HSV-2 initial outbreak a year later?

[dean79]

I slept with a woman who was HSV-2 positive  on two occasions in late July 2013.  About four weeks later, I took a full panel STI test and came back negative for everything (including HSV-2).  I re-tested in mid-November, about 15 or 16 weeks post-exposure.  Once again, the results of the IgG test for HSV-2 were negative.  I had no symptoms, so I assumed I was in the clear.  Shortly after this, I entered into a new relationship with a woman who had recently been tested and was free of any STI's.  We engaged in unprotected sex only a handful of times, and the rest of the time used condoms.  The last time we had unprotected sex was in December of 2013.  The last time we slept together (with protection) was in April of 2014.  Everything was ok until this last week (Sept. 12) when I noticed a small blackhead on the shaft of my penis.  Along with this was an intense itching.  I chose not to remove the blackhead and let it heal on it's own.  There was also some swelling at the site of the blackhead, which has went down a bit over the past two days.  Two days later, it was gone, but it looks like a small spider bite at this point.  It is not an oozing sore, but appears to just be a small cut.  My penis is still very red, and the intense itching remains.  I have also developed redness around and underneath my lymph nodes.  Should I get retested again for HSV-2? Or could this be an insect bite? I've never heard of HSV-2 causing swelling, and it doesn't look like the pictures I have seen of HSV-2 on a male.  Also, the timetable doesn't seem to add up for an initial outbreak of HSV-2.  Please help.  I would greatly appreciate any insight you could give me.  Thank you.

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, herpes sores are clear liquid filled not black heads. Should you get retested? If you can verify that the new girl is negative then no. Taking a persons word for this is not confirmation of her status.

[dean79]

Hi Life360,

I know that it is not a confirmation of her status, but we were both very open and honest about the situation.  Since the black head either fell off or disappeared, it appears to just be a small open wound, similar to that of a spider bite.  I just ordered another HSV-1 and 2 Herpeselect test (IgG) and will update when I get the results.  If not HSV-2, do you have an idea of what else this could be?  Thank you for your quick response.

[dean79]

I appreciate that diagnosis, but am having trouble understanding how that could result in the intense itching, redness, and swelling of the penis in the area surrounding the wound.  Could that possibly be the result from an insect bite?

[Life360_Dave]

Most likely from you touching it from with dirty fingers.

[dean79]

Dirty fingers causing swelling? Really? Is there anyone on this site that can be a bit more helpful?

[Life360_Dave]

Well you tested negative for herpes so you can rule that out. And 15 weeks is a good window. Maybe its a bug bite but how can we know what it is from a forum. Maybe have a doc check you out.

[dean79]

Sorry I was a bit rude, it is just frustrating to not know what is wrong with me.  I was tested again today, and hopefully will know the results in a few days.  Thanks again for your help.  This has been a stressful experience and not knowing really sucks.  I will go see a physician if the results are negative once again in order to find the underlying cause.

[gracefromHHP]

should you be concerned that these symptoms are due to herpes? no you do not. you consistently tested negative for it and your last partner also was negative for it.

so why all the swelling and itching? Well sounds like either irritation or a bacterial/fungal infection going on. If it continues, be seen for a proper exam. meanwhile just wash your penis once a day with a mild antibacterial soap like unscented dial to help.

grace

[dean79]

I don't think hygiene has anything to do with this.  I take at least one (often two) showers per day and I always cleanse myself thoroughly with soap.  The symptoms are still present (lesion that looks like a spider bite, redness, swelling around the lesion, and itching all over groin/thigh areas), though I'm befuddled that an IgG HerpeSelect test at 15 weeks post-exposure could be wrong.  I took the same test yesterday, and am awaiting the results.  If this test failed, is it even possible to not have an initial outbreak until September of 2014 when exposure took place in July of 2013?

[johnny20]

I would like to hear from people like grace, life360, howard.

[gracefromHHP]

I wasn't commenting on your hygiene actually. the point was to not over do the cleaning and to use a gentle soap. Many folks use scented body washes in their genital area and it can cause irritation and skin reactions. Sorry if that was unclear.

[dean79]

Thanks Grace.  I have been using the same type of body wash for a long time and have never suffered any irritation from that before.  I just re-examined myself, and it is starting to look more like hsv-2.  I don't understand how this could have happened.  I feel like I took every pre-caution and waited until the recommended testing window to test.  Is it possible to not have an initial OB until over a year later, while also testing negative at 15 weeks post-exposure with the IgG HerpeSelect test?

