I Tested Positive But My Partner Tested Negative For Herpes
I have been in a committed relationship for almost 5 years. We are planning on getting married and having kids one day. Two weeks ago I went in to the Dr. because I nicked myself while shaving and I thought it had gotten really infected (maybe a rusty blade, yeast infection from my soap, to much sweating I wasn't sure). When I went in the Dr. told me it wasn't an infected wound it was a herpes sore next to a small nick. We got it tested and I came back positive for herpes.
I have only had 3 sex partners including my current partner and my partner has only been with me. The Dr. said it most likely came from one of my past partners. She said the virus can lay dormant for years before showing signs. However, I told my partner and he got tested. His test results came back saying he has been exposed to the herpes virus but that he did not have it. Which is a relief but at the same time confusing. How can he be clean if I've had it for possibly longer than 5 years and we've been having sex for 5 years? I don't want him to think I've been unfaithful and not to sound like a bad person but I wish he had come back positive so I wouldn't feel so alienated. I've read that the blood and urine test often come back negative because they are "weak" tests and the only way to confirm is by taking a sample from the sore it's self. So is it possible that he has the virus but it is currently dormant and that the test is not 100% reliable?
Herpes :: Tiny, Clear Bumps (blisters) On Vagina
About a month ago, I got a few tiny bumps, or what appeared to be small blisters, on the top of my vagina. They slightly itched when irritated by my clothing, but if I touched them, rubbed them, or slightly itched them, it would kind of start to burn. I popped them in hopes of relieving some of the pain and irritation, which did seem to help. When I started googling what it could possibly be, everything lead the "Herpes." I am sexually active, but I am married and have been for two years now. My husband and I split up at the end of last year for about two months where we had both been with other people, me with one, him with two. So, seeing that these blisters automatically make people think herpes has me severely worried. I went to my doctor and they had already scabbed over by then, so she said she couldn't be completely sure, and to come back if they appeared again. Well, I noticed them again yesterday afternoon. It's a small cluster of about 5 of them. I left them alone until I went to bed (because I was very busy yesterday), but they started itching and bothering me in my sleep. I woke up and went to the restroom, where I popped them. It relieved some of the irritation, but they began to itch. I didn't mess with them, or even itch them. I just went back to sleep. Today I'm worried all over again about what this could possibly be. I set up an appointment with my doctor for later this afternoon, but I was hoping to possibly get some answers before then.
I do shave, so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it. My husband and I were tested by our doctors for STD's after we got back together and everything came back negative, except for Chlamydia, which we got treated for. So, I'm really hoping it's not herpes.
Herpes :: Symptoms, But Negative IGG At 7.5 Weeks
I had unprotected sex with a girl who had no obvious symptoms of herpes. She also claims she doesn't have it, which doesn't mean anything since she's never been tested. This happened about 2 months ago. I never developed any symptoms until maybe 5 weeks after the exposure. I started getting slight balanitis (redness around the ring on the head of my penis). About a week and a half or so later I developed a small bump on the base of my shaft, I poked and prodded at it and it went away within the same day. This bump was accompanied by pain in my right leg. I remember poking at it then going to the clinic to get it checked and when I presented my unit, it was so small that I couldn't find it, but I eventually did (it was maybe 1/4 the size it was originally). Anyways, the next day I developed a small bump on the underside of my shaft that was just plain red. I poked at it and pinched it to see if it would pop but it didn't. It scabbed because I made it bleed (I think, I'm not 100%). I then got ANOTHER bump the next day on the left side of my shaft that when I popped it white pus came out (so i believe it was just a pimple, this has happened before but its insanely rare for me to get a whitehead on my penis). Once that was gone about 2 days later I got another bump at the same location as the pimple which when I popped it, clear liquid came out with a little bit of white, but mostly completely clear liquid. I had weird feelings on my penis for about 3 weeks while this was happening also, like stabbing pains and twitching. Fast forward about another week and another bump pops up where the pimple was, this time I am smarter and decide to watch it without popping it. It shrinks to nothing in maybe 2 days. I should mention none of the bumps have ever itched, tingled, hurt (not even the slightest) or scabbed (maybe because I popped them all), except for the one where I believe only scabbed due to the pinching. All of this happened in the span of 4 weeks, about 4.5 -5 weeks after the possible exposure. I had a herpes IGG at 7.5 weeks which came back negative. I should also mention that I have very dry skin on my penis, which I've now been moisturizing. I also do still have slight balanitis, it was never itched or hurt and is only represented as redness on the rim of my penis. And not matter what, I'm going to get another IGG test at 13 weeks (I would do 12 weeks but I'm insanely busy that week with multiple midterms).
