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HSV 2? Not sure what's going on...
Hi there,
I am female and about 3 weeks ago I had been feeling some tingling in my vagina. That week I was under a lot of stress and I had had a very brief unprotected encounter with a man about 3 weeks before that (oral, and briefly vaginal). I went to my gyno that week and got blood work done for everything. She gave me a papsmear and didn't see any sort of lesions. I asked her to test me for herpes and everything else because I was having some vaginal itching/tingling as well as tingling on my tongue and lips, which felt like what's described as prodrome. Anyway, the doctor put me on a 10 day course of valtrex because I was nervous (which I only took for 5 days because my symptoms went away and it was making me feel really sick and depressed) and a few days later, she got back to me and told me that I tested positive for HSV 2. I have not had any symptoms or a breakout since, but this week I've been stressed again (I think the herpes diagnosis finally hit me) and I am feeling itching and tingling all over my body, including my genitals, butt, breasts, chest, mouth, tongue and my whole face in general (even my eyes, my vision feels foggy too). This has been going on for about 5 days, I've been taking 1000 mg of lysine 3 times a day for the past 2 weeks, and there is still no outbreak. The tingling feels more intense with the more stress I feel.
So questions:
1) Should I be retested? I'm not sure what kind of test she did. I definitely have hsv 1 because I get cold sores every year on my lips with too much sun or stress
2) Why would this tingling last so long with nothing happening?
3) Could I have hsv 2 orally....or even ocular herpes?
4) Should I consider daily antivirals if these prodrome symptoms continue? And are there alternatives to valtrex that might work and wont make me depressed (Ive taken smaller doses of acyclovir when Ive gotten coldsores on my mouth in the past with no side effects).
Thanks so much for your time. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Maria
I am female and about 3 weeks ago I had been feeling some tingling in my vagina. That week I was under a lot of stress and I had had a very brief unprotected encounter with a man about 3 weeks before that (oral, and briefly vaginal). I went to my gyno that week and got blood work done for everything. She gave me a papsmear and didn't see any sort of lesions. I asked her to test me for herpes and everything else because I was having some vaginal itching/tingling as well as tingling on my tongue and lips, which felt like what's described as prodrome. Anyway, the doctor put me on a 10 day course of valtrex because I was nervous (which I only took for 5 days because my symptoms went away and it was making me feel really sick and depressed) and a few days later, she got back to me and told me that I tested positive for HSV 2. I have not had any symptoms or a breakout since, but this week I've been stressed again (I think the herpes diagnosis finally hit me) and I am feeling itching and tingling all over my body, including my genitals, butt, breasts, chest, mouth, tongue and my whole face in general (even my eyes, my vision feels foggy too). This has been going on for about 5 days, I've been taking 1000 mg of lysine 3 times a day for the past 2 weeks, and there is still no outbreak. The tingling feels more intense with the more stress I feel.
So questions:
1) Should I be retested? I'm not sure what kind of test she did. I definitely have hsv 1 because I get cold sores every year on my lips with too much sun or stress
2) Why would this tingling last so long with nothing happening?
3) Could I have hsv 2 orally....or even ocular herpes?
4) Should I consider daily antivirals if these prodrome symptoms continue? And are there alternatives to valtrex that might work and wont make me depressed (Ive taken smaller doses of acyclovir when Ive gotten coldsores on my mouth in the past with no side effects).
Thanks so much for your time. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Maria
you need to wait 4 months post encounter for the biokit.
odds are you would've noticed symptoms if you had contracted herpes. follow up at the proper time if you need the extra peace of mind.
odds are you would've noticed symptoms if you had contracted herpes. follow up at the proper time if you need the extra peace of mind.
Is there a recommended wait time before getting the biokit test done? Similar to the 3 month period for IGG?
Hi Grace,
I went ahead and paid to have the Biokit test done today at one of the few doctors who offers it here in LA. The result was negative 7.5 weeks post my last questionable encounter. He told me that I should feel good about the result because it will unlikely change.
I am definitely going back in a montho or so at 3 months to have another igg test done, but should I feel pretty confident with this result? He said that my obgyn shouldn't have given me the igm test and that he doesn't even offer it. Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks again for the help.
