Unsure what to do

[Joebird36]

A little under 8 months ago I had sex with a condom with a lady who gave me a massage. Around 3 weeks after I felt slight stinging periodically in penis and then a couple of weeks later a noticed a rash that was a little bumby by both upper inner thighs that was a bit itchy. I used a cream i had at home and it would help but I would keep on needing to put it on cause otherwise it would come back a bit,eventually it was good for a while but then it came back so I went to my dermatologist and he said I was using the wrong cream and he think it was joch itch. So a couple of days after it was completely healed, so I didn’t think it was herpes cause such a cream wouldn’t of cured that.I took std test 5 and a half weeks after the exposure, everything came back good besides hsv1 (which is super common). Since then I have had 2 massages that just ended up with a handjob and one of them also had a table shower so I had a rub down. So I was nervous again about herpes cause I read it can spread from skin to skin so I got tested 6 weeks after the last massage and now it showed a low positive result for hsv2! (Besides for the hsv1).im freaking out cause the exposure I had are not common ways to get hsv2 and the one time I had sex (it was with a condom) and I got tested 5 and a half weeks later. The test then was through labcorp and my test I took now, one was from my doc and other from city Md.my doctor did the herpes test from quest diagnostics w/reflux for inhibition and the results for hsv1 was 5.48 and hsv2 1.21 but I didn’t see any report about the inhibition study (unless it was included). From city Md my results (which I took 2 days later) for hsv1 4.27 and hsv2 1.67 but they said I still need to wait for the inhibition ia report. (This was also done form quest diagnostics
So what does this all mean!? Did my first test even have the inhibition study done and if yes is this even accurate if it comes back positive? Should I get the western blot? Its 7weeks from last massage

[Terri Warren]

Your sexual situation did not present a significant risk for acquiring HSV 2. Your low positive index values are staying low positive so they don’t really suggest a new infection to me. That’s not to say it isn’t possible that this represents a herpes infection but I’m doubting it.

We have several people in our database who have had a positive inhibition assay and a negative western blot so I guess I would suggest a western blot IF your inhibition assay is positive.

Terri

[Joebird36]

Thanks to the Teri!
I got back the inhibition ia result and this is what city md sent me-
The HSV-2 IgG screening assay was repeated on a different platform as part of the inhibition test,
and the result was negative; thus the Inhibition result could not be determined. Most samples exhibiting this type of discrepancy have initial HSV-2 IgG index values of 1.10–3.00. If early HSV-2 infection is suspected, submission of another sample collected 2–3 weeks after this sample is recommended.

This assay is intended only for samples giving a positive index in the HSV-2 type-specific IgG screening assay. A POSITIVE inhibition interpretation indicates true HSV-2 specific reactivity, whereas a NEGATIVE inhibition interpretation suggests that the positive screening index is falsely positive.

So I was told this means that it’s now negative (i was confused at first cause it said result is negative thus the result can’t be determined but I think it just mean that they re-did the test some better way and it showed it was negatives so you can’t do the inhibition part)
Is this reliable that before it was a low positive (twice) and now (by the inhibition assay) it’s showing it’s negative?
Also, from the last encounter (the handjob I got) was 6 weeks before the test, so is 6 weeks usually enough time for an accurate result cause they were saying that if you had early exposure I could have a false negative but I read online that 6 weeks is like 99% accurate so I just wanted to make sure?
If not do you think I should re-test or taken the western blot or you really think since I had little exposure and it wouldn’t be common to spread from the hand job that I got that there’s no reason to re-test and I can assume that it’s completely negative?
The last time I actually had sex it was with a condom and was a little over 7 months ago so I would assume the test would definitely be accurate for that time
Thanks

[Terri Warren]

Yup, they couldn’t do the inhibition assay because you were negative on the second test they ran. I don’t think you need any further testing because, as I mentioned in an earlier response, the sexual situation of receiving a hand job is not a risk for acquiring HSV-2.
Terri

[Joebird36]

