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Unsure

› Forums › Herpes Questions › Unsure

  • This topic has 27 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 8 months ago by Terri Warren.
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    • March 11, 2015 at 12:39 am #5466
      Afraid
      Participant

      Hello Terri
      I feel awful, ashamed and afraid. I am in a relationship and recently cheated. I had a sexual encounter with an ex-boyfriend ( who told me he was hsv 2 positive igg test result 2.33) there was no penetration. But there was kissing, touching with hands on both sides and oral sex.
      I called my gynecologist office and they recommend to test after 2 weeks post encounter. I took the test and it came out negative for hsv2 and positive for hsv1 (I’ve been positive hsv1 for a while) Since the encounter I feel burning sensation around my tights and on my pubic area, that comes and goes on different places. I have no blisters or lesions. I had some discharge so I went to my gynecologist, he said he didn’t see any blisters/lesions and that the discharge looked like yeast infection. He sent me an antifungal and send me another blood test for hsv2. This was at 26 days post encounter.
      The burning sensation around my tights does not go away so I am wondering if my test results were accurate. I am thinking of going again to test after 6weeks post encounter.
      I read different information on the Internet some sites say to wait 4-6 weeks other 12weeks.
      I have been postponing having sex or any intimacy with my actual partner, since I am afraid of giving him something. Our relationship is tense and not in a good place, he doesn’t understand why I am avoiding him. But I don’t have the courage to tell him the truth, he would never forgive me.
      My question is , could I assume the two blood test I have done are accurate? Would I get a more accurate test after the 6week post encounter?
      Thank you

    • March 11, 2015 at 12:42 am #5467
      Afraid
      Participant

      I meant to write that 2nd blood test at 26 days post encounter came out negative

    • March 11, 2015 at 1:37 am #5470
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      Twenty six days is not very long to obtain an accurate test. However, because your encounter did not involve intercourse, your only risk was oral sex – was he the giver to you or you to him or both? HSV 2 does not like the mouth. Do you know if he was on daily therapy or not? His index value is in the low positive range and there is a 50-50 chance that his test was a false positive. If that is the only way he was diagnosed with herpes, I would strongly recommend that he obtain a herpes western blot to clarify his diagnosis and, in turn, perhaps relieve your mind. by 6 weeks post exposure, the antibody test picks up about 70% of those infected with HSV 2. But again, your risk is very very minimal indeed.

      Terri

    • March 11, 2015 at 3:00 am #5476
      Afraid
      Participant

      Hi Terri,
      Thank you so much for your quick response. Yes the igg was his only test, he said he had a few red spots on his penis but never a blister. He is not under therapy. I will ask him to get a western blot test.
      The oral was only from him to me, and the touching was with my hand to his penis and same hand to my vagina. Could I have transmitted the virus to myself with my hand?
      Since 6 weeks post encounter is only 70% accurate, how long should I wait for an accurate test?

    • March 11, 2015 at 2:25 pm #5478
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      So if you did not give him oral sex, then I think your risk is incredibly tiny, if any, from the hand contact.
      In this case, I”m not clear that you even need testing at all in the future.

      The best outcome here is that his western blot is negative and there is no worry at all. This can be obtained through our clinic or contacting the University of Washington for a test kit to be sent to him and have his doctor draw his blood and return it. For your own sanity, I would encourage that to happen soon.

      Terri

    • March 19, 2015 at 10:38 pm #5672
      Afraid
      Participant

      Hi Terri, (I just purchased additional round of questions)

      Thank you for your last answer I have told my ex to check out the western blot test, I hope he does.
      As for myself I know that i am in a minimal risk situation, but I have symptoms that started about a week post-encounter with ex. My symptoms went from tingling thighs to vaginal burning, and cramps, I also feel discomfort when sitting down, or wearing tight jeans.
      Could this be symptoms of a a type of herpes?
      I also suffer from candida, so I don’t know if these symptoms are candida relates. I am taking diflucan at the moment.