I went ahead and paid to have the Biokit test done today at one of the few doctors who offers it here in LA. The result was negative 7.5 weeks post my last questionable encounter. He told me that I should feel good about the result because it will unlikely change.
I am definitely going back in a montho or so at 3 months to have another igg test done, but should I feel pretty confident with this result? He said that my obgyn shouldn't have given me the igm test and that he doesn't even offer it. Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks again for the help.
you will need to repeat your hsv2 igg in another 6 weeks if you are really concerned about hsv2. you are negative at this time.
herpes igm testing is greatly flawed and should've never been drawn on you in the first place.
grace
herpes igm testing is greatly flawed and should've never been drawn on you in the first place.
grace
Also, just for reference, the last unprotected encounter I had was on July 26...is it too soon to get igg tested for HSV2 again?
I got my std panel faxed to me. For the 'Herpes 2 IgG-HerpeSelect my result is 0.19 under the "normal" column. For the Herpes 'Type 2, IgM' there's a 1.50 under the "out of range" category. There was no testing for hsv1, but I definitely have it. Please help me interpret these results. Is there need for retesting? Thanks!
Hi Grace,
I was wondering if you might have some thoughts thus far? I left my doctor a message to request my test results from that day (it's a little early here in Los Angeles).
Do you think it's likely to have a false negative if I haven't experienced any sort of lesions or sores on my mouth or genitals? I haven't had any sort of yeast infection in the past few years, which may I may have confused? Also, does the fact that I have hsv1 affect test results for hsv 2?
That should be all. Thanks again!
I was wondering if you might have some thoughts thus far? I left my doctor a message to request my test results from that day (it's a little early here in Los Angeles).
Do you think it's likely to have a false negative if I haven't experienced any sort of lesions or sores on my mouth or genitals? I haven't had any sort of yeast infection in the past few years, which may I may have confused? Also, does the fact that I have hsv1 affect test results for hsv 2?
That should be all. Thanks again!
Also, if it is herpes related, does it make sense to have itching that lasts for days (it's been almost a week now) without any lesions on my face nor my genitals. I'm just so confused at this point.
Thank you so much for all of your feedback.
Thank you so much for all of your feedback.
She did have me do a pap smear and swabbed the area. However, I believe it was the blood work she gave me results to, because she had me tested for a few stds when she took my blood. When she called me, she said that all of my tests came back negative but that I came back positive for HSV 2. I didn't know that I should ask her for what kind of test was done and what the scores were. I just know that I hadn't been feeling symptoms since, until this week as I got really stressed and I've been feeling itchy all over, but particularly in my face.
Do my symptoms sound like prodrome for HSV 2? And if it's a well-established infection, would stress bring out the tingling symptoms all over my body and my mouth?
Anyway, I apologize for all of the questioning. I am just trying to be thorough...and I will give her a call to see what more info I can find out.
Maria
Do my symptoms sound like prodrome for HSV 2? And if it's a well-established infection, would stress bring out the tingling symptoms all over my body and my mouth?
Anyway, I apologize for all of the questioning. I am just trying to be thorough...and I will give her a call to see what more info I can find out.
Maria
Welcome to the forums. I am trying to get used to the new layout.
First of all. The prodome symptoms you feel will NOT come with a new infection. Prodome symptoms only are for already established infections. Chances are you never have had an IgG test for herpes. Given your providers testing I am curious did she swab the area as well?
At this point it is beyond key to get the right information of what testing you had and what came back positive. Before we go down that path.
Overall you were at a risk yes but a single encounter with a person is a low risk. So don't go off just yet. Testing was done a little soon as was already said but some (about 50%) of people will test positive by 2 weeks post encounter. Though it is highly recommended you be tested at 12 weeks after your last sexual encounter to know your status.
Your eyes could just be allergies or various other things. If your eyes start to bother you see your opthamologist (eye MD) to have a proper eye exam to know whats going on.
Once you get your test results grace will look them over. The values come as part of the paperwork if the test does use a numerical value.
First of all. The prodome symptoms you feel will NOT come with a new infection. Prodome symptoms only are for already established infections. Chances are you never have had an IgG test for herpes. Given your providers testing I am curious did she swab the area as well?
At this point it is beyond key to get the right information of what testing you had and what came back positive. Before we go down that path.
