Primary outbreak 27 days after exposure???

[aliv91]

I am negative for HSV1 and 2, conformed by the Western Blot.

1. On July 14 I had unprotected oral sex with a longtime partner. I am unsure of his status.

2. I never noticed any possible symptoms until Aug 11, so about 26 or 27 days after the exposure. Would a primary outbreak show up that far out?

3. The symptoms: I had a white looking piece of skin next to my labia minora. I was able to, sort of peel it off, and it bled a little and was very red for 2 days, today: the third day, there is still a spot but it looks just like a slightly darker pink that the test of the skin. I also had another spot that looked like skin had been scraped off above it, but that went away in about a day and a half-two days. I also have chunky white discharge, which I think might be a yeast infection.

4. Does any of this sound like it might be herpes? I’m on vacation so I was unable to go get anything swabbed. Do you think these might just be symptoms of a yeast infection?

[aliv91]

Edit: I just wanted to clarify that when I say peeled off, I meant that I was able to rub/scratch off the top layer and it sort of just peeled right off.

[Terri Warren]

It is not possible for me to even guess about whether this is herpes or not, given your description. A primary outbreak would show up within 2-10 days. I can say that normally herpes outbreaks last a bit longer than what you have described.

Terri

[aliv91]

Would you normally be able to peel a herpes lesion?

I had been shaving too right before I noticed it, do you think that could have been why?

It healed almost completely in about 4-5 days? Is this still to fast for herpes?

I had also been pulling and tuggin on the genital skin quite a bit because I had been examining for symptoms daily after the exposure, do you think this might have been caused from trauma?

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by aliv91.

[Terri Warren]

Herpes lesions are not normally peelable,no.
Herpes lesions can heal in 4-5 days
Maybe you should stopping tugging on the genital skin if you think it could have been caused by that.
Terri

[aliv91]

I’m sorry, I just always thought that herpes normally takes about 2 weeks to heal? Especially a primary outbreak? I’m just so confused right now, I’m scared to death what I had was herpes and there is no way for me to know now.

Can I set a consultation for my partner with you to get a Western Blot? I just want to be able to put this behind me and stop worrying about it.

[Terri Warren]

Mostly, it is recurrent lesions that heal in 4-5 days.
Yes, I would be happy to do a consult and order the blot for your partner.
This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions, feel free to renew
Terri

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Terri Warren.

[aliv91]

That does make me feel better to know that it’s recurrent lesions that mostly heal that fast .

I have set up for a consultation.

My only other question is, is it common for a symptoms of a primary outbreak to show 27 days after exposure? I’m not worried about the two others spots because they healed so incredibly fast. This was only one spot, wouldn’t more lesions be common too? It also really didn’t look like herpes lesions pictures I saw, but I know it can be different for everyone. What do herpes lesions normally look like on the labia? Some spots look like a red halo with a white/yellow ulcer in the middle, mine was just red.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by aliv91.

[Terri Warren]

If spots showed up 27 days later, they are not a primary outbreak. Primary outbreak symptoms, if they are going to happen, happen within 2-10 days after infection. Normally lesions on the labia do ulcerate in the center, yes

Terri

[aliv91]

Is it possible to have a recurrent outbreak of HSV1 without having a primary outbreak?

I never had symptoms and I was checking , so I think I would have noticed something.

[aliv91]

Sorry I wanted to rephrase my question.

Would it be normal to be infected and not show symptoms, and then have a “recurrent” outbreak after almost month past exposure?

I have been checking everyday and never had any symptom within 2-10 days, do you think I might have had an internal only outbreak and then this is a recurrent outbreak of HSV1 that soon after?

[Terri Warren]

Yes, you could have recurrent symptoms without a primary(or without recognizing a primary outbreak).It is possible though unlikely that you had an internal only primary outbreak

How about if you ask your partner to be tested?

This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions,feel free to renew

Terri

[aliv91]

I’m so confused, can you please help clear some things up for me?

