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Herpes 2 initial outbreak lasting longer
I am a 73 year old male, recently diagnosed via a blood test with Herpes 2. The diagnosis was confirmed by a second blood test from a different lab.
Initially the symptoms were irritation of testicles and soreness at base of scrotum. This was in early May of 2023. In June I began to notice small cracks or cuts in the skin on head of penis. I immediately had a full std blood panel. All tests were negative except for herpes 2. I redid the blood test with a different lab and it too confirmed herpes 2. The second blood test only looked for herpes, not all other std blood antibodies. Again, first test showed antibodies for herpes 2 only.
The symptoms continue. No discharge. No blisters. Very small cracks in skin on head of penis. Testicles are still itchy and still have soreness at base of scrotum.
It has now been 2 full months since the first noticeable skin breaks. Three months since scrotum pain at base.
I have good insurance but the time to see a urologist is 2-3 months.
Any recommendations or thoughts on why this initial “outbreak” is continuing for so long?
I am taking Valacyclovir on a daily basis.
Initially the symptoms were irritation of testicles and soreness at base of scrotum. This was in early May of 2023. In June I began to notice small cracks or cuts in the skin on head of penis. I immediately had a full std blood panel. All tests were negative except for herpes 2. I redid the blood test with a different lab and it too confirmed herpes 2. The second blood test only looked for herpes, not all other std blood antibodies. Again, first test showed antibodies for herpes 2 only.
The symptoms continue. No discharge. No blisters. Very small cracks in skin on head of penis. Testicles are still itchy and still have soreness at base of scrotum.
It has now been 2 full months since the first noticeable skin breaks. Three months since scrotum pain at base.
I have good insurance but the time to see a urologist is 2-3 months.
Any recommendations or thoughts on why this initial “outbreak” is continuing for so long?
I am taking Valacyclovir on a daily basis.
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2 Comments
Thank you SO much for taking the time to answer!!! I can't tell you how hard I have have been working to get this resolved. Urologist says they can see me in January 2024!
So, here's the data and further information that pertains to my situation:
My PSA number has been over 6 but under 7 for an entire year. Most recently 6.3.
I had a full panel STD blood work done by one lab. All results negative, with the exception of HSV 2 IgG and the value was given as: 2.38. The second test was only for HSV 1 & 2 (not full STD panel), and the number was given as: 2.28. The test results does indicate that values from 1.10 - 3.0 "may represent false positive results". These were different labs that reported antibodies of greater than 0.9.
More information: I have been sexually active with two partners in last year, so there is a chance that I could have contracted the herpes virus. I do not have further contact with these people so it's not possible for me to ask them. It would seem that both sexual partners would be low candidates to be passing this on, but that is not important.
I first thought this was a UTI. I went to my dr and he did a urine test. Not a UTI. Then I thought fungal infection. He gave me fungal medication and then a fungus one time pill. This was in May of this year. Symptoms at that time were very itchy testicles and discomfort at base of scrotum. Testicles felt clammy. Like they were sticking together. From everything I read this is NOT associated as a symptom of herpes.
Then he put me on two different antibiotics . No improvement. Then I noticed the small breaks in the skin. I immediately had the STD test which said Herpes 2 IgG of 2.38. Second lab confirmed.
The symptoms have not changed one iota since early May. Mainly testicles that are itchy and soreness at base of scrotum.
I have complained to my dr about how long this takes to see a urologist and they have referred me to a different one. I still don't have an appointment at this time. I would gladly go to an urgent care or even the emergency room but I don't think I would see a specialist.
The one thing that is VERY very different from herpes is that I have never had blisters that break or crust. But I don't have a way to see clearly at the base of my scrotum. I am a big cyclist. I ride 3 times a week and after rides that area under the scrotum is tender.
That's about all the data that I have.
It would seem so unlikely to get 2 false positives from two different labs.
So, here's the data and further information that pertains to my situation:
My PSA number has been over 6 but under 7 for an entire year. Most recently 6.3.
I had a full panel STD blood work done by one lab. All results negative, with the exception of HSV 2 IgG and the value was given as: 2.38. The second test was only for HSV 1 & 2 (not full STD panel), and the number was given as: 2.28. The test results does indicate that values from 1.10 - 3.0 "may represent false positive results". These were different labs that reported antibodies of greater than 0.9.
More information: I have been sexually active with two partners in last year, so there is a chance that I could have contracted the herpes virus. I do not have further contact with these people so it's not possible for me to ask them. It would seem that both sexual partners would be low candidates to be passing this on, but that is not important.
