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Hello, I was recently diagnosed with HSV 2 via herpeselect igg test (negative for HSV 1). This was a shock to me as I have been married for 15 years and with only one partner during that time. I had been testing for STDs up until 7 years ago- all being negative, though I was not aware that they don’t test regularly for HSV when you ask for STD testing and I do not have the past tests to reference. My husband tested negative. We both got tested after his recent affair (he was tested only 4 weeks after his last encounter with the new partner). I spoke with you on the phone earlier this week and you are ordering my WB test, though with my igg reading >5.0, it’s highly not a false positive.
I have never had any sort of outbreak- that I am aware of (which is why the positive test was such a shock to me). I believe I am asymptomatic. I have never even had a yeast infection. That said. I am now obsessed with every feeling, bump or reaction I might be having.
About 1.5 days ago, I woke with itching on my legs, mostly lower legs and by my knees. I had forgotten to take allergy medication, which I take daily. Once I took that, the itching stopped. However, now after 1 full day, I still have bumps. They are small, not in clumps, and the color of my skin. They do not itch or feel odd. They are located mainly on my shoulders and very upper arms, upper chest-below my neck, and sides of my knees. I did go to a tanning bed the day before they showed up and used a special tanning cream that makes your skin tingle. I used this same tanning cream a couple of weeks ago with no reaction.
I’ve attached a few images of my legs.
I’m wondering, if it is an outbreak, why would it be on my upper arms/shoulders, chest, and knees/lower thighs? And not anywhere near my groin area? Also, it seems very coincidental that after never having any symptoms or an initial outbreak, this would show up. I have gotten rashes before but I have very bad allergies and they always clear up after I take allergy meds or use a steroid cream. They usually itch and are red rashes more than bumps.
Also, is there any chance I could have HSV-2 orally? I am racking my brain to think back 15+ years before I met my husband, if I ever had anything to resemble an outbreak. About a year before we met, I had a severe tonsil infection. I would get them often but this one was horrific. I had white puss pockets all along the back of my throat. I have some scarring from them. At the time, the doctor told me I had a very bad viral infection with tonsillitis. I had a bad fever, and could not move for a few days. I’m wondering if that was the initial outbreak. And if so, wouldn’t it make sense that I would have no other symptoms for all these years b/c HSV 2 orally reoccurs less? I’ve also never had any sores in my mouth or lip area.
And if I did have HSV 2 orally, it would only show up as positive on the igg test correct, not where it lives in the nervous system? How likely is oral HSV 2 transmitted?
One last question, since my husband was tested only 4 months out from his last sexual encounter with the new women, he is still at risk of testing positive if she/I have HSV correct?
Thank you for all your help with this matter.
I’m attaching three photos of the bumps on my legs. The ones on my shoulders are the same color as my skin and hard to pick up in photos. The images of my legs make them seem a lot worse- I am wearing shorts today and would not be embarrassed to go outside, I think they are pretty unnoticeable unless you are searching.
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These bumps are not how herpes looks nor would it be on your shoulders. You are now noticing everything that previously would have had no meaning at all for you.
The viral tonsillitis that you had previously could have been due to acquiring herpes in your mouth. Were you sexually active at the time? Were you the giver of oral sex to other people during that time? It’s hard to know for sure it’s just a possibility that that was your first infection. You had only a positive antibody test but not a sore that could be swab tested, so we cannot know where your infection is for certain. However it is most likely that you have it at least genitally and possibly you have it orally and genitally. A few people do have only oral HSV 2 but that is the exception. I think it’s good that you’re getting a confirmation test because if it is positive it will help you to accept that you really are infected with herpes.
Four months is long enough to wait from an exposure until testing as in the case of your husband. If he is negative for HSV-2 four months out from their exposure then it is likely that that is an accurate result and he is not infected.
If I were you I would take the focus away from other parts of your body that might have rashes and focus on the genital and oral area. When I say genital area I mean the area between your waist and the middle of your thighs. This is the area innervated by the sacral ganglia. Outbreaks can occur anywhere in this area and are considered genital herpes. For the facial area you want to look at the whole face but particularly focus on the mouth lips and nose when looking for lesions.
Terri
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You actually have one more question per your subscription, go ahead.
Terri
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well, my goodness, I am so sorry to have missed this!
The usual rate of transmission from females to males having sex about twice per week without condoms and without antiviral therapy taken daily is 4% per year – that is, 4 men would be infected in this situation. With daily antiviral therapy, the rate is about 2% per year.
Transmission occurs most often in the first six months of relationship because people are usually having a lot more sex then for longer period of time and thus the vulnerable people are often not in studies because they are already infected. Does that make sense?You’ve got another question left.
Terri
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