Need Help!

[esja3]

I had protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral sex on July 16th. When finishing, I realized a bit of vaginal fluid on the lower part of my abdomen that I wiped away. I did shave my pubic hair a few hours prior to this exposure. About 5-6 days later, I noticed a sore on the base/almost top part of scrotum area. I assumed it was from shaving. It had clear fluid and had 2 hairs inside of it. On July 26th evening, my inguinal lymph node on the same side got swollen. Next day I went to the doctor who did NOT swab, he simply looked and said it didn’t look like herpes and he prescribed antibacterial cream and it went away in a few days and did not scar. He also prescribed doxy which made the soreness of lymph go away but the lymph node was still present and didn’t go away fully (I can still feel it now and bothers me). We ran a full STD panel and herpes 1/2 IGM which came back negative. On August 17th, we ran another STD and IGM test which also came back negative. On August 31st, ran a IGG and IGM test and HSV 1 IGG came at 20.3 and HSV 2 IGG came < .91. Around this time, my throat was also painful on both sides for about 2-3 weeks so I took a Z pack – made soreness for most part go away. On September 16th (9 weeks after encounter), I did yet another STD test and IGG and IGM and HSV 1 IGG came at 1.90 (positive) and HSV 2 IGG was .14 (negative) BUT the combined HSV 1+2 IGM AB came positive – which is scary. My questions:

1. Is it likely that I got HSV 2 from the vaginal fluid that was on my lower belly and may have seeped into a cut from shaving? Forums/sites are conflicted on whether the fluid would transfer HSV2 – many say no, many say yes.
2. Do the numbers I presented give any hint that maybe I don’t have HSV 2 – would a low # at 9 weeks be indicative of that? I do plan on testing at the 12 week mark – can I count that as pretty much conclusive?
3. I don’t recall ever having HSV 1 or cold sores – is it possible that I contracted HSV1 genitally and possibly orally?
4. Why would my HSV1 index be so high during the initial test and then drop down to 1.9 a few weeks later. Does it mean anything?
5. I’ve developed anxiety and my throat has been hurting and developed shortness of breath that is still present now. Can this be herpes related (larynx sores?) or more so the anxiety?

Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

1. Is it likely that I got HSV 2 from the vaginal fluid that was on my lower belly and may have seeped into a cut from shaving? Forums/sites are conflicted on whether the fluid would transfer HSV2 – many say no, many say yes.

And I say no. The IgM has many many false positives and should never be used to try to diagnose herpes – the CDC says so. Your HSV 2 is negative and though not enough time has passed for a final results (about 12-16 weeks for the screening test), I suspect it will stay negative.
2. Do the numbers I presented give any hint that maybe I don’t have HSV 2 – would a low # at 9 weeks be indicative of that? I do plan on testing at the 12 week mark – can I count that as pretty much conclusive?

Yes, it would be.
3. I don’t recall ever having HSV 1 or cold sores – is it possible that I contracted HSV1 genitally and possibly orally?

If you have never had cold sores in your nose or on your lip, you could have this orally or genitally, yes. If you get a sore someplace orally or genitally,, please have it swab tested for herpes.

4. Why would my HSV1 index be so high during the initial test and then drop down to 1.9 a few weeks later. Does it mean anything?

Did the same lab do both tests, do yo know? They sound like different lab scores to me.
5. I’ve developed anxiety and my throat has been hurting and developed shortness of breath that is still present now. Can this be herpes related (larynx sores?) or more so the anxiety?
I don’t think anxiety would cause a sore throat. If there is anything to swab in your throat, you probably should have it swab tested. Has that been done?

Terri

[esja3]

Terri,

Thanks for the feedback.

The same lab did not do both the tests. The names are a little bit different. One is:

HSV TYPES 1 AND 2 ANTIBODY IGG

The other is: HSV 1 AND 2-SPECIFIC AB, IGG

The index values are similar – one says 0-.89 and the other says 0-.90. I still don’t know why the value for the first test was 20.3. Just seems very high. Could it be due to a recent infection?

Few more questions:

1. I know many people have asked this questions before – but what is the chance of passing HSV1 to a partner though vaginal sex during asymptomatic shedding that is not infected with with HSV1. I’m specifically looking for some type of a probability based on how many days it’s shed and the chance of catching it if intercourse does happen on that day.

2. I’ve felt pain in my jaw/neck now for what seems like 4-5 weeks. Is this typical of herpes. The pain seems to radiate – it’s on one side and then goes to the other…etc. It just seems as though it will never let up. Do you think there is something else going on? I know you haven’t physically examined me – just your thoughts. Also – let’s say that I was infected with HSV1 just recently – how long does it typically take before my body gets adjusted and my OBs aren’t this painful – if it is herpes related.

3. I still have this pressure/pain from the lymph node in my groin. It’s been about 2 months that’s it’s been there – will this go away? It’s related to the sore that was drained I assume – I just keep getting reminded on this horrible mistake every time I feel this pain. I’m at a point where after I test at the 12 weeks mark and if it’s negative for HSV2 – I want to get this lymph removed or do something with it – because the pain is terrible.

4. In your experience, do inguinal lymph nodes swell up every time there is an OB or usually only for the 1st one?

5. In relation to my discussion of my high HSV1 IGG score – is it possible that the HSV1 IGG score was so high due to a recent HSV2 infection? I’m not sure if these index values correlate with the volume of antibodies in the system.

This has been the most miserable time of my life. The past few months had me hit rock bottom – hard! I’m just hoping to get through this with minimal damage and I appreciate your help.

[Terri Warren]

Yes, I knew they had to be different labs. Different brands of tests simply have different positive and negative values.

Few more questions:

1. I know many people have asked this questions before – but what is the chance of passing HSV1 to a partner though vaginal sex during asymptomatic shedding that is not infected with with HSV1. I’m specifically looking for some type of a probability based on how many days it’s shed and the chance of catching it if intercourse does happen on that day.
I’m sorry but we do not have that data. That research has not been done.

2. I’ve felt pain in my jaw/neck now for what seems like 4-5 weeks. Is this typical of herpes. The pain seems to radiate – it’s on one side and then goes to the other…etc. It just seems as though it will never let up. Do you think there is something else going on? I know you haven’t physically examined me – just your thoughts. Also – let’s say that I was infected with HSV1 just recently – how long does it typically take before my body gets adjusted and my OBs aren’t this painful – if it is herpes related.
Yes, I think this is related to something else other than herpes. Herpes does not cause jaw and neck pain consistently for 4-5 weeks.

3. I still have this pressure/pain from the lymph node in my groin. It’s been about 2 months that’s it’s been there – will this go away? It’s related to the sore that was drained I assume – I just keep getting reminded on this horrible mistake every time I feel this pain. I’m at a point where after I test at the 12 weeks mark and if it’s negative for HSV2 – I want to get this lymph removed or do something with it – because the pain is terrible.

If you are having severe pain in a single lymph node then that node needs to specifically evaluated – not for herpes because herpes doesn’t cause a lymph node to be increased in size and tender for 2 months but rather for much more serious and concerning medical problems. Please do that ASAP

4. In your experience, do inguinal lymph nodes swell up every time there is an OB or usually only for the 1st one?

Some people have lymph node swelling with recurrences and first infection as well

5. In relation to my discussion of my high HSV1 IGG score – is it possible that the HSV1 IGG score was so high due to a recent HSV2 infection? I’m not sure if these index values correlate with the volume of antibodies in the system.

No, that isn’t how that works. Your HSV 1 score is completely separate from your HSV 2 index value

Terri

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