[Question #8799] Herpes questions

39 months ago

Hi Terri
I hope you are doing well.
Timeline below
April 16 Unprotected Sex
Vaginal and Oral
Day 5
GP gave me a prevent one-shot and two pills for Gono and Chlam. My Penis was a bit red, and I prescribed antibiotic ointment.
I had some red spots on the head and added the cream, but it burned, so I decided to Stop.
Day 7
I did not like a red spot in my shaft. I had to zoom in to see something.
I went to an er and sent a picture to my urologist back home in the USA
ER doctor said I don’t know, and it does not look like Herpes
The urologist said it could be balanitis, so they just said to wash and not apply anything.
Day 9
I went to an Std center, and the doctor saw me and said that it did not look like Herpes
Day 10
it looks better. I am applying some vaseline and get the red away.
On day 11 used powder and coconut oil and well got even redder
On day 12 just saw a urologist and took a culture (just rubbed the head of my Penis)
He said it does not look like Herpes but prescribed another antibiotic ointment
I have tested negative for both Herpes for the past ten years in IGG and have no symptoms.
My question is if I was a true negative, wouldn’t I have seen stronger symptoms.
Such as fever and blisters like in the pictures?
One of the doctors would have caught it, right? (GP,GP, Dermatologist and URologist)
Could Herpes be so mild, even if it’s a primary one, and be confusing to four doctors?
I am on day 12 and I feel the irritation in my penis.
I am planning to get tested for herpes at 3,6 10 weeks.
Following questions

Day 16 still no fever or blisters
1. IF I test negative for both Igg at 10 weeks should I drop it?
2. Can an outbreak start at day 12.5?
3. If I was to do a western blot with you, what would the accuracy be for 7 weeks? Do you have a contact in Germany that draws the blood?
4. What do you think of the situation?

5. Still red spots but have not changed for the past 10 days ?

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

39 months ago

Hello,

I see that you discussed this concern with Dr. Hook as well and that you've seen multiple health care providers since this experience.

Dr. Hook is absolutely right - herpes does not need to be a concern here, in my opinion

It's pretty normal to be concerned about some skin condition in the genital area when you've had an unprotected encounter but the symptoms that you describe sound absolutely nothing like herpes to me. Sounds like that is a general opinion also from the clinicians that you've seen.

I do believe that if this herpes at least one person would have suggested that as an option.

I don't feel that it is necessary to do three test for HSV. If you can't stop worrying about this, I wish you would consider testing only once, if at all, and that would be at week 10. Remember that there are some false positives on this test, so if you do an IgG test and the value is positive but below 3.5, you will need another confirmatory test.

I sure do wish you could let the worry about herpes go at this point.

Terri

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39 months ago

Hi Terri , I hope your doing well. Just wanted to give you an update.

So far it’s day 26 and well I have this 3 same spots in the Gland but haven’t changed for 20 days. No pain or itching.

The red rashes went away and the red patches never turned into blisters , sores or scabs.

No swollen lymph nodes, no fever no flu symptoms

I will test this weekend to get a baseline since it’s not bad and it would be 4 weeks since exposure. Do you think a test at 8-10 weeks would be the same reliability ?

Would herpes show so small I could not see it with a naked eye ?

Thank you for all your help ?

Let me know your input.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

39 months ago

I think 8-10 weeks for an IgG test would be adequate. Herpes would not be so small you couldn't see it with a naked eye, no.

Terri

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39 months ago

Hi everyone ,

just wanted to give everyone an update.
I tested at 4 weeks after my exposure for the following
Hiv 1/2 4rth generation negative
Chlam and gono negative
Syphilis by plasma negative
Herpes 1/2 igg specific negative
Hsv 1-.09
Hsv 2-.15
Should I test for herpes after 10 weeks ?
Considering that the doctors that saw me didn’t suspect it was herpes and I haven’t had any typical symptoms and today it’s close to 33 days after exposure

Thank you for all your help

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

39 months ago

I don't think further testing is necessary, no.

I hope these tests provide you with the reassurance that you seek

Terri

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