Just to clarify that last encounter (6 weeks ago) was a bit more then a hand job. It was a hand rub from a table shower and she also rubbed in the butt crack (I don’t think there was penetration in my anus)
So is that also considered not a risk for getting hsv2 as well?
Also if she was rubbing with water does that make it even more likely that any virus on her hand would of been washed away anyway?
I was reading online that if it’s negative after 6 weeks it’s 99% accurate, is that true that I can stop worrying and assume I don’t have hsv2 cause my doctor was saying that although she doesn’t think I got it they recommend testing after 3 months (but I think they legally have to say this cause it’s not fully 100% till then) so I guess im asking if its 99% that my negative (by the confirmation after the low positive) is accurate plus the low chance of getting it in the 1st place is reliable enough to come me down and not need a another test (cause I don’t want to take another test cause they don’t seem accurate snd I’m scared of more false positives and I rather not have to take the western blot either if I don’t have to)?

[Terri Warren]

Thank you for providing a more complete description of your sexual contact but that does not change my opinion that this was not a risky exposure. It is completely incorrect that a negative IgG test at six weeks is 99 % accurate. The IgG test, no matter when it is done, Mrs. 92% of HSV two infections compared to the 50s western blot. I still don’t think that you have a risk here.

Terri

[Joebird36]

Another thing I want to clarify is my exposure I had around 8 months ago (which I mention earlier) which was sex with a condom after a massage. About 3 weeks after I was having a bit of stinging in penis and then a couple weeks after that I had a small bumpy rash on both sides of the upper inner thigh. At first I applied a cream I had at home called Bethamethasone Dipropionate .05% and it was going away slightly but still coming back till I went to my dermatologist who told me I was using the wrong cream and then gave me Econazale Nitrate cream which is used to heal jock itch and once I put on that after a few days it healed. Once it started coming back but I quickly put in the cream and it went back away.
My doctor got me nervous cause he said he would wants me to get it swabbed next time it comes out so I was wondering cause I got it swabbed about 5 and half weeks after this incident but it was partly healed so there was only a little bit left of the rash for them to swab and the result was negative but I was told that the swab only works from a fresh outbreak so does that mean the result of this swab test would not be accurate? (I never had it Ozzing out so nothing would change
Also by now I got 2 of the blood antibodies test one from labcorp 5 and a half weeks after that incident and one from quest diagnostics which was as a few months after this incident which came back at first low positive and then they did confirmation and came back negative, so between those 2 tests and the swab(with the partial rash left) would that prove even more that it was nothing?
Also the rash was on both sides of the upper inner thigh so I was told that’s even more proof that it’s not herpes cause usually that’s not how it works, would this be true in my case?
So basically do you think my doctor is just playing it safe cause swabbing is the most accurate but I most probably don’t have it or do you and him think that I have it and it needs to be checked out again?
Do I even need to?

[Terri Warren]

I would say that you are correct about your doctor’s position = they are being extra careful about your concerns but you most probably don’t have HSV genitally – I don’t think it necessarily needs to be checked again after you do another swab.

Terri

[Joebird36]

But do you think I need to be swabbed again at all?
If I was swabbed already even though there was only a little bit left from the rash would that most likely still prove it’s nothing?
Also of the 1st blood test that was done 5 and half weeks ago was negative and the 2nd one which was done over 4 months after exposure was at first a low positive then the confirmation comes back negative shouldn’t that even prove more that I don’t have herpes 2
Also, if the anti fungul cream for got rid of it that should also prove that it’s not herpes
So do you think I would need to swab if I see a rash? Cause now I’m so nervous keep on looking down to see if I have a rash so I would prefer to have the peace of mind that I technically don’t have to test anymore and I don’t have herpes2 so I can stop being nervous?

Just wondering also, if you think it’s probably joch itch?
Can a small stinging of the penis be caused by the joch itch or other stuff besides hsv2?

[Terri Warren]

I would say that if you believe you don’t have HSV 2, then you don’t need to have anything swab tested. If you are still worried, then you could be swabbed. This is for YOU, and your need for clarity, not mine. I don’t believe that you have HSV 2. Its absolutely fine if you don’t want to swab! You can stop being nervous, yes.

