Reply To: Does Valtrex affect Herpeselect IGM test primary episode

[tinglered]

I just received 2nd Herpeselect blood test results that were drawn 7 weeks and 1 day post possible exposure. They are unchanged from test taken 1.5 weeks post exposure:

The results showed ‘negative’ for both IGM tests with reference range ‘negative’ (there were no numerical results).
The results showed >5.0 for HSV 1 IGG
The results showed <.90 for HSV 2 IGG

This week I am still experiencing intermittent cool, burning and tingling in my penis and scrotum and even an occasional coolness/tingle in my anus (embarrassed to say that). I am heterosexual so not sure why would be effecting that area. I was feeling good about the negative test result but the intense cool tingling down there all day (and most week), and my penis skin texture is just strangely wrinkled and scrotum red. And tonight, the area under side of shaft that had been having a recurrent patch of dry flaky skin 5+ times since possible exposure now had a very small white puss dot that I popped.

8 years ago I had a sexual encounter with a stripper and began experiencing similar tingling and red scrotum symptoms and I was diagnosed with Genital HSV 1 based on blood results and one time appearance of cluster of vesicles on my shaft. The first year I had redness and similar tingling but never had vesicles again. An for the last 8 years I have had no tingling and been symptom free.

So based on test results; and considering I took 1 gram of Valtrex twice daily during first 10 days, how likely am I in the clear of being HSV 2 free from my recent encounter? Could having Genital HSV1 effect antibody production for HSV2? Even though I already had Genital HSV1, could I have been exposed to Genital HSV1 again (different DNA strain) and be causing these symptoms? Or if this is a new primary would it have to be HSV2? I understand that once infected with HSV it has recurrence but I am quite sure based on the timing of this since my encounter and lack of any symptoms over last 8 years and now that I am having weekly issues for 7 weeks that this would be something new (not caused by original HSV1).