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HSV 2 Low Igg Positive...welcome to my nightmare
Hi everyone.
About two weeks ago I noted what looked like an ingrown hair on my abdomen. This is nothing unusual; I'm very prone to them, as tend to be other members of my family. After a week the area was still swollen (again, not unusual. I'm very fair skinned--when I get acne it takes 3-4 weeks for a pimple to vanish, sometimes longer), but I noticed that another follicle next to it also looked infected. I put some Neosporin on the area, but within a few days the area hadn't gotten better, the redness had spread. I wasn't in any pain, nor did the rash itch or fester. The only thing worth noting was that there seemed to be whiteness around the affected hairs, like dry skin which peeled a bit.
With the infection seeming to spread, I had a mild panic attack and decided to go to urgent care (it was a Saturday). The Lab assistant examined me and thought that it might be MRSA, which is known to get worse when Neosporin is involved. I explained to her how the infection started, and that the swelling didn't really spread until I put ointment on it. I asked about STDs, and she did a routine blood test for Syphilis and HSV, just to be on the safe side, but told me that because I didn't have any other symptoms that a prescription ointment would clear it up. I started using the Mupriocin she prescribed, and the infection had drastically reduced within about 4 days. I did experience some skin peeling, but otherwise no pus, crusting or bleeding or any other kind of discharge. I also kept the area bandaged with gauze, which seemed to help.
Nobody from the Urgent Care clinic ever contacted me with my results, but I figured I should check in just to be sure. Whoever I spoke to--I'm not sure who, she never identified herself--told me I had genital herpes. My blood ran cold--I hadn't engaged in unprotected sex, I didn't have any symptoms beyond the swelling and dry skin, the ingrown hair didn't appear after intercourse, and (thankfully) my genitals were not affected. The woman didn't offer me any treatment, so I immediately called my doctor paid him a visit.
My doctor took a look at the rash and declared it folliculitus--infected hair follicles to the uninitiated--and noted that he had no reason to suspect anything else. I gave him a copy of the pathology report and lo and behold both the IgM and IgG tested positive for HSV 2, but in the low range of 2.4 on the IgG and 2.6 on the IgM (which, I gather, is a common occurrence around here). I didn't have any kind of detection for HSV 1, which my doctor also thought unusual. He was aware of the common false positives, particularly in the low range with the HerpeSelect tests, but thought the results were suspect anyway since A) there was no detection of HSV 1 which is virtually unheard of, B) I had no symptoms besides the rash, C) my genital region was not affected and D) the rash was visibly clearing with the antibiotic ointment.
At my insistence, my doctor is testing me using the Western Blot test for confirmation, so I should have results next week. That hasn't stopped me from panic though. I begged him for some Famciclovir for post-exposure prophylaxis to stop the infection from getting worse, if indeed I have one at all, but he would only give me Valtrex. I can't seem to find any information on the dosage I should be using, or the efficacy of Valtrex for post exposure. I'm taking 500mg twice daily, but I'm not sure that is enough. I pray the blot test is negative, and that this whole nightmare will end.
Worse, if my test DOES come back positive for HSV 2, I don't know what I'll do. My doctor acknowledged that the affected region of my body is not one that can be protected by condom use. In essence, there is nothing I can do to prevent the spread of the virus to anyone that comes in contact with my abdomen. Or, if somehow I have oral HSV 2, and the rash is just coincidental, there's nothing I can do to prevent the spread from kissing someone.
I believe it's my personal responsibility to prevent the spread of any contagion that infects my body, be it strep or something as sinister as HSV. The thought of never being able to kiss anyone again, or never being able to make love crushes me with sadness. I'm a very lonely guy as it is, and I've been trying to pursue a long-term meaningful relationship for years without success. If I am infected, the chances I could ever meet someone will plummet even further. After all, how do I explain to a potential lover that we can never kiss or have sex without the risk of passing on the infection? How can I respect someone who would accept disease as part of our relationship. Most important of all, how can I willingly pass on this infection to someone I love and want to protect?
