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Confused - Herpes or not

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Nicki.J
Nicki.J

So lets start from the beginning...about 2 weeks ago, I was feeling symptons of a UTI and immediately went to an urgent care clinic. (I also noticed I had a tiny lesion down there but didn't think anything of it cause I also frequently get Yeast infections with UTIs and thought it was just tied together and they werent bothering me).  They prescribed be Batrim for 5 days and sent me on my way.  I have had numerous UTIs in the past so I was pretty positve that was what it was. Day 4 into the medication and still no pain relief and I knew this was not normal. I also knew that sometimes certain medications wont work on certain bacterias or you can build an immunity to it. So I called me doctor and went in that same day for another urine test. I also mentioned to her about the leisons and she checked it out and decided to do a herpes culture on it on monday. This was about 5 days after noticing the lesion.  The test came back negative for herpes as well as the urine test about 4 days later. They didn't give me any additional meds at this point.  I STILL had slight UTI symptoms but it was managable so I went in again on friday of that same week for another urine test. My doctor also wanted to swab the lesions again just to be sure. This time the urine test came back positive as well as the herpes.

I am so confused! I am married and we have both been faithful for the last 2 years. Could this be a mistake? I am not in denial, I just think that its weird that the 1st test came back negative... Whatever the case may be, it is a very mild case and it is actually gone away now on its own. She gave me medicine for it to keep on hand just in case but I really am not even sure thats really what it is. Is it possible that the 2nd test was a false positive since the 1st was came back negative and it was more of a "fresh" lesion?

I have been reading up a lot on this and it doesnt even look like that i've seen to be herpes.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • noelle2212
    noelle2212 Nicki.J

    Posted

    I don't think you can get a false positive on a culture. Cultures pretty much are it. When you were swabbed the first time maybe the virus wasn't on the swab good enough. It is hard to tell exactly what happened but you can always go back and get another swab if yo ever see anything there again. I was told mine was acne, wasn't your typical outbreak or even look like herpes. My doctor was shocked. So it can be tricky
    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J noelle2212

      Posted

      Thanks! She did say since it was so mild, I might not even get another outbreak. I am not really worried about it but if it pops up again, I will get retested just to be sure. It went away on its own thank god!
  • FelizCastus
    FelizCastus Nicki.J

    Posted

    Hmmm, well, genital herpes can cause herpetic urethritis, especially in women. This can feel like a UTI and is often mistaken as such, while lesions can vary greatly in their presentation. Swollen lymph nodes in the groin are common and may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms (both more likely in a primary outbreak).

    Viral cultures are less accurate than DNA/PCR swabs (these are very accurate), but usually because of false negatives, not false positives. You might want to also do an HSV-1/2 IgG antibody blood test to confirm your current HSV status. If a new infection, you will test negative now, but positive in 3-4 months.

    Some people don't outbreak until months, even years, after infection, but many show symptoms in 2-20 days (usually within a week), especially if they have never had any form of HSV before. Yours could thus be a latent case from before your husband, or not. Hard to say without knowing your current antibody status.

    It could also be HSV-1 from oral sex. Does your husband sometimes get cold sores? Also, did your doctor say which HSV type you have? Anyway, I hope this helps and take care!

    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J FelizCastus

      Posted

      Thanks it does help. I have not noticed any cold sores on my husband or myself. My doctor said its HSV-2 but very mild. I only had 2 small lesions. no bumps, blisters or swollen lymphnodes. I also did not have any flu-like symptoms. Aside from a little irritation which i thought was associated with a yeast infection from the medication i was taking for the UTI, i had no other symptoms. And because i went to the doctors for the UTI pretty quickly and had been swabbed, i was assuming the first test would have been more accurate on a newly acquired lesion.
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus Nicki.J

      Posted

      Oh, in that case, it is not likely from oral sex. HSV-2 is nearly always a genital infection, not oral. I guess either you or your husband had it without knowing, as it can be asymptomatic (especially in those with prior oral/genital HSV-1) and is not typically included in standard STD testing. Many people mistakenly think that it is, but you often need to specifically request an HSV test. You both might want to get the IgG antibody test in that case.

      But that's good your symptoms are mild! I have HSV-2, too, and recently had a mild/moderate primary outbreak. The urethritis was the worst for me (but not unbearable), and like you, I also thought it was a UTI at first. I have read that genital HSV-1 can sometimes cause nastier primary outbreaks, but then only 0-1 outbreaks a year. HSV-2 tends to recur more often, unfortunately, but I'm hoping that's not the case!!

    • noelle2212
      noelle2212 FelizCastus

      Posted

      I have hsv2 and it is extremely mild. I didn't even know I had it and never even notice symptoms. I've had one real outbreak in 2 1/2 years, no pain no nothing. 2 small pimple like things, that's it. It is between my vagina and my thigh, so I think it not being on my private parts are what saved me because half the time I have to remember I even have it. So yeah anything is possible. Doesn't have to be painful and everything like other people describe....
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus noelle2212

      Posted

      Haha, I was actually thinking of you when I typed that last line. I remember you saying how you barely have any outbreaks, etc. Can only hope and pray I'm the same way!
    • noelle2212
      noelle2212 FelizCastus

      Posted

      I hope you are too! I think a big help is to keep your immune system up, I take daily vitamins for immune boost, and just try to eliminate stress ( if that's even possible) lol ....
    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J noelle2212

      Posted

      Yeah my sister acctually has it as well and her first outbreak was AWFUL! shes supposed to take a pill everyday to prevent them but forgets sometimes. She also told me that she gets pretty frequent outbreaks especially when shes stressed out. Theres no telling how long ive had this or even if ive had a mild outbreak in the past and didnt even realize but i'm hoping that i dont get them frequently either. this was literally nothing. it stung a tiny bit when i peed but thats it and it was right at the opening of my vagina, so small.
    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J FelizCastus

      Posted

      Do you happen to know anything about sex after getting diagnosed? My husband hasnt had any outbreak or mention of one.. I know i should wait until it heals cause it will obviously be painful but is sex going to cause an outbreak?
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus Nicki.J

      Posted

      Sex can be a trigger for some, but not others. The best thing is to give it a go and see! However, you should wait till you are fully recovered and the lesions completely healed (the case for any outbreak, whether primary or subsequent). In case sex is an issue, use lube. That seems to help.

      Also, your husband should establish his HSV status. Should he test negative, you may want to take preventative measures, like avoiding sex during outbreaks (including the prodrome period just before, when you may feel an outbreak coming on), condoms and antiviral meds. If he is willing to take his chances without, and some partners are, then that is up to him.

      Remember, genital HSV-2 can be passed without symptoms/outbreaks as a result of asymptomatic shedding. Some people unknowingly exposed to a seropositive partner never get it, even after years , while others get it after just a single encounter (like me!!).

      If you both have HSV-2, then there is no need for preventative measures, as it does not pass back and forth. That's why it's good to know his HSV status.

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