Need Guidance On Possible Herpes Symptoms

[WorriedSick512]

First off, I feel worthless and an emotional failure, so bear with me. 29 yr old Male. My last herpes test was a LONG while ago and I believe I was hsv1 positive, but hsv2 negative (it was so long ago, I'm not even sure that's accurate. I may not even have had HSV-1, but I think I remember the nurse saying I had it).

7 days ago (Fri night) - I had unprotected sex with a "friend." We have a "trust" that if someone does something unprotected, we don't expose the other person to it. Couldn't tell if there were herpes signs on her though.

5.5 days ago (Late Sat night/Early Sun Morn) - I received unprotected oral from a waitress at a wedding, but no visible signs of cold sores. I played with her "down there" and then adjusted myself, but can't remember if it was directly after (possibly hand to penis exposure myself???). I didn't do anything else but kiss.

2.5 days ago (Tues night) until now (Fri night), I started feeling my neck glands swelling. As of today, the left one is swollen and the right, not-so-much. There has been no groin gland swelling. I had a sore throat when I woke up Wed morning but went away quickly (prob from the AC). I've had headaches since Wed night and not sure if they are a symptom of Herpes or Stress induced.  No fever through Thurs (my temp read 96.7 - 97.1 those nights) although I'm around 98.3^ today and rising (I'm worried the thermometer may be off- nevertheless I'm one degree warmer tonight). And now for the big question: the "possible red blisters." I think everything I see down there is a Herpes rash.  I thought I saw one "obvious" Herpes blister with fluid just under the head of the penis, but the doctor said 50-50 chance cause it may have been a pimple.  He "stabbed" that one and swabbed it.  On the backside shaft of the penis, there was some red marks and what he said COULD have been a Herpe crator, but that it shouldn't have healed over that fast.  He then gave me a blood test for HSV-2, which should take about a week. He said there was a 50-50 chance, but that typically, most "initial" outbreaks are more severe.  

My problem is, I can account for the headache from stress about this. But I can't account for the swollen neck glands cause I don't have a runny nose or sore throat.  My temperature is rising and my fear is I'm only at day 7... I could be headed for worse territory.  

Is there a chance I'm "too early" in the diagnosis phase?  

Could there be any other explanation or STD as to why I have these headaches (sometimes at the temple, sometimes behind the eye, sometimes at the bast of the skull), swollen glands (neck only), and rising temperature after two unprotected exposures?  

Could I have gone to the doctor too early? Will the blood test after 6-7 days give an accurate result to include this last weekend's exposure or do I need to go back?

If I had HSV-1 before but never had a cold sore, could the girl who gave me oral sex given me HSV1 genitally and would I be experiencing these systems because of it?

Or could I have gotten HSV-2 from my friend on Friday night and I'm a couple days from getting the true Herpes-2 genital outbreak? I feel though she would tell me if she had anything.

Or maybe I already had something genitally and just experiencing a relapse?  Would these symptoms of headache, swollen glands and rising temperature all be relapse related?

I have no clue.  I'm lost and I'm scared.  I get my blood test back in a week. Some answers or guidance or words of encouragement would help.  Thanks in advance.

[gracefromHHP]

You are still negative and the changes in your igg are just normal changes and you are trying to read way too much into them. You can't read anything into them until you've waited until the 4 month mark and retest then.  Should you get a return of genital lesions before then , see your provider and get a lesion culture and typing done within 24-48 hours.

grace

[WorriedSick512]

Grace- Was taking your advice, but the doc wanted to test again after the equivocal, so 12 days after exposure, my new results are:

IgG HSV 1: 0.31
IgG HSV 2: 0.17
IgM HSV 1/2: 0.81

1. Considering my HSV1 jumped .1 in 7 days and I have had 2 straight weeks of severe swollen lymph nodes in my neck and groin, would it be safe to say I am tracking towards a positive HSV1 test? Is it too early to assume that because the HSV2 score did not move at all, that I may be HSV2 negative?
2. Could getting HSV1 orally cause lymph swelling of the groin?
3. How (if at all) would taking the heavy doses of Valtrex affected my results? Should I continue taking Valtrex/Famvir to keep any possible viral loads down and to also prevent me from speading to anyone else (orally or genitally)?
4. I know you say the IgM test is worthless, but should I take any consolation that it went down from 1.09 to .81?

Thanks for putting up with my neurosis.  I also feel bad/guilty for acting like it's the end of the world to have HSV2 when there are people that have to live with it everyday.  That's selfish and inconsiderate, so I'm sorry if it came off that way.

