole of money you are) you would need to do daily home swabbing of the genital tract. Each day, if you do it daily is $75 so it isn’t cheap!

Terri

[misha]

I was assuming it was an outbreak due to the herpes & I’m guessing so did my drs but they never swabbed it so I wouldn’t know what it was until it comes back, right? Unless there’s another test I can do to determine what it was. Would it be a kit for 30 days for $75 or is it $75 a day?? Is there any way my dr could do a test like that for me thru my insurance or something? ?

[Terri Warren]

Yes, $75 per swab. And yes, of course your doctor could do it for you and bill through your insurance if they are willing to do that. The outbreak on your rib should have ideally been swab tested. You know you are HSV 2 positive but you haven’t recognized an outbreak. Anything unusual from waist to mid thigh should probably be swab tested so you can start to recognize what is an outbreak and what is not. The test you want is called PCR. It is a swab test (not a blood test) and is available through the major labs Quest and LabCorp.

Terri

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