[gracefromHHP]

almost anything in the genital area will resemble genital herpes.  don't work  yourself up needlessly.

[dean79]

Hi Grace,

Just got my test results back (Herpeselect IgG).  Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 were <.90, so it appears that I am testing negative.  However, my symptoms are eerily similar to HSV-2.  I know these tests aren't 100%, but is there a chance I could have had a false-negative on two different tests (one at 15 weeks post-exposure, one at almost 14 months)?

[Fleetwood20]

The odds of a false negative for HSV2 are incredibly low. I would feel close enough to 100% to be well and truly believed.

HSV1 has a higher false negative rate, but I do not feel this to be an issue in your situation.

The fact that you are most likely free of HSV works additionally in favor of you not being infected. If you were, the chances are quite high that you would have experienced symptoms in the 2-10 days post infection as your body has no established immune system against HSV1/2.

The odds of you having HSV2 given the above are pretty much negligible, I'd believe the tests.

[dean79]

Next to my "lesion", there are a several (4 or 5) small red bumps cropping up on a patch of red skin on the shaft of my penis.  I'm still worried that this could be hsv-2, even with my negative HSV-2 test (IgG Herpeselect).  I know the test is reliable, but I'm having trouble imagining what else these symptoms could be due to.

[SidneySmith]

I think you need to take a step back for a moment and listen to what the people who are experienced are telling you. The keep saying "Black" which should be a huge relief. But then you say "White." None of us can know for sure. Everyone will take an educated guess based on experience. I know you WANT 100% assurance, but unfortunately no one in this forum will give it to you. From looking at your writing, you are really working yourself up, as we all are about a positive diagnosis. Take a deep breath and thank goodness you are not 100% positive for years, as many people on this site are, and continue to have complications.  

[dean79]

Hi Sidney,

I understand what you are saying and I have read countless other posts on this site and we are all panicked and stressed to the core worrying about our respective conditions.  If I wasn't experiencing these symptoms, I could certainly accept my test results and move on with my life.  However, these symptoms are the first time I've ever had anything like this going on.  I plan on accepting the fact that I have the virus, and will re-test 3 months from now.  If that comes back negative, and my symptoms resolve and don't reappear, I will accept that I am negative.  

[gracefromHHP]

your newest symptoms don't sound like herpes. sounds like irritation or a fungal infection going on.

you don't have any reason to retest. I'd call off the crotch watch before you drive yourself crazy!!!

[dean79]

Hi Grace,

I appreciate your input, and I trust your opinion.  I have read your posts for other questions and you always have a logical and rational input.  However, I just now realized I made a mistake in my initial post.  Instead of April 2014, I slept with a woman in mid-August 2014.  In other words, it has been about a month since my last contact with her.  This would fit the timetable for an initial outbreak of HSV-2, as I understand it.  However, this was a completely protected encounter, and it was with the same woman I have had an on-and-off relationship with since August 2013.  I guess it would be possible, if she is in fact HSV-2 (she has tested negative, but I'm not sure about the testing windows, and she was with one other person post-test), to have transmitted the virus through our most recent encounter.  She has had no symptoms, and it would seem odd that we could have a sexual relationship for a full year and then I would get the virus after a protected encounter.  I apologize for being so paranoid, and I know it won't be the end of the world if this turns out to be the case.  The symptoms are just too difficult to ignore.  My most recent partner will be going to be tested as soon as she can, and that should provide some answers for us both.  Thanks again.

[dean79]

I am now having even more severe symptoms, including the persistence of the initial lesion, along with many more smaller red bumps and a renewed itching with greater intensity.  This nightmare began on September 12, and I don't understand how, if this is HSV-2 (which I am 99% sure it is at this point), the symptoms could be getting worse over 2 weeks later?  Is this normal for an initial outbreak?

[Wastedfilm]

Why dont you go get them swabbed?
A negative igg blood test at 15 weeks post exposure is definitely a negative.

[dean79]

Thank you for your quick reply.  I would like to have that done but live in a rural area and am lacking health insurance at the moment.  I was only able to get the IgG blood test(s) by driving a long distance and paying a relatively high fee.  It just sucks because the itching is driving me crazy and the initial lesion hasn't healed (though it has morphed into a few different stages) and now there are small red bumps popping up around the initial lesion.  Also, the skin in that area is extremely red and irritated.  Shouldn't this be dying down by now if it is HSV-2?