Question about test results and concerned about my son

[Concerned 3]

Hello Terri. Thanks for your time and assistance.
I was diagnosed with HSV1 in August 2012 after having protected intercourse and oral sex with a man who lied about his STD status. I immediately experienced tingling in my gums, teeth and the inside of my cheeks were for about 10 days. I didn’t have an outbreak. The guy finally admitted to having HSV1 after I received the positive result in October 2012. The first test result was negative. After the very uncomfortable symptoms , I stopped kissing my children. However between the negative then positive results, I probably did but haven’t really since then. Nor do I allow them to share from my cup, straw or fork. I may have slipped up once or twice with the kissing. My son once stole a kiss when he realized that I had stopped kissing them. I have been paranoid since This past April, my son broke out with a rash on his face. He was so miserable. My anxiety got the best of me and I told him that I had HSV1 and wasn’t sure if I gave it to him by a kiss on the cheek, which I’ve done. I took him to a walk-in clinic because we were out of town at the time. The doc said it was an allergic reaction but not herpes. Well just this week I drank from his soda bottle and he nearly snapped at me and said that I would catch his “germs”. He went on to reveal that he thinks he has “what I have:” cause he’s had two episodes with a pimple appearing in his public hair, at the top. I tried to assure him that this was possibly a hair bump. He broke down, he’s angry depressed, been somewhat mean to me and defiant. He never told me about the bumps because he assumes it’s herpes and there is no cure so what’s the point. I took him to the doct who without any current bumps, refused to test him. He told him to return if the bumps come back. He said it makes no sense because my son is a virgin and has never kissed a girl. I tried telling him the same thing. He describes the bumps as white, burns, itches, tingles and has shown up in the same spot. I’m somewhat concerned because my outbreak occurred on my hip 2 years after my positive results not my mouth. I had two more after that but on my ankle, about an inch apart from the first one. Also, once I drank from my son’s soda bottle my lips gums and cheeks began tingling just like after my initial exposure. I am totally disappointed in the doctor who was of no help in reassuring my son. I believe it’s better to know than not. This child doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to kiss or have kids in the future. He wont Listen to me and thinks Im trying to make him feel better.

Also, I’ve had subsequent tests and the results in January 2014 and April 2014 were borh negative. The HSV 1/2 Antibody was borderline at 1.0. I’ve been consistently negative for HSV2. I’m planning on getting tested again to be sure. Do I have it or not? What’s the chance my son has it and in the pubic area nonetheless? I’ve had shingles as child, does that make a difference?

[Terri Warren]

I’m very confused here. You were diagnosed with HSV 1 how, by a swab test, blood test? Were your uncomfortable symptoms in your mouth or genital area? Herpes is not transmitted realistically by sharing glasses or straws. You talk about your son stealing a kiss – how old is your son? 5? 12? 22? I just don’t know. Your describe an outbreak on your hip – is that what was swab tested positive for HSV 1? And your ankle also, was that swab test positive for HSV 1? Were your negative test swab test or blood tests? How do you know that you have HSV 1?

Terri

[Concerned 3]

My apologies. ALL of my tests were blood tests. My initial test result was negative.. it was taken within a week or two of exposure. 2 months later another blood test was positive for hsv1. My final 2 results were negative. Hsv-1 Antibody IgG 0.5 Hsv2 Antibody <0.2. The HSV 1/2 IgM was “equivocal” @ 1.00H (I’m not sure what this means). These were taken on 4/15/14. I had a follow up hsv2 herpes select test done in June 2014 and it was negative. Hsv1 was not taken in June 2014 because of previous positive result. The uncomfortable symptoms were in my mouth and at times, these feelings reappear. The outbreaks have never been swabbed. The ones on my ankle left scars though. I thought my history of shingles played a part in that having occurred on the same side as my shingles outbreaks. I also experience pain down my legs, butt and back. I am currently going through it. And these symptoms started after drinking from the soda bottle my son used maybe 20 minutes prior. I am usually very sensitive and can easily pick up on changes. Its been 3 days now. im hoping its psychosomatic . The last thing i want is to have passed this on to my son. Would I experience symptoms of an initial outbreak if I come in contact with someone else with hsv1 for the first time?

My son is 15. He has never ccomplained of symptoms until now nor have I noticed any other than tiny flesh colored pimples on his lip. The bumps that he described on the top of his pubic hair line, appears and then disappears without changes. No blisters or scabbing but burning and itching. He couldn’t recall how long they lasted or the time between appearances. If he were infected with hsv1 would he, as a virgin and having no other intimate experiences, have symptoms in the boxer short area?

I hope this is helpful. Thanks again.

