Paranoia?

[Mundomedicina]

Hi Terry,
I have been stuck in anxiety about possibly having hsv2, and I’d really like to move past it.

My only recent parter recently tested negative on a off type specific igg test at 17 weeks after her last encounter (with another guy). We have had 3 to 4 unprotected encounters.

Ive been reading way too much on medhelp and I keep finding something new to worry about. My latest worry is that she is possibly one of the few who never produce antibodies.

In your experience, how often do you see this in patients? My dilemma is I don’t know if I should get tested because maybe she has it and is asymptomatic and isn’t making antibodies. Should I be concerned about that?

I have had no typical symptoms myself. The only thing that’s appeared down there is a very small shiny abrasion looking thing that just happened to appear the same day I masturbated with no lube. This appeared exactly four weeks after my last unprotected encounter, and was healed in only 2-3 days. I know this isn’t how hsv behaves.

Ive read several posts by Dr Handsfield where he says herpes can’t cause initial symptoms after 3 weeks.. In your experience, are there exceptions to that?

I know the odds of all these atypical factors actually being true are very small. Would u recommend that I get a test just to make sure, or can I drop this?

[Mundomedicina]

i know I’m running the risk of a false positive if I get tested without symptoms, and Dr Hook says that he doesn’t recommended testing if you don’t develop symptoms within 2 weeks. HHH says that if initial hsv causes symptoms, they are usually very typical. He also says that you are out of the woods if u dont develop symptoms within 3 weeks.

It looks like every indication is that I’m fine, but what do u recommended as far as testing in this situation? I attached a pic of where the small abrasion was, that small red spot is where it healed. It appeared on 6/22 and was pink and healing within 2 to 3 days max. That pink spot has remained. Have u ever seen initial herpes present itself this way?

I’m not In a good place with all this worry, and I’d really like to move past this. Any help or advice u can offer me is greatly appreciated. Thanks Terry.

[Terri Warren]

I can’t really tell anything from this picture.
Drs. Hook and Handsfield and I don’t agree on testing for herpes.
First, your partner. The screening test for HSV 2 turns out to be very good. It misses about 3 out of 100 compared to western blot. We use tests with sensitivity like that all the time for other diseases and we are content with that. The false positive rate for HSV 2 is about 2.75%. We have looked at this issue over a period of 7 years and we find that consistently, 5.5% of patients test in the low positive range (1.1 to 3.5). Of those, 50% are false positives. It is unusual to find a false positive over 3.5 but I have found those also.
Have you had other sex partners in your lifetime? is there a reason that you are so worried about this person having herpes? I think you should feel very reassured that she is negative at 17 weeks. Have you ever been tested before? If not, we know that 80% of people who have herpes do not have symptoms that they recognize. So you could be infected already and now know it (and be a risk to her). Your call whether you test or not. She has reassurance that I’m guessing she is happy to have.

Terri

[Mundomedicina]

This girl has been my only partner over the past 12 months, and I tested negative for hsv2 in early June.

In your career, how common is it for someone to never develop measurable antibodies at all despite infection? This is what I’m worried about., I’ve read that it’s under 5%. Would the failure to produce antibodies result in clear symptoms since your body isn’t fighting off the virus? The girl I’m with has had no symptoms.

She has tested three times since May, and has been negative three times on every type specific test.

What is your stance on testing versus doctor Handsfield?

Thanks

[Terri Warren]

It is really uncommon to test negative and be infected with HSV 2. Yes, well under 5%. The lack of antibody says nothing except that you and she are uninfected. I’m wondering why you are so concerned about this particular woman and herpes.

I recommend testing more frequently than Dr. Handsfield.

Terri

[Mundomedicina]

I’m concerned because I somehow got irrationally paranoid about it but I need to move on.

I got a test done a few days ago and I’m waiting on the result now. The test was an igg test done thru sunrise labs, and i did some research and found that some people have had false positives with this test, only to get retested through herpeselect and test negative. I’m saw a post on medhelp where u contacted this lab and found out this test is from a brand called diasorin which isn’t typically used for this purpose.

If it comes back positive I will certainly retest thru herpeselect, but if it’s negative, should I accept that result? Neither my partner or I have had any typical symptoms and she has tested negative three times (weeks 10, 14 and 17) thru herpeselect igg. This test is really just for piece of mind for me.

Thanks

[Terri Warren]

Yes, if your test is positive from this lab, you could either test using herpeselect or you could get a western blot. You are correct – I don’t love the diasorin test. I would feel comfortable that your partner is not infected – now we just need to be certain that you are not infected and present a risk to her.

You have three remaining questions

Terri

• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Terri Warren.

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