Sexually Transmitted Diseases Community

I'm going to assume you mean igg and igm testing was done.

you can't figure out how long you've been infected by the blood tests. Igm is frequently falsely positive and you could test postive on the herpes igm test for a lifetime even so no way to figure out if it's been 2 weeks, 2 years or 20 years that you've been infected.

your husband needs to be tested to see what his status is.

so why if hubby had hsv2 prior to meeting you did it take so long for you to get it? well honestly you might've went a lifetime even without contracting it or you could've contracted it the very first time you had sex. it really is as much about bad luck as anything - he would've been actively shedding the virus when you had sex and your body was vulnerable to infection at the time.

did you only have blood testing done or did you also have obvious symptoms?

well the whol thing started 2 years ago. I was pregnant with my son and 2 days prior to going into labor, I broke out with a rash on my lower back. It burned real bad. I have very sensative skin and so I went to the walk in clinic right away. The doctor said it was shingles. I took an anti viral and when I gave birth to my son, the hospital had me quarentined in my room and anyone that came in had to wear gowns, hats, and gloves to protect spreading it throughout the ward. I had never had anything like that before and went almost 2 years then outbroke again right before christmas, in the EXACT same spot on my back. I went into the walk in clinic again, because this was on a saturday and I was told it was shingles again. I also had a sinus infection. but then I got another spot on my upper thigh, about 2 weeks after that one, and the one on my back didn't fully heal. I thought they gave me the wrong antiviral because this one was different from2 years ago. I went into the clinic again (same one) and this time they gave me a different antiviral. Everything was fine, then I got another spot about 2 -3 weeks ago in the top of the crack of my butt. This time I was squeezed into see my regular physician and she swabbed it and sent me in for blood tests.

The first two times the rashes were on my back in the same spot and about 2 inches in diameter. The 2nd two spots were just a spot maybe the size of a pea.

I called and asked my doctor more questions about the testing after looking on this site and reading other threads. She said that the igm test only tests positive within 6 months of an initial outbreak and was type specific. the igg test shows from 3-4 months until forever. My number is 2.56.

because of the time line over lap, she said that I recently contracted about 3-6 months ago.

I am so confused about the contradicting information. What do the numbers mean?

your provider is mistaken about the herpes igm testing and it's value.

no way to know if you really did have shingles or if this was hsv2 all the time. did they do any testing on the lesions when you were pregnant or just visually diagnose you as having shingles? Also shingles rarely reoccurs.

did your swab test come back positive when you were seen this time?

From what you describe, I would bet lots of money that you didn't have shingles but rather HSV infection on your lower back and thigh. Genital herpes can occur anywhere from waist to mid thigh, and the lower back is a frequently seen area of recurrence.

The other reason I think this has always been genital herpes is that shingles rarely recurs - only about 5% of people who get shingles once gets another bout of rash. It sounds like you have had at least four!

The other reason I don't think it was shingles is because you just aren't the right age for all this difficulty with shingles.

I suspect you've had herpes for years, that it isn't new at all - and Betsy is correct - the IgM test can be positive with recurrences and is unreliable at best.
I wouldn't doubt your husband. Your physician is misinformed about how to interpret that test combination.

Terri

Thank you both very much. After everything I have read on the internet and I checked out your website as well, I thought this might be the case.

While I was pregnant the shingles diagnosis was visual only. I even asked the physician on duty if there was a test, and he said no. Boy if I knew then what I know now!

Also, Yes, Betsy, the swab came back positive. I am going in this week to get a type 1 or 2 test. Although my physician doesn't think it matters, I certainly do and am coming to trust my own judgement, not that of my physician, which I have a feeling I will be getting a new one. She also told me that herpes was only contagious a couple days before an outbreak until it was completely healed. All information on the internet contradicts her and states clearly that it is contagious even without an outbreak.

Thank you both,
Erin

make sure your partner gets tested too.

keep asking questions as you have them :)

We have plans to get him tested, but cannot afford it right this moment. Unfortunately he does not have insurance.

What do the numbers mean in the igg test?

Also, I want to get a type test done, but my doctor says that the only way to get the testing done, is during an outbreak. She also has me on 500mg 1x daily of Valtrex to prevent an outbreak. But the stuff makes me constantly nauseaus so I must admit I am not very good at taking it :(

I thought you already had a herpes igg blood test done? do you know the results of that test?

your provider is very wrong about herpes blood testing. it's accurate and ready available in the US. If they still think you can only test for herpes during an active ob for a lesion culture( along with they don't appear to be typing cultures either ) , they desperately need to update their herpes testing info. Encourage them to read the 2010 cdc herpes guidelines for more info.

it's important to know if you have hsv1 or hsv2. call around and see how much herpes testing would cost for your partner too. many planned parenthoods offer type specific herpes igg blood testing. some online testing facilities also offer it cheaply too. you can even save money and just the 2 of you test only for hsv2 too.

if the valtrex makes you feel ill, try acyclovir instead and see if you tolerate that better. It's also cheaper :)

I did have the igg test done. the results test said 2.56. But apparently my physician did not do a type test, to see if it is HSV 1 or 2.

I have called around and the health department doesn't test for herpes and all the clinics and other doctor's offices want you to schdule an examination visit, then will give you the lab order and with the cost of the visit, plus lab fees and handling, it totals around $300.

and my physician said that you can only do the test that tells you either have type 1 or 2 during an outbreak.

your doctor was referring to the lesion culture which does require an active lesion to do.

blood testing can be done anytime after 3 months post possible infection.

but the type testing is a blood test. That is the test we were discussing when she said that it could only be done during an outbreak