HSV 1 question

[hollygolightly05]

Hi,

I experienced my first cold sore on my lips. To my knowledge it was my first cold sore, as I have no memory of having any before. I was quite feverish at the time and felt the tingling sensation.

About six weeks later, I then went to the Doctor's as my genitals felt like they were burning and were swollen. The doctor was unsure as to whether it was genital herpes, and we couldn't do the test, as I was about to leave for a business trip. I literally ran from the office to the Doctor to the plane. I was shell shocked when the Doctor mentioned herpes, as I had not considered this. When I got back from the trip, I returned to the Doctor's and there were no longer any symptoms.

My question is, how can I find out if this is herpes.

I've also read a lot on the topic, and the only way I couldve received this was via oral sex. I received oral sex six weeks earlier from the man who had given me cold sores.

Is it possible I contracted both oral and genital herpes? My mouth cold sore showed up two days later, but my genital pain was six weeks later. Is this possible?

Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

did your provider think it was anything other than herpes?

is it likely that you had a cold sore and then a few weeks later developed genital herpes symptoms from the same infection? no it is not.   odds are you would've had your oral and genital symptoms about the same time.

at this point , wait until it's 3 months after the last time you had sex and cover your herpes bases with a type specific herpes igg blood test. should you get a recurrence of genital symptoms, be seen again.

grace

[gracefromHHP]

also are you male or female?

[hollygolightly05]

The Doctor thought on the first physical examination it was herpes. I was shell shocked, as I hadn't even considered this. As I went into a state of stress, I think the Doctor decided not to do the swab/blood test until after my flight.

After being away for 3 days at a conference, I then went back to the Doctor. 3 days later I went back. The Doctor no longer felt it looked like herpes, as it had healed. She said that if it was herpes, it was an atypical presentation.
So, she treated me for thrush. The thrush medication worked.

The Doctor said the blood test will only reveal that I have HSV 1 (given that I've had a coldsore, I know this).

The Doctor said it's possible to be exposed to the virus, and not have symptoms for years. The doctor said to come back in, if I had the same symptoms again.

I am female. I wonder if I had a coldsore and genital symptoms at the same time, but didn't notice the genital symptoms. 6 weeks later, during my period the symptoms showed up, and the Doctor said this was typical for herpes.Thank you for all your help.

[hollygolightly05]

I went back to my medical provider today (different one, as my own is away). She said that, herpes could appear first on the mouth and then six weeks later on the genitals from the same infection. She said they really don't know enough about this virus. She said they can't do the test here, but I should go back in, if I have symptoms again. Hmm bit frustrating!

[gracefromHHP]

unfortunately it sounds like your 1st provider doesn't really know a lot about herpes :(   If they did, they would've done the culture the 1st time and would've known that asking you to come back in 3 days would've been far too late for a lesion culture to be accurate.

if you had contracted hsv1 genitally and orally at the same time, symptoms would've been pretty obvious in both locations around the same time. Hsv1 genitally almost always occurs with very obvious symptoms since there wasn't any hsv1 present already to protect you from hsv1 genitally. Your body tends to present with very classic symptoms. You could have hsv2 both orally and genitally too but it's more likely hsv1 with the cold sore you had.

are you in the US?

did the even properly test you for vaginitis or just give you medication for thrush just to see if it helped?

you can get type specific herpes igg blood testing done to see what your status is for both hsv1 and hsv2. If you only test + for hsv1, you still don't have good answers as to what went on genitally though unfortunately.

[hollygolightly05]

No I'm in Asia, but both providers were Western Doctors. The first provider said that it wasn't a typical presentation of herpes. In retrospect, she possibly should have done the swab, but I think my nerves might have flipped her out. I was really shell shocked, and having to catch a plane.

I had some symptoms consistent with HSV 1. Obviously I had the initial coldsore. Then six weeks later, I had an extremely swollen and painful vagina -It was absolutely burning. But I thought it was thrush.

My understanding is the first outbreak is the most painful -because I was thinking maybe I had a coldsore, and genital symptoms, but they werent obvious and then six weeks later they were obvious, altho that would be inconsistent with the first outbreak.

There was no test for vaginitis, they just gave me thrush medication -which I found strange. The first day I went in, I thought it was thrush, and was told  no, but maybe herpes. Then 3 days later, I was told probably not herpes,most likely thrush.

The Doctor today said to do the blood test, but also said if it's HSV 1 +, it will not indicate what happened.