Overall you were at a risk yes but a single encounter with a person is a low risk. So don't go off just yet. Testing was done a little soon as was already said but some (about 50%) of people will test positive by 2 weeks post encounter. Though it is highly recommended you be tested at 12 weeks after your last sexual encounter to know your status.
Your eyes could just be allergies or various other things. If your eyes start to bother you see your opthamologist (eye MD) to have a proper eye exam to know whats going on.
Once you get your test results grace will look them over. The values come as part of the paperwork if the test does use a numerical value.
Good plan. There's no need to accept that you have HSV2 until you're sure you've been properly tested and covered all your bases. Hang in there and keep the faith. And be safe!
Grace will will definitely give you some good feedback on your blood test numbers once you post them. If the doctor office doesn't have the exact numbers available then have them call the lab to get them. Or you could call them yourself I suppse if needed.
Try not to worry and be nervous. It will probably help your tingling and itching I suspect. You will get the helpful info you need.
Grace will will definitely give you some good feedback on your blood test numbers once you post them. If the doctor office doesn't have the exact numbers available then have them call the lab to get them. Or you could call them yourself I suppse if needed.
Try not to worry and be nervous. It will probably help your tingling and itching I suspect. You will get the helpful info you need.
1 Comments
Mistakeguy, your comment "The prodome symptoms you feel will NOT come with a new infection." I have not read this anywhere else.... how confident are you on it and are you aware of any literature to support?
While this statement is super encouraging, as I have had a recent (6 days ago) encounter and my mind is going CRAZY with worry. I think the tip of my penis has been tingling intermittently in an area about the size of a half-dime for ~3-4 days but there is nothing there visually appearing.
thanks for your advice!
While this statement is super encouraging, as I have had a recent (6 days ago) encounter and my mind is going CRAZY with worry. I think the tip of my penis has been tingling intermittently in an area about the size of a half-dime for ~3-4 days but there is nothing there visually appearing.
thanks for your advice!
I will call my doctor tomorrow about the test results/what test was conducted. I'd like to see what Grace and others might have to say so far.
Also, I have to add that I have been more sexually active than usual in the past year and have had a couple of (reckless) unprotected encounters. But the last one I had happened about 3 1/2 weeks before I went to see my gyno with what I thought were prodrome symptoms. I just want to be sure before I start accepting the fact that I have HSV 2, since I still haven't had any lesions/OB and just the persistent tingling all over my body.
Also, I have to add that I have been more sexually active than usual in the past year and have had a couple of (reckless) unprotected encounters. But the last one I had happened about 3 1/2 weeks before I went to see my gyno with what I thought were prodrome symptoms. I just want to be sure before I start accepting the fact that I have HSV 2, since I still haven't had any lesions/OB and just the persistent tingling all over my body.
Also, you may want to see if you can get your test results and post the numbers here for Grace to analyze. She will give you some good feedback.
You probably need to find out what blood work you had done. If it was a type specific IGG test, then you probably got it a little too soon if it was only 3-4 weeks after your encounter. (It's recommended wait 3 months for antibodies to develop). If the doc gave you an IgM test, then you need to throw out those results and be retested anyway! IgM tests tend to be unreliable and give false readings. It's recommended to not have that test done for HSV testing. Also stay away from the non-specific IGG combo 1 & 2 test. Grace has indicated in another thread it's a waste of money as well. Bottom line, you want type-specific tests done.
The tingling & itching all over your body may possibly be partly due to your anxiety.
The ocular herpes is rare and usually only affects only one eye. It is usually caused by already acquired oral herpes that has been dormant and decides for some reason to reactivate and spread back down a nerve to the face or one of the eyes. Odds are you not experiencing herpes in the eye. I would suggest that your overall foggy vision could possibly also be anxiety related as well.
Keep up with your doctor. Good luck!
The tingling & itching all over your body may possibly be partly due to your anxiety.
The ocular herpes is rare and usually only affects only one eye. It is usually caused by already acquired oral herpes that has been dormant and decides for some reason to reactivate and spread back down a nerve to the face or one of the eyes. Odds are you not experiencing herpes in the eye. I would suggest that your overall foggy vision could possibly also be anxiety related as well.
Keep up with your doctor. Good luck!
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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.