Terri

[Joebird36]

I don’t know what to believe cause I still don’t fully understand if my tests that I took are adequate enough to show me I don’t have it. I see so many different reports of how long the window period is but almost all reports make it sound like nothing is 100% which I understand but is it a super high chance of it being accurate like 98% or 99%? That I can feel super confident I don’t have Hsv or is it lower. I think you were telling me it’s like 94% but is that high enough that I can feel confident I don’t have it?
And again 8 months ago I had sex with a condom in which I had one blood test and one swab (with a partial healed rash) 5 and half weeks later and then took another blood test like 5 months later so I just want to feel confident that those results are pretty much accurate. I also had a handjob and from that exposure the blood test was done 6 weeks after but I think you already said that his highly unlikely to get it that way but I saw an article online that said it’s possible but I was wondering if they meant it’s theoretically possible but highly unlikely (like when all online sites say if you have a bump on your head it’s maybe cancer even though it’s a very low chance)?
When my doctor told me to get swabbed as I said before it got me more nervous so do you think this was his mind set that I most probably don’t have it but because the blood tests are not 100% accurate so even though there’s a lot of proof that I don’t have it you would like me to get a swab cause those are considered more accurate (my original swab may not be as accurate cause a waited a week or 2) however I most probably don’t have it so I can stop worrying. Taking another test is just a precaution and to just gaurntee the results but it doesn’t mean it’s because you think i have it. He justs feel i should do it to be 100% sure but again there’s a lot of proof and you believe i highly likely don’t have it?
You also believe that between both blood tests the swab and the fact that econazole nitrate got rid of it is high enough proof to assume I don’t have it and I should stop worrying and thinking I have it and will transmit it
I don’t want to have to take more tests if there’s no reason too and there’s enough proof that I most probably don’t have it

[Joebird36]

Your always saying these blood tests could cause false positives but what about negatives, is it likely in my senerio I had a false negative? To remind you I had a low positive and then they sent it in for confirmation and it came back negative (from quest diagnostics) so if that was done like 5 or a bit more after the exposure with sex with a condom or 6 weeks after exposure for handjob would that result most likely be accurate and not a false negative?

[Joebird36]

* around 5 months after exposure (I just wrote 5 do I just wanted to clarify) (I also did a test 5!and half weeks after that exposure) (let me know if I went over the limit here ). (For the handjob that was only 6 weeks). I saw you wrote that you should wait 3 months for the western blot but for the quest diagnostics test they wrote it’s more sensitive then the western blot so it could detect it earlier so if I got a negative at 5 and a half weeks and then 5 months later also got a negative (after the low positive) (or even the negative after the six weeks from the handjob exposure) is that enough to prove that the negative his accurate and not a false negative
Sorry for keep on reiterating my question I just wanna make sure I’m clear and that I can get a clear answer because as you see, I’m a nervous person and I want to just feel confident that my negative result is true and not have to take another test.
You said if you believe you don’t have it you don’t have to test I don’t think I have it. I just want to make sure I don’t have it because I don’t want to transmit it to other people and also because of the rash it just makes me more nervous that maybe it was that but Like I said before I would assume if the cream treated it, it’s probably just Joch itch
So if you could, please reiterate that the negatives that I’ve gotten are more than enough proof, plus the low exposure that I had is more than enough of that I don’t need to take another test and I can feel confident I don’t have it

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Joebird36.

[Terri Warren]

With a negative inhibition assay and a very low risk exposure, I think that you should believe the negative results. You are asking the same question repeatedly, in different ways. This will be my final post on this thread.

Terri

[Joebird36]

Hi Terri. I understand that you don’t want to post on this thread, but I just wanted to clarify because you said if I had any negative inhibition test and low exposure, then I should rely on the negative but I didn’t end up having a negative inhibition test, the inhibition test was unable to be determined because they did the second test on a different platform and that came back negative (from quest diagnostics),so would you still agree with your assessment that between that negative and the low exposure (once with a condom and a few times hand job) that I should rely on the negative and assume I don’t have hsv2?
I did see you wrote on your website at 8% of the test could be false negatives, but is that mainly if you tested too early but in my case because from the exposure with the condom it was like six months after so it is even more likely that it’s a true negative?
Also, if the fact that at first it was a low positive and then went to the negative shows that technically if I had antibodies, it would’ve showed so that the second test so it wouldn’t of been negative?

