Hello again Doctors! I hope you all are well. I wanted to give an update & ask some follow up questions regarding Ms. Warren & I's last discussion. 

(Question#3976) I hope you are able to reference.

Since I last spoke to her I have again taken the HSV IgG Type Specific Antibody Assay through STDCheck.com & Quest Diagnostics. This test was taken at nearly the 8 week mark. (52 Days to be exact). The test has thankfully come back <0.90 negative yet again. :)

Like Ms. Warren & I discussed in the past, I believe I was truly negative for HSV-1 & 2 prior to this ordeal; & since Ms. Warren stated that if that is truly the case then I would possibly seroconvert (If I was going to), slightly sooner. So all in all being negative at nearly 8 weeks is an excellent sign right?

I've also read literature that suggested the median time to seroconversion was around 23-25 days using the IgG test? Is that correct?

I've also since seen my Urologist who looked me over & said that she saw no alarming signs on my genitals. I have blood work scheduled through them as well just to get a reading outside of the online scheduled variety. 

A: What is the likelihood of negative turning positive from week 8 to 12? 

B: If 50% of people who are going to convert do so at 3 weeks, and 70% do so at 6 weeks, at 8 weeks would it be in the 80-85% range? (Higher/Lower?)

C: I've been having a slight discomfort/raw feeling on my penis shaft for 3.5 weeks straight. First two weeks it was more intense and the last week and a half it has gotten less and less. Never noticed any redness or sores. However, just yesterday it had some dry skin on that same area that flaked off. I took a photo & was able to show it to my urologist during my visit. She said it didn't look concerning at all. However, I'd like your opinion on it please.

D: I STILL have this pain in my left buttocks, hamstring, & calf off & on going on 6 weeks now. Very minimal, but there non the less. What gives?

Thanks again!

A.  I have not personally seen a seroconversion that late in someone who has not taken antiviral medicine.  It happens, but uncommonly.

B.  I think your percentage guess is about right or even a little higher in someone who is truly negative for HSV 1 and 2.

C.  First, I seriously doubt that herpes would cause 3.5 weeks of symptoms but no sores.  That just isn't how this disease behaves.  And add that to your negative test.

D.  I don't know why you are having these muscles aches but I would bet lots of money it is unrelated to genital herpes.

Terri

I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I am to hear your responses to my questions! I’ve been an emotional train wreck. 

I have indeed taken zero medications and I’m going to test again at 10 & 12 weeks to be absolutely certain, but I’m guessing that you would tell me that you do not expect my results to change. 

Also, I did get a panel of dermatologists to review the photos of the dry skin via “First Derm” and they said Balanitus. So, I think I have a pretty solid answer to that. 

I’ll update you with my progress and final results.

Hopefully I continue to have good news to report.

Thank you again for the time you dedicate to this.  

You are most welcome and we will leave this open so you can post your final results for me, if they happen in the next 30 days.  I am quite confident you will test negative again.

Terri

Making sure I understand correctly.  

A:You’re saying that in the 3 to 4 decades of you practicing medicine and your clinic, you’ve never personally seen anyone seroconvert after 8 weeks who wasn’t taking some kind of antiviral? That’s really saying something! 

B:Why are all the recommendations including the CDC to test conclusively at 12 weeks? Is that just the medical community including people with symptoms that are taking meds and also being conservative?  

Don’t get me wrong, boads wells for me, but I don’t want to get my hopes up too much and I’m trying to remain cautiously optimistic. 

Thx!!!

FYI: I don’t want to take advantage of the questions; so if you have to close this session; I understand. I’ll buy another round to post final results if necessary. Thx again. 

A.  I personally have not but it has definitely been documented in the literature to happen

B.  Because it does happen and yes, we want to be conservative so as not to miss someone or mislead them

Terri