I'm sure many of you have wrestled with the same questions, and understand the feeling of guilt and disgust that I feel. There is no way to prevent viral shedding or spread of HSV in my case. Even if I never have another outbreak, I'm risk for anyone to touch. How do I cope?
About two weeks ago I noted what looked like an ingrown hair on my abdomen. This is nothing unusual; I'm very prone to them, as tend to be other members of my family. After a week the area was still swollen (again, not unusual. I'm very fair skinned--when I get acne it takes 3-4 weeks for a pimple to vanish, sometimes longer), but I noticed that another follicle next to it also looked infected. I put some Neosporin on the area, but within a few days the area hadn't gotten better, the redness had spread. I wasn't in any pain, nor did the rash itch or fester. The only thing worth noting was that there seemed to be whiteness around the affected hairs, like dry skin which peeled a bit.
With the infection seeming to spread, I had a mild panic attack and decided to go to urgent care (it was a Saturday). The Lab assistant examined me and thought that it might be MRSA, which is known to get worse when Neosporin is involved. I explained to her how the infection started, and that the swelling didn't really spread until I put ointment on it. I asked about STDs, and she did a routine blood test for Syphilis and HSV, just to be on the safe side, but told me that because I didn't have any other symptoms that a prescription ointment would clear it up. I started using the Mupriocin she prescribed, and the infection had drastically reduced within about 4 days. I did experience some skin peeling, but otherwise no pus, crusting or bleeding or any other kind of discharge. I also kept the area bandaged with gauze, which seemed to help.
Nobody from the Urgent Care clinic ever contacted me with my results, but I figured I should check in just to be sure. Whoever I spoke to--I'm not sure who, she never identified herself--told me I had genital herpes. My blood ran cold--I hadn't engaged in unprotected sex, I didn't have any symptoms beyond the swelling and dry skin, the ingrown hair didn't appear after intercourse, and (thankfully) my genitals were not affected. The woman didn't offer me any treatment, so I immediately called my doctor paid him a visit.
My doctor took a look at the rash and declared it folliculitus--infected hair follicles to the uninitiated--and noted that he had no reason to suspect anything else. I gave him a copy of the pathology report and lo and behold both the IgM and IgG tested positive for HSV 2, but in the low range of 2.4 on the IgG and 2.6 on the IgM (which, I gather, is a common occurrence around here). I didn't have any kind of detection for HSV 1, which my doctor also thought unusual. He was aware of the common false positives, particularly in the low range with the HerpeSelect tests, but thought the results were suspect anyway since A) there was no detection of HSV 1 which is virtually unheard of, B) I had no symptoms besides the rash, C) my genital region was not affected and D) the rash was visibly clearing with the antibiotic ointment.
At my insistence, my doctor is testing me using the Western Blot test for confirmation, so I should have results next week. That hasn't stopped me from panic though. I begged him for some Famciclovir for post-exposure prophylaxis to stop the infection from getting worse, if indeed I have one at all, but he would only give me Valtrex. I can't seem to find any information on the dosage I should be using, or the efficacy of Valtrex for post exposure. I'm taking 500mg twice daily, but I'm not sure that is enough. I pray the blot test is negative, and that this whole nightmare will end.
Worse, if my test DOES come back positive for HSV 2, I don't know what I'll do. My doctor acknowledged that the affected region of my body is not one that can be protected by condom use. In essence, there is nothing I can do to prevent the spread of the virus to anyone that comes in contact with my abdomen. Or, if somehow I have oral HSV 2, and the rash is just coincidental, there's nothing I can do to prevent the spread from kissing someone.
I believe it's my personal responsibility to prevent the spread of any contagion that infects my body, be it strep or something as sinister as HSV. The thought of never being able to kiss anyone again, or never being able to make love crushes me with sadness. I'm a very lonely guy as it is, and I've been trying to pursue a long-term meaningful relationship for years without success. If I am infected, the chances I could ever meet someone will plummet even further. After all, how do I explain to a potential lover that we can never kiss or have sex without the risk of passing on the infection? How can I respect someone who would accept disease as part of our relationship. Most important of all, how can I willingly pass on this infection to someone I love and want to protect?
