What are the chances given my history

[squareone]

Hey Terri,
You may remember me from over a year ago. Just to refresh back in oct 2012 I believed I contracted hsv unknown type.
I chased it down for the next 2 years due to ongoing painful symptoms but no verifiable outbreaks other than an initial blister that I never swabbed. I went through many many IGG tests for months after the fact and a western blot all negative. My pains slowly subsided to a managable amount and I began living as if I was not infected. Shortly after I began to accept my status, I met a girl who did in fact have hsv2 and we just broke up after a year and a half relationship. We treated it as if I was not infected, only had sex while she was not having visible open sores.
The last contact was Aug 3 and within weeks I had a flat red mark, slightly swollen that appeared but never blistered, never hurt, no sensitivity to the area. I have had similar marks usually smaller however since my initial 2012 incident. After 10 days I had a doctor look at it and he did think it looked like an onset to an outbreak so he gave me a blood test. The blood test was performed 5 weeks after last sexual contact. It came back neg for both types IGG values both around .2
The doctor then told me to see a dermatologist so I went that day and the dermatologists opinion was very different. He said he did not know what it is, but to him it didn’t look like herpes. He said he was 99% sure of it. The mark faded away at about 4 weeks.
Since then I still have my normal post 2012 pains, and some days things look raw.
Im waiting for the 12 week mark to retest but the questions I have are
1. If I had acquired GHSV1 back in 2012 that kept getting missed in my tests, how likely would it be that I would become infected with hsv2 in the same area?
2. Is my risk at this point given a 5 week negative test and a questionable mark realistic or should I be calming down due to the fact that at the very least up until the last contact I remain negative?
3. In cases where someone had a previous ghsv1 infection and acquired hsv2 did their bodies handle it better and experience less outbreaks?
4. What is the likelihood that I had caught ghsv1 through genital contact back in 2012? Wouldn’t that have been rare?
5. What is your opinion/ comments on the entirety of my situation? The rational part of my brain wants to believe I would be extremely unlucky for most of my theories to be correct given the tests. Can you provide some sanity to the situation I am experiencing?
Thanks terri

[Terri Warren]

1. If I had acquired GHSV1 back in 2012 that kept getting missed in my tests, how likely would it be that I would become infected with hsv2 in the same area?

Extremely unlikely. And didn’t you have a negative western blot? That would have detected your HSV 1, I believe.

2. Is my risk at this point given a 5 week negative test and a questionable mark realistic or should I be calming down due to the fact that at the very least up until the last contact I remain negative?

You should most certainly be calming down, especially give the derm opinion

3. In cases where someone had a previous ghsv1 infection and acquired hsv2 did their bodies handle it better and experience less outbreaks?

Yes, HSV 1 ameliorates HSV 2 significantly.

4. What is the likelihood that I had caught ghsv1 through genital contact back in 2012? Wouldn’t that have been rare?
5. What is your opinion/ comments on the entirety of my situation? The rational part of my brain wants to believe I would be extremely unlucky for most of my theories to be correct given the tests. Can you provide some sanity to the situation I am experiencing?

While HSV 1 can be transmitted via intercourse it is more unusual, yes.
I’m not sure I can provide you with sanity, I don’t actually have much luck with that here. I think only you can provide you with sanity by looking at the facts here and coming to the conclusion that no, you are extremely unlikely to have acquired herpes.

Terri
Thanks terri

[squareone]

Ya my western blot revealed seronegative for both types of herpes at that time. That was prior to entering into the relationship with the most recent HSV2 pos girl.
I am wanting to find comfort in the 5 week negative test and the derm like you say.
I could add that my ex wife of 10 years was also hsv2 pos and I didnt contract it from her either.
I just read that post about mentioning some level of immunity after being with people who have it for so long.

My concern was that I picked up a new HSV2 infection from my most recent girlfriend mostly due to the timeline of breaking up and having this incident happen with a red mark. a few nights prior I had a burning sensation at a separate location and a tiny red dot on the shaft but it went away the next day, so I assumed it was nothing. Then a couple days later the large red shiny spot appeared on the head.

If I remember right she had just gotten over an outbreak and all the sores were gone.

In a case like mine, if I were truly negative prior with no antivirals in my system shouldnt 5 weeks (although not 100%) been a very strong indicator that I will remain negative?
I have read it is up to 70% at that point in time.

In cases where someone acquires the virus and is symptomatic, generally wouldn’t the initial outbreak be much more obvious and severe?
If this were to be an initial outbreak and this “mild” would that be a good sign or indicator that future episodes would follow this pattern?
Also what is the average time between an initial outbreak and a second outbreak?

Im glad to know the info youve provided thus far, it certainly helps.
My anxiety about it is so high, I dont know that I will retest unless I have another questionable mark or blister. I have tested for herpes so many times I dont want to end up where I was prior getting test after test.
Thanks Terri

[Terri Warren]

The 70% certainty is at 6 weeks, but probably close enough for a preliminary test.
If all primary outbreaks were severe, it would NOT be true that 80% of people with HSV 2 infection don’t know it, right?
There is no real average time between first and future outbreaks. And yes, if the first infection is mild, then future outbreaks may also be mild.

Terri

[squareone]

So I went for my 11 week retest last tues. They messed up and didnt give me IGG, they tested my blood via PCR. Is this test completely useless? I just went back insisting an IGG but was curious if a blood PCR test would have any meaning whatsoever. Thanks.

[Terri Warren]

The PCR from blood is totally useless, sorry! The PCR looks for virus not antibody and people very very rarely have virus in their blood.

Terri

[squareone]

Alright, so I got a new test done at 11 weeks 4 days. IGG for both still negative however Igm is positive. Ive read alot about Igm being unreliable but I am neg for both HSV1 and 2, although I did have chicken pox as a child Ive read that could interact.
The IGG at (almost) 12 Weeks
hsv1 .1
hsv2 .14

igm 1.16

Do I totally disregard the Igm?
Thinking I need a retest at 16 weeks?

[squareone]

I should add that I did get a second red spot that appeared recently, no blister, just looks red/irritated. Almost looks like a scab sometimes. but its not. Showed it to the doctor at the time I got the test she just said go back to the derm. I dont really trust her opinion anyway since she was the one who ordered a PCR test. I also still have my ongoing internal pain which is pretty constant.

[Terri Warren]

Yes, please disregard the IgM test and whoever ordered it at all made an error in doing so.
Those tests are soundly negative, not even a hint of moving upward. Eleven weeks and 4 days is adequate. You do not need to retest.

Terri

[Author]

Posts