My questions are:
1) Is an IGG reliable at this time given my symptoms?
2) Do these symptoms sound like Herpes? I just don't know what else it could be.
3) Wouldn't the antibodies in my blood be detectable since I had been having symptoms for over 3 weeks before I got tested?
4) If I'm negative at 13 weeks, does that rule out herpes as the cause 100%?
Herpes :: Negative Western Blot And A Positive IGg?
What makes the western blot test different from the test they give us when we go to the doctor? Has anybody had a negative western blot and a positive IGg? My result was 2.4 IGg. Should I retake the IGg?
View 6 RepliesHerpes :: Western Blot - Positive For HSV 1, Negative For HSV 2
I think I may be overly paranoid . But to make a long story short, I had a positive hsv 2 herpeselect 2.55 gig . No symptoms or a reason to believe I had the virus . Just routine testing . I was encouraged to get a western blot in which I did and came back positive for hsv 1 but negative for hsv2. I'm soo happy.. The last time I had sex was two years ago unprotected , with someone who is suspect (don't know their sexual history ).. But I'm still paranoid after the western blot!! I know it's a great test for confirmation, but that lingering thought of me hovering hsv 2 is in my head?
View 2 RepliesHerpes :: Negative IgG But Outbreak Symptoms Match HSV2
I had an encounter with a CSW Feb 2015 that involved unprotected oral (stupid I know) but protect vaginal sex. The next day I had a strong itch on my groin and the following day (2 days after encounter) I had a blister cluster of about 6-8 blisters in that area. The blisters went away without any scabbing within 1 or 2 days and never reappeared. I have had a almost near constant itch/tingling in my crotch in the same area ever since.
I had assumed this was a HSV-1/2 outbreak from what I had read, and I was unable to visit a clinic at the time. 13 months later, I get the IgG test and my results are:
HSV1 <0.1 negative
HSV2 <0.1 negative
While initially relieved, I'm worried that this <0.1 on both tests could possibly be a mis-test? I have seen many other tests here come up with number registering (example 0.27 or 0.5). Should I just retest or go for a Western Blot to settle this?
Herpes :: HSV2 Symptoms But Blood Test Negative
I'm pretty sure I have HSV 2 (herpes) but I never got a culture, never had noticeable recurrent outbreaks, and have had a negative IgG blood test so I'm a little confused and want to know others opinions.
Almost exactly 2 weeks after unprotected intercourse I got:-
-3 hard red bumps/sores in a row in my pubic hair region (about the size of a pencil eraser)
-A few days later: extremely itchy vaginal area and thick, yellowish smelly discharge which lasted a couple days
-Possible "flat" sores on labia minora area (white circular discoloration, did NOT look like typical herpes sore clusters)
-The red sores on my pubic area seemed to crust over/come off (became flat, smooth, and whitish) after about a week then went away. I never noticed any fluid in them or oozing.
I never experienced any swollen lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms, or clusters of white pimple-like sores. I have never noticed any re-current outbreaks. I have no history of HSV 1.
Two years after possible initial outbreak I finally got a blood test: HSV 1 & 2-Specific Ab, IgG; Venipuncture
HSV 1 IgG: <0.91 Negative
HSV 2 IgG: <0.91 Negative
(index: 0.00-0.90, Equivocal .91-1.09)
I know there are lots of cases of people not producing antibodies, so I'm wondering if it's worth getting a Western Blot? Do you think the only explanation for my symptoms is herpes?
Herpes :: Diagnosed But Tests Came Back Negative. Thoughts?
