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Avatar universal

a question for Grace please

I am a 50 year old male. Early this year my 25 year hetro monogomous relationship ended.
Neither one of us had ever had any STD or symptoms. In early May I was in Vegas, drunk and received unprotected
oral from a cross dresser. My god how I regret that. Within 2 weeks my penis was red, stinging and seemed damp.
Never saw any blisters but would see some paper cut like lesions. This went on for 3 months almost with no stop.
My doctor is related to my departed wife and I have not been able to bring myself to go there. Local STD clinic will swab it but they don't type it. I now have very mild outbreaks at least once a month, a paper cut or some redness, does not hurt or really itch, if I weren't looking I probably wouldn't notice. I do get what I believe is prodrome, tingly feeling in my thighs. I have not had sexual contact with anyone since. I have been tested with Herpeselect through Labcorp (online) many times:

Requestatest test date: 6-16-09 (6 weeks)
IGG type 1: 2.87
IGG type 2: <0.91

6-23-09 STD screen - all negative (7 weeks)

Requestatest test date: 7-7-09 (9 weeks)
IGG type 2: <0.91

Requestatest test date: 7-27-09 (12 weeks)
IGG type 2: <0.91

Requestatest test date: 8-26-09 (16 weeks)
IGG type 2: <0.91

Requestatest test date: 10-28-09 (25 weeks)
IGG type 2: <0.91

Requestatest test date: 11-30-09 (30 weeks, 7 1/2 months)
IGG type 1:  3.3
IGG type 2: <0.91

I realize getting HSV-2 from receiving oral is very rare. I also understand that recurring Genital HSV-1is very rare. In your opinion which
is more likely in my case?

thank you for any help, I have not been able to sleep or eat for months and I am literally falling apart worrying about it.
28 Responses
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Avatar universal
I have case similar to what TenTony mentioned, why do you guys dont think this is due to ghsv 1? Symptoms of genital herpes can manifest in any form and paper cut is something that is common for ghsv 1.

His Igg herpes Select test is positive base from the serology from labcorp.
and he mentioned that he received unprotected oral sex.
Everything is pointing to ghsv 1 (genital herpes type 1).

If you take a high dossage of valtrex 2000mg a day for ten days and use a betadine wash to clean the area I guess that would treat this ghsv 1 symptoms.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have case similar to what TenTony mentioned, why do you guys dont think this is due to ghsv 1? Symptoms of genital herpes can manifest in any form and paper cut is something that is common for ghsv 1.

His Igg herpes Select test is positive base from the serology from labcorp.
and he mentioned that he received unprotected oral sex.
Everything is pointing to ghsv 1 (genital herpes type 1).

If you take a high dossage of valtrex 2000mg a day for ten days and use a betadine wash to clean the area I guess that would treat this ghsv 1 symptoms.

Helpful - 0
1174003 tn?1308160819
I agree wtih Grace and Petal.  You at this time do not appear to have herpes.  You are seriously not infected.  Be proud of this.  The only way to ensure this is NOT herpes is to have the lesions swaped and tested.  But even then you have negative tests.  

You need to see a dermatoligist.  GP's are great and all but not specialist.  Think of it this way would you own an Apple computer.  You can take that Apple computer to any computer technican to have them look at it.  But an Apple Technican is going to know that computer from the inside and out. This is the same thing.  See the dermatolgist and let them investigate.  

Posting here and asking us what else it could be is not going to help but getting the answer from a trained professional will.  The one thing that is extremely clear here is that your test says you are negative.  Time for a visit to the good dermatologist dr and a cold beer.
Helpful - 0
897535 tn?1295206435
No offense TennTony, but I think grace has been abundantly clear as to LETTING HERPES GO! I don't think she, let alone testing, can at this point make it any clearer. Move on from herpes, and instead, find someone who will help you figure out what's really causing your symptoms...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,
this morning I received the Immunoblot results from blood drawn 40 weeks post exposure (type 1 positive, type 2 negative). I still have a nearly constantly present symptoms, a red damp line of somewhat broken skin 1/4"- 1/2" long on my shaft and occasional itching in my groin/thigh area...this has been here almost non stop for 9 months. if I blot it, it becomes nearly invisible. it did not respond to cortizine or anti-fungal cremes. to summarize my tests:

(6 weeks)  Captia type specific
IGG type 1: 2.87
IGG type 2: <0.91

STD screen - all negative (7 weeks)

(9 weeks)  Captia type specific
IGG type 2: <0.91

(12 weeks)  Captia type specific
IGG type 2: <0.91

(16 weeks)  Captia type specific
IGG type 2: <0.91

(25 weeks)  Captia type specific
IGG type 2: <0.91

(30 weeks)  Captia type specific
IGG type 1:  3.3
IGG type 2: <0.91


(36weeks)  Captia type specific
HSV-1 IGG = 3.34
HSV-2 IGG = <0.91

(40 weeks)  Herpeselect Immunoblot
HSV-1 IGG = positive
HSV-2 IGG = negative

I don't get it...what else could cause moist lesions occuring on my shaft? my GP has seen it and deemed it nothing important...how rare would it be for this to end up being HSV-2.../??...


thanks for all the time/information you have provided to me...if I have indeed worn out my welcome, just let me know and I will not pester you further...

Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
I'm not sure which part of no more testing and no more thinking you have to have herpes hasn't been clear to you?

