Panic over symptoms and confused by test results

Posted by captainanxiety8 @captainanxiety8, 3 days ago

I feel bad admitting this but my anxiety is through the roof. Several years ago I got really drunk and did something extraordinarily stupid and went to a shady massage parlour and had a protected handjob and a condom protected blowjob. I waited more than 6+ months and took the panel of std tests and all negative, including HSV 1 and 2 IgG Ab which were < 0.2. I've done nothing since then, abstaining perfectly. Two years ago I had a small swath of blisters on my outer left thigh. I ignored it and it eventually healed and went away. Suddenly earlier this week I had a larger patch, which looks like a long brush stroke of blisters, near the same location, as well as my upper left groin in a similar long brush stroke form.

I went to the doctor who said it looks like Shingles and did a HSV 1 and 2 swab test. I get the results tomorrow and I am trying to pull myself out of an ongoing anxiety attack over this. I am in my late 40s, almost 50. With that very low risk encounter years ago plus the negative IgG tests, I'm assuming the odds that this is actually shingles are high. However, it also seems really unusual that it would happen in roughly the same place twice, although more than two years apart.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? What should I expect? Of course I asked AI and one said it's highly unlikely to be HSV but that I need the PCR test results to confirm, and the other AI I asked said it's extremely unlikely to be HSV given my past low risk encounter and negative tests back then. Any tips to managing my anxiety while I wait for the results?

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The Zoster type eruption is most likely shingles.
You are fortunate if it is not painful.
Shingles can recur in the same nerve distribution as a
prior outbreak. HSV can also behave that way as well.
Both conditions are treated with the same antiviral.
It is unlikely this is related to your misstep years ago.
It should not compromise your sex life. If it happens again have your prescription on hand and refrain from
intimacy while it is healing. Your doctor tested appropriately and should be able to offer reassurance regardless of the results. HSV can remain dormant for many years contained by our immune system.

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My PCR came back negative so I'm relieved that it was not HSV. Unfortunately it also means I currently have Shingles which are not pleasant. I will inquire about getting the vaccine.

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