      I did the 6 week exam igg blood test (it came out 0.19) negative. You mention at 6 week is only 70% accurate. Do you think I can assume I don’t have herpes? If I do have it but it still doesn’t show in the test, am I contagious?

      Could I be causing myself this symptoms from so much stress?

    • March 19, 2015 at 10:40 pm #5673
      Afraid
      Participant

      I also wanted to ask, does a negative result should be 0.0?
      does a 0.19 mean that its going be higher in a few weeks?

    • March 19, 2015 at 11:37 pm #5674
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      You are correct that at 6 weeks, there is 70% accuracy – that is, there is a 70% chance that your result will stay negative. I think that’s about as much as I can say about how accurate your testing is at this point. If, however, you do have it and it hasn’t shown up yet in the testing there is certainly a chance that you could be contagious, yes. And if you have new infection, you are quite contagious. The symptoms that you describe, however, are quite vague and not typically related to herpes.

      The results are almost never ever 0.0. Your blood is always compared to a control sample and that is never zero either, so there is almost always going to be a value associated with the negative test. 0.19 is nice and low!

      Terri

    • March 20, 2015 at 11:26 am #5681
      Afraid
      Participant

      Thank you for your answers. Do you recommend I test again in 6 more weeks and abstain from any sexual activity? Will these be the safest way to go?

    • March 20, 2015 at 3:36 pm #5686
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      The very safest way to go is to retest in 6-10 more weeks and abstain from sex until then. You have the odds and the decision must now be yours about how careful you want to be. I’m sorry there is no easier way to deal with this situation! Of course the whole thing would be made so much easier if your ex would get the western blot. If he is negative for HSV 2, then this would not be a worry correct? Is there any way you would persuade him to do that?

      Terri

    • March 20, 2015 at 6:10 pm #5690
      Afraid
      Participant

      Thank you Terri, I will do that.
      I am trying really hard to persuade my ex to get the western bloc test.. Unfortunately we are not in very good terms. Any suggestions on how I can persuade him?

    • March 20, 2015 at 10:20 pm #5691
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      Well, obviously, if his test proves to be negative, he will certainly benefit!
      And I would offer to pay for it if I were you – it’s about $250. You can set it all up for him so all he has to do it go in and have his blood drawn, eazy breezy! I would think he would want to know, for sure. Does he know about the rate of false positives in that low positive range? There is about a 50-50 chance he doesn’t even have herpes and I would think that would drive his interest?

      Terri

    • April 9, 2015 at 8:54 am #6005
      Afraid
      Participant

      Hi Terri,

      I offered my ex to pay his western blod test but he dosent want to do it…I took another Igg blood test for HSv2 at 9 weeks post encounter and it came back positive 2.13. My test at 6 weeks was 0.19 Could this be a false positive? I feel devastated I don’t know if I should assume I have the virus or re-test in more weeks. I haven’t had any breakout but I do feel constant pelvic pressure (its worst when I sit) and some discharge.
      Please let me know if I should purchase additional questions, I’m not sure if I had questions left.
      thank you

    • April 9, 2015 at 3:50 pm #6008
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      You are out of questions and need to renew, sorry.

      Terri

    • April 9, 2015 at 4:07 pm #6011
      Afraid
      Participant

      Hi Terri
      i just purchased additional questions

    • April 10, 2015 at 4:11 am #6021
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      It’s not terrific that your HSV 2 index value is going up but it is still not definitive as this index value is in the low positive range. I think you should do another one at 12 weeks and see what that is. You could pursue a western blot at this time but it might not be accurate if you are seroconverting. I believe it would be best to repeat the ELISA

      I think it is very suspicious that your previous partner will not do a western blot don’t you?