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,
here's a new twist, the online testing company that I had been using clearly advertised the Herpeselect testing but used labcorp. I called them up and asked if it was indeed Herpeselect tests that I had been getting and after some searching, it was not it was Captia. I was offered an Immunoblot which is the only herpeselect test they actually can offer through labcorp and had my blood drawn last Thursday (Feb. 4). I am hoping to get my results Thursday of this week (Feb. 11). the blood was drawn for the Immunoblot 40 weeks after my exposure. are the Captia tests on par with the Herpeselect tests and would you be surprised if the Immunoblot returns a positive HSV-2 test after all the negative Captia tests (the last one being 36 weeks post exposure) ? I am increasingly concerned that I am just not developing detectable antibodies after 9 months. I have read many horror stories about this on the internet. in your experience, how unusual would it be for me to actually have HSV-2 after 9 months of negative tests ?

I will let you know when I get my imonnoblot results.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,
I just found out that all the testing that I have done, believing it was Herpeselect, through Labcorp, was in fact Captia...I have seen sensitivity claims ranging from 90% to 100% on Captia...would this change your opinion of my repeated negative testing...???...


thanks again...
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
you really need to let go of the chance of herpes.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
bump
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,
I would like to try a different test, but would have to drive for hours to the nearest place for a Biokit and the WB looks to be very hard to get, would the Immunoblot be a good test...???...all the others have been the Herpeselect Elisa...
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
oh for pete's sake - put away the magnifying glass!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
From what Grace said, I think you're worrying too much that you think it is herpes and it probably is not. If you use that cream, it will probably go away. Also, have you had HSV 1 orally? Anotherwords, do you get cold sores on your lips? That might be why your results are positive.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,
I hear lots of people say their OBs are just "paper cuts"...I guess what I have could be described as such, but when it is present, if I blot the tacky moisture off of it, it can barely be seen even (if at all) when stretching it out and looking very closely, sometimes even with a magnifying glass...would this be typical of the "paper cut" lesions...???...

I have a regularly scheduled apointment in 3 weeks, I am hoping to convince my doctor to swab it if there is anything there to swab.


thanks again...
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
The odds of this being herpes are so low it's not even worth contemplating at this point. Your symptoms do not sound like herpes.  if you want a 2nd opinion, see a dermatologist.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,
I finally broke down and saw my GP. I thought this would bring some closure to the situation. Unfortunately my GP told me "that's not herpes, herpes always presents as a small cluster of blisters". he went on to give me some hydrocortozone to put on it and told me not to worry about, it was nothing. this was as dis-heartening as my repeated negative IGG blood tests.
I still have the slightly broken line of skin that gets tacky on my shaft, it has been there nearly non stop for 8 months. it doesn't really hurt or itch (maybe just a little), but the tip of my penis has been a bit sensitive for several weeks now. I do have frequent itching/crawling feeling in my pubic/thigh area. honestly,  I know it is herpes, there is just nothing else that it can be.
the only thing I can figure is that after 9 months I still have not produces antibodies. either that or I have a frequently occuring GHSV-1 infection (my ONLY exposure was oral).

have you often seen people not produce antibodies even after 9 months ?

thanks again...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thank you Grace. I just got off the phone with my 9 month results:

HSV-1 IGG = 3.34
HSV-2 IGG = <0.91

I am confused but for the first time beginning to think (hope) I can beleive you...9 months should be somewhat conclusive huh...???...I am thinking of making an appointment next time I get symptoms...


thank you again, you are the only person I have confided in in 9 months of head spinning depression/anxiety...it may not seem like much to you but your comments and opinions have helped me out a lot...
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
you still need to go and be seen for this. odds are it isn't herpes so you need to go and find out what is really going on. you've left it go untreated for far too long now.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
sorry to say I have not. I am not in a sexual relationship right now. the clinic will only swab, but not type. I called Urgent care and one person tells me they will test and type it, the next tells me they won't.

my symptoms now are a slightly sticky/tacky line that sometimes is a little red on the shaft of my penis. if I blot it with cloth or toilet paper you can not really yell it's there inless you look very closely. this will last for a month or more. it doesn't really hurt or itch and I have to stretch my penis out to see it because it is in "the folds" if you know what I mean. I am very sorry for the graphic nature of this post.

Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
did you ever go to be seen about all of this?

grace
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
you need to get herpes off your brain. it's not the cause of your symptoms and the odds of it not being picked up on the repeated testing you've had done is slim and not worth continued worry about.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,
after doing much (maybe too much) looking on the internet I have found some statements indicating that if someone has a prior HSV-1 infection then the Herpeselect is only about 80% effective at picking up HSV-2 infections (as far as I can tell this is only from one study done in 2003)...then I read nearly EVERYWHERE else that it is 98% effective at 16 weeks...on HERPESELECT.COM, the figure Terri uses, the figure Drs. in the STD forum use seems to be 98%...

1.) does the 98% sensitivity figure apply to everyone, meaning those with HSV-1 ? (I have to believe it does with the high prevelance of HSV-1 infections, if not the 98% figure would be very misleading)

2.) after 7 or 8 months of repeated negative HSV-2 IGG results, would it be unusual for that person to eventually turn positive ?

thanks again,
still struggling
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
yes fungal infections will often wax and wane even without treatment.

it's 2% risk that it's not accurate. Not worth any further thought about.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,
thank you for your time and feedback, a night to sleep on your comments have left me with the following two questions:

1.) can a chronic yeast infection get better, then worse on it's own like recurring ?

2.) how conclusive can I consider my negative HSV-2 test at 7 1/2 months ?
Helpful - 0
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