50 yr old female with HVS2 for 32 years

I have had HVS2 for 32 years. I have never been on an antiviral until 8 months ago. I was put on 1000mg of valtrax because I entered a new relationship. Shortly after taking valtrax I was awaken by what felt like an electrical shock on my right side. Since then I have had burning and tingling feeling from my right buttock,right side of my vagina down my right leg and into my knee and occ. in my foot. All of the Dr.s that I have seen say that it is not  Valtrax related nor does herpes carry on like that (continous). This has been going on for 8 months daily I have lower my dose to 500mg and nothing has changed. I only have OB's about 4 times a yr and they never act like this. This has become very depressing,exhausting and consuming for me as I feel like I'm always in an OB.  Could I have disrupted my system because it has adjusted to HVS2 without antiviral and now it doesn't know what to do with it? I want to keep taking the valtrax for the reduced transmission rate . I feel like I have awaken a sleeping monster.  I told my friend that I have HVS2 and he said that we can work together on this. I did not learn about HVS2 shedding until after I told him about my HVS2 and I do not know how to revisit the subjust with him without his mind going crazy because we have had unprotected intercourse. Could you please tell me what the rate of transmission is while taking 500mg Valtrax and the rate of shedding while taking 500mg valrax.The shedding is what scares me the most and if you have intercourse while shedding and on 500mg valtrax is it certain that your partner will get virus? We had unprotected intercourse in July and 2 days later I had a PCR DNA swab done that came back HVS2 "detected" I was on 1000mg Valtrax at that time. I did not mention this to friend because again I did not his mind going crazy like mine was. Is there a difference between HVS2 "detected and "positive" this happen in July and it is now Nov. would anything have shown up on him by now? He has not said anything to me.  How long  or short does shedding last? Does the virus activity go down after 32 years. I'm just so afraid of passing it on to him and I try and pretend like I'm normal and that this has not consumed me like it has. . I feel like I have just gotten this news today, having a hard time coping, leper comes to mind often. Sometimes I think it would be easlier to break relationship off then worrying about giving him this virus. Is it possible to never pass virus on to someone. I can usually keep things in perspective but because there is no cure for this I feel helpless and beaten. Please the most current information and anything you could add would be most helpful. The internet is a crazy and depressing place and my doctors do not spend the time I need right now or know the answers to my questions. . If I ask a question they are looking up on their computers just like I do.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

HSV detected is positive.  There is no difference.  HSV detected is a phrase used normally for PCR samples and positive is used normally with cultures.  but the end result is the same.  So you are both infected and infectious to others, and you can shed virus both with and without outbreaks.  

This is important information for your partner to have so he can make a decision that fits for him.

Taking daily suppression reduces transmission by half.  The chance of you infecting your partner while taking medicine is about 2% per year, having sex twice per week without regular condom use.  

I've heard once before, from someone I know pretty well, that she felt Valtrex also made her prodromal symptoms worse.  However, there is no scientific basis for that and it doesn't make great sense from a science point of view.  nonetheless, if it is true for you, it is true for you.  You could try acyclovir and see if it is better for you.  It is cheaper but you have to take it twice a day unlike Valtrex.

Is that helpful?

Terri

[porter627]

But would you have prodromal symptoms daily?  Before the valtrax this is nothing that I ever experienced. I have heard that shedding can be as little as moments to hours or days? Is this true?  Does the virus show it activity down after 32 years.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

The virus does slow down its activity over time, yes.  It would be highly unusual to have prodrome every day.  I doubt that is what is going on, honestly, especially on therapy.

And yes, some episodes of shedding can be very brief.

Terri