Almost two months ago I went in for a routine pelvic exam for a yeast infection and for some anal fissures occurring from the results of a poor low fiber diet. They found a lesion and swabbed it and it came back positive for hsv1.

I was taken aback because I had never had any issues or symptoms and it wasn't what I came in for.  Naturally, I freaked out and came home and did as much research as I could, including this useful forum. When I say I stressed out, I mean I lost it. I lost a dramatic amount of weight from loss of appetite and lost sleep, all trying to fit the pieces together. During this time I had what I can only think is a cold sore: my whole lip tingled and itched and burned, and then a tiny little pinhead sized sore appeared and was gone within a few days (with the help of abreeva) but my lip continued to itch and tingle for days afterwards and a tiny little flake of skin or something fell off of it. I had no noticeable initial ob for either that I can remember. It is a possibility that I could have caught both at the same time as I had one partner that I'm sure had hsv1 and we had oral and heavy kissing most times we had sex. While I broke out orally, I checked my genitals for sores and did not break out.

I went back to see my Dr for my physical today and talked to them about my case and they concluded that I am reacting badly mentally. They assured me that this was no big deal.

When I mentioned that I had it orally too they seemed skeptical or suggested it could be hsv2, though after some talking we agreed that was not likely. We did talk about how hsv1 spreads through oral contact, though, and the need to be careful. But it planted the seed of doubt. I am now worried about this, even though everything I have read here makes it seem like it is not very likely at all. Could the test have missed something down there as well?

If the swab test was positive for HSV 1, then that's what you have.  When you ask did the test miss something, I'm not sure exactly what you mean?  You mean could it have missed HSV 2?  If HSV 2 was present, the test would have read out as HSV 1 AND 2 or just HSV 2.  Having both would be highly unusual. 

As for your lip - the "outbreak" that you had does not sound like typical HSV 1 at all, but it could be HSV 1, given the sexual contact that you described above.  I would ask your clinician if you could take home a herpes swab kit and if it shows up again, you could swab it yourself when it is fresh and new and bring the swab back to your clinicians office - I used to do that all the time as that allows patients to gather samples when lesions are newest, which yields the greatest amount of virus and the most accurate test.  Plus studies have shown that patients do a better job of swabbing than clinicians! 

About half the population has HSV 1 so it is very common.  If you are having sex with someone who has ever had a cold sore, they are extremely unlikely ever to acquire HSV 1 in a new location (genital) so that's good news.  You may be reacting more to the word "herpes" than you are to the actual type of infection that you have.  A person with recurrent cold sores, for example, is far more contagious to others than you are - they shed on aout 25% of days while you shed on about 5% of days.  I would try to work with knowledge about your particular infection rather than the stigma of the word herpes.

Terri

Thanks so much for the reply, it has put me at ease. You're correct, that's what I was trying to ask. I just wanted to be sure it wasn't possible for it to be "hidden" or dormant during the swab.

I've worked hard to get over that stress and will be getting help for it. Even my physician said I was overanalyzing. I will inquire about the take home kit, but neither of these infections (existing or not) have been particularly active ever. It may just be time for me to move on and stop worrying.

Thanks again!

I just don't know I'm afraid.  Are you sure that you are not overobserving something normal that has always been there?  It sounds like it wasn't usual but just asking

Terri

I haven't experienced anything like it that I can remember. But maybe I was more focused on it because of stress. I'm just afraid of the chances of it being hsv2, even though I know those chances are remote.

The only way to know would be IgG testing or western blot for HSV .

Terri