HELLO Herpes 1& 2

[HERPES_HeLp1234]

45 male.  Have had bi-sexual oral (penis/vagina) and sex (anal/vagina) over the years. Recently with a guy who told me the day before we hooked up he was tested and after we hooked up got his results that he was positive for oral gonorrhea.  The day after his test we kissed and he performed oral on me. We kissed, rubbed up on each other and he performed oral on me thru out our get together going back and forth kissing me and oral on me.  I didn't do oral on him.   After he informed me of his test results a few days after we met up I got tested.  So 3 days after we hooked up I got tested.  Was negative for full STD/STI except HSV1 POSITIVE-58 & HSV2 POSITIVE 1.38 with inhibition. I haven't had any signs or symptoms with the exception of a little irritation mild burning at top of penis head.  I do get canker sores several times a year but that has gone on for well over 30 years.  

Question.
1- Did I get tested to soon, only 3 days after exposure?
2- Is the HSV1 & 2 true positive as they told me because of the inhibition?
3- What is likelihood that I've had 1&2 for some time now and not new?
4- I messed up with having this meet up. I'm with my girl a long time now.  I haven't had oral or vaginal sex with her in fear of not wanting to pass on anything if I was positive.  We haven't even kissed (other than cheek or lip). How should I handle the news?

[auntiejessi]

So three days is way too soon to develop antibodies after an exposure. Any results on your herpes test is an existing condition - you had hsv1 for sure prior to this encounter, maybe even from childhood, like many others who have it.

Your hsv2 test could be a false positive, even with the inhibition test. We know that a 1.38 is below the 3.5 cutoff that could mean a false positive.

It could mean a new infection, but at 3 days, it's probably way too soon for that.

There are some people who have a blood protein that just get false positives. It's a totally normal protein, and it's an issue with the test, not you.

You can test again at about 6 weeks, but at 1.38, it's easily an 80-90% chance of a false positive.

What about the gonorrhea? Did you get treated for that? You should be. At 3 days, it might have been too soon for you to test for that. Test again unless they treated you presumptively. If he got results 3 days after you, you didn't give it to him, he had it before you.

If they test you by urine, make sure you don't urinate for at least an hour before going, and give them the first part of your urine stream.

[HERPES_HeLp1234]

Tomorrow.  Thursday December 2 will be 7 days after I finished the doxy. I will cut back on caffeine.  Because I took the shot and 7 days finished with doxy would I technically be in the clear now?

[auntiejessi]

In the clear to have sex? Yes.

Good luck. :)

[HERPES_HeLp1234]

Would I still get the mild irritation at tip  even tho I was treated for gonorrhea with the shot? It has been 2 weeks since exposure and Friday will be 2 weeks since the shot and treatment?
I do drink about 3-5 cans of diet soda a day.  Not much alcohol. I am pretty active.  Drink water during activities.  Would I still need to worry about gonorrhea even after getting the shot in butt for it?

[auntiejessi]

It's been 2 weeks since you had the shot, but that makes it only 7 days since you finished the doxy, correct?

3-5 cans of soda is a lot. Caffeine and carbonation are very irritating to the bladder and urethra, and if your urethra was irritated from the gonorrhea, then it's possible it will take a little longer to fully lose that. Try to cut back on the caffeine, but do that slowly. Caffeine withdrawal causes seriously bad headaches.

If you're concerned about your symptoms, follow up with your doctor.

[HERPES_HeLp1234]

They did give me a shot in butt at time of testing in addition to the 7 days of doxy. Sorry,  I didn't mention that.  So with that new info does that change your answer to question 1?

I will consider the blot test after retesting again.  If the number stays the same or below 3.5 I'll probably,  if you think it's safe to say it's most likely a false positive? Being that I don't have any signs or symptoms. Your thoughts?

Again.... THANK YOU!

[auntiejessi]

Oh I'm happy to hear about the shot. Yes, that changes my answer to question 1. That fully treats you for gonorrhea and chlamydia - it's the standard treatment protocol when someone is exposed to gonorrhea. They did a good job. :)

As far as herpes, if you don't have any genital symptoms, and your numbers stay as low as they are, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If they rise, though, even close to 3.5, I might get the test. We can address that when you retest. You can test any time after 12 weeks.

The mild burning at the tip could be from gonorrhea. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and ease up on caffeine and alcohol, if you drink a lot of either, and see if that helps. Things might just be irritated. If that doesn't get better in the next week or so, follow up with your doctor.

[HERPES_HeLp1234]

Thank you.  Makes me feel better. I was treated on day of testing for the gonorrhea prior to recieving results which turned out negative (3 days after exposure) with doxy(sp.) nitrate for 7 days orally 2X/ day. I figured I would retest in about 4-6 months.  Is that to long to wait?  Also when I did the urine sample I didn't give them the initial urine but I will definitely the next time I do. When I get retested and the HSV2 test comes back and hasn't changed much or at least below the 3.5 would it be safe to say it is probably a false positive as you described above?

The guy told me he was positive for oral gonorrhea.  I'm not sure  he meant he was positive for HSV1 OR 2. Either way I was tested, although maybe to soon.  Hopefully everything remains normal and the HSV2 is false pos.

So just 2 more follow up questions...
1- is waiting 4-6 months to long to wait for full STD/STI retest? or should I really get back sooner?
2- when retested and HSV2 is under 3.5 with little or no change to the 1.38 w/ inhibition is it still an 80-90% chance it's a false positive?

Thank you so much!

[auntiejessi]

Doxy is not the right treatment for gonorrhea. That's the proper treatment for chlamydia. Did you get a shot of anything?

I would wait 3 weeks after you finished the doxy, and test again. You have a partner, and not infecting her is important. Unless you also got a shot, you weren't properly treated for gonorrhea.

So your questions -

1- is waiting 4-6 months to long to wait for full STD/STI retest? or should I really get back sooner?

Go back sooner, as I explained above, at least for the gonorrhea.

2- when retested and HSV2 is under 3.5 with little or no change to the 1.38 w/ inhibition is it still an 80-90% chance it's a false positive?

Yes, some people will continue to have low positives on the test, and it will be a false positive. There is a test called the Western Blot that you can take to confirm or disprove your result. Your doctor can order it, or you can self pay, but it's very expensive - several hundred dollars. You shouldn't take that until 12 weeks from your most recent possible exposure.

[HERPES_HeLp1234]

Sorry.  1 last thing I forgot to add. This meet up was 2 weeks ago now and haven't had any signs or symptoms of infection except the mild burn at tip of penis at the hole.