[Question #11870] Doctors are saying different things
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11 months ago
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Hi Terri,
I hope you can help me here. I am in a very difficult situation.
I thin it was on sunday night before I was going to sleep, I felt a severe itch on my right labia. For the past days prior and probably still, I have been suffering from a yeast infection so I just guessed it was because of that. However, this time, I felt a bumb.
The day after (26th) the bump started to look like a pimple but with a whitish clearish center, pretty translucent, so thats when I worried about herpes. This is hearbearing area, on the vaginal lip between the minora and majora labia. I scheduled an appointment and today (I guess less than 48 hours after exploring the bump) it started to look more concering. It looked like a pimple but with a blister translucnet skin almost, but there was minimal pain. Only when touching. I went to a gynecologist and he told me he was pretty sure that was some sort of bacterial infection, but he did use a PCR swab (thank god)
However, for some reason I wanted a second opinion. So 3-4 hours later I went to another clinic and where the gynecologist straight up looked at it and said "yes, thats herpes!", and I told her "what if the PCR is negative?" and she just answered "it does not matter, thats a herpes lesion, so no matter what the PCR says, thats herpes"
Honestly, yes, looking at it, it reminds me of a very tiny herpes lesion. But honestly, could it not be something else? What if my PCR is negative? I am so confused :(
I thin it was on sunday night before I was going to sleep, I felt a severe itch on my right labia. For the past days prior and probably still, I have been suffering from a yeast infection so I just guessed it was because of that. However, this time, I felt a bumb.
The day after (26th) the bump started to look like a pimple but with a whitish clearish center, pretty translucent, so thats when I worried about herpes. This is hearbearing area, on the vaginal lip between the minora and majora labia. I scheduled an appointment and today (I guess less than 48 hours after exploring the bump) it started to look more concering. It looked like a pimple but with a blister translucnet skin almost, but there was minimal pain. Only when touching. I went to a gynecologist and he told me he was pretty sure that was some sort of bacterial infection, but he did use a PCR swab (thank god)
However, for some reason I wanted a second opinion. So 3-4 hours later I went to another clinic and where the gynecologist straight up looked at it and said "yes, thats herpes!", and I told her "what if the PCR is negative?" and she just answered "it does not matter, thats a herpes lesion, so no matter what the PCR says, thats herpes"
Honestly, yes, looking at it, it reminds me of a very tiny herpes lesion. But honestly, could it not be something else? What if my PCR is negative? I am so confused :(
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
11 months ago
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I think we are ahead of ourselves here. the PCR results should be back very soon now. If the PCR is negative, then I would recommend that you get a baseline HSV IgG test. Then you will repeat that in about 6 weeks to look for the development of antibody. Or if the IgG test is significantly positive for HSV 2, particularly, then we can know that what you experienced is a recurrence of an older infection.
Had you recently had a new sexual partner? If yes, do they have herpes or have they been tested for herpes? Was a condom used? Have you ever been tested for HSV in the past? There are several questions here that could be answered and shed more light on your situation.
Terri
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11 months ago
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Hi Terri,
Thank you.
Thank you.
Yes I was actually IGG tested 1 month ago. That was negative for HSV2. I did not request for HSV1 however. However 2 years ago I had IGG test for both HSV1 and HSV2, I was negative there too. Both I have had encounters after.
I have had encounters within the last month, yes unprotected. Both new and old.
I want to note that the blister lesion looking thing is flat, so the doctor did not rupture it. He said it will be accurate even if he rubbed it outside of the intact skin because the PCR is...sensitive enough?
If the PCR is negative and because I had a negative baseline earlier for HSV2, do you think I require more testing?
I want to note that the blister lesion looking thing is flat, so the doctor did not rupture it. He said it will be accurate even if he rubbed it outside of the intact skin because the PCR is...sensitive enough?
If the PCR is negative and because I had a negative baseline earlier for HSV2, do you think I require more testing?
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11 months ago
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Sorry I want to add that no condom was used and I am not aware of their status
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11 months ago
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Also maybe a part of me is worried the symptoms are older than 48 hours and that I just did not feel the bump until 2 days ago. I looks like a raised pimple almost, but the top is like flat and pretty milky translucent color, almost looking like a halo too. It is hard to describe but yes, I dont know what else it could be.
I just want to know how I can accuretely get diagnosed at this point
I just want to know how I can accuretely get diagnosed at this point
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
11 months ago
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If the swab PCR is negative, then I would recommend that you repeat the IgG in six weeks, looking for an increase from negative. I think you do need more testing because one clinician was so certain that this was HSV. Don't you think so?
Terri
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11 months ago
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Hi Terri,
Thank you for your reply.
Thank you for your reply.
What if its HSV1? I heard the IGG misses 30 % of those infections. How can I ever be sure if this is herpes or not? I feel honestly so conflicted by their different opinions :( First doctor was sure it was not, then second one, she was sure.
Also it does not hurt when my pee touches the "oubreak", but when I was in the shower and washed myself recently, I did feel a sting.
If I do an IGG test in 6 weeks, and I am negative. What is the best way to go? Or would you say that I definetly have it?
Also it does not hurt when my pee touches the "oubreak", but when I was in the shower and washed myself recently, I did feel a sting.
If I do an IGG test in 6 weeks, and I am negative. What is the best way to go? Or would you say that I definetly have it?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
11 months ago
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The IgG test also looks for HSV 1, but it misses 30% of infections compared to the gold-standard herpes western blot. The best way is to do the western blot, but you would need to wait 12 weeks from any unprotected encounter to do it. It is expensive, but it is the very best test for both HSV 1 and HSV 2.
It is so difficult when you get conflicting opinions! But if you do this best test after waiting 12 weeks from the encounter that was unprotected, then you'll know for sure one way or the other.
Terri
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