Question:
Hi,

I tested positive for genital herpes 6 months ago, but have unusual outbreaks. Since then, I have had an outbreak about once every 2 months. Although I don't doubt that I have herpes, I am not sure my strange outbreaks are in fact herpes. Symptoms:

1. Significant muscular aches and soreness and fatigue 1-2 days before an outbreak.
2. Inflammation in a single spot on my penis, about 1/4" in diameter, but beneath the surface
3. Over the next 3-4 days the inflammation then appears to consolidate (under the skin with surfacing), I can feel something hard under the skin, amost like a pimple, and then it goes away over the next couple days, without surfacing or scabbing. The infected area may appear a little white (like a pimple under the surface) or later a little black (like blood coagulated under the skin).
4. There is no "grouping" of outbreaks as I understand is typical.
5. Over the whole period of time, I feel run down and weak, like I have the flu, but without flu-like symptoms.

Anyone have anything similar and know what it is? Thank you.

Answer:
How did you test positve? What kind of test was it.

Answer:
Well I am a female but I also get the flu-like symptoms and feel extreamly run down before and sometimes during an outbreak. However if you dont think it is herpes I would go get a secound opinion from another doctor. If they did a blood test it can be mistaken for HSV1 (which is not the same as HSV2). My Gyno told me that the only truley positive way to be sure its HSV2 is to swab during an outbreak as that they can not distinguish the difference between the two in a blood test.
Hope this helps and good luck.

Answer:
1 & 2 have their own blood tests. I was given 4 blood tests, IGG and IGM for HS1 and IGG and IGM for HS2. Are these not dependable?