1. So are you saying that it’s possible I was infected and showed no symptoms and now am having a recurrent outbreak 27 days later? From what I’ve read from you about herpes, this does not sound typical at all? I was hoping the fact that this happened so late after contact meant it was less likely to be herpes, am I just grasping at straws here?

2. Even if I MIGHT have had an outbreak I missed shortly after contact, would I still have a recurrence 27 days later? That doesn’t sound typical either from what I have learned from your posts.

I actually have talked to my partner about getting tested and we are going forward with a Western Blot, we are having his blood drawn this coming Friday.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by aliv91.

[Terri Warren]

1. So are you saying that it’s possible I was infected and showed no symptoms and now am having a recurrent outbreak 27 days later? From what I’ve read from you about herpes, this does not sound typical at all? I was hoping the fact that this happened so late after contact meant it was less likely to be herpes, am I just grasping at straws here?

I did not say it was likely I said it was possible. I do not think it is likely

2. Even if I MIGHT have had an outbreak I missed shortly after contact, would I still have a recurrence 27 days later? That doesn’t sound typical either from what I have learned from your posts.

It is possible for people to miss the first infection and recognize the recurrence, yes. This is not the usual order of things but it certainly happens. I am not suggesting that this is necessarily your situation but you asked me if this is possible. I think you are very wise to have your partner get a blot on Friday. This will help clear up questions that you have and allow both of you greater sexual freedom if you find that he is negative and agreed to be monogamous

Terri

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Terri Warren.

[aliv91]

So for someone who has truly tested negative, like me, the timeline for herpes from this exposure would make it less likely to be herpes correct? I know it’s not 100%, but I truly believe I never had any symptoms 2-10 days after contact.

Also, thank you for the kind words. I really hope it comes out negative so I can put my mind at ease. Of course even if it does come back positive for HSV1 it will not change the way I feel about him and we will work through it and if I’m not infected, will we act accordingly to make sure I remain uninfected. After all it’s just a skin condition, it’s just the stigma that hurts.

[Terri Warren]

Yes, you are correct.
Given that about half the US Population has HSV 1, I ignore the stigma if you can. It makes no sense.,

Terri

[aliv91]

Just out of curiosity, what do herpes lesions look like in the blister stage on the labia?
Do they appear white or red?

[Terri Warren]

Sorry, you are out of questions.

Terri

[aliv91]

Just updated that if you don’t mind to answer the above question!

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by aliv91.

[Terri Warren]

The herpes blisters are clear with water inside,most often on a red base.

Terri

[aliv91]

1. So the spot just looked white, and when I messed with it just bled, no liquid. Would it have been likely for clear liquid to come out if I had popped a blister? This price of skin literally just looked white, and I didn’t notice a red area around it, just red when I peeled it off.

2. If it were an ulcer, I wouldn’t have been able to peel or rub a top layer off, correct? Because an ulcer would be crater like? Correct?

3. I am waiting in my partners WB to come back still. Mine came back in about 5 days, so if it takes longer does that mean that Virus was detected?

[Terri Warren]

Yes, if you popped a herpes blister, clear fluid would likely come out of the lesion.
An ulcer would be like a crater in the skin,correct
The test can take longer when someone has HSV 1.

Terri

[aliv91]

I don’t know if have a question left or not, please let me know.

1. Unfortunatly, my partners WB came back positive for HSV1. We’re assuming it’s an oral infection since most of his family members have cold sores. But we aware that it could be genital.

2. I got a blood test on Saturday, which was 8 weeks from unprotected oral sex and we have been having unprotected intercourse since April of this year, but I’m not really concerned about intercourse. It came came back negative for HSV1 and 2. I know that the test misses some infections and I do plan to go trough with a WB after enough time has passed. Do you think this is good news for the time being? Is it okay for me to feel at least a little bit reassured? I do feel a little better after the negative test but don’t want to give myself false hope.

Thank you.

