[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Dr. Terri,

It has been some time since I wrote and I wanted to provide updates as well as ask a few questions.

At 16 weeks I submitted Western Blot which came back negative for HSV2 and positive for HSV1. In Jan I was diagnosed with desquamative inflammatory vaginitis via wet mount and treated with clindamycin and hydrocortisone suppositories. I also received a negative HPV screen at that time. My insurance denied the 3rd vaccine because I’m “too old” (32) and I was unable to afford the third vaccine.

At a follow up in Feb I looked normal under microscope for DIV but burning remains. External burning is gone. Did PCR twice more all came back negative in Feb and May. I did a microbiome test via Evvy which came back normal in March. I have been in pelvic floor physical therapy for a few months is helping in addition to recently starting cymbalta.

At a sonogram in June they found a smooth tumor on my posterior bladder wall, then confirmed with cystoscopy. I will have a TURBT biopsy shortly.

1. If I have a negative western blot for hsv2 is it definitive enough at 16 weeks without symptoms? Is it worth testing a second time because of testing error rate at this point?

2. Do you believe a negative HPV screen 5 months out is enough time for potential detection?

3. Considering where my tumor is, do you believe it’s possible I’m feeling bladder and not vaginal pain?

4. Regarding DIV vaginitis, I know this is not your niche but do you have any suggestions?

5. Is there anything diet/supplements/topicals in general you recommend for Genital skin health/healing?

Although it is significantly reduced from when I began having symptoms, I do still have burning pain every day. It is now purely internal not external. I have internal vaginal dryness on/off and a mucus like yellow discharge since January and redness intra vaginally and on inner labia. Osteopath put me on vaginal estrogen and calendula suppositories, helps temporarily for dryness. Thank you Dr.Terri!

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

I apologize, I did not mean to overstep my bounds. This person was kind enough to reach out to me, but I will not make it a habit to reach out to others within your forum.

Thank you,
Michelle

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

Thank you for all your help.

The Obgyn nurse said that the tag just read Gardasil, so I would think most likely that is just the five? I’m not entirely sure… I will be sure to have my doctor check for other bacterial infections. I am also going to ask for an HPV screening at my new gynecologist which will be 13 weeks from exposure.

With everything I have told you, I know that you initially suggested that you think herpes is unlikely… I am concerned if it’s possible I could’ve contracted Genital HSV one from the encounter described? – the weird pimple like thing. Sex w/out a condom. You said you did not think it was likely a herpetic lesion. I’d like to mention that I did not see this lesion on him after his shower maybe of note… I don’t know if that it becoming not visible is suggestive of herpes? Vs say a growth that could not be popped? also it wasn’t exactly a closed bump. It looked more like a white head or maybe even a vesicle. I understand the limits of speculation on this but it just really worries me.

Although my gynecologist did not pcr test it, I did have the oral coldsore that we talked about and I did know that I was HSV one positive for several years prior without symptoms. Given this information and the encounter described, how likely would it be that I contracted genital HSV-1 genitally from such an encounter involving a possible lesion?

I guess I have concerns how to proceed with disclosure if I do not have HSV-2, but have HSV-1. At least Oral is confirmed now that I’ve had a cold sore, but I do have strong fears I will now have genital hsv1 after this bizarre encounter. I want to be as honest as possible, I’m just not sure how without ever having symptoms? It’s sort of a rock and hard place because of testing limitations.

Do people ever do daily pcr swabs outside of scientific studies to confirm infection location? This obviously would be impractical and likely super expensive but I am curious…

Thank you,
Miche

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

Thank you for all your help.

The Obgyn nurse said that the tag just read Gardasil, so I would think most likely that is just the five? I’m not entirely sure… I will be sure to have my doctor check for other bacterial infections. I am also going to ask for an HPV screening at my new gynecologist which will be 13 weeks from exposure.

With everything I have told you, I know that you initially suggested that you think herpes is unlikely… I am concerned if it’s possible I could’ve contracted Genital HSV one from the encounter described? – the weird pimple like thing. Sex without a condom. You said you did not think it was likely a herpetic lesion. I’d like to mention that I did not see this lesion on him after his shower maybe of note… I don’t know if that it becoming not visible is suggestive of herpes? Vs say a growth that could not be popped? I understand the limits of speculation on this but it just really worries me…

Although my gynecologist did not pcr test it, I did have the oral coldsore that we talked about and I did know that I was HSV one positive for several years prior without symptoms. Given this information and the encounter described, how likely would it be that I contracted genital HSV-1 genitally from such an encounter involving a possible lesion?

