I have recently tested positive for HSV-2 and negative for HSV-1.
This was very surprising to me because my previous partner has tested negative for both, as has my current partner.
When I was 12 I had a shingles (herpes zoster) outbreak.
Is there a possibility my positive result for HSV-2 may have been caused by my previous shingles outbreak?
Many thanks.
I have been in the same relationship for more than 15 years and got married in 2007. I just recently tested positive for HSV-2 in 2008. I was devastated. I blamed my husband at first. He went and got tested and he was negative. Then I remembered having the shingles in my mid 20s. I am 41 years old now. Since shingles is herpes I think there must be a connection. I am glad to hear I am not the only one that feels that same about this.
Very happy to hear that we are all in the same boat; its scary to be alone in this! I have had shingles on and off for ten years. Never tested postive for H2 until this year. I actually had an outbreak of shingles during my annual PAP and blood work so the H2 levels came up extremely high yet I had no break out in my genitals or other common areas. My nurse practicioner agrees that they MUST be related so ladies rest assure we are fine!!!
I went to the doctor's office a few weeks ago to have blood drawn for a varicella (chicken pox) titer. The following Monday I go in to pick up a copy of the lab results and the nurse tells me the NP wants to talk to me. My first thought was, well this is weird and my second thought was oh no, I've never had chicken pox?! So the nurse takes me to the NPs office and she bluntly says, do you know you have herpes? I was dumbfounded at first and then explained my blood was drawn for the varicella titer--not herpes. She goes on to report that, for whatever reason, an STD panel was ran and I showed that I have antibodies for HSV2. I explained to her, I've been in a 10 year committed relationship, I have never experienced any signs or symptoms to make me think for one second I had herpes, and that there must be some mistake because why would an STD panel be ran in the first place--surely my name or blood was mixed up with someone elses. She quickly disregarded what I was saying and went into the whole lecture of 1 out of 5 people have it and don't know it, most don't have symptoms until yeeears later and blah blah blah. To make a long story short, they did end up drawing my blood again due to something not looking right in their lab book (of course they f'd up, afterall I had been tested for something I wasn't even suppose to be tested for). So I wait another week and then the office calls and tells me the lab is back...with the same results...positive for HSV2 antibodies. Now while I was almost 100% sure I didn't have Herpes, the days waiting were very excruciating. I began racking my mind about past sexual experiences, if I had noticed any discomfort and came up with absoutely nothing. Had a very candid conversation with my boyfriend about the subject and he too has noticed NOTHING! And then it hit me. I had Shingles--back in 2005. My boyfriend had gotten into a horrible automobile accident, hospitalized for quite some time; and so of course he couldn't work. Which then got me stressing about the whole financial situation because I was responsible for the both of us on my measly wages. I was worried about this other company suing met, etc. I was under huge amounts of stress! So, until I have a noticeable outbreak that tells me, hey you have herpes, I'm just going to believe it was the Shingles that caused the results!
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Genital Herpes Prevention Video 
Oddly enough, I am in the EXACT same boat!! I was about the same age as you when I got a fairly painful case of shingles and recently tested exactly the same as you. My husband and I lost our virginity to each other and had only had a few partners before that and didn't even have full on sex... so we're not sure where or how this came about.
Does anyone have any insight into the original question? Curious minds want to know. Thanks.
ME TOO. i've just been tested and had a positive HSV 2 (10.12) where as the HSV I/II combined was "questionable".
i've had face sores HSV 1 and i had shingles when my dad died at age 23 (i'm no 52).
so, i'm depressed and going crazy. i've been with one guy 10 years now. no protection, and i don't know if he's ever cheated (like my x did).
this at least puts my mind to rest somewhat.
i asked my (now x) boyfriend about it and he said he's never had any breakout.
I have never either had a breakout (down there).
signed,
scared and worried.
I wish someone would have responded to your question. I recently had a workup for all STDs at my yearly gyn. appointment for no other reason than to get rid of any doubt I had for having uprotected sex a few times in college with a boyfriend. Now several years later and married the results showed that I was positive for HSV-2 antibodies. I have never had any signs or symptoms of this and neither has my husband. I have had only four sex partners including my husband and the other guys were either virgins or we used protection. The only guy I was slightly worried about was the one I mentioned above in college. All of the other STD results were negative except the HSV-2 and I am not convinced. I have read many people do not experience symptoms or breakouts. However, I would have been exposed eight years ago and have been with my husband seven year, so you would think one of us would have symptoms especially since I didn't know I possibly had it. I had chicken pox when I was a child and shingles during my junior year of college from being so stressed out and worn down. If you can have outbreaks from stress and being worn out, wouldn't one think I would have had an outbreak when I had the shingles? Also, I read having had mononucleosis can cause false results, which I also had as a teenager. My doctor said chicken pox and shingles are different forms of herpes and should not cause make a difference. However, I have read it depends on the test. My doctor was really great about it and said not to worry as 50% of Americans have it and if I have not had symptoms and outbreaks I probably never will. I am worryer so that has not helped and I just cannot believe I have it. I asked my husband to be tested. If his results are negative I will definately get retested and possibly pay the money for the Western blot test which I have read is the best. I thought getting an STD test for everything would put my mind at ease now I am freaking out more and so ashmed of this possible result.
