[Question #13360] New question regarding symptoms

1 months ago

Hello, I had previously asked about HSV due to a recent positive result on a HSV IGM test. My previous question # was 13309 under HSV. Ms. Terri had recommended doing std testing between week 6-8 for confirmation, which I am planning to do so at week 8. But this question is regarding what has happened since that first question.

Do any of these symptoms sound like an std at all? Between week 4-7, I started to feel the following:

1. Hives that come and go over body ( been about 10 days now...started about week 5 after exposure ).

2. Little red dots that look just like pictures for molluscum contagiosum on arms and body. Never a cluster, but rather 1 or 2 dots appear, bust, and then disappear in about 5 days.

3. Muscle pain in both legs/calves.

4. Headaches

5. Eyes extremely dry, itchy, and pressure behind eyes.

6. Puffy eye lids and puffy under eyes ( bags ).

7. Burning skin ( like sunburn ) on all of face, but cheeks, forehead, and chin mostly.

8. No blisters, but raised welts/hives that are skin colored on face but very itchy and burning sensation. Have been present for about a week.

9. Skin is drier and rougher near the areas of welts/hives.

My apologies for such a long post but hoping someone can help with what this sounds like.

So grateful for all your help.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

Welcome. Thanks for your continued confidence in our services. I reviewed your discussion with Terri and agree wit her advice. I'll comment that you could be a poster child for the main reason that HSV blood tests should not be done as an STI screening test. HSV IgM testing should never be done in adults (they do have some value in selected newborns being assessed for possible neonatal herpes) because they are inherently unreliable, especially because of false positive results. And the large majority of people with weakly positive IgG results for HSV2 do not have it. Because of these and other problems -- and the inherent fact that the blood tests for HSV are not very accurate -- all STI experts advise against testing for HSV in situations like yours. I'm sorry you've been going through the uncertainties over your results.

Going to your main question now, there are no STIs that cause the symptoms you describe. I am confident they are not caused by any infection of any kind from the oral sex event a few weeks ago. To be honest, most of them sound like the result of anxiety over the exposure (or a regretted sexual decision). Anxiety doesn't cause physical symptoms directly, but it certainly can make people more aware of trivial symptoms or even normal body sensations and appearances that otherwise would not be bothersome and often not even noticed. For those symptoms that imply a visible abnormality -- "hives", "red dots" that come and go, "skin drier and rougher", etc -- all I can do is suggest professional examination, ideally by a dermatologist. But in the meantime, none of these sound like symptoms of any STI or any condition of a serious nature.

I hope these comments are somewhat helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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24 days ago

Hello Dr. Hunter,

Thank you for you reply. Trying to keep it short, sorry.

If I may provide a better picture at week 8.

- Week 3 post exposure

HSv2 igg negative @ .12

Rpr negative

Hiv ab/ag negative

All other negative

-Week 4 post exposure

HAV igg 1.01

HBsAb 28.48

HSV IGM 3.14

HSV 1 igg .10

HSV 2 igg .12 unchanged

HIV ab/ag negative

Rpr negative

- Week 8

HSV IGM 2.34

HSV1 IGG .10 unchanged

HSV2 IGG .12 unchanged

HIV ab/ag negative

Rpr negative

Symptoms around 2 months post exposure have been burning and tingling skin on face, arms, and legs. Random pustules looking g single pimples on arms, legs, chest, buttocks, all over..even face. Not a lot, just 1 new one every few days.

Random mouth ulcers but they go away after a day or so...I think it may be me clinching teeth from anxiety bit not sure.

Urticaria / hives that come and go near the burning skin sensation, but the welts go away and then return withon 24 hours or so. Sometimes I can see a faint outline of it even after it goes away.

Skin was gray, then pale, then red, especially face. Itchy skin on face, body, and feet. Skin is leathery and flakey where the skin burn sensations occur. Never any typical hsv blisters broken out anywhere I can see or painful blisters.

Can stress do all this?

I have read that the test results are what matter and im trying to keep mentally sane, but from what the results are, would you say I have acquired a virus or bacteria or is it mainly in my head?

So grateful for all your help as I am scared.

24 days ago

Sorry...meant HBsAB of 28.48 was on week 8 test, not week 4 as typed on error.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

24 days ago

Thanks for the additional information. I'm happy -- and you should be as well -- that none of this changes my evaluation or advice. Your HSV IgM antibody test results are false positive. Your symptoms are not at all typical of herpes. Unequivocally you do not have HSV2 or genital herpes and can move on without further worries about it. It also is clear you have no other STI and I remain confident you have no infection of any kind from the exposure you are concerned about.

Stress probably cannot "do all this", but that doesn't imply herpes is the cause. As discussed above, stress or anxiety certainly can magnify how the symptoms feel and perhaps how you perceive the appearance of your skin. In any case, herpes does not do these things and neither do any other STI. I'm not saying your symptoms are "in your head"; even anxiety or stress induced pains etc are real. But again, this doesn't imply herpes or STI is the cause. If you continue to have these problems, my only advice is to see a primary care physician, ideally at a time when the symptoms are most prominent. But they aren't any STI including herpes, don't sound serious, and there is no reason to be frightened.

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