camilo

Please check out Terri Warren's page. It is excellent. She is an expert on hsv

By assuming the responsibility of actually getting tested for herpes even though I didn't have the classic symptoms and didn't know at the time my partner was infected, given the relative uneliability of the test, I could see why some people wouldn't ever test for herpes. Still, if someone knows they've been exposed, then they need to be tested so they are not making someone else's health decision for them. As someone pointed out I'm actually probably safer with the diagnosis and taking the proper precautions than someone who has never been tested.

I know some people don't have symptoms or they don't recognize them, but is there always a first outbreak, or are their instances where there is no initial outbreak at all but uou still have to HSV 2?

This is why I went to the CDC website to get their email and politely asked for them to make it a standard test for STDs. If it had been standard myself and thousands of others would not be currently infected. They are called the Center for Disease CONTROL. For them to not recommend it be included in STD screening is unacceptable. HSV causes emotional trauma, risk to pregnancy, and, for many, severe physical pain.

I emailed and Im actually going to take a day off from work and go down to the CDC in person as well.

I went swimming everyday for a week the chlorine seemed to do the trick. I wish I had known that this sh#$ could be transferred to another part of your body during initial outbreak.

No tingling that I remember, an itchy rash on underside of scrotum, lasted a couple days. A couple days after I had a painful blister form on the cubicle of my index finger, which I am sure is Whitlow.

Do y'all have any recommendations on how to deal with disappointment in yourself for being so careless, I guess this goes hand-in-hand with shame. Ive always been so responsible in every aspect of my life, and I really blew it when it came to unprotected sex. I absolutely knew better.

I was always so responsible getting blood tests before getting into a new relationship, unfortunately with this last encounter I got the test after I had sex with a person who was not honest with me. I think there must be a lot of people out there who are either dishonest and reckless with other people's health or in denial of their likelihood of having it. I certainly was reckless with my own health in regards to not using a condom and not insisting on getting both of us tested beforehand.

I understand. I haven't eaten much in 3 days and lost 10 pounds already. Try to eat something though because what happens when you starve yourself your body overcompensates and later when you're feeling better your body will be calibrated to eat more than you would have before the no eating period. It's a form of self-defense by the body against starvation.

Thank you for the comments wsdancer. As someone who relied on the honesty of a partner and who didnt "wrap it up," Im paying a life changing cost.

Please Google Terri Warren and go to her Forum page all these questions will be answered there. According to the information on that form you might be ok.

I can see the rationale of the CDC. I wish I would have known that before I got tested. I got tested two weeks after exposure and my index score was 1.19. According to the CDC, and Terri Warren, anything between 1 and 3.5 is a high probability for error. However I've also learned you can't really get an accurate index score until 3-4 months after exposure. It really is kind of a crapshoot, since 80% of the people that have it don't know they have it but yet then a small percentage of people have very major symptoms. The thing that surprises me is that primary care physicians, at least mine doesn't seem to be aware of the possible inaccuracies of IGG when the reading is in the low range. I wonder if this is one of those instances where you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet, but the statements I'm making are coming from the CDC and one of the foremost experts on HSV in the country, Terri Warren. I did email the CDC today and let them know that hvs testing should be standard for STDs. Even if the scores are sometimes inaccurate, it would do wonders in dispelling the prejudice. Your posts have been helpful, Optimist, I've read many of them, thank you for contributing.

What was your index score on the positive IGG test?

I've done a lot of reading tonight and yes, Warren recommends waiting 16 weeks before doing the Western blot. What was your number, was it low enough for you to suspect that the IgG diagnosis might be wrong? That is pretty amazing that your ex-husband is negative what do you attribute that to?

http://www.h-book.info/report-conversations-top-hsv-researchers-terri-warren-r-n-anna-wald-m-d-m-p-h/

This. From the CDC website: "Based on evidence on potential harms from a small number of trials, the HIGH FALSE POSITIVE RATE OF THE SCREENING TESTS (( they recommend being retested with the Western blot if you fall within 1.0 or 3.5 fo IgG)) and the potential anxiety and disruption of personal relationships related to diagnosis, the USPSTF found that the evidence is adequate to bound the potential harms of screening in asymptomatic adolescents and adults, including those who are pregnant, as at least moderate.

Interesting. This from the CDC website: ""Based on evidence on potential harms from a small number of trials, the high false-positive rate of the screening tests, and the potential anxiety and disruption of personal relationships related to diagnosis, the USPSTF found that the evidence is adequate to bound the potential harms of screening in asymptomatic adolescents and adults, including those who are pregnant, as at least moderate"

Sweetsoulx what was your score? And how soon after exposure did you have the test taken? My doctor said there was very little probability my score was inaccurate. But according to Terri Warren, interpreting scores under 3.5 as being positive is a misconception.

This link is interesting, it says that the score on your IGG is no indication of how recently you were infected or how long you have been infected: http://www.thehelpernewsletter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55:testing-winter-2009&catid=176:herpes-testing&Itemid=237 And according to Terri Warren anything below a 3.5 score has a high probability for being inaccurate. Seems like there is so much equivocation about IgG scores on the internet.

Thank you. I just read that the sooner you do the test after you potentially contracted, the lower your IgG score is, the longer you wait the higher your score. I had my test done only two weeks after sex. I'm going to be retested in six weeks anyway for HIV so I'll see if the 1.19 goes up.

I've been doing some research on false positives and this name comes up I went to the Westover Heights website and they really push for people to get a western blot test who have low IGG scores. My score was 1.19 for hsv-2. Has anyone heard of Terri Warren and Westover Heights? Should I get the Western blot to confirm the HSV 2+ on the IGG score since it was so low?

As long as there is any risk it all it needs to be disclosed every time. You should not be making a decision in somebody else's health. With the disclosure you could inform them that the risks are minuscule which would give them more assurance, but to not tell them at all is bordering on a criminal act in my opinion.

I'm seeing this as an opportunity: please call and email the CDC today and let them know the policy needs to change. Countless people could be saved the misery if HVS was part of a standard STD test. They are called Center for "Disease Control." Their telephone number and email are at this website: https://www.cdc.gov Is there a is there any way we could get this pinned to the top of this page. We could start a campaign with our testimonials.

I am curious as to why he has you on Valtrex, especially everyday. If you don't have bad outbreaks then I would suggest you shouldn't be on it because it's taxes your liver and kidneys. I am not a doctor though. This is what my doctor told me and I've seen it on the internet as well.