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My story....

whyme26

By whyme26,
in Herpes Tests and Diagnosis

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whyme26 Newbie

whyme26

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Hello All,

I am new to this site. I stumbled across it while doing a search about a week ago and have been reading it every day since. From everything that I have read, everyone seems to be very supportive and understanding. Because of this I have decided to share my story.....

In December 2000, I noticed that I was developing a small bump on my forearm. I ignored it thinking it would eventually go away. Over the next couple of days, it began to grow larger and become filled with a lil fluid. I began to freak out not knowing what it was. I thought I may have gotten a ringworm from somewhere and bought the over the counter treatment. It eventually went away and left a scar. This started happening about every three or four months. A blister would appear, then go away and leave a scar behind. This prompted me to go to a dermatologist who could not figure out what it was. He even took a culture that came back negative (so he says) for HSV. To make a long story short, I also would go to my regular doctor who would perscribe all kinds of topical treatment that would not work.

In May of 2003, I went for my normal check up. When I went back for my the results on for my bloodwork, I noticed that it had HSV. At this time I did not know what HSV was, so I asked. He nonchantly said that I had tested posted for HSV2 and not to worry since it is so common. To add to that, I had also tested positive for it as far back as 2001. What was confusing to me was that I never had any outbreaks in the "V" area, I would only get these blisters on my arm which I am linking to HSV even though the culture came back negative. Upon finding this information out, I felt like the dirtiest person in the world. All hope for finding someone to marry me and start a family was shot down the drain. I have since come to deal with it, but not sure if I should probably have another culture done to determine whether or not it is really HSV? Is it possible for the blood tests to show positive for the anti-bodies even if you don't have HSV? I have read several articles that the blood tests are not an accurate reading. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Dealing with it........ :?

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dncrck Honeycomb Member

dncrck

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Dealing With It

Hi Dealing With It,

To the best of my knowledge, there are several things that fall in the category of HSV including HSV 1 & II, chicken pox, and shingles. Next time the blister is on your arm & is fluid filled have it cultured, and this will tell you for sure if it is HSV or not.

If it's not HSV, you can breathe a bit easier, but even if it is, give yourself a break. Many people have HSV and have families, partners, successful careers, beautiful homes-you'd never be able to tell them apart from the people who don't have HSV. I know of a woman with very severe HSV, who gets zoster and (I believe) has had to be hospitalized-not because of anything she ever did, but simmply because she got a weak strand of chicken pox when she was 5 that never completely resolved itself! Now she gets HSV outbreaks, and treats them with Famvir or Acyclovir.

Take this day by day is my advice..

Best wishes,

Chris (tina)

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whyme26 Newbie

whyme26

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Thanks dncrck for sharing your knowledge, I really appreciated it. It has given me a little hope that I didn't have before. I will keep you updated on the outcome....

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  • Posts

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      SUCCESS STORY: Herpes is an opportunity to built trust and connection through vulnerability.

      By CHT · Posted

      Hi "Jeremy"..... I agree, the topic of your HSV status does not need to be something you disclose too soon in a developing relationship..... get to know each other first....see how it's going and as it progresses, then the HSV issue will naturally need to be revealed.... it's my personal opinion though that before there is any sexual encounter you ought to disclose your HSV status.... I know some will disagree with me on this but, I think it is morally wrong not to disclose first.  This can be a make/break situation for most people but, again, I feel it is simply wrong not to give the other person the whole story since your decision not to disclose could put their health at risk.... that is simply not an option in my opinion.  Looking back to my "pre-HSV" life I most certainly would want my partner to disclose their HSV+ status before intimacy so that I could make my decision as to whether I want to take that risk or not.... 
    • Jeremy Spokein
      SUCCESS STORY: Herpes is an opportunity to built trust and connection through vulnerability.

      By Jeremy Spokein · Posted

      Thanks, CHT. I appreciate the feedback. The whole trauma of going through this has led me to figure out a lot about myself and my attachment wounds, so I'm taking courses to come out of this better. This girl really was my dream woman in so many ways, it's been the hardest heartbreak to deal with ever. I'm truly in a lot of pain, but using the pain as fuel to launch that new business and work with coaches. I also opened up to my family about HSV, so my parents and sister know now, and they were very loving and accepting of it. Since opening up about it, I feel way better around this thing. After opening up, I also found out that some mutual friends in our family have discordant couples who are married with children, so HSV hasn't stopped them from living a loving life. The thing is... all of these couples I mention did not disclose until 6-8 months into the relationship. So now I'm thinking it might be better not to disclose until I know things are very serious. I'll of course stay on the medication and use protection, but maybe this is a better route than disclosing upfront and scaring women off.
    • WilsoInAus
      Could this be hsv-2?

      By WilsoInAus · Posted

      Hey @Lcj987 and welcome to the website. You can be sure that isn't HSV-2, looks nothing like it. It is much more likely to be folliculitis or inflamed fordyce spots.
    • WilsoInAus
      Unsure if Herpes, awaiting swabs, need help

      By WilsoInAus · Posted

      Hey @JackThrowAway herpes causes an outbreak where it enters the body first and maybe a progressive spread. If it doesn't cause an outbreak at the entry site then it won't cause one elsewhere, it also won't 'jump' upon infection - it would be more likely that the lesions are continuous from the penis to the anus. Nevertheless, testing trumps symptoms or any interpretation of symptoms. The correct conclusive result arises when: you have a positive swab; or An IgG HSV-2 level over 3.5 (Herpeselect test).
    • Lcj987
      Could this be hsv-2?

      By Lcj987 · Posted

      Slept with someone unprotected, roughly 2 weeks ago now. I felt generally unwell the couple of days after but I’d been drinking the whole weekend and didn’t have much sleep either of the days of that weekend so put it down to that. 6 days after I noticed these spots appear on the shaft of my penis. Along with symptoms of discomfort in my shaft in the couple of days prior to them appearing. No pain when urinating at all that I have noticed. They don’t hurt, itch or tingle and they don’t have fluid in from what I can see or feel if I squeeze them and have never burst? I went to a sexual health clinic to get checked up, they took bloods to do a full test and looked at the spots but said they saw nothing that concerned them but I’m not sure about that, any advice? The smaller spots under the shaft are just follicles I had diagnosed years ago and non-sti related.
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