Being able to voice my concerns helped tremendously (I actually understand more about HSV just from this bb than my primary care physician does - he thought I had herpes cause of the IgM test being close to positive).  Hopefully all my questions and this post can help someone else down the road.

Seeing my words on this forum this has also made me realize I need to be accountable for my decisions/actions, so thank you all.

[gracefromHHP]

There is no reason to retest next week. You need to wait and retest 4 months after the last time you had sex. It's wasting your time and money to retest before then at this point.

Your anxiety about all this is the biggest issue right now it appears.  Perhaps you'd be better off working on that than retesting numerous times?

grace

[WorriedSick512]

Here are my blood results back from the doc:

Herpes Simplex Virus IGG & IGM
Herpes Simplex 1 IgG = 0.21  (Neg for antibodies to HSV1)

Herpes Simplex 2 IgG - 0.17   (Neg for antibodies to HSV2)

Herpes Simplex IgM = 1.09
HSV IgM Index Value 1.10 = Positive for Anti-HSV-1/2 IgM

The swab was negative, but I had a feeling he poked and swabbed something that was just an oil gland.

All my exposures were kissing, unprotected vaginal and/or oral.  Or is it safe to say that because I didn't have HSV1 before this encounter and the fact I started taking Valtrex last Friday (hence I wouldn't see lesions on penis) that the 1.09 IgM indicated I have a recent infection of either HSV1 or HSV2 "down there?"  Is there any chance this could just be a cold sore? Is there ANY chance the IgM picked up on the fact I've had Shingles (doubtful I know)?

I am getting re-tested next week and I guess I'll wait to see if the IgG 1 or 2 goes up and whichever one does is the winner... sound about right?

Thanks for listening and the support.

[gracefromHHP]

there is no such thing as an igm swab. The lesion swabs will not return with a numeric result - only a + herpes or no herpes detected result. Give the clinic a call today and ask them what your lesion culture result was if you aren't sure what they said.

Your igg is negative for both types of herpes so if this is genital herpes it's  a newly acquired infection.

totally disregard the igm result. The post by HHH I listed goes into great detail about why it should've never been drawn on you.

grace

ps I did read your pm but I don't give out my IM nicks - I only communicate thru the board here.  I'd never get a moment to myself if I gave out my IM nick.  

[life goes on]

Listen you need to relax!  You said that sometime ago you thought you tested positive for Herpes, but you were not sure.  This could have been a reoccurring symptom here.  Maybe none of those girls gave you herpes and you had it all along, but you were dormant.  No one wants to have herpes, but frankly most of us on this forum have it.  Others are looking for advice.  We all understand your stress.  But stress is a major factor for outbreaks or reoccurring symptoms.  

So many have the disease and don't know all the symptoms to look for.  Outbreaks are not the only symptoms.  

Symptoms:
Outbreaks/sores
Redness
Itching
Numbness
Burning
Tingle

It is possible that you may had one type of herpes and contracted another type of herpes (HSV1 or HSV2).  

I can't tell you that you do or do not have.  You will have to wait and see.  But in the mean time read up on Herpes.  Grace supplied you with a useful site.  It help me understand more and when I am at lost I contact Grace.  

Breath and relax!

[WorriedSick512]

Sorry for all the questions, but this may be a bit clearer:

1. Is there any such thing as a IgM swab?
2. Looking back I don't think the "lesion" that the doctor swabbed was a Herpes lesion.  In fact, he even said that it looked like it's been there for a while.  And I'm looking at it a week later and it doesn't hurt or scabbed or anything.
3. I've had Shingles before (about 2 years ago)...am I stretching/in denial to think that maybe the IgM test picked that up instead of a HSV1 or HSV 2 infection?  Could all the stress I've been under triggered something?  Or am I just being ridiculous.

I keep holding onto the rays of hope and keep getting let down.  My severely swollen neck glands and now somewhat groin glands is leading me to think otherwise.

[WorriedSick512]

Grace-

Thank God you're back. Ok, so I see the doctor tomorrow.  The nurse called me and said the swab was equivocal positive (which I'm assuming was the IgM).  I was 1.09 and normal is .90 (so I believe).  They swabbed it within a week of those two exposures, which I am taking to mean that I without a doubt acquired HSV... but that I don't know which one.  

Are you saying that maybe I don't have it entirely? Or that I may not have HSV2?

