Herpes Information, Resources, & Consultation | Westover Heights

  • Home
  • Herpes Forum
    • Get Herpes Help
    • Getting a Herpes Western Blot – Video Consult
    • The Good News About The Bad News
  • Free Resources
    • Herpes Handbook
    • Living with Herpes Video
  • Contact
  • Login
  • About Terri
  • Home
  • Herpes Forum
    • Get Herpes Help
    • Getting a Herpes Western Blot – Video Consult
    • The Good News About The Bad News
  • Free Resources
    • Herpes Handbook
    • Living with Herpes Video
  • Contact
  • Login
  • About Terri

I think I might have herpes

› Forums › Herpes Questions › I think I might have herpes

  • This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 9 months ago by Terri Warren.
Log In Register Lost Password
Viewing 3 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • April 22, 2015 at 7:44 pm #6289
      D M
      Spectator

      To give this all context, last week I had sex many times unprotected, more than I have had in a long time. 1 guy in January and that ended in January and 1 guy for the last 2 weeks. Both assured me that they were “clean” and I believe them, although I know that Herpes is not normally part of an STD battery of tests, so either one could be a carrier. I have always had a hard time having sex, being diagnosed with vulvadynia and such. I am also on antibiotics and prone to yeast infections. So, last Friday I was extremely sore. I was on my feet all night for work and felt uncomfortable down there and felt like it was a yeast infection. I normally do not have the typical “cottage cheese” symptom, just very itchy. So Saturday I took a Diflucan. Sunday was a bit better but still really was itchy and uncomfortable to walk which I attributed to the sex and I needed to use heat and ice packs for comfort. I did hurt to urinate as I noticed I had redness. I did not have any another other symptoms like fatigue, flu-like symptoms etc.

      On Monday I went to my doctor, and she said that inside looked like it could be trauma from all the sex or herpes. There were no other sores anywhere else, not on the outside labia or on the cervix. The inside labia on both sides had an area of redness the size of a dime near the vaginal opening and i think on that may have been a sore/ulcer (I don’t understand the difference.) So I am freaking out that this is herpes. I did take another Diflucan, and I also started on Valtrex on Monday, as she said it wouldn’t hurt if I did not have it. I have been feeling better physically and am able to urinate without it burning since yesterday, but still have some residual discomfort. My question is, she took a swab for samples. How reliable are the swab tests? I feel like there was a convergence of situations between vigorous sex, antibiotics, potential yeast infection so I am afraid to ask if this sounds like herpes. I know that I can’t change anything that happened in the past, but I am having anxiety over this. I can attach a picture, but is there an option to email it? Thank you so much for your time. This is a great resource.

    • April 22, 2015 at 7:48 pm #6290
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      If the swab tests are positive, they are reliable. If they are negative, they may not be reliable. It’s hard to say from your description if this might be herpes, honestly – so many things going on down there!

      The problem with taking much Valtrex without a firm diagnosis is that you can interfere with antibody development so diagnosing you down the road with an antibody test if the swab test is negative would be made more difficult. Taking a week isn’t going to make a huge difference, but If you were my patient, I would ask you to stop there. Have you had any antibody testing at this point?

      Terri

    • April 22, 2015 at 7:58 pm #6292
      D M
      Spectator

      No, no blood work of any kind. I would be able to do anything until Monday as I am going to be out of the country for a few days. So what you are saying is that , if indeed the swab is positive, I do have it. But if it is negative, because i am on Valtrex, it would screw up further testing, even if I went next week for blood work (like say on Tuesday)? That part I am confused about. I may be getting ahead of myself, as I won’t know until Monday my diagnosis. But, I am a worrier and I am having such anxiety.

    • April 23, 2015 at 3:16 am #6299
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      If the swab test is positive, I think you need go no further with testing. But if the swab test is negative, I would strongly recommend an IgG antibody test for HSV 1 and 2. The sooner you do it, the better because if you do have new herpes, you will be making antibody during this time and the testing will be less accurate to know if you had it before or have just acquired it.

      Terri

  • Author
    Posts
Log In Register Lost Password
Viewing 3 reply threads

You must register to ask your own question or be logged in to reply to this question.

Welcome to the Forum!

About Our Herpes Forum

Terri Warren is here to respond to concerns and questions you have about genital herpes and your own personal situation.

For the past 30 years, genital herpes has been her special area of interest and she has conducted many, many research studies on various aspects of genital herpes.

Each interaction is a question with two follow up questions for $25.00.

Learn More About Our Herpes Forum

Get Personalized Help

Terri Warren is here to help you with your herpes concerns. Learn more about Terri

Westover Herpes Info

  • Do I have Herpes?
  • Living with Herpes Video
  • Getting a Herpes Western Blot
    & Video Consultation
  • Herpes Forum
    Terri Warren, ANP

Search Forums

Copyright © 2023 · Westover Heights Clinic · All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy

7410 SW Oleson Road PO BOX 427 Portland, OR 97223

Phone: Fax:

Website by 0101 Design