Do you think it would be beneficial for me to take the western blot just to be sure? I would rather not because it’s expensive and I would be nervous the whole time and if you truly believe that, I have nothing to worry about and I can rely on the negative then I can feel confident that the western blot is not needed?

Is sex with a condom even considered low exposure (especially if I didn’t see any active sores)?

• This reply was modified 4 weeks, 1 day ago by Joebird36.

[Terri Warren]

The thing is, the second test was to be an inhibition assay, but it wasn’t necessary because it was negative. So I should have put that differently than I did in responding to you.

This is clearly still on your mind. If you can afford the western blot, do it. Peace of mind is worth it all. Yes, the IgG test misses 8% of HSV 2 but you aren’t really taking into account the other parts of your diagnostic experience here.

Terri

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 2 days ago by Terri Warren.

[Joebird36]

So now that you see it was negative by the 2nd test and not the inhibition test, do you still agree with your assessment that I still likley don’t have it?
Is the 2nd test on a different platform they did and came back negative concidered reliable that I can feel peace of mind without getting the western blot?
For the past week I saw I had a small rash (no blisters) by my upper inner thigh and skin fold (and my testicles was itchy). I went to an urgent care and they said it looks like joch itch but after a little over a week on putting on econazole nitrate (anti fungal) cream it still didn’t go away (it maybe faded a bit but it’s hard to tell cause it’s not that much) so I’m keep on being nervous that maybe it’s not joch itch but rather hsv2, so what do you think? Could it take some time for the cream to work (especially if I got joch itch before so maybe it’s taking longer after getting it again)?
Is it normal for it to take some time?

I saw you don’t have appointments for western blot for like a week and a half so I really don’t want to wait that long for peace of mind so that’s why I’m trying to get it over here

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 2 days ago by Joebird36.

[Joebird36]

Meaning i understand you said to get peace of mind I can always take the western blot but do you feel I need that for peace of mind? Do you feel I really highly don’t have it?

I keep on being nervous cause when ever you answer I feel you didn’t fully understand the situation and I just keep on having this feeling I need to explain myself more to get your accurate opinion, so can you clarify one more time that between my whole situation of exposure (once with condom and others hand to genital- see prev. Posts) and my testing situation that you still believe I highly don’t have it?

Cause all my doctors were saying I should just forget about it and move on so I want to make sure the doctor the expert like yourself agrees?

I saw you wrote once that the 2nd test quest gives on a different platform is better then the original so if the initial was low positive and the 2nd test came negative (and that’s why they couldn’t do the inhibition ia) is that reliable that I can feel super confident that I don’t have it?
And do you agree with your assessment before that I most probably don’t have it?

Now that I have the rash by my upper inner thigh and skin fold and the fungal cream didn’t fully work yet (after slightly over a week) it just gets me more nervous that it’s not jock itch but rather hsv2. So can you reassure me as well that it can take time for joch itch to heal and it doesn’t at all prove it’s hsv2?

So if you can please answer all the questions clearly so I don’t have any questions of what you mean and that I can feel confident that I don’t have it so I can move on with my life
(I rather not take the western blot if I can get my reassurance over here)
Thanks Terri and sorry for driving you crazy (it’s just I think every little thing is hsv2)

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 2 days ago by Joebird36.

[Joebird36]

One thing I forgot to ask so I can just feel more confident, what did you mean when you said the test could be 8% inaccurate but I didn’t take into account my diagnosis, so according to you what would be the chance of that 2nd test they did on the different platform (after the low positive) of that negative being false?

Also I had a labcorp test 5.5 weeks after the exposure with a condom (besides for the test I took like 6 months after that when I thought I had it from hand to genitals) so does that also add on to the fact that I really most likley don’t have it?
Would most people develop antibodies that that test would see it by that time frame? (Cause then I would have 2 tests that shows negetive)

And again just reminding you if you can answer all the questions from the last 3 posts clearly so I don’t have any questions and I can feel reassured (which I’m sure your trying to do but I’m overthinking everything but let’s try again once everything is more clear)
Thanks again and I hope this will be the last time I have to post!