She said the IgG result was negative (.21 & .17).  Does this at all sound right to you?

Where I stand right now is that I have some sort of HSV infection genitally because the swab was "positive." The question is, is it 1 or 2.  Is that where my mindset should be?  My throat glands and groin glands have been swollen and sore for 1 week now... that means I caught some sort of virus right?  

I'm hoping it's HSV1. But if it was, I'd probably have a cold sore on my mouth as well as something down below since it would have been who the girl I kissed and received oral from.  But since I haven't shown any signs of a cold sore, it scares me to think that it's prob 2.  I guess I could get tested every 2 weeks to see which IgG test starts rising, right?

I'm really confused now.  My emotions can't take much more of the up and down.  I've basically resolved my

[gracefromHHP]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/248394  I highly recommend you read this post by HHH.

The igm test should've never been done on you in the first place. You can not assume you have herpes because it's +.  There isn't such a thing as an igm swab either. A swab is to look for actual virus in the active lesion. Did they tell you if that was + or -?  

At this point you'll need to wait and repeat your igg in 4 months. Should you get new symptoms before then see your provider within 24-48 hours for a lesion culture and typing again.   I"M guessing it's been over a week since you had the lesion on your penis that the doctor said may or may not be due to herpes. No reason to start any medication at this point - it's too late in the healing process and it sounds like it's about healed or gone anyways?

grace

[WorriedSick512]

I got the horrible call today.  I got swabbed and tested 5-6 days after both exposures.

IgG test was negative for both.  .21 for HSV-1; .17 for HSV-2

Unfortunately, the IgM swab they did came back at 1.09 and I guess the breakpoint is .90, so I guess that means I have it "down there" and I got it from one of the two girls, right?

Is there any chance there could be some sort of error?  

If not, they said that they can't tell if it's HSV-1 or HSV-2 down there, so do I have to wait for a blood test in 6 weeks to determine which horse is the winner.  Could I get tested to see which one keeps elevating?

Since I know now that I have something, does it help to take the Valtrex to help "lessen the viral load?"

I am so sad right now....

[scot101]

Well i experienced a sore throat about seven days after expsure. no fever and it wasnt anything bad... just a little sore. Then almost three weeks afterwards i felt slight burning on the head of my penis. i went to the doc and did a urethra culture (very painful).. he said it was probably irritation or heat rash since i work in the heat shortly after the pain went away. then about three weeks after that (six weeks from exposure) i saw small blisters and the pain increased but still not horrible. the blisters do look puss filled but are VERY small. they are surrounded by a red rash. i have noticed pain shooting down my legs but im not sure that thats anything different because i slipped a disc a few years ago. what do you think the odds of me having genital herpes are?

[auntiejessi]

You might not see an outbreak if you started the meds.

For me, I saw the blisters first - woke up with them one morning.  Had nothing before then and it was 3 days from the exposure.

This is one of those things that can vary from person to person, though.

Aj

[WorriedSick512]

When you first were exposed, did you see the blisters first? Or was there a feeling of ickiness throughout your body?  

My swollen glands started in my neck 3.5 days after exposure and now 6 days afterwards, it feels like I've got swollen groin glands (as of this morning).

Headache is gone, but my body just doesn't feel right.  I wish I'd have some sort of runny nose, but nothing.  

Doc put me on Valtrex yesterday, so does that mean I won't ever see the first outbreak?

If I was at day 14, I'd feel a little better... but at day 6, I feel like I still have 14 more days of this hypochondriac state. :(  Maybe someone could tell me their story to help me feel better one way or another...

Thanks.

[WorriedSick512]

I know I wasn't expecting to hear "yes you have it" or "no you don't" and in fact, the "maybe you do, maybe you don't" still really ***** (just like the waiting time for the tests), but it's nice to know there are people out there for you.  Thanks for the reply.

[auntiejessi]

Oh and feeling worthless and any kind of failure is really over-reacting.  Even if it is herpes, there's nothing about that that should make you feel that way.  Its just a virus - not a moral statement about you.

Aj

[auntiejessi]

Wow - lots of panic here.

First, the blood test is too early to diagnose, but the culture is good.  

All of these symptoms can be from herpes, a regular old virus, strep throat, mono, etc.

Your sore on your genitals could be a pimple, an infected hair follicle, herpes, etc.

If you had hsv1 before, the chances of you getting it genitally in the absence of symptoms are very very very low.  You should see if you can get your hands on those old tests.

Aj