[Question #8107] HSV 1
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48 months ago
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I was diagnosed by my doctor to have genital herpes. We tested immediately using both IgG and IGM. Both came back negative. I tested later and my IgG HSV one came back positive. I develop symptoms and signs the beginning of May 2021. Since then I have not had an outbreak. I have watched majority of your videos in regards to herpes outbreaks. I am aware that it is possible for me to only have one outbreak in my lifetime, but I could still potentially pass it on to another partner.
Again, the visible signs were there including swollen lymph nodes in my groin area.
If I were to go get tested now and my results came back negative, I assume I should go test again. Let’s say hypothetically I test multiple times and I come back negative what should I conclude?
I am a believer in homeopathic medicine and I did a five day water fast as soon as I was diagnosed.
In your experience have you ever seen someone have visible symptoms and test positive but, then actually be negative?
Have you ever seen evidence of someone being able to cure themselves via their immune system?
One other thing I would like to point out. I am very careful when it comes to having sex. I am aware that it only takes one time. With that being said, the people who I think I might’ve gotten it from have tested negative. Viruses are always changing and adapting. Is it possible that I had an ingrown hair and I pulled that hair that left an open wound and I got infected from the hot tub or a steam room?
I know most research says that that is not possible. I wonder if there has been any new research around this idea? I have seen some research from the 90s that state the virus can live in water and on surfaces for a certain period of time. Please keep in mind, now that I look back at it, the water in the hot tub was not that hot and I do not believe it was properly maintained. The cherry on top is that a lot of people use that hot tub and unfortunately, I would say some of them are not that hygienic.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
48 months ago
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If I were to go get tested now and my results came back negative, I
assume I should go test again. Let’s say hypothetically I test multiple
times and I come back negative what should I conclude?
Do you mean if you re-tested by the IgG test and it was negative (after being positive per your post)? There is really no need to test again unless the index value is below 3.5. If it is now above 3.5 for HSV 1, I would advise that you don't because the Igg test for HSV 1 misses 30% of infections, so I think that would be confusing to you. Was no swab testing done, is that what you are saying?
In your experience have you ever seen someone have visible symptoms and test positive but, then actually be negative?
Do you mean have I seen someone with genital lesions, who tests negative by IgG and subsequently tests positive? Yes, definitely, all the time. When someone has a new infection, they have no antibody but subsequently would develop antibody which would be detectable by IgG testing or the superior western blot test. If antiviral medicine is taken too soon in a new infection, it could prevent antibody development, BTW
Have you ever seen evidence of someone being able to cure themselves via their immune system?
Never. But I have seen people who have false positives on their IgG test who subsequently have a negative IgG test and they think they have cured themselves. Yes, I've seen that
If no testing was done from the lesion itself, as it should have been, then a visual diagnosis could certainly be incorrect, but I think you are saying that you serconverted on the IgG test, is that correct? But people don't contract genital HSV from steam rooms or hot tubs, unless they are having sex in those locations or receiving oral sex.
There is no new research on this topic.
Terri
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48 months ago
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To go back to that point. I had visible lesions and I tested positive. Have you ever seen anyone who has visible visions and tested positive end up testing negative at a later date?
Is there any type of disease/virus that would mimic HSV one and therefore make me test positive? Let’s say a bacterial or fungal infection.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
48 months ago
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When you say that you tested positive, are you saying you tested positive by a swab test or by an antibody test only?
Yes, I have seen people with false positive antibody tests who later tested accurately negative
What was the index value of your positive antibody test for HSV 1, if that's what you are referring to when you say that you tested positive? It's the number associated with your positive result
Terri
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48 months ago
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I did not get swabbed.
The dr visually diagnosed me as having herpes.
3 weeks later I tested positive via antibody IgG test.
The index value was 5.
Would a fungal or bacterial infection also make me test positive with an IgG test?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
48 months ago
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Sorry, I'm really trying to nail down exactly what has happened with you. Here is what I understand to have happened:
You developed genital lesions, you saw a doctor and they visually diagnosed you as having genital herpes
At that same visit, you had an IgG test done and it was negative for HSV 1 and 2.
Later, you re-did the IgG test and you were positive now for HSV 1, with an index value of 5. (if you look more closely at the result there is probably a ">" sign in front of the 5.)
If all of that is correct, then I think there is an excellent probability that you had new HSV 1 infection genitally.
No bacteria or fungi would cause the IgG test to be positive for herpes, no.
HSV 1 genital infection recurs very infrequently, if ever, so you may never notice another outbreak.
Terri
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