I'm surprised at how relaxed the Doctors are about herpes. I'm guessing it's pretty common.. but even today I said, well if I meet someone what do I say? -The response was -just don't have sex if you have any symptoms, and if you do get symptoms come back in and we'll get you tested.

So yep, still feeling very unsure. Thanks again!

Btw symptoms I did have were swollen, burning pain. It hurt to walk. But I also did have lower back pain at some point (which I think is consistent with herpes).  I had some light yellow discharge, some mild burning pain when urinating. Overall, it appeared like thrush (there were no lesions, altho initially there was an abrasion which the Doctor said was not typical to herpes, but could be, then it was gone in 3 days, and there was only the one).

Of course it doesn't help that the guy involved has consistently expressed he's never had a coldsore (that i no longer believe) and he has now totally cut me off.

Any more insight would be appreciated. Thanks again.

[gracefromHHP]

I recommend waiting 2 more weeks to let the antifungal treatment do it's thing and then return for further testing. get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea as well as vaginitis too. should the urinary burning return, seek out urine testing too.

[hollygolightly05]

I'm no longer having any symptoms. I had the first symptoms on Tuesday, presented to the Doctor on Thursday, then went back in on the Monday. By which time, the inflamation and abrasion was gone. I took the thrush medication and  by the end of that week, I was no longer in pain. I will get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea -altho the Doctor said gonorrhea not possible (it was six weeks since the oral sex, I went into the Doctor's with the symptoms). I got the symptoms with my period, which the Doctor said was consistent with herpes - to be dormant and then active with menstruation.

Im not in any pain now, but I've been advised if I experience it again, then they will swab. In the mean time, I can do blood tests, which won't be conclusive.

Is it really this hard to distinguish between herpes and thrush? As for it not being HSV 2, can you not get oral coldsores from HSV 2 or just HSV 1? It would seem to me if I have HSV 1 (likely from the coldsore), I would have got it genitally and orally from the oral sex. But it's weird that one showed up straight away and the other took several weeks.

[gracefromHHP]

you can get cold sores from hsv2 but usually you don't. not many folks get hsv2 orally in general.

[hollygolightly05]

sounds pretty much it's like HSV 1, now just gotta find out if it's orally and genitally. I imagine if I was exposed to the infection at the same time, it's probably both....

And to think the guy still maintains he's never had a coldsore HMMPH.

[hollygolightly05]

ps. thanks again for your help here

[gracefromHHP]

he very well might never have had a cold sore. most people who have hsv1 don't get obvious cold sores to know it. odds are he's never been tested for herpes either since it's not a part of routine std testing.

[hollygolightly05]

Possible, somehow I think it's unlikely.

Anyway I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed that I only contracted it orally, although unlikely given the oral sex.

[hollygolightly05]

Okay, my pain has come back. So I will revisit the Dr. tomorrow. It feels like someone has taken a knife to between my labia majora and labia minora. It feels like it's being cut at. It is quite red and there is some white fluid in there. The pain is radiating to my inner thigh and my backside. It's all right sided pain.

Any ideas? Thanks again

[gracefromHHP]

stop back and let us know how your appointment went.

[hollygolightly05]

I couldn't get an appointment and the pain just disappeared, which makes me wonder if it's in my head. Argh.

Am I correct in thinking, I can only get genital herpes confirmed, if I have another outbreak? Otherwise the blood test will only confirm exposure to HSV 1 & given that I've had a coldsore, I know that now.

I'm guessing the chances of getting an oral coldsore from someone, and then six weeks later having genital herpes symptoms means the chances are pretty likely I contracted it in both areas at once? But my understanding is HSV 1 prefers the mouth, so therefore I should have more outbreaks there than below?

I have to say the pain I experienced at the onset of my period, in my genital area was far worse than the coldsore on my lips.

Grace when you say; Hsv1 genitally almost always occurs with very obvious symptoms since there wasn't any hsv1 present already to protect you from hsv1 genitally. Your body tends to present with very classic symptoms.

What are the classic symptoms? I had a very inflamed and swollen vagina, it was painful to walk. I did experience brief back pain prior to this. I got it at the onset of my period. -The Doctor said these were very typical symptoms, however there were no obvious lesions, and she said if it was herpes, it was an atypical presentation, as three days later, all swelling was gone and there were no lesions.

Thanks!! Part of me wants symptoms again to confirm diagnosis, but part of me wants to never go through that pain again.  Walking, sitting, everything hurt. It was a burning pain.