      Terri

    • April 10, 2015 at 6:53 am #6030
      Afraid
      Participant

      Hi Terri

      I wish I knew why he doesn’t want to do the western blod… When I ask him, he just tells me..”don’t worry you don’t have anything..doctor said my results are low and not to worry about it..we didn’t even had intercourse..” I just a have up talking to him.
      I really don’t know what I was thinking when I had the encounter with him. I feel like I put my whole life/family at risk..my actual partner, our daughter.. If this positive is true my famy life is ruined. I will do an Elisa at 12 weeks again but I am so afraid that the symptoms I
      Feeling are related to my positive result. The constant pelvic/vagina feeling of pressure and pain and mild swelling near the vagina opening. Are these symptoms, common herpes 2 synptoms? Is it a good sign that I haven’t had an outbreak or that doesn’t mean much?
      How long should I wait for a western blod test?

    • April 10, 2015 at 3:49 pm #6036
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      The reality about this situation is that you didn’t have intercourse, so your risk of getting HSV 2 is really low! I don’t know why your HSV 2 index value is going up but honestly, given your circumstances, if reported correctly, it seems the encounter wasn’t that risky, right? I believe that this index value is likely a false positive.
      Your symptoms aren’t really consistent with herpes. And yes, it is a good sign that you have had no outbreaks.
      The western blot should be done about 12-16 weeks after the encounter to be most accurate.

      Terri

    • April 10, 2015 at 4:28 pm #6038
      Afraid
      Participant

      Thank you Terri
      Your words are very comforting.
      Yes there was no intercourse in our encounter but mutual masturbation, I touched him then touched myself with the same hand.
      I will wait a few mores week to test again.
      Thank you

    • April 10, 2015 at 5:48 pm #6040
      Afraid
      Participant

      Does the encounter mention Above sound risky?

    • April 11, 2015 at 3:30 pm #6050
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      The above situation does NOT sound risky to me, no.

      Terri

    • April 30, 2015 at 10:47 pm #6397
      Afraid
      Participant

      Hi Terri

      It’s been a few weeks since my last post.
      It’s been 12 weeks since my exposure an a positive igg test 2.13, after testing positive I went to the doctor and he put me on valtrex. I had pelvic pain, burning, tingling and discomfort that after taking valtrex got milder.
      I tested again this week and got a negative igg result of 0.18
      Could this be caused by valtrex?
      After having a positive result could the medicine have turned it into a negative?
      I haven’t had any outbreaks yet, but this morning I woke up with a little bump on my Pubic area, and mild tingling..
      I am very confused..
      Please advice

    • April 30, 2015 at 11:51 pm #6398
      Afraid
      Participant

      I forgot to mention my hsv1 result was the same on all tests
      5.0. Not sure if this is important but I’ll mention it

    • May 1, 2015 at 5:57 pm #6412
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      Valtrex will confuse your western blot testing when you get it done. How much have you taken and for how long? I doubt that it would turn a positive into a negative though. Did you have the bumps evaluated?

      By my count, you have one more question coming. When you post little notes like “I forgot….” it confuses things a little because the program is counting posts so try to contain all your information in your post before you hit enter 😉

      Terri

    • May 1, 2015 at 6:50 pm #6415
      Afraid
      Participant

      Hi Terri,
      Thank you for your answer.. Sorry about co fusing the system.
      I didn’t get the bumps evaluated, I was waiting a little..
      I have been on valtrex for 2 weeks. 1g every 12 hours for 3 days then 500mg a day.
      I’m so confused about my test result..
      How long should I be off valtrex for the western blot?

    • May 2, 2015 at 6:36 pm #6429
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      If you are interested in the most accurate western blot result, I would stop the Valtrex now. If you stop it now, your western blot should be accurate when done at 4 months. If I am understanding correctly, that would be two weeks total of Valtrex, right?

      Terri

    • May 6, 2015 at 11:59 pm #6562
      Afraid
      Participant

      Hi terry
      Yes it is 2 weeks and a half of valtrex, I’m going to stop wait until I’m 16 weeks this is Friday is my 13th week post encounter. Then I’ll do the wb

    • May 7, 2015 at 12:59 am #6566
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      Sounds like a good plan. Have you renewed your subscription since April 9th?

      Terri

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