Asymptomatic Shedding

I have been driven crazy in trying to understand asymptomatic shedding. I have HSV-2 (genital herpes).

Question 1.  Where would asymptomatic shedding take place? Genitals only?

Question 2.  Can you shed in other parts of the body?

Question 3.  When taking a shower, would I go about a regular shower (I use antibacterial shower gel anyway) instead of spending an hour worrying?

I have been infected for 8 years. My wife has not been infected at all in that time. She contracted HSV-1 when she was a little girl and I have never seen her with an outbreak. Although I have had outbreaks, she in turn has never contracted the HSV-2 from me.

Anyone with concrete answers?

[gracefromHHP]

shedding takes place from the area of an active lesion as well as the entire anogenital area. It also occurs periodically from the anogenital area too ( think penis and anal area in males ).

you don't shed from other body parts unless there is an active lesion there.

nothing different to do about showering than anyone else would do.

do you take daily suppressive therapy to reduce the risk of transmission to your wife?

has she had a type specific herpes igg blood test done recently to know what her status is?

grace

[Axe88]

Hi Grace.

Thank you for answering.

I do not take suppressive therapy. I want to (Valtrex and any natural remedy that would help.) Any thoughts? Cost of Valtrex or any other suppressive therapy? Lysine and garlic as far as natural remedies?

And yes she has done a blood test as recent as two weeks ago, as did I. She has HSV-1  and me HSV-2. We've been together for 8 years. I finally know what I have and as such, I'm ashamed to admit, am scared to death of transmitting type 2 to her. We haven't even been sexually active for nearly a month due to my fear of transmission to her and the shedding thing.

[gracefromHHP]

you can get daily suppressive therapy with acyclovir for around $10/month most places in the US even without insurance.   Valtrex will cost you more and the price will depend on if you have insurance or not.

lysine and garlic aren't going to protect a partner.

have you read the free herpes handbook yet? Is this a new diagnosis for you?

[Axe88]

No I haven't read the free herpes handbook. Is it downloadable? And yes this is a new diagnosis for me. Even though I have carried it for 8 years. But like a dumbbell, I just did not know what it was. It's amazing that my wife does not have it. I have to thank God for that, as this was my main concern. And we've been sexually active for 8 years; that's when I started seeing weird rashes and little bumps.

As far as lysine and garlic, I only mentioned them to verify with you briefly if they helped as far as the immune system is concerned. To get it stronger.

So Acyclovir? I'm on it.

[Axe88]

Sorry Grace but I meant "I'm on it" as in "IM GETTING INFO."

Just in case.

[Mistakeguy789]

As I am not grace (she's better looking than I am :-p) Let me give you some help.

The herpes handbook can be found at www.westoverheights.com.  There is a lot of good information out there and it was written by Terri Warren who is a Nurse Practitioner who owns the West Over Heights clinic.  They specialize in herpes so she knows a thing or two about it.  

Don't beat yourself up about not knowing.  A lot of people find out the same way you did.  Don't be surprised if you go a while without transmitting to your wife.  Some couples go years before transmission if ever occurs.  

I bet she knew what you meant by the "I'm on it" as I figured you meant that before I read your later post.  Feel free to keep asking us questions.  

[gracefromHHP]

most times I can figure out typos and thankfully most times folks can figure out my typos too....lol

you already know the overall risk of transmission to your partner is low. anything over and above you do besides avoiding sex during anytime you have anything going on genitally just puts the odds even more in favor of your partner not contracting hsv2 from you :)

boosting the immune system has little effect on herpes. It still sheds about the same amount no matter how often you are having recurrences or what you eat.  daily suppressive therapy reduces shedding significantly as well as recurrences so that there are less disruptions to your sex life as well as less chance that your partner will be exposed to active virus so less chance of them contracting hsv2 from you.

keep asking questions :)

[Axe88]

Thanks Guy. I appreciate your help.

All this info really helps and puts me more at ease!

[Axe88]

Thank you Grace.

I really appreciate the help!!

Hopefully today I can get out of the shower in 5 minutes instead of spending an hour worrying. So lame I know :(

But your info puts me more at ease at ;east!

[gracefromHHP]

set a timer for the shower and make yourself get out when it goes off. break these bad habits you have developed!!!

it's JUST herpes!! You are not  a walking biohazard!!  you've done nothing special all this time and never spread it anywhere else so why would you now?