I guess I have concerns how to proceed with disclosure if I do not have HSV-2, but have HSV-1. At least Oral is confirmed now that I’ve had a cold sore, but I do have strong fears I will now have genital hsv1 after this bizarre encounter. I want to be as honest as possible, I’m just not sure how without ever having symptoms? It’s sort of a rock and hard place because of testing limitations.

Do people ever do daily pcr swabs outside of scientific studies to confirm infection location? This obviously would be impractical and likely super expensive but I am curious…

Thank you,
Michelle

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Ataloss,

I hope this post finds you well. I am reaching out to see if you had any sort of resolution or what happened with your western blot? If you would like to directly email me versus answering in the forum this is my email: mimstokley@gmail.com

Take care!
Michelle

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

Unfortunately, I do not know. I spoke with my previous gynecologists office and they were unable to advise. I did Gardisil in 2015 put did not complete the series is all they could tell me. I have started the same series again this year and will complete the 3rd shot in January. Unfortunately it is post sketchy guy – so I have no idea if the vaccine would offer any protection without a completed series.

I did have a thin prep pap 9/27, after last sexual encounter on on 8/19. All HPV strains screened for came back negative but idk if a month is long enough to be accurate.

I have tested negative for trich and gardnerella as well as other stds. Ph is a 4.5, Are there any thoughts you have on the internal burning I can ask my gyno/pcp to look into?

I will update you post testing again soon.

Thank you,
Michelle

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

Thank you again for your response, I am based in the United States in Nevada. I have done the first HPV vaccine again more recently not remembering that I had previously started the vaccination process years ago. So I’ve had the first shot twice, the second shot, and will complete the third in January.

I was referring to genital HSV1 on initial outbreaks, are you referring to Oral HSV1 cold sores for your response? I apologize I’m a little confused.

Thank you,
Michelle

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

Thank you again for your response.

I read in a study somewhere on nih.gov that GHSV1 almost always presents with a classic primary infection, is this true? How could you test for a GHSV1 infection with no symptoms?

Can you advise with a negative Western Blot at 12 weeks + if you believe it is sufficient to move forward confidently as negative HSV2? I just want to be as definitive as possible before moving forward with a new partner, I really love him. <3

Also I know it is not your niche, but would you be able to advise the amount of time that’s best for testing for HPV? I had one vaccine shot, but not the full series unfortunately and am still concerned about the bump.

I would like to also update you that external vulva burning has improved after two different antibiotics from my PCP. One a shot and the other an oral tablet. I do currently have a new internal burning but think this may be a mild yeast infection related to the antibiotics. (My menses actually is very irritating to the skin and using tampons burns) will test again Igg at 12 weeks and will order a western blot.

Thank you,
Michelle

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

Thank you again for your response. Could you please give me some information about Genital to Genital HSV1 transmission?

What kind of bumps could appear at the tip of someone’s urethral opening for a man? I don’t think a hair follicle/pimple, could it? If it was herpetic, is it possible not to contract from a closed lesion?

Also is it sufficient to take a western blot at 16 weeks, or is it better to wait till six months? What is the error rate for false negative at 16 weeks?

Thank you,
Michelle

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

Thank you for your response. I will be taking another test at 12 and 16 weeks. I’m considering if I should do a Western Blot at 16 weeks or if maybe I should wait until 6 months? I’m not sure. I just want to have as definitive of an answer as possible.

I did just take a test at 9 weeks, 4 weeks from my last test and although I did take the Valtrex in this timeframe these are my IGG results: HSV-1 58.7 and HSV-2 0.22, the HSV-1 has gone up significantly from 58.70. Does this mean anything?

Also, is it true you have some degree of protection from Genital HSV1 if you already have Oral HSV1?

Thank you!
Michelle

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

I appreciate your insight!

Yes the cold sore was outside of my mouth on the edge of my bottom lip. Will the amount of Valtrex I took change my igg at 12 weeks? Also I wrote in another reply about seeing a bump on him after unprotected sex? Do you have any thoughts on that? Also, is it possible to have both OHSV2 and OHSV1 simultaneously?

Thank you!

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Also! We had had sex and when I got off him I saw what looked like a closed whitehead near his urethral opening. Later in the day I saw him after his show I did not see the same pimple type thing… When I asked about this he declined having anything. A month later he sent me a photo of his penis and he did have a bump of some kind but it looked more like a skin deformity? Not like a wart but kinda round… he said he has had it for 15 years and never had any herpes symptoms. But again we know he’s dishonest. Idk maybe I imagined it?

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Hi Ataloss,

My symptoms and some of my experience sound really similar to yours. I’m sorry you were assaulted. Have you had any resolution or more tests? I hope you are well now!

Mims

[mimstokley@gmail.com]

Slept together maybe 10 times** typo. also I took the Valtrex for maybe like a week and a half once a day. Will this change my IgG when I test at 12 or 16 weeks?

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