Retaking Western Blot Questions

[Mgmg7271]

Hello, I started a thread a few weeks ago regarding my situation on a new account but I have a credit here so I am asking my new question here.
I took the western blot back in January through you after a low positive IGG for HSV2 after a concerning encounter. And experiencing what i can explain as prodome symptoms for weeks. I am oral HSV1 positive and have been since I was a kid. The blot was positive for HSV1 and negative for HSV2. I did however take the blot at 10 weeks instead of 12 as I was just in a panic. The partner I had before the encounter that prompted me to get tested was negative on IGG and so was the encounter that concerned me. I asked you via email and you said I can trust the results.
I have then had multiple swabs of my vulva area even tho there is nothing to swab other than areas that hurt and they have come out negative for both.

My symptoms persist. The first time they lasted about 3 months of every day discomfort. After the blot i had a few weeks of less noticeable symptoms but 5 weeks ago they’re back in full force. My symptoms are as follows:
Tailbone and lower back pain, leg pain, nerve burning pain all over my pelvic area and back legs knees and groin, tingling in the groin and Mons pubis burning genitals and anus but never anything actually there, sharp pains, random spots that feel bruised, a hot and cold feeling on my nerves. Pelvic pain. These symptoms are constant and almost all day. If my back doesn’t burn my leg does or vulva etc. it is worse when clothes are tight.
I’ve had MRIs and cat scans and I do have some back issues by neurology doesn’t think it’s the cause of everything. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia last month.

I just can’t shake the fear of HSV2. So I want to retake the blot to be sure.
However, I did take 500mg daily (or when I remembered to) of valtrex for about 7-8 weeks for my oral cold sores bc they kept coming back. I stopped june 25. As it didn’t help much plus I want to get retested.

My questions are:

[Mgmg7271]

Sorry ran out of room.

1.do my symptoms sound like HSV2? Would they last this long?
2. Do you think the 2 weeks would have made a big difference in detecting the virus if I was newly infected?
3. If my symptoms are an outbreak or prodome would the PCR swabs picked up shedding?
4. I’ve had hsv1 since I was 7 or 8. How likely is it that this is hsv1 instead of 2? The night of that encounter I had a healing cold sore. If the person kissed me or touched my cold sore than my genitals could I have acquired genital hsv1? I don’t remember much of this encounter so I don’t know for sure.
5. When can I draw my blood for the blot given the amount of valtrex I took? I have been off of it for about 6 weeks now.
6.I scheduled an appointment with you for this week, given that I took valtrex, should I reschedule my appt for a few weeks from now to get my lab request form from you? If I do it this week can I hold onto it and wait to draw my blood a few more weeks if needed?

Thanks Terri

[Terri Warren]

1.do my symptoms sound like HSV2? Would they last this long?
They don’t sound like herpes and herpes symptoms would be unlikely to last this long

2. Do you think the 2 weeks would have made a big difference in detecting the virus if I was newly infected?
I do not. It is an unusual person who wouldn’t at least have an indeterminate at 10 weeks if they were going to turn out positive at 12 weeks.

3. If my symptoms are an outbreak or prodome would the PCR swabs picked up shedding?
Likely, yes

4. I’ve had hsv1 since I was 7 or 8. How likely is it that this is hsv1 instead of 2? The night of that encounter I had a healing cold sore. If the person kissed me or touched my cold sore than my genitals could I have acquired genital hsv1? I don’t remember much of this encounter so I don’t know for sure.
Once you have HSV 1 in one location, it extremely unlikely you would acquire it in a new location.

5. When can I draw my blood for the blot given the amount of valtrex I took? I have been off of it for about 6 weeks now.
You want to repeat the blot? I would wait another 6 weeks off meds.

6.I scheduled an appointment with you for this week, given that I took valtrex, should I reschedule my appt for a few weeks from now to get my lab request form from you? If I do it this week can I hold onto it and wait to draw my blood a few more weeks if needed?
yes

Terri

[Mgmg7271]

Hello Terri,
Since the last set of questions I have continued to have these nerve pain symptoms which puts me at about 8 weeks of pain every day. I also get stabbing prickly sensations all over my pelvic area and labias. But there’s nothing there.

I had what seemed like a cut or scratch right at the edge of my fourchette and I immediately got it swabbed via PCR the next day. It came back negative for both HSV1 and 2. Went away in like 2 days.

After I found that cut I started checking myself aggressively again and now my vulva area has been burning off and on for almost a week. Some slight redness but nothing there. I got tested for BV yeast and all other stis. My doctors looked and said there is nothing there concerning.
I got urgent care to swab the new redness and still waiting for results.

1. Does this sound herpetic to you? Or like a outbreak? Is it normal to have over 7 weeks of prodome?

2. My neurologist thinks I have fibromyalgia/vulvodynia because I get nerve burning on my ribs and arms and has me on nerve pain meds. Have you heard of herpes causing such conditions?

3 would you recommend I wait to retake the blot since I took some antivirals or take another IGG? Or is that a bad idea because once you test false positive you always will?

4. I see you only have availability on Tuesday’s, is that what your availability will be from now on?

[Terri Warren]

1. Does this sound herpetic to you? Or like a outbreak? Is it normal to have over 7 weeks of prodome?
It does not sound herpetic to me no, and not normal to have 7 weeks of prodrome, no.

2. My neurologist thinks I have fibromyalgia/vulvodynia because I get nerve burning on my ribs and arms and has me on nerve pain meds. Have you heard of herpes causing such conditions?
No

3 would you recommend I wait to retake the blot since I took some antivirals or take another IGG? Or is that a bad idea because once you test false positive you always will?
It is true that once you test false positive, you likely always will yes,

4. I see you only have availability on Tuesday’s, is that what your availability will be from now on?
Normally I see patients on Tuesdays, yes, but often I add another day per week, as I did for next week

Terri

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