Negative IgG/Positive IgM, 2 weeks of confusion

[confused_frustrated]

Hi Terri-
Here is an overview of my confusion about whether I have herpes:

(I have been in a monogamous relationship for 2.5 years. My partner had 2 previous sexual encounters, 1 virgin, the other unsure. He has never been tested, but has no symptoms.)

Day 1: Diagnosed with yeast infection (for painful urination, itching/burning of vagina, white thick chunky odorless discharge),& prescribed 2 doses of 150mg Diflucan.
Day 2: Seeing multiple pimples/ingrown hairs/dry white spots near my anus/on labia. Nothing red or painful, just itchy. Begin to worry about herpes
Day 3: Tested at urgent care (IgG HSV1, IgG HSV2, IgM HSV 1/2). No swab, as specialist did not see any lesions.
Day 4: Yeast infection symptoms improving slightly, I take the second Diflucan.
Day 5: Significant improvement, still ithcy/tickle during urination
Day 6: Discover about 4 small, red ulcer-like spots on both sides labia minora. Not painful, not even noticeable except by sight. Urgent care specialist did not mention sight of these.
Day 7: Receive test results: Negative IgG HSV1, Negative IgG HSV2, 1.43 IgM (positive)
Day 8: Small red spots have disappeared. Urination is comfortable. Minimal itch.
Day 9: Pelvic exam at student health— NP says my vagina looks “perfect” and I am fine, the igM result is a “fluke”
Day 10-11: Occasional groin tenderness, slight nerve pain-like sensations in right leg/small of back.
Day 12: Return to NP, she says I still look ‘perfect’ during exam. I inform her of the sciatic pain, then show her a picture of the sores from Day 6. She says “that does look like herpes,” but once she hears that they were painless/only lasted about 24 hours, is skeptical again.
Day 13: (Today) Still tenderness/sensitivity in right hip/leg. No other symptoms.

1. If my (faithful) partner gets tested and is clean, can I safely assume I don’t have herpes and the positive IgM was in fact a fluke?
2. Does this overview sound like a herpes outbreak?
3. Recommended course of action?

• This topic was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by confused_frustrated. Reason: I want to be notified of a response via email!

[confused_frustrated]

Hi, sorry to bother you again-

I would like to clarify some aspects of the bumps/ulcers, since this is the hallmark of an HSV infection and usually what distinguishes herpes from something else (in my case, a yeast infection).

(Day 2/3) Bumps have emerged (slightly pink, some with dry, white heads but no puss) on my labia and around my vagina. There was no pain localized to the bumps, just a general itch all over my vagina.

(Day 4) The next day (the day of my second Diflucan dose), bumps of the same nature appear on my labia minora.

(Day 5) The following day, the bumps on my outer vaginal area have virtually disappeared, and now only the bumps on my labia minora have become the “red ulcer-like spots” I described in my previous post. They don’t cause any pain, and I only found them upon self-examination.

(Day 6) The day after THAT, almost all bumps/spots had disappeared completely. Only very faint signs of the red spots remain.

(Day 7) The following day, I am looked at by an NP who says I look “perfect,” and says I bear no evidence of having an outbreak. (It is only on my second visit several days later, Day 12, that she looks at the picture of the sores and says they “look like herpes,” but still ultimately claimed that she “really doubts” I have it).

The total lifespan of the bumps, from initial presence to disappearance, was about 4 days. No pain, no localized itching or irritation, no oozing, no bleeding.

I have read that a complicated yeast infection (which I had) can sometimes cause bumps/sores. Could the reason the bumps on my labia minora turned to little red ulcers instead of healing like the others be because of their specific location on my vagina?

Today, (what would be Day 14), I feel pretty much good as new. My self-examination this morning looked normal, and I don’t have any pain or irritation in my vaginal area.

I’m just still slightly concerned and my above 3 questions still apply!

[Terri Warren]

Yeast infections can most definitely cause bumps and cracks and even sores. Your symptoms initially definitely sound like a yeast infection. I doubt that the bumps were herpes because they healed so quickly – 4 days is just very very short for herpes healing.

If your partner gets tested and is negative for HSV 1 and 2 by IgG, this is pretty accurate – the HSV 1 test misses 30% of infections compared to the gold standard western blot and the HSV 2 test misses 8% compared to the western blot though his history doesn’t suggest HSV 2 infection is likely.

If these come back again, I would recommend that you immediately have them swab tested and if positive, typed (HSV 1 or 2)

Terri

[Author]

Posts