please, someone help me. - Herpes Message Board

ivebeenused · 06-02-2003, 07:01 PM

I slept with someone who failed to tell me he had herpes. He was the first guy I've slept with in over a year, and it was the first time in my life I've ever had unprotected sex.
I've been to the gyno already to get tested, but she didn't test me for it... she said the blood test would probably be inconclusive! what the hell does that mean? She said to come back if I see anything. But I check myself religiously, I'm so paranoid. But I don't really know what I'm looking for.
It's been about 3 months since I've slept with this guy, and I don't think i've had an outbreak. But then again, I really have no idea what I'm looking for... I'm so scared..

How long does it take to have an outbreak after you've been exposed?

please someone help me, please.

normorcrazy · 06-02-2003, 07:19 PM

Sometimes when you have a blood test without an actual outbreak it will show negative or inconclusive. The best way for a doc to tell is to swab the site while having an OB. Most people know when they have their first OB. If it's typical of most OB it will be a small cluster of fluid filled bumps. They are usually very painful and itchy. Some people can have an inactive case of herpes for a life time. Most people have OB 7-14 days after initial exposure. Hope this hellps a little!!

ivebeenused · 06-02-2003, 07:31 PM

thank you sooo much.
So what would you think about my situation?
Should I already have had an outbreak?

Does it lessen my chances of getting it if the person who had it didn't have an outbreak at the time?

Colbe · 06-02-2003, 11:41 PM

I've never heard of a blood test being inconclusive or negative just because there is no outbreak. Once your exposed to the virus, outbreak or not, your body starts building antibodies that will be able to be detected by an ELISA, Pockit, or Western Blot blood test. The reason your doctor said the test would probably be inconclusive is because you didn't wait long enough to build up enough detectable antibodies. Therefore you could get a false negative if you tested too early.

normorcrazy · 06-03-2003, 05:25 PM

Colbe, are you talking about HIV? I've had herpes for several years now with very few outbreaks and my test still shows negative. Although my swabs of the site were positive.

Ivebeenused, I really can't say about your situation because it could just lie dormant. I will say statistics show that happens more in men then in women. Some people will feel differently about this, but it is said that the actual fluid inside the bump speads the virus. I don't think that's true, but I do he has to be in the process of having an OB. Meaning, he already feels one coming on. Maybe someone else will be able to help you.