I'm sure many of you have wrestled with the same questions, and understand the feeling of guilt and disgust that I feel. There is no way to prevent viral shedding or spread of HSV in my case. Even if I never have another outbreak, I'm risk for anyone to touch. How do I cope?
So let me make sure I understand--regardless of where or how you acquire HSV 2, it always spreads from the genitals, whether or not you ever get breakouts there? And I'm sorry, 1% chance of cross contamination is too high. I would never want to put someone I care about through this.
On that note, Here's another question for you Grace...
Ironically, my Mother just called me very upset as she went to her OBGYN for a routine exam, and the next day broke out in a vaginal/perennial rash that itched & burned and had bleeding, pus filled lesions. She immediately went back to the doctor, who told her it had to be a yeast infection. But it kept spreading, and she's in incredible pain. Her doctor then said it had to be an allergy to latex, though my Mom has never had one before. At her insistence, they are testing her for HSV.
My Mom & Dad have been together and monogamous for 37 years; neither have ever had any symptoms like this. She's currently undergoing culture testing; I urged her to get an IgG blood test and WB as well. Have you ever encountered anyone who has gotten the virus from a doctor's office? Obviously it's possible if equipment isn't sterilized between patients, but is there some other way that infection could have occurred? Is this something you've encountered before?
As if I didn't have enough to fret over, I'm now terrified for my Mom and Dad and what it could mean for their health, lives and marriage. I want to offer some kind of comfort if I can.
On that note, Here's another question for you Grace...
Ironically, my Mother just called me very upset as she went to her OBGYN for a routine exam, and the next day broke out in a vaginal/perennial rash that itched & burned and had bleeding, pus filled lesions. She immediately went back to the doctor, who told her it had to be a yeast infection. But it kept spreading, and she's in incredible pain. Her doctor then said it had to be an allergy to latex, though my Mom has never had one before. At her insistence, they are testing her for HSV.
My Mom & Dad have been together and monogamous for 37 years; neither have ever had any symptoms like this. She's currently undergoing culture testing; I urged her to get an IgG blood test and WB as well. Have you ever encountered anyone who has gotten the virus from a doctor's office? Obviously it's possible if equipment isn't sterilized between patients, but is there some other way that infection could have occurred? Is this something you've encountered before?
As if I didn't have enough to fret over, I'm now terrified for my Mom and Dad and what it could mean for their health, lives and marriage. I want to offer some kind of comfort if I can.
it makes no difference where you actually have ob's at. you shed the virus from the entire anal-genital area both with obvious lesions and in between. you only shed from the area of the lesions when you have them when they aren't on the actual genital mucosa.
you can get the risk of transmission to a male partner down to 1%/year. minimal risk and never a reason to stay alone.
if your WB is negative, you will need to repeat it in a few months since it was done too early to accurately reflect a newly acquired herpes infection.
you can get the risk of transmission to a male partner down to 1%/year. minimal risk and never a reason to stay alone.
if your WB is negative, you will need to repeat it in a few months since it was done too early to accurately reflect a newly acquired herpes infection.
I spoke to my partners; if they weren't tested just before our intercourse, they have been tested since. It would seem they are all negative, which makes my own test results even more questionable. I'm praying the WB comes back negative. If all my partners are, and the WB is, that's good enough for me.
I get tested for STDs monthly. I had no idea that the standard battery of tests don't include HSV.
There is, apparently, no other test I can get other than the WB. Again, the rash I have isn't consistent with HSV 2 infection, and it's not responding to antivirals in any measurable way, though it has been responding to antibacterial ointment. I'm hoping if I am infected, the antivirals will at least stop serioconversion so the infection can't progress further than it already has.
