Should I get a follow-up Western Blot??

[User80187291]

June 13th:
HSV1 1GG, 2.63
HSV2 IGG, 2.59

July 15th:
Western Blot negative for both

Sexual History:
5/18/22: Protected Sex but condom broke
5/20/22: Protected Intercourse, Unprotected Oral Sex, and some mutual masturbation
6/10/22: Unprotected intercourse, partner tested negative specifically for herpes before and after and hadn’t had another partner in over a year prior

I started experiencing what I think may have been psychosomatic symptoms in July. Often I’d experience them only after reading about them (went down the google rabbit hole). First was itchiness, but I also stopped shaving due to paranoia about my initial igG test results. I started taking Valtrex for about a week and seemed to have worse symptoms, I think I experienced headache, lower back pain, burning feeling above genitals, and sometimes on side of leg, and joint pain in my foot (important to note I had surgery on joint last year). I experienced one bout of shooting pain as I was driving in my petal foot. I also felt clammy and thought I had a fever once but went to urgent care and didn’t have a fever. Most of what I experienced started after taking Valtrex and got better when I stopped taking it. I realized a lot of these were also possible side effects of the medicine. I’ve probably been to the doctor/urgent care at least five or six times and every time they don’t find anything related to herpes. Itchy butt = wiping irritation from diarrhea, single bump = an ingrown hair which they plucked, and discomfort in genital area, and occasionally anal area = BV & yeast infection. I even had them look for internal lesions to be safe.

The itching and burning has been the only one that has remained with me for the most part since mid-July. It doesn’t seem to be localized as the pain/burning seems to move around sometimes.. it’s sometimes around my genitalia and sometimes as high as between my hip bones, sometimes feel it on side of leg but that’s rare.

[User80187291]

I’ll also get these really weird sensations where it feels like l’m getting bit or stung down there. I’ve been testing positive consistently with yeast infection, BV, and on time at least with Enterococcus. I’ve been doing some research on herpes forums. Those that definitely have herpes don’t seem to think that these symptoms are anything like what they experience. One thought it sounded more like the symptoms of vulvodynia.

So with all that context in mind… Do you think this sounds like herpes? Should I get a follow up western blot test?

[Terri Warren]

It does not sound like herpes to me and no, I don’t think you need another western blot. Please follow up with your OB/GYN to get more information on what could be going on here.

TErri

[User80187291]

Thanks, Terri! That’s a relief to hear. I realized I didn’t make it clear in my history that it clear that I am female and all my partners were male. The first two partners (5/18 & 5/20) both said they were tested as well, just didn’t specify what panel.

I have been working with my OB/GYN and she has the same opinion as you.. not herpes and to trust the WB. I just wanted to do my due diligence. She has me on an antibiotic now that seems to be helping my symptoms.

[Terri Warren]

Good, I’m glad the doc and I are in agreement!

Terri

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