[Axe88]

That last line is the same thing my wife says to me.

Is it your educated opinion that when shedding occurs, the only way for my wife to get infected with my type 2 is thru skin to skin contact, theoretically? -- Chances are you answered it above with the "Bio-hazard" line. Apologies if that's the case.

[gracefromHHP]

you transmit herpes through naked, intimate contact. You can contract hsv2 without actual sex but the risk of that is very low - it's more the actual sex act itself that is the risk. Remember, 85% of the time on average, you aren't contagious at all, even without daily suppressive therapy :)  

daily suppressive therapy will give you some peace of mind while you work on wrapping your  mind around the idea of having herpes.  The handbook will hopefully help you learn to accept this better as well as the patient counseling video on the same site. Also Terri's book "the good news about the bad news" is low priced on amazon and goes into the psychological side of having herpes in more detail than her free handbook does if you find in a few weeks you are still having some trouble dealing with all of this.

[Axe88]

Wow. All this really helps Grace. Again, thank you so much.

I looked at the site and only found the book I have to pay for. I'll double check again for the free handbook. Maybe there's something I missed or didn't click on.

[gracefromHHP]

no the handbook is there free -

http://www.westoverheights.com/genital_herpes/handbook.html

[Axe88]

Downloaded it. Tons of info.

Thanks :)

I want to start suppressive therapy ASAP. Do I go to a medical doctor for prescription (the ones that did the blood test)? I know this isn't something you can just buy anywhere.  

[gracefromHHP]

you need a prescription for it. You can call your regular provider and ask them to phone in you in a prescription for whichever medication you chose.

[Axe88]

Hi Grace.

During asymptomatic shedding, can I still just take a regular shower (like previously discussed with a timer lol) or do I need to take special precaution? How infectious is the shedding in reality besides skin to skin contact? Can it linger in underpants (i.e. boxers, underwear) or the such?  

Sorry but it's still hard for me to live normally now :(  SUCKS!! ... For some reason in my head shedding takes place all the time. LAME again I know.

[gracefromHHP]

it's just herpes. nothing special to do any time. good hygeine always has been - wash face first, then arms, legs, belly, back, then your genitals/butt and finally your feet. You do that because of germs in general ( cleanest parts of your body to the dirtiest to your smelly stinky feet that don't easily get infected with anything from your genital/butt area ).

shedding is absolutely not an issue except for naked sexual contact.

[Axe88]

Grace you rock!

:)

[Axe88]

Good evening Grace.

When you said above, "You can call your regular provider and ask them to phone in you in a prescription for whichever medication you chose"; by provider do you mean health insurance provider? If that's the case, I don't have insurance, nor my wife. And the only doctor relationship I have is with the one who did all my blood tests and we saw each other twice. So in my case, who do I go to for Acyclovir or Valtrex? And between those two, is one better than the other?

[gracefromHHP]

your medical provider - doctor, PA, NP etc.

call the clinic you were seen at and tell them you can't afford valtrex and need a prescription for acyclovir instead.

you will need to get a regular provider so that you can get your prescriptions renewed each year :)

[Axe88]

Got it.

:)

[Axe88]

Hi Grace.

As far as showering, you said there is no need to do anything special. How about when lesions appear? For example, in my penis or butt? I just want to know.

[gracefromHHP]

the virus is easily killed with soap and water. just washing the way I already mentioned is all you need to do.

[Axe88]

Ok. So even if my hand gently touches the lesions upon washing with soap and water (after all washing means contact) then I'm still ok?

[gracefromHHP]

yeppers :)

[Axe88]

Haha ok I'll take that as a YES! Lol :)

[Axe88]

Hi Grace how are you? Hope all is well!

Check this out.

This past Friday I went to the clinic where all my blood work was done. Saw a medical doctor to start suppressive therapy. This is what I was told:

- Suppressive therapy not necessary b/c I don't have extreme case of Type 2 (genital herpes). The therapy can actually make the infection become more defensive and stronger.

- Since they don't see and outbreak right now, they can't document the infection, even if I was positive Type 2 in the blood work.

- Was told to use and condom if I was having sexual activity and I'll be alright.

WTF??????? Does any of this make any sense?