I first thought this was a UTI. I went to my dr and he did a urine test. Not a UTI. Then I thought fungal infection. He gave me fungal medication and then a fungus one time pill. This was in May of this year. Symptoms at that time were very itchy testicles and discomfort at base of scrotum. Testicles felt clammy. Like they were sticking together. From everything I read this is NOT associated as a symptom of herpes.
Then he put me on two different antibiotics . No improvement. Then I noticed the small breaks in the skin. I immediately had the STD test which said Herpes 2 IgG of 2.38. Second lab confirmed.
The symptoms have not changed one iota since early May. Mainly testicles that are itchy and soreness at base of scrotum.
I have complained to my dr about how long this takes to see a urologist and they have referred me to a different one. I still don't have an appointment at this time. I would gladly go to an urgent care or even the emergency room but I don't think I would see a specialist.
The one thing that is VERY very different from herpes is that I have never had blisters that break or crust. But I don't have a way to see clearly at the base of my scrotum. I am a big cyclist. I ride 3 times a week and after rides that area under the scrotum is tender.
That's about all the data that I have.
It would seem so unlikely to get 2 false positives from two different labs.
It's actually not at all unlikely to get false positives from two different labs.
The way the tests work is that they are, in theory, looking for antibodies, but in actuality, are looking for things in the blood that have similar molecular weight as herpes antibodies. The reason that results lower than 3.5 need to be confirmed is that normal blood proteins can be detected as antibodies. Results under a 3.5 have at least a 50% chance of being a false positive, and the lower the number, the higher the chance.
Some people will always test with low positives. A good friend of mine always tests with around a 1.5-1.75. His Western Blot tests (the confirmatory test) are always negative.
Your doctor can order the Western Blot test. Your insurance may cover it. If not, it's expensive. They'd also want you to wait until 12 weeks from your last possible exposure, and if you are taking the valacyclovir daily, to be off that for several weeks.
This just doesn't sound like herpes to me. I'm not saying you don't have it, but if you do, your symptoms aren't being caused by it.
Is your doctor treating you for anything related to your prostate? I'm sorry the wait is so long. That's crazy.
We have a pretty good Urology forum if you want to post in there for advice while you wait - https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Urology/show/52
I'm no prostate expert, but one thing I've learned over the years here is that prostate symptoms are helped by eliminating caffeine and alcohol, and increasing water, esp the caffeine. Your mileage may vary, of course.
Keep me posted on what happens, okay?
The way the tests work is that they are, in theory, looking for antibodies, but in actuality, are looking for things in the blood that have similar molecular weight as herpes antibodies. The reason that results lower than 3.5 need to be confirmed is that normal blood proteins can be detected as antibodies. Results under a 3.5 have at least a 50% chance of being a false positive, and the lower the number, the higher the chance.
Some people will always test with low positives. A good friend of mine always tests with around a 1.5-1.75. His Western Blot tests (the confirmatory test) are always negative.
Your doctor can order the Western Blot test. Your insurance may cover it. If not, it's expensive. They'd also want you to wait until 12 weeks from your last possible exposure, and if you are taking the valacyclovir daily, to be off that for several weeks.
This just doesn't sound like herpes to me. I'm not saying you don't have it, but if you do, your symptoms aren't being caused by it.
Is your doctor treating you for anything related to your prostate? I'm sorry the wait is so long. That's crazy.
We have a pretty good Urology forum if you want to post in there for advice while you wait - https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Urology/show/52
I'm no prostate expert, but one thing I've learned over the years here is that prostate symptoms are helped by eliminating caffeine and alcohol, and increasing water, esp the caffeine. Your mileage may vary, of course.
Keep me posted on what happens, okay?
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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.
Your number would be different, of course, but the index number is really important.
Just because you have hsv2 doesn't mean that every symptom you have happening is herpes. Has a doctor actually seen your symptoms? It doesn't sound like herpes. It sounds more like a fungal infection, or perhaps eczema or something along those lines. The soreness in your scrotum could be a prostate issue.
If a doctor hasn't actually seen the cracked skin, get that checked. Any doctor can look at that - even an urgent care. Since you're on the antiviral, and it's not getting any better for months, I have to say that herpes isn't causing these symptoms.
If your blood tests don't give you an index value, let me know. That's really, really important. There are false positives on the hsv2 IgG test, and knowing the index value can help determine if yours might be a false positive.