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Spanish Language resources
My boyfriend tested positive for HSV-1 and HSV-2. He doesn't speak English well. Is there an accurate Spanish language resource I could tell him about that isn't full of all the misinformation we see online? He's already overreacting to this.
Just in case anyone else was looking for Spanish resources, I did see MedHelp has a forum in Spanish for STDs that might be a good place to ask about herpes:
https://www.medhelp.org/forums/ITS/show/37
https://www.medhelp.org/forums/ITS/show/37
1 Comments
Yes, we do. I didn't mention it because it's not very active. :(
COMMUNITY LEADER
Do you have his results? How was he tested? Do his results give separate results for hsv1 and hsv2? It should look something like,
"HSV1 IgG 9.6
HSV2 IgG 14.3"
His numbers will be different, obviously, but if doesn't have a separate number for both, he's had a combination test, and it means he is positive for hsv1, OR hsv2, OR both, and he doesn't yet know.
One of the world's leading experts, Terri Warren, wrote the Herpes Handbook, and it's in Spanish. It's free, and you can download it in English or Spanish here - https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/
Let me know what I can do. I don't speak Spanish, but I can use Google Translate and give it a try.
"HSV1 IgG 9.6
HSV2 IgG 14.3"
His numbers will be different, obviously, but if doesn't have a separate number for both, he's had a combination test, and it means he is positive for hsv1, OR hsv2, OR both, and he doesn't yet know.
One of the world's leading experts, Terri Warren, wrote the Herpes Handbook, and it's in Spanish. It's free, and you can download it in English or Spanish here - https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/
Let me know what I can do. I don't speak Spanish, but I can use Google Translate and give it a try.
8 Comments
HSV1 IgG 32.6
HSV2 IgG 4.97
I have the handbook. It's just he needs a forum like this or like the one Terri W. has that's in Spanish for his questions. He's really depressed and doesn't want to talk to me anymore - I'm really his translator for medical things. I was just hoping there was some reliable resource in Spanish because Westover Clinic and this forum have both been helpful to me as I navigate my own questionable results (negative for hsv-1; low positive for hsv-2) while I wait to take Western Blot.
HSV2 IgG 4.97
I have the handbook. It's just he needs a forum like this or like the one Terri W. has that's in Spanish for his questions. He's really depressed and doesn't want to talk to me anymore - I'm really his translator for medical things. I was just hoping there was some reliable resource in Spanish because Westover Clinic and this forum have both been helpful to me as I navigate my own questionable results (negative for hsv-1; low positive for hsv-2) while I wait to take Western Blot.
Does he want his own apart from yours here? Having your own space can be really helpful. I only ask because I can get someone to translate my answers - not just google translate, but if he wants his own space, I don't know of any.
What about a therapist for him? If he's not wanting to talk, that might be tricky, but is he at the point of needing a therapist? There are lots of therapists doing online therapy now and several that speak Spanish.
Is he depressed about possibly infecting you? I got it from a long-term partner, and if he wants to talk to me about my experiences with that, I'd be happy to.
What about a therapist for him? If he's not wanting to talk, that might be tricky, but is he at the point of needing a therapist? There are lots of therapists doing online therapy now and several that speak Spanish.
Is he depressed about possibly infecting you? I got it from a long-term partner, and if he wants to talk to me about my experiences with that, I'd be happy to.
He actually broke up with me because he’s so ashamed and thinks he gave it to me, even though I’m still not sure I even have it. He’s very macho and therapy is just nit for him. It’s too bad there isn’t a spanish language forum as many latinos could use that, both because of the language barrier and cultural differences. Thanks anyway.
I'm going to consolidate this.
Your other question:
What exactly is IgG measuring?
rikki_rabbit 1 hr
I am in the process of getting confirmatory testing (western blot) for low hsv-2 IgG numbers ( first was 0.98, 6 wks later it was 1.15), but my boyfriend just tested with a 4.97 IgG for hsv-2 and 32.6 for hsv-1. So here’s my question: I’ve read that those numbers do not actually measure the quantity of antibodies you have and they also don’t tell you how long you’ve had those antibodies. So what exactly do these index level numbers represent?
My boyfriend thinks because he’s got a higher number that he must have given it to me, and not the other way around, but not understanding what the numbers mean, I don’t know how to respond.
My response:
The IgG is detecting antibodies. It doesn't measure how many antibodies you have, or how much herpes you have, or how strong of an infection, or anything like that. It just tells you that you have herpes antibodies.
I could test today and get an 11.8. Tomorrow, I could get an 8.3. It doesn't mean tomorrow I have fewer antibodies, or less herpes. There is some background noise to the test - no one ever gets a 0.0.
Some of it depends on the lab. Some techs will stop the test when it's clearly positive. Others will keep going, since the number doesn't mean anything clinically or medically.
If you end up as positive, there's no way to know who gave it to whom. If you did another IgG blood test, and the number was even higher, that COULD suggest a new infection, but that's not set in stone.
And there are no winners in the blame game. I'm guessing neither of you knew about a possible herpes infection before one of you showed symptoms or tested. He can continue to blame and shame himself, and that will ruin your relationship way more than herpes every would.
