lots of questions

S

Sharon L

New member
Hi,
I have a few symptoms that I think may be herpes. Yesterday I went to a clinic for a Herpes select blood test. I will know my results in 2-3 days. I understand that I could receive a false negative depending on when i was infected.

If I did contract the herpes virus it is coming as a bit of a shock. I have been with the same partner for 12 years. Approximately, 9-10 years ago I had a relationship with another woman. Is it possible that I contracted herpes that long ago and I never had an outbreak? Reading about how common and widespread herpes is I understand I could have contracted it then but why wouldn't I have had an outbreak sooner? I suppose the other possible scenerio is that I contracted it from my partner. As long as I've known her she does get cold sores so oral herpes is present in her body. Could I have contracted her oral herpes through oral sex which then spread to me as genital herpes? Or could I have contracted the herpes virus 9 years ago and am just getting my first outbreak? I've read that a herpes outbreak can be related to stress and I am under alot of stress right now in my job.

I'm very confused and don't want to jump to any conclusions - I'm just hoping for some answers to make sense of this whole thing.

Thanks
 
Thank you to all for the feedback. My test results came back and I am positive for Type I and negative for Type II (see below). I can't remember the last time I've had a cold sore. My wife gets them but I haven't for 15 years. I do seem to have some type of immunity but now the test says I'm positive so go figure.

Regarding the negative Type II I guess I feel a little better that I have not been walking around unknowingly with Type II for some undetermined period of time. But realize from what I've read that I could get a false negative due to some factors which I still dont quite understand completely.

I do plan to see a doctor but in the meantime if anyone has any feedback about my symptoms and thoughts I would greatly appreciate.

My symptoms are an inconsitent burning feeling on my testicles that shows redness but not bumps. This has endured for probably 3 weeks. Also I have a small rash about half an inch - seems to follow a straight line (for about 2 weeks) below the head of my penis - covered in my foreskin/ring area. They appear to be small bumps but I almost need a maginfying glass to see. I noticed only 1 bump that looked like it could be scabbing but it only lasted maybe 1 day. The rash seems to be going away now. I didn't really feel any pain or discomfort in this area unlike what I experience in the testicle area. I do not have any other pain and feel very healthy overall - just a little stressed in my job and have some financial pressures as a result. But no fever/back pain/etc.

Since I cycle almost 70-100 miles per week I originally thought I was suffering from a jock type itch. Then as I researched rashes on the internet I paniced a little as my symptoms seemed similar to herpes. I suppose I could also have some type of bacterial or yeast infection but as mentioned the herpes got me very concerned. Anyway, thanks to those who have responded and thank you in advance to those who can give me additional input.





Herpes Simplex Virus Type I IgG Test (HerpeSelect) 4.49 0.00-0.90 Positive
Herpes Simplex Virus Type II IgG Test (HerpeSelect)
 
Just to be clear, you can have Type I in the genital area. If you have Type I in the genital area, your blood test will still say positive for Type I, not Type II. If you have a cold sore or your wife has a cold sore, do not engage in oral sex because you can pass Type I, which is normally oral herpes, to the genital area, which is normally where Type II is.

The only way to know if the bumps you are having in the genital area is herpes, is to have it swabbed and sent for a culture. Then you will know for sure. The blood test only tells you that you have Type I or II in your system, but not where on your body it will break out.
 
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