[Question #11481] Continuation to Question #11463 | Herpes

14 months ago

Hi Terri,

I know that we closed on a note whereby you have asked me to repeat the test at 12 weeks (Thank you for being optimistic for me and thinking about me. That means a lot at this time). That being said, I am just struggling with extreme anxiety hence asking these questions.

1. Can I travel to Oregon or the Washington University itself to provide my Blood at 12th week mark to perform a Western Blot? I am from India (would there be any challenges in providing the blood being a non-native). I am in an extremely bad mental state due a recent positive for IgM (but negative for IgG) @ 33 days mark.

2. When we say a Western Blot, does it still mean it looks for IgG Antibody but with a different method? 3. While being at the 6th week now, I have not observed any of the following:

- No ulcers on the genitals (glans, shaft, frenulum, corona, scrotum)

- No painful urination

- No discharge from the urethra

- No blisters around genitals or mouth

- No swollen lymph nodes in the groin

- No fever (I might have had a slight throat infection may be on the first week and swollen lymph node on the neck but that is NOT there anymore)

I get a pain in the right scrotum and nerve pain in the right leg but that happens only when I am extremely stressed and anxious. This happened when I had an HIV scare and went off after seeing my conclusive results.

I want to use this thread to also explain the complete sexual history in case if that can help you draw some early conclusions:

- Unprotected Fellatio: 3 (1st week of May - 2024)

- Protected Vaginal Intercourse: 1 (September - 2024), 2 (1st week of May - 2024)

Thanks for the help.

14 months ago

Values for Ref:

HSV-Type II Antibody IgG – Negative - 3.72 (NTU) [Negative: < 9; Equivocal: 9 – 11; Positive: > 11]
HSV-Type II Antibody IgM – Positive - 15.33 (NTU) [Negative: < 9; Equivocal: 9 – 11; Positive: > 11]

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

14 months ago

Yes, you can travel to Seattle and get your blood drawn directly there. It is no issue that you are a citizen elsewhere. We can work together via telehealth to get this going.

But again, your experience is very limited as a risk for HSV 2! It looks like you've only had two sexual intercourse encounters, and both were condom protected. And condoms reduce transmission of HSV 2 by 65% and you have no HSV symptoms, so combining those three things, I think infection for you is very unlikely.

The IgM test is so poor with multiple false positives so that should not be the defining test here.

The IgG test, at least the one we use in the states, picks up 92% of HSV 2 infections, compared to the gold standard western blot. Would you consider redoing the IgG test, say at 10 weeks out, and let's re-evaluate if you really need to come to the US for the blot?

Terri

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14 months ago

Thank you so much for the reply. It is so relieving to hear from you. (Apologies - I had cross posted on westoverheights.com forum too. So please disregard the same.)

I understand that coming to Seattle for this might not making any meaningful sense but I have completely lost faith in the tests conducted here. I really want to get to the bottom of this before I lose it.

Request you to please help me with the procedure via telehealth if possible. I really really appreciate this help.

14 months ago

Also, I have been having Urticaria for over a year now. I have been occasionally taking medicines for the same.

Could that suppress HSV2 symptoms or could this Urticaria be due to HSV2 or HSV1?

Sorry! Been reading about this on the internet now.

Also please suggest how we can work together to setup a Western Blot at UW.

Thanks!

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

14 months ago

What medicine are you taking for urticaria? I doubt that anything you would be taking would interfere with HSV symptoms.

I see that you are posting at westoverheights.com. Let's finish this conversation there. You can set up a telehalth visit with me at that site - just follow the link on the home page to "get a western blot".

Terri

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