Need your opinion

[goingcrazy322]

Hi Terri,

I am so grateful for you and this forum as I can see it gives a lot of people peace of mind and hope. I would like to explain my specific situation.
In 2015, I entered a relationship where I was faithful. However, my partner cheated on me multiple times. In 2019, I was teste for both HSV1 & HSV 2 with IGG testing. It came back positive for HSV1 at 30.something and negative for HSV2. My relationship ended in July of 2021. My ex and I still had sex a few times after our break up. Also, I had sex with someone new in September of 2021. Fast forward, all sexual contact ended at the end of December 2021. At the end of February, I retested for HSV. HSV1 was positive of course and HSV2 also came back positive with a score of igg 2.0. I started to freak out. My ex advised he was tested and was negative (not sure how true this is as I have not seen his results and I do not trust him). The newer guy, unaware of his status.
I spoke with my PCP who asked if I ever had any symptoms which I did not. She advised me to retest. I retested in September 2022 and my HSV2 results came back negative. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think I need to retest? Also, still never experienced outbreaks.
Later down the line, I had a huge boil that was diagnosed by both my OBGYN and an urgent care doctor as folliculitis. They gave me two different antibiotics which gave me horrible allergic reactions. Due to this allergic reaction, I was itching all over, even my vagina which of course has me back and forth about HSV2. To this day, still no outbreaks.
Urgent care doctor truly believes I had a false positive. MY OBGYN does not seem as educated on the topic, does not believe in the CDC. She also said once it comes up positive, I definitely have it even if my tests after are negative. I feel to my heart I do not have HSV2 and my pcp and the urgent care doctor does not recommend further testing unless I have symptoms.
Please share your thoughts on my situation.

• This topic was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by goingcrazy322.

[Terri Warren]

I think you are likely uninfected. She doesn’t believe in the CDC? Interesting. Wow.
You could get the greatest clarity by performing the herps western blot if you want more information, but I think you are likely one of those people who drift between negative and low positive values on the IgG test. False positives on the IgG test are well-known and well-documented. I think that’s what your 2.0 result was but I can’t promise that, I can only give an educated opinion on this.

Terri

[goingcrazy322]

Thank you for your reply, Terri!

– Do you think I need to retest? As stated before, my PCP and also the urgent care doctor told me to get a swab test if I have lesions and that there is no need to retest now.

– At this point, still never had a typical ‘outbreak’, but would like some info on outbreaks. Are lesions/sores what’s considered an outbreak? Symptoms like tingling, itching, and burning – are those considered outbreaks?

– Even though my last test came back negative, I think that I am a lot more aware of what is going on with my vagina. Sometimes when I shave, I experience itching after and when the hair is growing back. Sometimes before I get my period, I experience itching. Also, recently – as explained above, I had serious skin allergic reactions to two antibiotics. Two weeks after the outbreak, and still experiencing slight itching on arms, legs, back and vagina. Do you feel that these are causes for concern? I’ve always experienced these issues (minus the allergic reactions), but never linked them to hsv 2.

-Can you just experience itching due to hsv 2 but no sores or lesions? With my research, it says that itching is usually a beginning symptom that is leading to an outbreak? Can itching just occur for a few hours and go away?

-I also do take a lot of vitamins and herbs and have been eating a lot healthier. I started this when I received the low positive. Could this affect the 2nd test and make it a negative? (Never been on antivirals.)

Again, thank you for all that you do Terri. You really are a God send.

[Terri Warren]

– Do you think I need to retest? As stated before, my PCP and also the urgent care doctor told me to get a swab test if I have lesions and that there is no need to retest now.
I agree there is no need to test again.

– At this point, still never had a typical ‘outbreak’, but would like some info on outbreaks. Are lesions/sores what’s considered an outbreak? Symptoms like tingling, itching, and burning – are those considered outbreaks?
Those second set of symptoms are not considered outbreaks. In the person who actually has herpes, these can be prodromal symptoms prior to an outbreak coming,

– Even though my last test came back negative, I think that I am a lot more aware of what is going on with my vagina. Sometimes when I shave, I experience itching after and when the hair is growing back. Sometimes before I get my period, I experience itching. Also, recently – as explained above, I had serious skin allergic reactions to two antibiotics. Two weeks after the outbreak, and still experiencing slight itching on arms, legs, back and vagina. Do you feel that these are causes for concern? I’ve always experienced these issues (minus the allergic reactions), but never linked them to hsv 2.
I do not think any of these are reasons for concern

-Can you just experience itching due to hsv 2 but no sores or lesions? With my research, it says that itching is usually a beginning symptom that is leading to an outbreak? Can itching just occur for a few hours and go away?
you mean if someone is actually infected with HSV 2? then yes

-I also do take a lot of vitamins and herbs and have been eating a lot healthier. I started this when I received the low positive. Could this affect the 2nd test and make it a negative? (Never been on antivirals.)
No

Terri

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