[hollygolightly05]

having trouble with the internet connection. Sorry for the three previous posts. But another q, when I did get the coldsore, I do remember getting itchy pimple bumps at the top of vagina/inner thighs. I put this down to shaving rash type thing. Now I wonder if that was the first outbreak, however if the second thing was an outbreak, it was different area. Also I read that genital herpes usually one sided, the pimples weren't really on the vagina, but more around thighs, above pubic hair area and they were on opposite side to the pain six weeks later. Damn I hope my Dr. gets back from her holiday soon -so many qs, I did visit an alt Dr but wasn't happy with her treatment of me -she basically treated me as if I was ****, until I spelt it out loud and clear this was the first sexual activity I'd had in over 4 years and I wasn't happy to be in this predicament (she was a judgemental inappropriate cow)

[gracefromHHP]

at this point best you can do is wait and should you get a recurrence of genital symptoms, be seen promptly for them.  the symptoms you had genitally 6 weeks into things would've been a recurrence and they tend not to occur the way yours did. usually recurrences are pretty mild.

[hollygolightly05]

Okay, so this is basically the same advice of the Practioners -if I have any symptoms again, come in pronto. And if I don't, I'm now left wondering, what is my obligation to any new partner I might meet. -Do I say, I might have herpes, but it has never been diagnosed (as it was possibly thrush) or do I not disclose?

Basically the 6 week later presentation, the Doctor said it was an atypical presentation. She said on the first visit it might be herpes, as there was a small abrasion, however on the second visit (3 days later) she said the abrasion was gone and she felt if it was herpes it was an atypical presentation. However given that I did experience my first coldsore ever (+ fever) 2 days after the initial exposure it has made me worried.

I feel like there is nothing I can do, unless I have symptoms again. In the mean time, the relationship with the guy has ended as he feels like I've accused him of something horrible. -He is positive he's never had a coldsore, but in hindsight, I think he did..

My symptoms were burning pain, swollen, general soreness and it hurt to walk. No lesions. but very inflamed. The pain could not be ignored,there was not ichyness. But there was some lower back pain. And also pain in the inner thigh.

Not knowing is very difficult, but then again I'm not sure I want to experience this again!!!:)

THANKS AGAIN

[hollygolightly05]

Okay, so this is basically the same advice of the Practioners -if I have any symptoms again, come in pronto. And if I don't, I'm now left wondering, what is my obligation to any new partner I might meet. -Do I say, I might have herpes, but it has never been diagnosed (as it was possibly thrush) or do I not disclose?

Basically the 6 week later presentation, the Doctor said it was an atypical presentation. She said on the first visit it might be herpes, as there was a small abrasion, however on the second visit (3 days later) she said the abrasion was gone and she felt if it was herpes it was an atypical presentation. However given that I did experience my first coldsore ever (+ fever) 2 days after the initial exposure it has made me worried.

I feel like there is nothing I can do, unless I have symptoms again. In the mean time, the relationship with the guy has ended as he feels like I've accused him of something horrible. -He is positive he's never had a coldsore, but in hindsight, I think he did..

My symptoms were burning pain, swollen, general soreness and it hurt to walk. No lesions. but very inflamed. The pain could not be ignored,there was not ichyness. But there was some lower back pain. And also pain in the inner thigh.

Not knowing is very difficult, but then again I'm not sure I want to experience this again!!!:)

THANKS AGAIN

[gracefromHHP]

unfortunately sometimes it's not all black and white when it comes to herpes. At this point, discuss with partners that you probably have hsv1 and are still undergoing work up to confirm that. Hsv1 orally sheds far more than hsv1 genitally does so it's the more important base to cover anyways. not the best answers to give a partner but it gets the conversation going and gets them testing to see what their own status is. With partners, it's just as important to know what they have to protect yourself as it is to disclose your hsv1 status.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm has terrific info on oral herpes for more reading about precautions to take.

[hollygolightly05]

Okay, I'm just not sure why it's probable that I have HSV 1 genitally? My presentation was atypical. Isnt there a possibility I only got it on my lips? Sorry getting hopeful here

[gracefromHHP]

really nothing more I could add at this point. not too much else you can do to figure it out unless you have a recurrence of symptoms.

[hollygolightly05]

Ok, so it's been 3 months, I'll go in and have blood tests. Assuming it's + for HSV1 which I think it will be. Do I then make the assumption I received oral and genital in the one hit? Do I warn people? Or do I assume I only have it orally as there was no conclusive diagnosis for genital? Thanks