Please advise if herpes & if need WB

[bbaamm1986]

Unprotected sex early November.
Symptoms:last 2.5 mos. irritation in groin. Pokey stings, itch & burn in crease top of legs & scrotum, random minor irritation tip of penis & some itch pubic hair. First scrotum burn started 1 week after sex. 6+ weeks after, inner thighs also burned for awhile, turned leathery & skin peeled. At 8 weeks, irritation moved to perianal area. No lesions the entire time. Just overall sting & itch in groin with red scrotum. Symptoms finally slowly subsiding. Last week, I also developed numbness on left side in fingers & toes. I am generally very healthy, in shape, so this is all very weird.

Testing – LabCorp
– Day 9 post sex – HSV 1 Negative / HSV 2 IGG 2.2; Reflex Supplemental Negative.
[all other std tests negative]
– Week 5-1/2 post – urgent care drew two specimens at same time so LabCorp did two tests (drawn same day):
Specimen I: HSV 1 Negative / HSV 2 IGG 2.3; Reflex Supplement Negative
Specimen II: HSV 1 Negative / HSV 2 IGG 2.17; Reflex Supplement Negative
[all other std tests negative]
– Week 8-1/2 post – HSV 1 Negative / HSV 2 IGG 1.95; Reflex Supplemental Negative
– Week 11 post – HSV 1 Negative / HSV 2 IGG 1.93; Reflex Supplemental Negative

Multiple PAs & doctors say this is not herpes. Early I was treated for jock itch, but no response. Dermatologist said its ‘red scrotum syndrome.’ Symptoms gradually improving, but up n down day to day.

1. Based on all of this, do you think I have herpes? I understand my symptoms are not consistent with herpes, but wanted your expert thoughts.

2. Given IGG barely changed from day 9 to week 11 does that suggest this is likely false positive from some other protein since IGG doesn’t develop that early (day 9) & would increase to a much higher level?

3. Read on your blog there is strong correlation between labcorp negative supplemental & western blot. Based on my tests, would you trust the negative supplemental as definitive or do you think I should do the w. blot?

[bbaamm1986]

Hi Terri,
Did you see my initial post? I have a follow up doctor’s appointment this week and would really appreciate your expert opinion please.
Thank you!

[Terri Warren]

So sorry, I’ve been in Cambodia with very limited internet. Still here

1. Based on all of this, do you think I have herpes? I understand my symptoms are not consistent with herpes, but wanted your expert thoughts.
I do not think you have HSV 2. There is good agreement between people who get a negative supplemental test from LabCorp and people who subsequently get a western blot and are negative.

2. Given IGG barely changed from day 9 to week 11 does that suggest this is likely false positive from some other protein since IGG doesn’t develop that early (day 9) & would increase to a much higher level?
Yup, I believe it suggests a false positive. You could certainly do the blot but I would bet it would be negative.

Terri

3. Read on your blog there is strong correlation between labcorp negative supplemental & western blot. Based on my tests, would you trust the negative supplemental as definitive or do you think I should do the w. blot?

See above.

Terri

[bbaamm1986]

Terri,
Thanks and no worries! Hope the trip is great. I just did the western blot and will have results in a couple weeks just to make sure.
1. Have you ever seen hsv2 cause unusual symptoms like this that continue for 3 months? (Sting, itch, burn on scrotum and groin, extending to perineum and some occasional anal itch/discomfort.)
2. Any ideas on what else could cause these symptoms? Symptoms vary in intensity and location day to day, some days better some worse, but always there. My doctors are stumped – I’ve been to urgent care, PCP and Dermatologist. No response to antifungals and now trying gabapentin to treat for red scrotum syndrome. Curious if you have any other suggested causes to explore with my doctors.

Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

1. Have you ever seen hsv2 cause unusual symptoms like this that continue for 3 months? (Sting, itch, burn on scrotum and groin, extending to perineum and some occasional anal itch/discomfort.)
Nope, but I’ve seen lots of people who think they have herpes and have these symptoms and test negative on the western blot

2. Any ideas on what else could cause these symptoms? Symptoms vary in intensity and location day to day, some days better some worse, but always there. My doctors are stumped – I’ve been to urgent care, PCP and Dermatologist. No response to antifungals and now trying gabapentin to treat for red scrotum syndrome. Curious if you have any other suggested causes to explore with my doctors.

Your situation is more common than you might think. It sure sounds fungal to me. What have you tried for treatment that has failed for you?

Terri

[bbaamm1986]

First I used OTC Lotrimin for 1.5 weeks, then PCP changed to prescription anti-fungal (I think fluconazole, but not certain) and I used that for 1 week until I saw a Dermatologist who said this didn’t look fungal to him and that after 2.5 weeks if fungal I should’ve seen improvement. Dermatologist said it was red scrotum syndrome (ever hear of that?) and put me on gabapentin. So I tried antifungals for a total of 2.5 weeks. Does that seem long enough to treat if fungal, or would you suggest trying the antifungals again for awhile?

[Terri Warren]

That does seem long enough to treat with antifungals to get a good response, yes

Terri

[Author]

Posts