Low Positive HSV 2

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Hi Terri, February of this year I had protected sex with a cheap, dirty, sex worker while I was drunk. At one point during the encounter, she had me take off the condom and was masturbating herself and then used the same hand to masturbate me. I wasn’t able to see if she had any sores present but I am assuming she did, it felt like she was deliberately trying to infect me.

2 days after the encounter I went to my doctor to get tested and everything came back negative except HSV 2 IGG- 1.81

4 weeks after encounter I get tested and everything negative except HSV 2 IGG- 1.19

12 weeks after encounter I get tested once again and everything negative except HSV 2 IGG- 1.13

I had previously been tested for STD’s in 2018 and everything was negative including HSV 2 IGG was .21
I had no sexual encounters between last being tested in 2018 up until my risky encounter of this year, so it is not possible for this to be an old infection.

My doctor says I have genital herpes since testing positive 3 times. I have never had any symptoms and find it strange that my IGG had been trending downward. I also find it strange that I tested positive on the IGG just 2 days after my encounter because I’ve read it takes much longer for antibodies to build up. What are your thoughts on my situation? Do I most likely have herpes? What are the chances of this being a false positive? Should I do a western blot?

[Terri Warren]

I disagree with your doctor. All three are low positives. The first one was taken way too soon for the sex worker to have infected you and have it show up on the antibody test.
YOu need a western blot for sure. I strongly suspect that these are false-positive results.

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Thanks for the response it was reassuring, I am going to be getting western blot done at the end of this month.

I know this isn’t your expertise but I am also very worried about having acquired HPV from this encounter. With the lady masturbating herself and then masturbating me with the same hand I am very concerned I was exposed to many strains whether they be low risk or high risk strains as I am not vaccinated for HPV. I haven’t had any symptoms of HPV but am terrified lifelong warts and cancer is going to be in my future.

Being 7 months out what is the likelihood of developing HPV warts at this point?

Even though it’s unknown if I have HPV, if I did acquire high risk strains what are the chances I’m going to develop cancer in the future?

Are there any tests that I can do to determine if I have any type of strain of HPV?

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Hey Terri, I wanted to give you an update:

I just had another IGG HSV 1/2 test done at Quest and they both came back normal! I didn’t get the index values but they are both indicating I’m <0.90

[Terri Warren]

With no symptoms of HPV, it isn’t possible to know if you have acquired this virus or not. I’m curious about why you have not been vaccinated if you are worried about HPV? Penile cancer related to HPV is not common. I think with no visible signs on the penis, this should not be a big worry for you. Also, transmission of HPV through hands to genitals is uncommon though possible.

Good that your follow up test for HSV was negative.

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Thanks for the response, I am feeling much more confident now. I just had another HSV IGG test to make sure the one I had wasn’t a false negative and it came out negative once again. Is it safe to rest assure now that I don’t have herpes with 2 negative IGG’s and that the previous low positives were false?

[Terri Warren]

I think it is very likely that the previous tests were false positive. I cannot say with 100% certainty that they were, but it is likely that they were, yes.

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Hi Terri I renewed my subscription. I wanted to give you an update, I had the Western Blot done October 6th and received my results which were negative for both HSV 1 and 2. However I am now concerned about an encounter I had over the summer in which I started taking the cocktail of antiretroviral PEP medications to prevent an HIV infection for a month. I am concerned that these medications could have impacted my Western Blot results. I would have been off the medications for 13 weeks before getting my blood drawn for the Western Blot.

Would this have had any impact on my results?

Is 14 weeks long enough from a concerning encounter for the Western Blot to provide accurate results?

Can I trust my Western Blot results that I don’t have herpes?

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by WorriedAboutHsv2.

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

The medications were Truvada 200-300mg once a day and Isentress 400mg twice a day. I took them for a month and I would think after not taking them for 13 weeks they would be out of my system and wouldn’t impact my Western Blot results. But I am not sure and am very worried about this.

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

To be more specific I was able to track down the exact days of events:

I had an unprotected encounter May 24th. The blot would have been 19 weeks out after this encounter.

I started taking the PEP meds of Truvada and Isentress May 26th-June 25th. The blot would have been 14 weeks out after finishing the medication.

I then had another encounter June 3rd. The blot would have been 17 weeks out after this encounter.

I then had encounters with the same person starting in early July with the last encounter on July 18th. The blot would have been 11.5 weeks out after this encounter.

I had my blood drawn October 6th for the Western Blot.

Can I trust my Western Blot results?

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Sorry one more edit- my last encounter with the person from July was from July 10th-July 13th. So the blot would have been 12 weeks out after this encounter not 11.5 weeks.

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

This is the research study that I came across which made me start to worry that one of these meds could have impacted my test results.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4178803/

[Terri Warren]

I believe that you are overthinking this. You should believe the western blot, period. You waited long enough to be tested and for any influence of other medicines to be gone. You are negative.

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Hi Terri I renewed my subscription again. I have seen in past posts that taking antivirals can delay seroconversion and I am concerned that if I was infected either on my May 24th encounter, or June 3rd encounter, the PEP meds of Isentress and Truvada I took from May 26th-June 25th, would have delayed my seroconversion. Although I would have been off the medications for about 14.5 weeks before getting my Blot. Is this of any concern or is it still okay to trust my Blot since I was off the meds for over 3 months and the June 3rd encounter would have been 4 months getting the Blot done October 6th.