[Terri Warren]

He would not have symptoms in the genital area if he was not sexually active, no. When these bumps come back you should take him to his doctor for evaluation.
I am still confused – why are you worried about drinking from a soda bottle after you son? Are you worried you are going to catch something from him?

I”m sorry, I’m just not getting the concern here – could you state your question a bit more clearly please?

terri

[Concerned 3]

Okay. I was diagnosed with HSV1 after having sex with the new man in my life. We used a condom for intercourse but WE DIDN’T FOR THE OR AL SEX. I immediately felt burning and tingling in my mouth. My first test result was negative. The second one was positive 2 months after exposure. My last 2 tests, almost 2 years later, were negative. I have symptoms sometimes that include burning and tingling of the mouth along with pain in my lower back, butt and legs. I have never had any visible outbreaks on or in my mouth. My 1st outbreak was on my hip nearly 2 years after being initially exposed and then two on my ankle that left scars. My tests have all been by blood. I Never had the sores swabbed. I had 2 shingles outbreaks. Once as a 8 year old then at 19.

1) Considering my last 2 negative results and my pronounced symptoms that don’t ever really amount to lesions, is it possible that I DON’T HAVE HERPES ? 2) Could this be shingles? 3) Can shingles appear as a single lesion or are they always in a band? 4) Can shingles appear below the waistline? 5) can herpes appear on the ankle or on the lower calf???

I’m concerned that i passed hsv1 on to my son. I’m not concerned that he passed something on to me….i mentioned the soda bottle because i drank from the same bottle he drank from maybe 20 minutes prior. IMMEDIATELY after drinking from the bottle, i began to experience symptoms of an outbreak just like i did when i was first exposed. Immediately! My lips, teeth and gums were tingling. A day or so later, my legs, back and butt were in much pain, and they still are. My lips feel like something is forming.

1) Could this mean my son actually has hsv1? Im thinking a possible infection in him was revealed through my symptoms/reaction after drinking from his bottle? 2) Could my exposure to his possible hsv infection (from the bottle) trigger symptoms/reaction in me? 3) Can you get hsv from a plastic bottle? 4) is it possible to pass hsv1 to the genitals if he masturbated using his spit? 5) Can hsv1 look like flesh colored pimples? 5) if I come in contact with someone for the first time who has hsv through as kiss for example, will I experience outbreak or prodrome symptoms each time even if I already have it?

What would you recommend me telling my son or anyone who has been diagnosed with hsv1?

As I mentioned in the previous posts, he’s only 15, he’s a virgin. He thinks its the end of the world! He’s depressed and angry at times. I completely understand because I felt the same way. I honestly don’t believe he has it but these questions, ideas and possibilities have been keeping me awake. Our doctor refused to do the blood testing. I want to take him some place else for testing so that we can both relax and move on.

NOTE: other than the bumps he saw at the top of his pubic hairline that burned and itched, I haven’t seen any other symptoms nor has he complained about anything else like a sore or tingling mouth. I did notice he has small flesh colored pimples on his lip at times That’s what I get paranoid about. The tiny pimples.

I hope this is better. I love my kids and I would hate to think that I exposed any of them to this.

[Concerned 3]

I want to add that my son has never shaved his pubic area. He is very hairy.

Is it possible these bumps In the pubic region were hair bumps?

He found a picture on the Internet that looked similar to his buml. It was white it didn’t pop, there was no pus or scabbing. He said they appeared, in the same location each time, and then disappearef without leaving scar. Because of what he learned in health class, the fact that they showed up in the same spot and didn’t leave a scar, is what’s making him scared.

[Terri Warren]

As you can see from your history with HSV 1 testing it is not great. You can’t know that you were infected at this encounter because even though you had a subsequent positive on the HSV 1 test, you also had two subsequent negatives. Fifty six percent of the US population between 14-49 have HSV 1 so it is very common. We don’t know if you have HSV 1 infection because the test isn’t great and you have had variable results. You need a herpes western blot for greater clarity on this.

You do not know that things on your hip and ankle were herpes lesions because they were not swabbed.

It would be unusual for either shingles or herpes to show up on the calf.

We don’t now if you have HSV 1 at all and we surely don’t know if you have it orally or genitally if you do even have it. I have never seen herpes passed through drinking glasses or utensils nor are there any documented cases of this kind of transmission. If your son has HSV 1 orally, it would not cause him to have lesions in the genital area. This worrying about bumps in the pubic hair of a non-sexually active teenager is not good for him and he doesn’t have herpes genitally even if you had it orally, which we don’t know. None of that makes any sense at all.

If you are worried about his bumps, please take him to his doctor when he has them. They could be anything including an ingrown hair.

This is my final post on your thread.

Terri

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