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Unusual Symptoms?
Dear Doc:
Got tested and had a positive result:
Type specific IgG numbers at 3.45 for HSV 2.
HSV 1 was at 3.81.
I realize the possibility I've had type two for a while. On 3 occasions, and since 2007, I’ve had a very small oval patch of broken skin on the labia majora that I dismissed since these patches never appeared after having sex. Since 2007, I've only had intercourse about a dozen times – protected. Also had test on one 3 days into noticing the patch and swap was negative.
Nov. of 2011, I had unprotected sex and felt a burning sensation in the vaginal opening 2 days after. Since then (going on 10 weeks now) I've had an intermittent but persistent on and off burning sensation, not when urinating, no discharge, no blisters/patches, no itching, redness, or any other symptoms other than burning. Was examined and tested for other STDs and vaginal yeast/bacteria, UTI - all negative. The Obgyn couldn't see anything unusual. Sometimes the burning stops for 1-5 days but then comes back. Burning lasts for sometimes 5 min, sometimes an hour, sometimes all day, then goes away completely for a few days or is very mild. Have a prescription for 500mg of Valacyclovir for 25 days. Haven't taken the meeds because I have to go for a urine drug screen (job related) and don't want the meeds to influence the test. I don't do any drugs, nor am I currently sexually active at all.
Questions:
-Could the burning sensation be a very long outbreak in the vaginal opening or is there possibly something else going on, perhaps on top of HSV?
-Does it make sense for me to take the Western Blot test to confirm type 2 given that my IgG numbers were at 3.45?
-What else should I test for? I spent close to $1000 and I'm unsure if repeating tests at this point is necessary?
I'm at a loss and really worried about these prolonged symptoms. I'm hoping you
can possibly shed some light on this and stir me in the right direction.
Thank you so very much for your time and advice!
Got tested and had a positive result:
Type specific IgG numbers at 3.45 for HSV 2.
HSV 1 was at 3.81.
I realize the possibility I've had type two for a while. On 3 occasions, and since 2007, I’ve had a very small oval patch of broken skin on the labia majora that I dismissed since these patches never appeared after having sex. Since 2007, I've only had intercourse about a dozen times – protected. Also had test on one 3 days into noticing the patch and swap was negative.
Nov. of 2011, I had unprotected sex and felt a burning sensation in the vaginal opening 2 days after. Since then (going on 10 weeks now) I've had an intermittent but persistent on and off burning sensation, not when urinating, no discharge, no blisters/patches, no itching, redness, or any other symptoms other than burning. Was examined and tested for other STDs and vaginal yeast/bacteria, UTI - all negative. The Obgyn couldn't see anything unusual. Sometimes the burning stops for 1-5 days but then comes back. Burning lasts for sometimes 5 min, sometimes an hour, sometimes all day, then goes away completely for a few days or is very mild. Have a prescription for 500mg of Valacyclovir for 25 days. Haven't taken the meeds because I have to go for a urine drug screen (job related) and don't want the meeds to influence the test. I don't do any drugs, nor am I currently sexually active at all.
Questions:
-Could the burning sensation be a very long outbreak in the vaginal opening or is there possibly something else going on, perhaps on top of HSV?
-Does it make sense for me to take the Western Blot test to confirm type 2 given that my IgG numbers were at 3.45?
-What else should I test for? I spent close to $1000 and I'm unsure if repeating tests at this point is necessary?
I'm at a loss and really worried about these prolonged symptoms. I'm hoping you
can possibly shed some light on this and stir me in the right direction.
Thank you so very much for your time and advice!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Just call the clinic at 503-226-6678 and set up a phone consultation with me and we will take care of it.
Terri
Terri
Yes, Terri I would like to become a patient so I can get the test done. Could you tell me how to go about it.
Thanks
Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The Quest lab code is 34534. You can ask your regular health care provider to order it for you, if not, you can become a patient of my clinic and we will order it for you.
Terri
Terri
I want to get the western blot also, with a IGG of 2.24, I want confirmation. I was diagnosed in Oct 2011. Herpes diagnosis came after a trich and yeast diagnoses. I had a little burning sensation, no lesions or anything but my vagina did appear a lil swollen. Now I have been all over pain, I guess i would describe it as tingling burning pain. I also get sore muscles. Is that normal??? I just need a lil advice on should i get the western blot... I just feel if im getting diagnosed with life long illness, i should follow up with a confirmation test,,,,which seems expensive and unobtainable or should i say hard to get. Any suggestions would help
Thanks
Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
welcome
Thank you, Terri.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I rarely see herpes on the vaginal walls, sometimes on the cervix, mostly with first infection, but again, those symptoms would normally be gone in a few weeks. Most herpes, in my experience, if it is going to be inside, is also outside at some point.
Terri
Terri
Two more questions, Terri
Would herpes inside the vaginal walls or cervix cause prolonged symptoms? And, how common is having herpes on the interior vs exterior?
Thank you!
Would herpes inside the vaginal walls or cervix cause prolonged symptoms? And, how common is having herpes on the interior vs exterior?
Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Good idea.
Terri
Terri
I just spoke to the University of Washington Virology Research about he Western Blot test. They say that sometimes HSV1 numbers can affect HSV 2 numbers. I'll definitely get the Western Blot test. Thank you, Terri.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
should have read "what it was in person....
Dear Terri,
I'm a bit confused by this sentence: "If the providers who say you couldn't say that it was in person, I'm a bit at a loss to help you, other than to say..."
-thank you for clarifying.
I'm a bit confused by this sentence: "If the providers who say you couldn't say that it was in person, I'm a bit at a loss to help you, other than to say..."
-thank you for clarifying.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hard to say what the burning might be, but I kind of doubt a long herpes outbreak. If the providers who say you couldn't say that it was in person, I'm a bit at a loss to help you, other than to say, maybe but unlikely herpes. You could try taking a month or so of herpes medicine and see your symptoms improve, that's what I would recommend if you were my patient. If they don't improve, I would say it is even more unlikely that it is herpes.
As for the western blot - we confirm all HSV 2 serologies whose index value is between 1.1 and 3.5. Yours is pretty darn close and with symptoms that you describe, I would say it is very likely that you have herpes. The decision to get a western blot is clearly in your ballpark. Would I? Probably, just because this is a lifelong infection and you want to be certain or as certain as you can be.
Terri
As for the western blot - we confirm all HSV 2 serologies whose index value is between 1.1 and 3.5. Yours is pretty darn close and with symptoms that you describe, I would say it is very likely that you have herpes. The decision to get a western blot is clearly in your ballpark. Would I? Probably, just because this is a lifelong infection and you want to be certain or as certain as you can be.
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
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.