[Axe88]

Hi Grace. Not sure if you got my previous post above. Here it is again just in case. Hope all is well!! :)

I went to the clinic where all my blood work was done. Saw a medical doctor to start suppressive therapy. This is what I was told:

- Suppressive therapy not necessary b/c I don't have extreme case of Type 2 (genital herpes). The therapy can actually make the infection become more defensive and stronger.

- Since they don't see and outbreak right now, they can't document the infection, even if I was positive Type 2 in the blood work.

- Was told to use and condom if I was having sexual activity and I'll be alright.

Grace, what would be your advice? I want to scale back any risk with asymptomatic shedding and outbreaks.

[gracefromHHP]

I think the clinic you went to is pretty clueless about treating herpes :(

no, suppressive therapy doesn't make your infection stronger .

no such thing as an extreme care of hsv2 for suppressive therapy, you shed the virus about the same amount whether you have  0 ob's a year or 10 ob's a year.

see a provider who has a clue!!

[Axe88]

My feelings exactly. And my wife said the same thing you did. They're freakin' clueless which left me upset. Arrgghhh....

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH GRACE. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT  YOU HAVE MADE THIS WHOLE PROCESS EASIER. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP, AND I HOPE YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. GOD BLESS YOU GRACE!!!

[Axe88]

I just got an outbreak :(

I've tried to set up appointments with clinics but they're too expensive. I need to get treatment. I don't have health insurance, which makes it so expensive.

Any advice?

Hope all is well!

[gracefromHHP]

at this point, too late to treat a recurrence anyways. sorry but i've had sick family to attend to and my son was home from college for the weekend and he's my priority since I don't get to see him often.

Call your local health department for advice on local family doctors who charge affordable rates for paying cash when you don't have insurance. Get a regular doctor and start a relationship with them so that you have the medication on hand to treat recurrences as well as someone to see when you are ill and need medical treatment.

grace

[Axe88]

No worries. You are a mother first and foremost.

Sorry for the late reply. Super busy at work and check this out, my outbreak was starting to disappear within just a week, no meds. I hope that's a good sign.

Im coping much better thanks to my wife and people like you. Again, You Rock!!

[Axe88]

Hi Grace how's all?

Quick question again: Is it true that you can get herpes from mucus, or nasal area/passages, whether or not you have an outbreak? My first reaction to this was "huh??" Again, sorry for the ignorance. From my own research my gut feeling is 'no you can't.'

Correct me if I'm wrong please :)

Hope all is well with you!!

[gracefromHHP]

herpes does shed periodically even without obvious lesions present. I shudder to think why you are asking about  nasal passages and herpes ....

[Axe88]

So is that a NO?

[gracefromHHP]

you don't have to have obvious symptoms present in order to transmit herpes.

[Axe88]

Hi Grace. Hope 2012 is rocking for you and your family!

I was taking a shower the other day, and upon touching the area below my naval that has an outbreak occurring, I freaked out for some reason. Even though I am already using an anti-bacterial shower gel to shower with, I immediately washed my hands again and again in panic. Was this necessary?

[gracefromHHP]

this  is not an issue at all.

[Axe88]

Hi Grace.

How long after an outbreak has healed is it safe for me to have sex w/the wife?

:)

[Axe88]

Hi Grace.

How long after an outbreak has healed is it safe for me to have sex w/the wife?

:)

[gracefromHHP]

wait until the skin has returned to normal.

[Axe88]

Ok.

It has a slightly different color than my normal white skin, but the little bumps or lesions are long gone. It looks like if it was slightly burnt.

[Axe88]

Good evening Grace.

My wife has an outbreak in her mouth as a result of her type-1. It's inside her mouth, at the top of it. Any special precaution we should take? We're not kissing or sharing any cups, etc...She's a little freaked out but we're trying to look at this for what it is and not be scared.

Hope all is well!

[Axe88]

Good evening Grace.

My wife has an outbreak in her mouth as a result of her type-1. It's inside her mouth, at the top of it. Any special precaution we should take? Is that passed on thru saliva? We're not kissing or sharing any cups, etc...She's a little freaked out but we're trying to look at this for what it is and not be scared.

Hope all is well!

[Axe88]

Hey Guy.

My wife has an outbreak in her mouth as a result of her type-1. It's inside her mouth, at the top of it. Any special precaution we should take? Is that passed on thru saliva? Also, when is it ok for me to kiss her again? We're not kissing or sharing any cups, etc...She's a little freaked out but we're trying to look at this for what it is and not be scared.

Hope all is well!