Igm

[Confusedmw]

i Know that igm tests are “unreliable” in adults. But I’m still curious. Anything above 1 is a positive result. My test reads 1:40. Does that mean 1.4? And if so, is that a low positive? I know I have hsv1 bc I have coldsores. But this test is recent and didn’t have an igg. It had igg for hsv2 which was negative and negative in igm for hsv2. I am still concerned that I have contracted hsv1 genitally as my doctors still have no explanation for anything that’s going on with me downstairs. I also just see a lot that people with hsv1 orally tend to test negative which is so confusing to me. Bc I’ve had it for a long time and I still tested positive. Granted I had a coldsore about 7 weeks before testing. 

Edited May 31, 2018 by Confusedmw

[WilsoInAus]

Are you saying that you had an IgM HSV-1 test?

There are two reasons why IgM tests are unreliable. The main reason is that IgM antibodies are only sometimes manufactured by your body. A reasonable proportion of people have detectable IgM antibodies if recently infected and those infected sometimes (as in not very often) test positive subsequent to infection. They are not permanent antibodies basically. The second reason is that IgM antigens appear to attract human proteins more frequently than IgG antigens.

Titer testing aims to quantify antibody levels by diluting your blood sample and seeing if the testing well is bright enough from the colour linked to antibodies adhering to antigens. The testing starts at 1:10. A negative person (with no adhering proteins) is negative at any concentration. Hence the result is reported as 1:10. If positive then the blood is cut 1:20, 1:40 and so on until the colour is below a cutoff. Your result was reported as 1:40 which means at that level of dilution there were enough antibodies to colour the testing well. This I feel is a modest positive. It may have been caused by real IgM antibodies (as you have HSV-1) but also maybe other proteins. That's why it isn't a useful test.

It may be that circa 20% of people who have had HSV-1 for a long time no longer test positive on an IgG test. That still leaves the majority of the population that do test positive. I've had oral HSV-1 over 40 years and I test positive every time.

In conclusion there is nothing here that assists in other than your existing knowledge that you have an oral HSV-1 infection.

[Confusedmw]

I

12 hours ago, WilsoInAus said:

Are you saying that you had an IgM HSV-1 test?

There are two reasons why IgM tests are unreliable. The main reason is that IgM antibodies are only sometimes manufactured by your body. A reasonable proportion of people have detectable IgM antibodies if recently infected and those infected sometimes (as in not very often) test positive subsequent to infection. They are not permanent antibodies basically. The second reason is that IgM antigens appear to attract human proteins more frequently than IgG antigens.

Titer testing aims to quantify antibody levels by diluting your blood sample and seeing if the testing well is bright enough from the colour linked to antibodies adhering to antigens. The testing starts at 1:10. A negative person (with no adhering proteins) is negative at any concentration. Hence the result is reported as 1:10. If positive then the blood is cut 1:20, 1:40 and so on until the colour is below a cutoff. Your result was reported as 1:40 which means at that level of dilution there were enough antibodies to colour the testing well. This I feel is a modest positive. It may have been caused by real IgM antibodies (as you have HSV-1) but also maybe other proteins. That's why it isn't a useful test.

It may be that circa 20% of people who have had HSV-1 for a long time no longer test positive on an IgG test. That still leaves the majority of the population that do test positive. I've had oral HSV-1 over 40 years and I test positive every time.

In conclusion there is nothing here that assists in other than your existing knowledge that you have an oral HSV-1 infection.

I just don’t understand then why out of the clear blue sky I have vaginal problems. I made the mistake of sleeping with my boyfriend immediately after my coldsore fell off. The skin was pink. We kissed, he went down on me. I’m sure that I was still carrying the virus. He still has no symptoms 8 months later. I am still suffering. Every time we have sex I am in pain. I feel burning, sometimes burning when urinating. Tested negative for every other std. butnpositive in igm for hsv1. Its making me think that I acquired a new hsv1 infection genitally even though they say it’s rare. I am confused and so distraught. I’m tired. I’m anxious, I can’t sleep, I don’t sleep with my boyfriend and not a single doctor is capable of telling me what’s wrong with me. 