My doctor didn't say anything about waiting to test with the WB, though I have heard it's more accurate given the longer amount of time elapsed after infection. At this point, I'm not discussing my plight with anyone until I know for sure that I have to. There's no reason to cause any of my previous partners the same level of panic or humiliation that I now endure.
The idea of being celibate and alone for the rest of my life is not at all an appealing one. Short of access to the ACAM 529 virus, I won't have any other choice since the supposed infected area is in an unprotectable area of my body.
There is, apparently, no other test I can get other than the WB. Again, the rash I have isn't consistent with HSV 2 infection, and it's not responding to antivirals in any measurable way, though it has been responding to antibacterial ointment. I'm hoping if I am infected, the antivirals will at least stop serioconversion so the infection can't progress further than it already has.
My doctor didn't say anything about waiting to test with the WB, though I have heard it's more accurate given the longer amount of time elapsed after infection. At this point, I'm not discussing my plight with anyone until I know for sure that I have to. There's no reason to cause any of my previous partners the same level of panic or humiliation that I now endure.
The idea of being celibate and alone for the rest of my life is not at all an appealing one. Short of access to the ACAM 529 virus, I won't have any other choice since the supposed infected area is in an unprotectable area of my body.
most folks don't get tested for herpes to know their status. odds are your partners aren't getting tested for it either :(
you have to wait at least 4 months after you last had sex to get the herpes WB done. has your current partner been tested to know their own status?
canker sores are inside the mouth. they aren't oral herpes. they aren't contagious.
you have to wait at least 4 months after you last had sex to get the herpes WB done. has your current partner been tested to know their own status?
canker sores are inside the mouth. they aren't oral herpes. they aren't contagious.
Thank you for responding Grace! =)
I have never been tested for Herpes before, no. When the first lesion appeared, it had been about 4-5 days since I had sex, and no, I don't have a regular partner (I wish I did). I always discuss sexual health with every partner I do have, and I always pay attention for any sores, cuts, bumps etc on their body. Never noticed any on any of my partners over the years.
My doctor wanted to do a swab test as well, but the lab he sent me to wouldn't do one. He didn't have the proper kits on hand, either, possibly because he just moved offices.
To be quite honest, he and I both were amazed that the HSV 1 came back nonreactive. I've had horrible, horrible mouth ulcers my whole life (always inside, never outside on my lips or anything). They'd be inside on my lips, my cheeks or even in my throat or tonsils, sometimes the size of a nickel. Those would fester and bleed and be amazingly painful and would take forever to heal. He told me he always assumed they were HSV 1 related which also made him suspicious of the test. That he has suspected as much all the times I had seen him about them (yes, they were that painful) made me a bit suspicious of him.
Just checked the rash, which but for one tiny area has reduced to just some mild redness. I'm so scared...none of this seems to make any sense, and I don't even want to think about the consequences if the WB comes back positive, or the cost that all these tests and doctor visits will incur.
I have never been tested for Herpes before, no. When the first lesion appeared, it had been about 4-5 days since I had sex, and no, I don't have a regular partner (I wish I did). I always discuss sexual health with every partner I do have, and I always pay attention for any sores, cuts, bumps etc on their body. Never noticed any on any of my partners over the years.
My doctor wanted to do a swab test as well, but the lab he sent me to wouldn't do one. He didn't have the proper kits on hand, either, possibly because he just moved offices.
To be quite honest, he and I both were amazed that the HSV 1 came back nonreactive. I've had horrible, horrible mouth ulcers my whole life (always inside, never outside on my lips or anything). They'd be inside on my lips, my cheeks or even in my throat or tonsils, sometimes the size of a nickel. Those would fester and bleed and be amazingly painful and would take forever to heal. He told me he always assumed they were HSV 1 related which also made him suspicious of the test. That he has suspected as much all the times I had seen him about them (yes, they were that painful) made me a bit suspicious of him.
Just checked the rash, which but for one tiny area has reduced to just some mild redness. I'm so scared...none of this seems to make any sense, and I don't even want to think about the consequences if the WB comes back positive, or the cost that all these tests and doctor visits will incur.
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