Your other question:
What exactly is IgG measuring?
rikki_rabbit 1 hr
I am in the process of getting confirmatory testing (western blot) for low hsv-2 IgG numbers ( first was 0.98, 6 wks later it was 1.15), but my boyfriend just tested with a 4.97 IgG for hsv-2 and 32.6 for hsv-1. So here’s my question: I’ve read that those numbers do not actually measure the quantity of antibodies you have and they also don’t tell you how long you’ve had those antibodies. So what exactly do these index level numbers represent?
My boyfriend thinks because he’s got a higher number that he must have given it to me, and not the other way around, but not understanding what the numbers mean, I don’t know how to respond.
My response:
The IgG is detecting antibodies. It doesn't measure how many antibodies you have, or how much herpes you have, or how strong of an infection, or anything like that. It just tells you that you have herpes antibodies.
I could test today and get an 11.8. Tomorrow, I could get an 8.3. It doesn't mean tomorrow I have fewer antibodies, or less herpes. There is some background noise to the test - no one ever gets a 0.0.
Some of it depends on the lab. Some techs will stop the test when it's clearly positive. Others will keep going, since the number doesn't mean anything clinically or medically.
If you end up as positive, there's no way to know who gave it to whom. If you did another IgG blood test, and the number was even higher, that COULD suggest a new infection, but that's not set in stone.
And there are no winners in the blame game. I'm guessing neither of you knew about a possible herpes infection before one of you showed symptoms or tested. He can continue to blame and shame himself, and that will ruin your relationship way more than herpes every would.
So he's so ashamed and too "manly" to get therapy, but there's a chance he gave you herpes, and he left you over it?
I'm really sorry if that sounds harsh, but I hope you see the irony here.
He might try searching Facebook groups for something, but since I don't speak Spanish, I can't vouch for their accuracy or reliability.
This is on him now, though. I hope he puts his grown up pants on and deals with it, for your sake, and I'm sorry if I'm too harsh. I don't know him, so I'm worried for you.
I'm really sorry if that sounds harsh, but I hope you see the irony here.
He might try searching Facebook groups for something, but since I don't speak Spanish, I can't vouch for their accuracy or reliability.
This is on him now, though. I hope he puts his grown up pants on and deals with it, for your sake, and I'm sorry if I'm too harsh. I don't know him, so I'm worried for you.
Thank you auntiejessi. I agree he's not being rational or mature about it.
I still really don't understand these tests though because if, as you said, "the number doesn't mean anything clinically or medically," then why is a number over 1.09 (Quest's scale) "positive" and a number below 0.90 "negative? It must mean something otherwise what would it matter if it was a high number or a low number? Maybe I'm dense, but just trying to wrap my head around the science of this here and there is nowhere online that explains this.
I still really don't understand these tests though because if, as you said, "the number doesn't mean anything clinically or medically," then why is a number over 1.09 (Quest's scale) "positive" and a number below 0.90 "negative? It must mean something otherwise what would it matter if it was a high number or a low number? Maybe I'm dense, but just trying to wrap my head around the science of this here and there is nowhere online that explains this.
Well, I mean it doesn't mean anything as in determining the number of outbreaks you'll have, the severity of infection, etc.
Your bf tested with a 4.9. I could test today with an 11.6. He could have more outbreaks than I do, in theory. His could be bigger, or more frequent, or more painful. That's what I mean when I say that they can't determine anything medically or clinically.
Unless we can watch the numbers steadily climb, or you have a negative test today, and a positive test later, they also can't indicate time of infection.
It's not Quest's scale - it's the manufacturer of the test. Since they manufactured it, there have been studies done with comparing the results of the IgG to the Western Blot, and that's why many feel that the 1.10 positive cutoff is too low. At least 50% of positives that fell between 1.10 and 3.5 weren't confirmed with the WB, and the lower the IgG result, the higher the chance that it was a false positive.
If you have a science brain - https://www.focusdx.com/pdfs/pi/US/EL0920G-5.pdf
I don't know how they came up with the numbers - I'm not a scientist. I've looked for a long time for something in layman's terms to explain this, and can't find anything. I don't understand how they determine BP readings, either, or cholesterol levels.
I'm sorry that you're going through this, and that your guy isn't being mature about it. I hope things get easier for you, and that you get some clarity.
Your bf tested with a 4.9. I could test today with an 11.6. He could have more outbreaks than I do, in theory. His could be bigger, or more frequent, or more painful. That's what I mean when I say that they can't determine anything medically or clinically.
Unless we can watch the numbers steadily climb, or you have a negative test today, and a positive test later, they also can't indicate time of infection.
It's not Quest's scale - it's the manufacturer of the test. Since they manufactured it, there have been studies done with comparing the results of the IgG to the Western Blot, and that's why many feel that the 1.10 positive cutoff is too low. At least 50% of positives that fell between 1.10 and 3.5 weren't confirmed with the WB, and the lower the IgG result, the higher the chance that it was a false positive.
If you have a science brain - https://www.focusdx.com/pdfs/pi/US/EL0920G-5.pdf
I don't know how they came up with the numbers - I'm not a scientist. I've looked for a long time for something in layman's terms to explain this, and can't find anything. I don't understand how they determine BP readings, either, or cholesterol levels.
I'm sorry that you're going through this, and that your guy isn't being mature about it. I hope things get easier for you, and that you get some clarity.
Thank you so much. Really helpful, auntiejessi. It is so wonderful to have a place like this to come for answers.
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