[aliv91]

I also forgot to mention that negative results were 6.5 weeks after unprotected sex.

[aliv91]

Sorry 6.2 weeks!

[Terri Warren]

The IgG test picks up about 70% of HSV one infections and misses 30% so yes, I think that is some good news for you though not certainty.

Terri

[aliv91]

I’m not sure if I have another question or not.

I had another thought…. we did have unprotected sex a couple weeks after the unprotected oral sex. The spot showed up 14-15 days after unprotected sex? If his HSV1 infection is genital, could this have been a primary outbreak? Or is 14-15 days after still not typical for a primary outbreak? Also wouldn’t a primary outbreak typically have multiple lesions instead of one?

[Terri Warren]

That’s a long time -usually things show up in 2-10 days. And often there are multiple lesions but not always

This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions,feel free to renew

Terri

[aliv91]

I have a few more questions.

1. What is the percentage for somebody to seroconvert by 8 weeks? Are seroconversion times about the same for both types?

2. I am about to get another IGG, it will be past 12 weeks. If it is negative, is it okay for me to feel reassured? I feel like if it’s negative, I might be able to move on….

3. Do you see people a lot of people with either type 1 or type 2 be negative at 8 weeks and then go to a positive result at 9, 10, 11, or 12 weeks? This is assuming that the HSV1 test is a true negative, I do realize that some people do end up showing positive on the WB.

4. Why is the HSV1 test not as good at picking up virus as the HSV2 test?

[Terri Warren]

We don’t have eight weeks specifically, but we do have 6 weeks – I would say 80% at 8 weeks for HSV 2 – we don’t have HSV 1
The 12 weeks result is 92% sensitive for HSV 2 and 70% sensitive for HSV 1
I do not see a lot of people seroconverting later.
We don’t know why the test is less sensitive for HSV 1.

Terri

[aliv91]

Would seroconversion times be about the same for both types? Or does one take longer than the other?

[Terri Warren]

If you already have HSV 1, it could take slightly longer for HSV 2 infected patients to seroconvert

Terri

[aliv91]

So seroconversion time for HSV1 would be about the same as HSV2?

[Terri Warren]

Yes, about the same.

This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions, feel free to renew

Terri

[aliv91]

Some final questions for you.

1. I had a third IGG done and it was negative for HSV1, this was a little over 12 weeks after. Am I wrong to feel a little bit reassured?

2. If my partners HSV1 is genital you believe that it would be highly unlikely for me to catch it genitally, correct?

3. My partner said he has never had a cold sore that he can remember, doesnthis means is more likely that he has genital HSV1?

I am planning to get a Western Blot in the next few weeks when I find time, I’m hoping that it will be negative.

[Terri Warren]

1. You can feel reassured with 70% certainty
2. correct
3. impossible to say, I’m afraid.

Terri

[aliv91]

I appreciate you answering my questions.

I don’t know if you would feel comfortable answering this question and it’s totally fine if you don’t.

If you were in my situation, having the knowledge you do about herpes, would you feel relieved by a negative igg for HSV1 and previously having a negative WB for HSV1? I know you will say that peace of mind is everything and that I should get a Blot for it and I do plan to do that, but again if you were in my shoes and had the negative igg would you be somewhat confident that you might be negative on the Blot?

[Terri Warren]

I would be, yes

Terri

[aliv91]

Sorry I had some questions pop into my head….

1. In your experience, do truly negative people develop symptoms in most cases if they are newly infected with HSV1, this goes for both oral and genital infection?

2. Do you have a percentage on how many people truly do not have symptoms when first infected with either strain?

3. I think I’ve read some of your other posts saying that most uninfected people would show symptoms if they did become infected with either type, do you still believe this to be correct?

[Terri Warren]

1. About 70% of people with HSV 1 have unrecognized infection – but someone who is as worried about any symptoms as you are, would likely recognize symptoms
2. see above
3. see above.

This is your final post on this subscription. I cannot help you further with your question so I am closing this thread.

Terri

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