a month post encounter doesn't mean anything.
got IGG testing exactly 4 weeks after exposure. results were:
Type 1 : 0.25
Type 2: 0.24
Does this have any relevance for 4 weeks after exposure? If I did catch HSV would the levels be higher than this after 4 weeks (but still not conclusive)?
FYI, all other STDs came back negative and dermatologist ruled out fungi.
Thanks again.
unfortunately nothing else to do but wait and repeat your testing. follow up with your provider should you get any further symptoms.
In the absence of any new lesions is there any way for me to verify the diagnosis other than getting an IGG test in 3 or 4 months?
I fairly certain my symptoms are consistent with HSV. But could someone please double-check the following (I know no one here can diagnose me, and I still need to see my doctor):
-on the night of 8/05/11 I had vaginal sex using a condom (I'm male)
-over the next couple of day (saturday and sunday) my scrotum area became slightly itchy and slightly red, but these symptoms where very mild. I also experienced tightness in my back.
-that Sunday night (8/07/11) I noticed 2 'red spots' next to each other on my scrotum. They looked similar to bug bites but were a darker red color than bug bites.
-other than the red spots, I didn't experience any other symptoms. no pain
-On Monday (8/08/11) I went to a clinic. The doctor said it "looked like herpes" and what I believe is a tzanck test, which he claimed confirmed that it was herpes. (I understand this test is unreliable)
-after 5 days of treatment with Acyclovir, symptoms improved (the red spots shrunk and redness disappeared).
-a few days after I finished taking the Acyclovir, I again experienced tightness in my back, followed by minor redness on my scrotum and minor itchiness in the same area
Are the above consistent with HSV, could it be something else?
Again, thanks so much for your help.
you never want the herpes igm test done. it's a greatly flawed test and current cdc recommendations are that it not be used in adults for the purpose of diagnosing herpes infections.
make sure the igg testing you get done is type specific too.
Thanks again Grace.
I contacted another hospital via their website for an appointment and gave them the same info that I provided here. In their reply they suggested these tests:
Herpes simplex IgG
Herpes simplex IgM
Each takes about 4 days. Those are the correct tests right?
Also, is there anything I should bring up with the doctor or any questions I should ask?
Thank you.
no it doesn't confirm that it's herpes at all. it has a very high false positive rate which is why it hasn't been used to diagnose herpes for quite some time now.
the provider who told you that treating the first ob reduces the number of future ob's is misinformed.
Thanks so much, Grace.
A few more questions:
Does the tzanck smear at least confirm that I have SOME form of one of the herpes strains?
I agree that preventing shredding is very important and one of my paramount concerns for the future.
However, the doctor at the clinic said that treating the initial OB with an antiviral drug would make future outbreaks less likely.....is he just simply wrong? (sorry to ask the same question twice but I'm getting conflicting info)
If anyone knows of data/research studies about this I'd appreciate it.
I let the partner know about this after I found out. Unfortunately, at this point I can't get into contact with her, she's left the area - we're both travelers/backpackers.
I return home in a week and a half so I might just wait until then for more tests.
Thanks again.
it was the tzanck smear I'm sure. Darn shame they are still using such outdated and inaccurate methods to diagnose folks :(
at this point all you can do is take the 5 days of medication and follow up with proper igg blood testing. if in a week or two you get a new batch of genital lesions, be seen elsewhere and get a lesion culture and typing done. don't worry about getting more medication at this point, it's more important to get an accurate diagnosis.
no, treating the first ob makes absolutely no difference in the number of future ob's or on future shedding ( which is far more important of an issue than actual recurrences too ).
you also might want to seek out a type specific herpes igg blood test done this week and then repeat it in 3 or 4 months too.
any chance you can get the partner in question to get herpes igg blood testing and share their results with you too? odds are they've never been tested for herpes before to know their status.
grace
Hi,
Thanks for your response.
I don't know the name of the test. It was done at a clinic for traveler's, so it didn't take long.
They took a sample of the infected area, then we had to wait for about 15 minutes (they had to do something to the sample). Afterwards the doctor looked at it under a microscope (and showed me as well) and said that he had confirmed it was herpes.
What kind of test is that?
On the chance that it is herpes, should I insist that I take the antiviral drug for a full ten days or until my 'red spots' go away?
Thanks.
I guess that before getting your answers, you still need to confirm your status.
Can you get a copy of your results with your doctor? The test you had was most probably a Tzanck test, which is not a fully reliable test. You doctor should`ve had a PCR swab, or a culture. Typing the virus is also important, and your doctor was so wrong to assume it was HSV2. So it would be better to double check what kind of testing you had before assuming you have herpes.