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 2 days ago by Joebird36.

[Terri Warren]

Even with the second Quest test, there could be a false negative, yes
Yes, the LabCorp test is further evidence you don’t have it
92% of people who were infected 6 months ago would show positive by then.
Yes, the second Quest test is better and yes, I still don’t think you have this.
Your doctors are telling you to move on, I’m telling you to move on.
Hand to genital contact is not a risk, intercourse with a condom is very low risk
If you have questions that you think I have not answered, please restate them

Terri

[Joebird36]

Thanks, Ill just ask a few more questions just so I can get all my doubts out of my head:
1. Would it be rare if I had a low positive by the first test which is not as good as the 2nd test and then have a negative on the better second test that that would be a false negative?
2. You said 92% of people would show positive by 6 months but technically speaking I showed “positive” before (on the first test) but we’re saying it’s probably a false positive so if I potentially could show that I’m positive then shouldn’t the second test that showing negative prove that I don’t have it? (I know you said there could be false negatives but shouldn’t this fact prove more (even less then 8%) that the 1st was a false positive and 2nd was the true negative)?
3. How come you’re not scared that the rash that I’m having is being caused by hsv2, that’s where my mind keeps on going now that the rash is because of that (is it even common to have no blisters or sores just a rash by upper inner thigh and skin fold and testicles are itchy at times that that should be hsv2 or does it really sounds like joch itch)? (Also when I had the stinging before the rash gets me nervous but I was told small stinging could be anything and the rash was probably joch itch I just want to hear from you that that was probably the case and it’s not really how hsv2 effects people- cause I read online some people just have rash’s or no symptoms at all)?
4. I know you said there is a very low chance to get it with intercourse with a condom but I keep on reading online that there’s something called asymptomatic shedding so I’m nervous and even though I didn’t see any sort of blisters that maybe my upper inner thigh touched her upper inner thigh area and that transmitted to me, so I guess the question is would that be very rare to happen that way (online makes it seem possible so that’s what’s been making me nervous)?
5. can I feel confident dating and not assuming I have hsv2 and that I will not transmit it?

[Terri Warren]

1. Would it be rare if I had a low positive by the first test which is not as good as the 2nd test and then have a negative on the better second test that that would be a false negative?
no
2. You said 92% of people would show positive by 6 months but technically speaking I showed “positive” before (on the first test) but we’re saying it’s probably a false positive so if I potentially could show that I’m positive then shouldn’t the second test that showing negative prove that I don’t have it? (I know you said there could be false negatives but shouldn’t this fact prove more (even less then 8%) that the 1st was a false positive and 2nd was the true negative)?
This statement is way too complicated for me to make sense of

3. How come you’re not scared that the rash that I’m having is being caused by hsv2, that’s where my mind keeps on going now that the rash is because of that (is it even common to have no blisters or sores just a rash by upper inner thigh and skin fold and testicles are itchy at times that that should be hsv2 or does it really sounds like joch itch)? (Also when I had the stinging before the rash gets me nervous but I was told small stinging could be anything and the rash was probably joch itch I just want to hear from you that that was probably the case and it’s not really how hsv2 effects people- cause I read online some people just have rash’s or no symptoms at all)?
Herpes doesn’t really cause a rash – it causes sores. This sounds like jock itch

4. I know you said there is a very low chance to get it with intercourse with a condom but I keep on reading online that there’s something called asymptomatic shedding so I’m nervous and even though I didn’t see any sort of blisters that maybe my upper inner thigh touched her upper inner thigh area and that transmitted to me, so I guess the question is would that be very rare to happen that way (online makes it seem possible so that’s what’s been making me nervous)?
Yes, asymptomatic shedding is a thing but touching thighs is not a risk because the skin of the thigh is too thick for virus to penetrate, even if she was having active blisters there.

5. can I feel confident dating and not assuming I have hsv2 and that I will not transmit it?
I think you can. But in my opinion, you need a western blot for certainty. You are going around and around and around here and I cannot offer you any further help. This will be your last post on my forum

Terri

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 6 days ago by Terri Warren.

[Author]

Posts