Three weeks ago I went to the emergency room after noticing some red spots on my penis while I was showering. I was very concerned since this was the first time I had seen these spots. After the ER doctor and the physician assistant looked at me, they diagnosed me with genital herpes. I was devastated and thought my life was ruined. They prescribed me acyclovir 5 times a day for 10 days, took the viral culture samples of my spots on my penis and sent them out to be tested. They told me that if the results came back positive for herpes they would call me and it would take approximately 7 to 10 days for the results. I was positive that they would call me, since the doctor and his physician were sure from their experience that it was genital herpes.
Two weeks later and I do not get a call from them. I am surprised. I decided to call them to see what was going on since for the past three weeks I was sure I had herpes. I called the lab to get an update and I was informed that the viral culture test for genital herpes and gonorrhea came back negative. I was both relieved yet surprised. I am excited my results came back negative, but if it is not genital herpes, then what do/did I have?
Here are some more facts regarding my situation:
- Whenever I had sex with my partner (I am a straight male, have only had sex with women), the spots appeared approximately 5 days later. This has been the first time I have been tested for std's. In addition to the viral culture test, they also performed a urine tests to tests for other std's and it came back negative.
- The acyclovir helped the red spots in my penis and it is back to normal now except for a small dot.
- The physician assistant told me that even though the tests came back negative, that I should follow up with my doctor, which I plan to do.
- Whenever I noticed these red spots on my penis, they did not hurt when urinating or hurt in any other way. I did not have a painful rash or pain like I have read in other websites. I felt completely normal and I do not have any other physical symptoms.
The question that I now have is, if it is not genital herpes, then what is it? Have any of you been misdiagnosed with genital herpes only to learn it was something else? While I am happy that my test came back negative, I am wondering what it could be.
My mother, who I told about this and trust about this, says it could just be an allergic reaction. Sometimes outbreaks appear on my skin, especially in the stomach and back whenever I shower with hot water. These outbreaks on my body have been happening for years, even before I lost my virginity 5 years ago.
Herpes :: Diagnosed HPV 1 - Why Genital Area Symptoms When Negative HPV 2
So back in October, I had a horrific and painful outbreak of herpes, both near my genital area and my mouth area. I was diagnosed with HPV-1, but not HPV-2 (swab test). I recently got into a relationship and I've told my boyfriend what I had and we had to be careful. Just recently, I finished school and from the stress, I was developing mouth sores, and now all of a sudden, I noticed one bump on the outer area of my vagina (I don't know the actual terminology, but it's on the "hairy" part) that popped up yesterday, thinking it was an ingrown hair because I shaved, but now it's looking more like a blister than anything. It hasn't spread yet and I'm hoping it doesn't. My discharge is a bit more creamy than usual, but there's no burning while urinating or pain near the vagina. It seems normal, just not the bump. The mouth ulcers are nearly gone and I haven't been sick and I don't start my period for another 2 weeks. Last time him and I had sex was this past Sunday and we used protection. My question is, if I'm diagnosed with HPV-1, why am I developing herpes in the genitalia region? Isn't it only supposed to be on the mouth?
View 3 RepliesChlamydia :: Tested Negative But Having Symptoms
A little over a month ago I had unprotected intercourse with a girl at the small school I go to. Then I heard about a chlamydia outbreak among the athletes at the school and she was one. After I found this out, which was about 2 weeks after it happened, I went and got tested even though I had no symptoms. The results came back negative but after I got tested symptoms like a very slight irritation here and there. About 2 weeks ago I woke up with a lot of eye discharge but that went away and now the past week I have had very very slight clear and kind of sticky discharge. I didn't know if the test could have been wrong? If not, could this be from a lot of stress about it?
View 1 RepliesHerpes Negative But Enlarged And Tender Lymph Node In Groin
Back in Jan. I had a lymph node in my groin (only one side) that felt hard like a pea and was tender when I pressed on it. It lasted about 4-5 days total with no other symptoms (no flu like symptoms, no lesions, etc). This occurred about 10 days post contact. Since my previous negative tests for HSV 1 and 2 I've only had unprotected contact with someone who told me he has never been tested for HSV but has never had symptoms (he's 24). I believe him completely on this. The unprotected contact was maybe 5 minutes or so for two different occasions in total where I believe I was on him without either of us having underwear on. I only did this at all because I had been drinking. Should I be worried about the lymph node? Should I get another IGG at 3 months (so next Tuesday) and would it be accurate? I don't have HSV 1 (at least according to my test).
