1. < Men's Health

herpes symptoms, test keep saying no?

Posted by m68 @m68, Mar 7, 2023

Hello all. Background info: I'm fairly poor. I haven't had health insurance in at least 24yrs, and I'm currently upside down every month without my tax return helping even me out. Anywho- About 8yrs ago I had an outbreak on my penis that I thought was herpes. I went and got a full std panel and got all negative results. I then didn't have any outbreaks for about 7yrs. Recently its happened 3 times in a year. I went and got another full std panel, from a different testing place. Again, all negative. I used what little funds I have and went to a urologist during an outbreak. He was not informative or helpful. He said it was herpes. I told him of my two previous tests being negative, which confused him. A week later he wanted me back for another appointment, but I can't afford any more this year.
What are my options? Are there other testing options then a standard herpes test? Could this be something else? I wish the doc I spent my meager money on could have been more insightful. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 7, 2023

Welcome @m68, According to what I've read, you can test negative and still have herpes. Here's some information that might be helpful:
"Can you have herpes symptoms and test negative?
Image result for herpes symptoms +test negative
If the infection occurred very recently (within a few weeks to 3 months), the test may be negative, but you may still be infected. This is called a false negative. It can take up to 3 months after a possible herpes exposure for this test to be positive."
--- Serum herpes simplex antibodies Information - Mount Sinai:
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/serum-herpes-simplex-antibodies.

You mentioned you are without health insurance. Here is some information that might be helpful.
--- Where can I go to get free or low-cost health care? Is there a web site that helps me locate inexpensive health care?: https://www.hhs.gov/answers/health-insurance-reform/where-can-i-find-free-or-low-cost-health-care/index.html.

Have you looked into any state or local government aid?

REPLY
1 reply
m68 | @m68 | Mar 8, 2023
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @m68, According to what I've read, you can test negative and still have herpes. Here's..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Welcome @m68, According to what I've read, you can test negative and still have herpes. Here's some information that might be helpful:
"Can you have herpes symptoms and test negative?
Image result for herpes symptoms +test negative
If the infection occurred very recently (within a few weeks to 3 months), the test may be negative, but you may still be infected. This is called a false negative. It can take up to 3 months after a possible herpes exposure for this test to be positive."
--- Serum herpes simplex antibodies Information - Mount Sinai:
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/serum-herpes-simplex-antibodies.

You mentioned you are without health insurance. Here is some information that might be helpful.
--- Where can I go to get free or low-cost health care? Is there a web site that helps me locate inexpensive health care?: https://www.hhs.gov/answers/health-insurance-reform/where-can-i-find-free-or-low-cost-health-care/index.html.

Have you looked into any state or local government aid?

Jump to this post

Yes I've looked into aid, they all say I make too much which I don't understand since I don't even have a car payment yet barely make it each month.
I've read about other tests besides the standard STD herpes tests, but they all talk about only doing them as a follow up to a positive result from the standard test. I'm 180* to that, I keep getting negatives but feel they might be wrong. I was hoping there were other things that can look like herpes that I could look into possibly having.

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 8, 2023
In reply to @m68 "Yes I've looked into aid, they all say I make too much which I don't understand..." + (show)
@m68

Yes I've looked into aid, they all say I make too much which I don't understand since I don't even have a car payment yet barely make it each month.
I've read about other tests besides the standard STD herpes tests, but they all talk about only doing them as a follow up to a positive result from the standard test. I'm 180* to that, I keep getting negatives but feel they might be wrong. I was hoping there were other things that can look like herpes that I could look into possibly having.

Jump to this post

I think there are a few other conditions that can have similar symptoms...

"Noninfectious conditions that can mimic genital herpes include Reiter syndrome, contact dermatitis, Crohn disease, Behçet syndrome, trauma, erythema multiforme, and lichen planus."
--- Answer: Can you identify this condition? - PMC - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3001927/

--- Conditions You Might Mistake For Genital Herpes:
https://www.health.com/condition/herpes-simplex/herpes-like-conditions

REPLY
anonymiss | @anonymiss | Sep 8, 2023
In reply to @m68 "Yes I've looked into aid, they all say I make too much which I don't understand..." + (show)
@m68

Yes I've looked into aid, they all say I make too much which I don't understand since I don't even have a car payment yet barely make it each month.
I've read about other tests besides the standard STD herpes tests, but they all talk about only doing them as a follow up to a positive result from the standard test. I'm 180* to that, I keep getting negatives but feel they might be wrong. I was hoping there were other things that can look like herpes that I could look into possibly having.

Jump to this post

I’m experiencing this exact same thing, I’ve had multiple blood tests that all say I’m HSV 1 and 2 negative. I went to a gyno but she said that she doesn’t believe it to be herpes. But the free STD STI clinic said that it looks like herpes and they’ve prescribed me herpes medication. Idk what to do and I’m scared to sleep with my SO, should I just take the medication for safe measure?

REPLY
1 reply
anniepapa | @anniepapa | Jan 5 8:41am
In reply to @anonymiss "I’m experiencing this exact same thing, I’ve had multiple blood tests that all say I’m HSV..." + (show)
@anonymiss

I’m experiencing this exact same thing, I’ve had multiple blood tests that all say I’m HSV 1 and 2 negative. I went to a gyno but she said that she doesn’t believe it to be herpes. But the free STD STI clinic said that it looks like herpes and they’ve prescribed me herpes medication. Idk what to do and I’m scared to sleep with my SO, should I just take the medication for safe measure?

Jump to this post

I am the same have had about 6 negative swabs at the end of my rope,going to do antibody tests in 12 weeks as I feel I might get somewhere

REPLY
1 reply
ladydrummer9 | @ladydrummer9 | Jan 17 3:49pm
In reply to @anniepapa "I am the same have had about 6 negative swabs at the end of my rope,going..." + (show)
@anniepapa

I am the same have had about 6 negative swabs at the end of my rope,going to do antibody tests in 12 weeks as I feel I might get somewhere

Jump to this post

I have very severe. Symptoms which mimic herpes but I always test negative. You suggested lichen planus, which I have in my mouth, so I will follow that one up. Every gynaecologist says I have contact dermatitis but no panties ever feel comfortable and it’s too cold at the moment to go without. Thanks for the info and love to all the other patients. Lady drummer.

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