[Confusedmw]

I guess I am also asking is it abnormal to test positive in igm with a long standing infection? My doctor is telling me not to worry about it but I just don’t get this virus. I read and read and read and I still don’t understand 

[Scooby2112]

Igm can recur during a long standing infection or can be positive even when no infection is present.  Igm tests for this reason are not recommended to rely on for herpes.  

[bufshof]

You need an igG blood test , very accurate. The higher the igG the longer you have carried this virus. 

[Scooby2112]

2 hours ago, bufshof said:

You need an igG blood test , very accurate. The higher the igG the longer you have carried this virus. 

Agree on Igg.  However level of Igg does not correlate to length of infection.  It doesn't mean anything except positive or negative.  

[Confusedmw]

I’m sure I’ve had hsv1 for years I got it during childhood which is why I’m confused about igm

[Siggy108]

@Confusedmw I'm really new to all of this but being a woman I've had some issues before and am wondering if you are having symptoms from something else.  Did they also test your urine at the DR?  Did they check to see if you maybe have a UTI or bacterial vaginosis?  Theres so many other things you could be experiencing.  Did they tell you whether or not you have trace blood or yeast in your urine?

[Confusedmw]

49 minutes ago, Siggy108 said:

@Confusedmw I'm really new to all of this but being a woman I've had some issues before and am wondering if you are having symptoms from something else.  Did they also test your urine at the DR?  Did they check to see if you maybe have a UTI or bacterial vaginosis?  Theres so many other things you could be experiencing.  Did they tell you whether or not you have trace blood or yeast in your urine?

Sometimes I come back positive for bacterial Infections- but not bv. Tested postive for strep b, and another type of bacteria a second time. Didn’t say what, just that it was “a long chain of bacteria”. No yeast. She did see trace blood in my urine one time but said it was nothing and could just be from dehydration. The thing that scares me is even though I have no lesions, or blisters. The burning keeps coming back. Usually after sex. I’ll have sex one time and it will last for weeks. Then it will finally go away and I’ll have sex and it comes back. It’s frequent. For the last 7 months. What else could cause this? Do you have hsv?? 

[Siggy108]

@Confusedmw  As weird as it is for me to say it, yes I have GHSV1 but just recently found out.  It's from my husband who has OHSV1 so my story isn't as hard.  But it has been difficult to figure it all out and we just keep looking out for signs that he has it down there now or what might trigger an outbreak...

Either way, have you had any discharge?  I had BV once upon a time and it was horrid when I peed and it all over felt worse when I had sex.  Maybe that's whats going on but it's mild and keeps going and coming back on the test.  Has the doctor given you any suggestion about what it might be?

I would maybe just take a break from sex for a few days and see if it helps. Sometimes irritation from sex and stress can make the V do weird things!  And take a probiotic!  I really good one!  They are super expensive but can help your V immensely protect against bacterial infections.  Make sure you get one with at least a million cultures!

[WilsoInAus]

On 6/1/2018 at 2:41 AM, Confusedmw said:

I guess I am also asking is it abnormal to test positive in igm with a long standing infection? My doctor is telling me not to worry about it but I just don’t get this virus. I read and read and read and I still don’t understand 

Yes people test posituve for IgM antibodies at times throughout their lives after infection.

[Confusedmw]

On 6/4/2018 at 3:58 PM, Siggy108 said:

@Confusedmw  As weird as it is for me to say it, yes I have GHSV1 but just recently found out.  It's from my husband who has OHSV1 so my story isn't as hard.  But it has been difficult to figure it all out and we just keep looking out for signs that he has it down there now or what might trigger an outbreak...

Either way, have you had any discharge?  I had BV once upon a time and it was horrid when I peed and it all over felt worse when I had sex.  Maybe that's whats going on but it's mild and keeps going and coming back on the test.  Has the doctor given you any suggestion about what it might be?