View 3 RepliesUrinary Tract Infection :: Tested Negative - But Still Have Symptoms?
For the past few weeks I've been dealing with what I thought was a possible UTI. I haven't had pain, but feel the need to urinate after just going to the the restroom. However, I keep testing negative for nitrates, LEU and protein on a dipstick. I also tested negative in the doctor's office and was prescribed ABs that didn't seem to do much.
Is it possible to test negative so many times and still have an infection? Or could this be something else?
Lyme Disease :: Western Blot Test Could Be False Negative After ELISA Negative?
I have the symptoms of lyme except for the characteristic bull's eye rash - chronic pain, numbness/tingling, fatigue, bad memory.
The ELISA test came back negative, I am thinking of getting the Western blot test done. Can the Western blot come back with a false negative?
Herpes :: HSV 1 - Blisters And Ulcers - May Have Contracted It?
I recently had some irritation following sex with a girl who I know gets cold sores on occasion. On the shaft of my penis, near the head there is an abrasion of sorts that is mostly painless and I never saw blisters. It doesn't seem to heal, but I've had similar problems in the past; once that skin tears, it seems to take months to heal.
My question is, should I be the slightest bit concerned that I may have contracted HSV1? I went to my doctor and I find that most doctors really have no clue about STDs; she said it could be herpes, but it wasn't typical. Anyone else have an opinion? Do blisters usually show up and hang around for a while before they begin to look like ulcerated skin? Is the pain from these sores usually obvious?
Herpes :: Blisters Are The Sign Of Outbreak?
I am trying to figure out if this is my first outbreak. I have a history of vaginal infections that may have masked outbreaks before.
If i had outbreaks before it must have consisted of a pinhead blisters that i never saw and probably never burst
I thought i had another infection but noticed a teeny tiny bump and pointed it out to doc
She did super painful swab test, digging into the skin. This was tuesday. Friday came back positive for type 2. Labia and vaginal opening hurt soooo bad now, but no other blisters. The one she opened is angry and red and not really healing.
The pain is very different than what i used to get with the vag infections. Is it possible my outbreaks were always fairly mild but now that a blister has been broken it is raging, or is this likely my first outbreak?
Blisters Are Identical To Cold Sores - Herpes Or Acne?
For years, I have suffered from sores around my chin area. The blisters are identical to cold sores that sometimes appear on my lip. They are painful and will eventually start to weep clear fluid. I do my best to keep the area clean to avoid any spread of infection. However, when I went to the doctor about it, she told me it was not herpes as I had thought, it was acne. Is it possible that the two conditions present as the same?
View 1 RepliesHerpes :: Would Urethral/Meatus HSV Blisters Burn When Urinating?
I have a small bump on my Meatus/outside tip of the urethra. It secretes a very, very small amount of clear fluid when I press on it. Doesn't hurt much (only when I squeeze it hard)... and when I urinate there is no pain.
Does this sound like a HSV blister or not?
Herpes :: HSV2 Outbreak Itching And Blisters On Wrist And Leg
I was diagnosed with HSV2 about a month ago, during which I had my first classic outbreak. I got it from my boyfriend, who did not know he had it at the time. I was tested negative for HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis at the time I was diagnosed. During my primary outbreak, I must have somehow touched the sores or the fluid and in the same week one large blister appeared on both my left wrist and left leg at the same time. I was put on Valtrex for 10 days and the genital region cleared up pretty quickly, but the ones on my wrist and leg took longer and I don't think they ever fully healed because there was always a red spot in those areas.