May 21, 2009...
Dear "freaked out". It's me again, the lady from months ago with a positive result.
I have read other people in "our" situation, that one couple were both virgins, yet the wife had HSV 2.
I want to express my feelings regarding this because the Medical field is not going to go to more extreem tests, basically not worth the money to them (to put our minds at ease). I called a "testing" clinic and talked to the guy who give the results out to people affected with it. and what he said to me and I NOW BELIEVE is that when you have shingles, then it's "lumped in" as HSV2. it's called "sacral" herpes becuase when you have "singles" it is located in the spin and it comes out on a test as a STD disease. I do not believe you have the typical Std disease, nor do I. I DO have HSV 2, but it's caused from shingles when i was 23 years old (after my Dad died) from stress. Now, mind you your doctor and my doctor will say "Yes you do have a STD", DON'T BELIEVE THEM. they know know whats in the medical text book.
and trust me IF THEY HAD the disease themselves they'd do a lot more investigating.
in the end "WE" have Singles...and coming from a blood test is "lumped" in the the other sexually transmitted diseases.
I was devistated myself when i found out. but I do not believe it's sexual anymore...it's SHINGLES! look it up on the internet...look up back shingles.
i hope i helped.
PPSS I never had any outbreaks either. and i have had several partners when i was younger and NO one has had any outbreaks or been diagnosed with it. YOu'd think someone would get it.
don't let this get to you. Trust me I was where you were last year!!!!
Thanks for writing back. I am feeling much less worried. Since I got the news last week I have been continually thinking about it and crying on and off, even at work. It has been hard trying to not make my crying at work obvious. All I keep thinking is can I really have HSV-2? I keep trying to think of possible symptoms I may have missed or who possibly gave it to me. I really have not had that much risky sexual behavior as I mentioned before, so it seems rather unlikely to get it from someone who would have not been symptomatic for one-two times having intercourse or oral sex. Maybe if it had been continual interaction for months. I mean people with active symptoms avoid having sex during outbreaks and can mostly keep their partner from getting it. Health care providers need to get better testing to lessen possible false results that can really mess with people's minds. I totally agree, someone would have had it by now and I am guessing someone would have told me or told someone else who then would have told me. For now I am feeling better about it all and trying to not worry over this long weekend off. My husband said he will get tested and then I still plan to get retested if he is negative b/c in 7 years he would have definately got it with me not knowing about the possibility of it. I think the Western Blot test would then be worth my peace of mind. I requested my test results from the doctor to do some more research, which by the way they rarely give out unless asked by the patient. My husband says he believes I don't have it either, but if I did he doesn't really care. He is definately a keeper! Thanks again. I second that we can blame our results on the shingles.
You can be positive for herpes 2 and never have an outbreak. I was in line with tons of girls having babies that had their first outbreak, due to the change in our bodys. I already knew that about 50 precent of the population is positive because of father being a doctor. He believed everyone gets exposed to herpes no matter what. I knew what I had when it was only a tiny place at the top of the pubic hair line. AND I knew that the only time it was a danger was for delivering a baby. So I went straight to the doctor. My imune system is so good that the very small place was gone in 3 days.
is it possible to test positive and not be a carrier which i understand is needed to transmit the virus??
This is the only peace of mind I have received since I found out too( two weeks ago).. I am in mental turmoil over it. I think of nothing else.. And I asked the doc about the shingles and if it could be messing with accurate results because I have now had the shingles 3 times in my life( I am barely 21). I was so distraught when she told me over the phone that I only vaguely remember what she said..( something about no .. but then she went on to tell me I shoudnt/ dont need to tell my partner because I have never had an ob or symptoms.. I am so confused) But it is nice to hear some hopeful news.. I am thinking about getting retested but wonder how much good it would actually do. People without HSV2 seem to tell us .. " its really quite common- it really isnt a big deal." But yes, it is. Emotionally, and physically.