[upsidedown]

Thank you Terri. I am going to get another blood test scheduled to see if I get a different IgG result and go from there.

It’s day 22 now, and no change in feeling of this tender spot on my penis head, although I am still convinced at times that I see flat circular patterns or areas of lines or discoloration emerging in the most sensitive area to the touch, but not sure. I will say that the sensitive area is a very small area on the head. The rest of my penis head seems fine if maybe a little discolored at times?

I do feel like this is connected to the sexual encounter, since it started the day after.

My question – Without knowing more than what I have described here, if it doesn’t sound like HSV, do you have any idea what it could be? Could it be a different STI that hasn’t shown physical symptoms yet, or is just lingering below the surface? Or maybe a skin infection of some kind? I just don’t understand what would cause this kind of sensitivity in such a small area for so long. Appreciate any thoughts you may have. Thank you.

[upsidedown]

Thank you Terri. I’m on day 19 now and wanted to give you an update and ask for further clarification on my situation to see if it changes your view.

Last week, I got a full test panel done to get a baseline, snd there was a surprise on the HSV1 result. I mentioned above that 7 years ago I had two separate tests within a span of a few months where HSV1 came back with IGG at 15.90 and 16.90. I’ve never had an outbreak I can recall, but those results felt pretty conclusive to me that I have the antibodies and they wouldn’t both be false positives.

The test I just took last week came back with HSV1 at just 0.764, which really surprised me. The old tests were done by Quest, and the new one is Clinical Pathology Associates. (HSV2 was negative 7 years ago and this time came back at 0.08, but I know it’s too soon for a positive result to show up).

So on day 19 the tenderness on my penis head has not subsided – it has been fairly constant for 2.5 weeks now. Today it seems like I can even see splotchy colors or faint shiny lines near the opening to my urethra. Still no actual blisters or sores that I can tell, but it worries me greatly as it seems like patterns are forming. I really felt like I was out of the woods for HSV, but the new HSV1 test result along with the continued feeling in my penis has me very concerned I’m more susceptible to GHSV1 than I thought previously, or may actually have gotten HSV2.

So I wanted to ask:
1. Is it possible the recent HSV1 test is correct, and the two old tests are not?

And re-ask:
2. Is it possible the tenderness and soreness I have felt on the head of my penis for 2.5 weeks has been an actual outbreak?

3. With HSV would it be unusual to feel this tenderness for so long with no other visible symptoms?

4. Would it be unusual for blisters or sores to appear starting on day 19 or 20, or would you normally have expected visible symptoms to show up sooner?

Thank you again.

[upsidedown]

Thank you. I’d greatly appreciate your thoughts: on a few more questions:
1. If 56% of US has HSV-1, and my encounter was with a “high risk” individual, why do you say the chances from this encounter are extremely low?
2. Of the 56% w/HSV-1, what percentage would you guess are asymptomatic?
3. Would it be unusual for my wife and I to both have HSV-1 and both be asymptomatic?
4. After nearly 20 years together, would it be possible that she didn’t have HSV-1 when we met and STILL doesn’t have it?
5. If this really is a new genital HSV-1 infection, what are the odds I could transmit to my wife thru intercourse? Again, she’s either had it asymptomatically or doesn’t have it at all (I assume) because I just contracted it and we haven’t yet had sex again. Historically we have sex a few times a month.
6. Please help me reconcile the ideas that (1) most people w/HSV-1 get it as a child from an adult w/a cold sore, and (2) it would be difficult to transmit HSV-1 to my child because we kiss our children differently? My daughter’s never had an OB that I recall, only very chapped lips from time to time. I’ve kissed her on the lips for years. Should I stop?
7. If I’ve had it for years orally, does that reduce the odds that I could have just contracted it genitally?
8. Should I shave again (base of shaft where it meets scrotum) so I can better examine my skin for lesions or blisters without hair in the way?
9. Can a blister present as a single, very small pimple / whitehead an inch or so above the penis?
10. Recently I got a hemorrhoid, which I’m treating and paying very close to the surrounding area. I’ve also had a surprising amount of clear leakage from my anus. I don’t know if this is related to the hemorrhoid or anxiety, or a separate issue, but could it be related to genital HSV-1?

Thank you again.

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