This past Saturday it came back but only on my wrist and my leg, not in the genital area. It started as just itching then by Sunday there was an appearance of a cluster of blisters in each area, where the first time there was only one in each spot. I went for a follow up appointment to my gynecologist two days later and showed him the blisters. But he was not very helpful; he said he only deals with the genital region and I had to see an infectious disease doctor. He gave me a permanent Valtrex prescription to take daily and I've been on it for 4 days so far and did the swab test on my wrist to confirm it was herpes. I could not get an appointment with the ID doc for another two weeks, and Tuesday night the spot on my leg was huge and red and swollen with cellulitis all over the area. It is on my lower calf close to my ankle, but I'd say the entire surface area that is infected is about the size of my fist. I went to the ER and they tried to tell me it was a staph infection despite hearing my story and put me on an antibiotic without answering any of my herpes related questions. It has been 4 days since I'm on Valtrex again and I've kept the area bandaged at all times and worn pants and long sleeve shirts.
Sorry for all the background, but I thought it would be helpful info to best answer the questions I have. I am concerned that for the rest of my life I'm just going to be a walking contagion that can spread the virus to everyone without knowing it, since HSV2 spreads frequently asymptomatically. I know that Valtrex reduces the number of outbreaks I'm going to have, but I'm more concerned with the areas on the exposed parts of my body and want to know exactly which parts are contagious to others and if I'll be able to tell or I will have to keep both areas covered the rest of my life.
My appointment with the ID doc isn't for another two weeks, and I cannot wait that long to have these questions answered because I'm getting sick over this.
These are my questions (please only answer if you've experienced this yourself or you are an MD, I know it's a unique case):
1. Will the areas on my wrist and leg always be a site for a breakout, and will these areas always have the potential to be shed asymptomatically?
2. What part of the outbreak is actually contagious? Is it anywhere that is red, or is it mainly just the blister itself? Will bandaging only the blistered area during an outbreak protect the virus from spreading to others or can it spread from any part that is red?
3. I've read that once it is in an infected area, the virus can spread to other parts close by on that same area, so is there a potential that the next outbreak will be further spread out on my arm, thus giving my whole arm and leg potential to shed the virus?
4. Will it always break out in those spots? I find it curious that this second outbreak (or continuation of a primary outbreak) only appeared in those spots and not the genital region.
5. I know women with HSV 2 can still have babies, but I'm concerned that if I have it on my wrist that I will never be able to hold a newborn baby. I know obviously if I have visible sores that I should avoid a baby at all costs, but what about when there is nothing there and it sheds without me knowing?
6. I'm concerned about it spreading to other parts of my body. I know auto inoculation is rare after the first outbreak, but my wrist is too close to my face for me to be comfortable.
7. What about shaving my legs? I know when there is an outbreak I should avoid the area completely, but when there is nothing there can I still shave over the area or will that spread the virus to other parts of my leg?
8. Manicures/pedicures used to be a huge part of my life. I would never want to infect anyone with this disease. Would it be safe to tell them to only touch my hands and my toes, or is this too risky?
9. My gyno placed me on a permanent Valtrex prescription. Is there a risk associated with becoming too dependent on antiviral meds, or a chance that the disease will become resistant to the medicine? I've also read that being on permanent antivirals can cause the virus to mutate and cause different strains.
I know this will probably take anyone forever to read, but I had to get this all out because these questions have been running through my mind for days and no doctor I've talked to so far has been able to answer them.
Cracks In My Vagina Besides Herpes?
But I'm not. My vagina looks fine but I saw a new "paper cut". I couldn't find anything at first but I kept feeling like I could feel something and again with a mirror and flashlight and had to pull my skin to see it. I'm beyond stressed. I was feeling chipper and happy because I'm not itchy anymore and the discharge was going away from the bacterial medication but yet the saga continues. I decided to just go ahead and go to an STD clinic on Monday and have them run the IGG test because my doctor wants me to wait 4-6 more weeks but I'm not waiting. If it's negative I'll recheck again but I think I've had these symptoms 4 weeks now I'm hoping the IGG will show it even though the IGM came back negative. Never in my life have I had so many issues with my vagina. My birthday is in two weeks and I just wanted to make it to the end of the year without any more symptoms. I want my normal sex life back in gear. I hate this. I did find psoriasis could happen on the vagina and cause cracks but the odds of that happening on a healthy 32 year old female after a new sex partner is slim to none IMO. Any other reasons I'd have cracks in my vagina besides herpes?
View 1 Replies