[Terri Warren]

I am not aware of any impact of those two medications on the seroconversion time for HSV. I think you should trust your blot results.

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

If there was a seroconversion time for those meds similar valtrex, would I have had enough time passed to still trust the results?
Thanks for your response and all that you do it is greatly appreciated

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by WorriedAboutHsv2.

[Terri Warren]

Yes, IF these meds had an impact, which they wouldn’t have, enough time has passed.
Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Terri I am just having a real hard time accepting my results due to this concern. I also had another IGG test done November 5th, if that makes any difference and it came out negative. So that would have been 5 months past the June 3rd encounter. I just fear that if I was infected during that encounter the PEP meds would have delayed my seroconversion. I want to trust my results but my OCD/anxiety is really making it difficult, and I am just really looking for reassurance that I am negative and can move on with my life. This is an article I came across in which Isentress has an effect on herpes replication: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4178803/

[Terri Warren]

We are finished here. You’ve paid for 9 posts and made 12. It would be nice if you paid for what you asked. Either way, I have answered all I can of your questions.

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Hi Terri, I just paid for another round of questions, and I apologize for the couple of extra posts I edited, it wasn’t my intention to try and get more than what I paid for as I’ve paid 80 dollars now but I will pay more if need be.

I had previously mentioned in the thread that I had never experienced herpes symptoms but I now realize that hasn’t been true. I have been dealing with constant itching and tingling sensations all over my boxer shorts area ever since last summer where I had encounters with a man and a woman. I will get tingling itchy sensations in my tailbone/butt area and groin, it drives me crazy and will wake me up at night sometimes. It comes and goes during the day and there’s periods of time where I won’t have an itch. I never thought too much of this previously because I thought herpes symptoms would manifest themselves with sores and not just sensations but I now know these could be symptoms of herpes. I would like to mention that I suffer from hyperhidrosis so I tend to sweat a lot. These are my questions for you:

Can you have herpes and just experience what I have described with itching and tingling but no sores?

How long does the itchiness and tingling last with herpes typically?

Does this new information I gave you with the symptoms I’m experiencing change your opinion if I could have herpes or not?

Should I get another western blot or is it not necessary?

I’m sorry for all the posts Terri, this past year has been extremely difficult and the toll this has taken on my mental health is tremendous, any response and info you can give me is appreciated.

[Terri Warren]

Can you have herpes and just experience what I have described with itching and tingling but no sores?
Yes

How long does the itchiness and tingling last with herpes typically?
It varies, maybe a few days before an outbreak?

Does this new information I gave you with the symptoms I’m experiencing change your opinion if I could have herpes or not?
it does not

Should I get another western blot or is it not necessary?
not necessary

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Hi Terri, I am not in a good state of mind right now, I was in a psych unit for a week a couple weeks ago and I’ve been extremely concerned my roommate or night nurse sexually assaulted me while I was sleeping at night. I have no proof of anything as I didn’t wake up, they gave me a shot of Ativan, but two days later I had a cut on my penis, as the days went on more tiny cuts appeared and they appeared to scab over and lasted for 10 days. They never hurt but I am terrified I was assaulted while sleeping and have now acquired herpes. I also noticed small amounts of blood on the toilet paper as I was wiping after bowel movements the following days but never any pain or blood in the stool. Is this possible I would think I would have woken up if anyone tried to do anything to me but I can’t stop thinking and convincing myself that this has happened as I’ve never had sores like that growing on my penis before. I don’t know if my OCD is convincing me of this or if this is a real possibility. Please any help or guidance would be appreciated.

[Terri Warren]

I don’t really know how to guide you with this concern. I am assuming that you’ve spoken to the medical director of the facility about your concerns, correct? Did you get the cuts swab tested?
When you are 12 weeks out from the first time you saw the cuts, you should get another IgG test.

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Yes I did and they tried to convince me that it was just paranoia and irrational, I was hoping you would have the same mindset that I would’ve woke up if anyone did anything to me. I got the area swabbed after 10 days when I was discharged and it came back negative but there weren’t any cuts or scabs anymore. I can’t stop thinking that it isn’t a coincidence of the growths that appeared and the time frame. I will get another IgG test at 12 weeks. Thank you for your help Terri.

[Terri Warren]

I do think that molestation by a roommate or staff is quite unlikely but I can’t say for certain of course.

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Hi Terri I renewed my membership again. I was wondering if any of my current medications will interfere with my Herpes Testing. I am currently taking Lexapro, Risperdal, Gabapentin, and Remeron. Thanks for your help.

[Terri Warren]

None of those will impact herpes antibody testing, no.

Terri

[WorriedAboutHsv2]

Hi Terri, I’m still a few weeks out before getting another IGG test. However, I am very concerned about something that just happened recently. I went to the liquor store and bought a bottle and I had put it under my underwear so it was directly touching and rubbing against my butt and genitals. I am concerned not knowing where the bottle came from and who handled it that herpes fluid could have been present on it and I infected myself with it. Is this a possibility?

Thanks.

[Terri Warren]

No.

Terri

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