Positive then Negative IGG

[Elsa]

Okay I will provide a brief back ground then would just like opinions or advice. I had been extremely ill with a bad head cold for about 3 weeks that antibiotics were not helping. Even now 5 weeks later I still wake up with mild throat pain. I started feeling burning in my vagina and automatically assumed this was a yeast infection as I have been with my daughters father for 9 years now and have had 0 other partners during this time. About 4 days after the original vaginal symptoms I noticed small white ulcers inside my Labia (looked exactly like a canker sore but on my vagina). I immediately went to gyno who told me that it was herpes and started me on valtrex. I had taken a fluconazole 2 days prior as I had assumed yeast infection. The next day my symptoms were gone and the Ulcers were practically healed as well. I don’t know if I can attribute this to fluconazole or valtrex. I had cultures done which were both negative, and igm which was negative both 1 and 2. Then an igg negative type 1 and positive type 2 at a 1.11. I was devastated to get a result 0.01 over being equivocal or negative. Also of note my partner got tested and he was negative for everything and has never had symptoms. So I believed I must have got this over 10 years ago when I was in high school and carried it this whole time and even had it when I had my daughter. I decided to go to my previous gyno (went to a new doctor first time as I had just moved). He ordered another hsv2 igg. And this one was NEGATIVE at a 0.84. I am conflicted as to what I should do. I did not think my “outbreak” looked like herpes personally, but I had an expert telling me it did. I was just so extremely sick. The second test was only 3 weeks after the first. This has been extremely emotionally exhausting for me. Especially as a mother because my mind was spinning thinking I could have hurt my child at birth or given it to her in her short life so far. My partner doesn’t think I need more testing and I am leaning toward just waiting till my next pregnancy and doing another blood test then. Is that crazy? Thanks 

Edited May 22, 2018 by Elsa

[Taintedgirl]

Just wait for another test for your peace of mind but I highly doubt you have anything to worry about. 

[Elsa]

I don’t want to be “irresponsible” by not testing again but I’m just exhausted. This is going on 3 weeks of this, I had already started to accept that I had it, then this negative. I don’t know if I could handle the mental roller coaster of another positive. I would never have another child though without taking the proper precautions. My partner thinks I should just see what my body does and roll with the negative. I told him I’m willing to do anything for his peace of mind. 

[Taintedgirl]

The bench mark is 12 weeks to know for sure so maybe wait till then 

[Elsa]

2 hours ago, Taintedgirl said:

The bench mark is 12 weeks to know for sure so maybe wait till then 

This wouldn’t be a new infection though If I am positive. 

[Taintedgirl]

Just now, Elsa said:

This wouldn’t be a new infection though If I am positive. 

No it wouldn’t but it would allow your body enough time to build antibodies and get accurate testing done. 

[Dying2Live]

Honestly, I wouldn't read too much into the specific numbers. The standard blood antibody tests are more prone to false positives and false negatives than is acknowledged. The western blot is the most accurate of the antibody tests, so you may want to keep that optiin in mind.

That said, I would visit your doctor and insist on getting any new lesions swabbed as soon as they appear. Doctors generally know very little about HSV or the best testing methods and pitfalls, so try to have them look up the NAAT/PCR test from Labcorps/Quest/etc. and use that test instead of the antiquated viral culture test. You will be able to be much more confident in your HSV status with results from an NAAT/PCR swab of a fresh lesion. If you can't get the test through your doc, you can order it from: https://selfcollect.com/store/products/herpes-virus-i-ii?mkwid=suLm0jhU5&pcrid=179158904543&pkw=herpes test kit&pmt=b&pdv=m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo4iJj_SZ2wIVikwNCh2jNQGwEAAYAiAAEgL3M_D_BwE

[WilsoInAus]

@Elsa I would tend to agree with your partner, but a final test 12 weeks after the sores first appeared can put this to bed.

As your partner is negative, you cannot have a recent infection. As you suggest it would need to be 10 years or more since infection Most people test >5 in this circumstance.

The most logical explanation is that you have had a false positive caused by some random proteins in your blood that are clearing as evidenced by the second test. This is a very common scenario. You can put the idea of HSV-2 aside.

A remaining and still remote possibility is that this is HSV-1 from receiving oral sex. A 12 week test will hence assist in finalising all possibilities regarding HSV for you.