I would maybe just take a break from sex for a few days and see if it helps. Sometimes irritation from sex and stress can make the V do weird things!  And take a probiotic!  I really good one!  They are super expensive but can help your V immensely protect against bacterial infections.  Make sure you get one with at least a million cultures!

Currently still having pain. It’s been over 3 weeks since I’ve had sex, and have had ongoing pain. It doesn’t burn when I pee, just feels sore and inflamed. I can barely see my actual vagina hole (sorry graphic) 3 weeks out of the month every month seems like an awful lot and and awful long time for herpes outbreaks so I’m not sure if thDs what it is. As I’ve said I’m positive for hsv1 but I do have an oral infection. Unsure if it’s in both areas. It would mean that I got ghsv1 15 years later than my oral infection. I hve some discharge but not a ton. My muscles feel tight in my vagina and my buttcheeks feel like I did 200 squats. I don’t smell the bv smell. I did get diagnosed with “disquamative inflammatory vaginitis” months ago. I’m wondering if the clindamycin did not fully clear it up after one round in turn causing me PFD bc of bacterial infections. I’m so confused and doctors are NOT shelling me at all and they look at me like I’m crAzy. I’m trying natural supplements like vaginal probiotics tthat have 50 billion, I’m also taking a tumeric supplement for inflamation. Nothing seems to be working  

[WannaCry]

If you are coming up clear on bacterial and viral swabs for your vaginal pain, you may need to look at other possibilities for what is causing the pain. Speaking from personal experience (I had terrible, chronic genital pain that I thought was Herpetic in nature until getting a negative western blot and swabs) I ended up having pelvic floor dysfunction that had to be treated with physical therapy and TENs unit therapy. I did not have any relief until then.

I also had similar pain issues to you. Pain in the  buttocks and up into my lower back as well as vaginally. If you want to read more about this kind of thing "Ending Female Pain" by Isa Herrera is an excellent place to start. (I don't gain anything from mentioning this book, it however was the book that helped me find the path to healing for my pain.) You will need to look for a pelvic floor specialist.

[Confusedmw]

15 hours ago, WannaCry said:

If you are coming up clear on bacterial and viral swabs for your vaginal pain, you may need to look at other possibilities for what is causing the pain. Speaking from personal experience (I had terrible, chronic genital pain that I thought was Herpetic in nature until getting a negative western blot and swabs) I ended up having pelvic floor dysfunction that had to be treated with physical therapy and TENs unit therapy. I did not have any relief until then.

I also had similar pain issues to you. Pain in the  buttocks and up into my lower back as well as vaginally. If you want to read more about this kind of thing "Ending Female Pain" by Isa Herrera is an excellent place to start. (I don't gain anything from mentioning this book, it however was the book that helped me find the path to healing for my pain.) You will need to look for a pelvic floor specialist.

I never had a viral swab. Is that a pcr swab? I’ve spent thousands of dollars in testing and no ones brought this up. I had a “pimple” down there and I got that swabbed. It came back negative. During this time I was also having symptoms. Is it safe to say that that swab would have picked it up? 

[WannaCry]

I can't say if you did or did not have a pcr swab. When I say 'viral swab' I'm referring to either possible type , a culture swab or a pcr swab. The difference is in how they are processed (and I think culture swabs are handled slightly differently). PCR swabs are much more sensitive than viral culture swabs. 

Internal vaginal swabs for bacterial infections are fairly common, as are intravaginal yeast swabs. Some Dr's will do viral swabs if you continue to have issues while having negative results for bacteria or yeasts.

If you have had months of negative blood tests and only a singular pimple 'OB' that came back as a negative swab result then I am really not inclined to believe the source of your pain is herpetic. As mentioned many of your symptoms are similar to what I had and I did not have a genital HSV infection. (I do have an oral one but that's another story entirely)