Herpes All Over Body?

[InNeedOfAnswersPlease]

Hi! I was wondering if you could help me with a problem I've been having for a few months now. About five months ago, in April, I tested positive for having the HSV virus through my OBGYN. I had gone in for a pap-smear and for possible hormonal imbalance blood testing that I thought might have been causing small bumps on my lower buttocks/thigh area. The bumps were small-dime sized and itched, especially if I sat on one wrong. I had the bumps starting early in March and they lasted until April, but cleared up before I went to my gyno, and only scars were left. She then had me tested a month later, which is when I came back positive for HSV. She said that I had come in contact with the virus sometime in the past year, and it would be another year until we would be able to effectively test to see which strain I had. (HSV-1 or 2). I was devastated, but my partner was very reassuring and caring about the whole situation. Over the last 4-5 months I have felt like I have been dealing with this issue a LOT though. I have had two distinct "outbreaks" where I will get headaches/feverish before I "break out." But usually a breakout consists of itching ALL over the body and no rash besides between 15-25 spread out (all over the body) TINY bumps that look smaller than flea bites. Hardly noticeable. They never appear in clumps or groups like "normal" herpes pictures suggest. And mind you, I will be itchy for days ALL over my body. Head, ears, inside the nostrils, face, neck, behind the ears, vagina (internally and externally) chest, arms, stomach, back, buttocks, thighs (front and back), calves (front and back) and even top of feet. At the time I had been diagnosed with HSV, it had been a year since I had gotten Chicken Pox for the first time. My symptoms of break out seem to be VERY much like my chicken pox symptoms, just my bumps are not "blistery," as they look more like tiny bug bites. Most of the time I'm just itchy EVERYWHERE... the area may not have a bump on it at all!! I am constantly scratching. Recently, about a month ago I had an outbreak, and after it recovered a week and a half later I had another outbreak! Very frustrating. My question is, could this virus have more of a correlation with my Herpes Zoster virus? Could you test positive for HSV if it's the Herpes Zoster virus? Or do the tests detect two completely different things? If it was the Herpes Zoster virus, does this sound like the symptoms? I am almost 19, and I thought that adults with the Herpes Zoster virus got more of painful, shingle symptoms, not so much itchy, scattered bump, chickenpox like symptoms. Please let me know what you think! Or if you just think this is normal herpes spread all over my body. Or if it's possibly something else? Please let me know! Thanks!

[Texangirl1995]

I am a 22yr old female who contracted genital herpes three years ago from my partner due to oral sex (he's had cold sores since his preteens). I also experience outbreaks on my mouth, butt and one eye. My initial outbreak was AWFUL and lasted at least two weeks, and even longer to heal. My gyno prescribed me valacyclovir 500mg everyday as daily suppressive therapy after my initial OB. Took the pills for two years and never had another outbreak, but I would experience genital prodrome tingling as well as tingling on my lip. I read online that Apple cider vinegar helps with herpes so I would apply to any itchy spots and that would usually be the end of it. About a year ago I decided to go off of the valacyclovir since I hadn't had any outbreaks. Fast forward to about two weeks ago, where I experienced sudden and extreme itching in my throat, mouth, eye, and genitals/butt (where I got my primary OB) shortly after taking an aleve for a migraine. Still dont know if the aleve was what caused it because I rarely take painkillers (especially not aleve) or if its because I quit the valacyclovir and have been under extreme stress lately and it was bound to happen... The difference with this OB was that now, after all the sores/irritations have seemingly healed, (I should also note that I have been taking valacyclovir 1000mg per day during this OB as well as a 1500mg lysine supp w/ garlic and propolis as well as a b-complex supp for stress) I am experiencing prodrome tingling and itching symptoms on my vagina, lip, butt, one hand and eyes/eyebrows. Over the past few days this has progressed to nearly full body itching. It got worse in the bathtub one night and spread to my thighs and butt as tiny extremely itchy (but baarely noticeable) bumps. Now some four days later I have intense and tickly itching on my entire face, especially nose, mouth/chin and eyes/eyebrows as well as my genitals, butt, arms, hand, neck, scalp, upper back, behind my ears, you name it. It feels like stray hairs tickling me all over but it isnt. Im pretty much certain it has something to do with the herpes. Im now taking 500mg valacyclovir (suppressive therapy dose) as well as 1500mg lysine, b-complex, and 50mg zinc. Using Abreva on the tickles on my lip/chin helps only slightly but only for a short time. Hoping continuing with suppressive therapy dose of valacyclovir will help me with time.. Very scared that this will not go away. Trying to remain hopeful as I know stress exacerbates hsv but it is damn hard. I just find it so so odd that I had no issues with this particular aspect of the herpes for three years until now.... And the itching DEFINITELY gets worse at night. I have to take at least 50mg diphenhydramine to help me sleep through the night and cut down on some of the intensity of the itching, sometimes even up to 100mg because it is hard to sleep from the horrible stress/anxiety and sheer itchiness of it. Tried talking to my family about it and they look at me like I'm crazy :( even more worried what a doctor would say so I have not sought extra treatment for this. Also want to add that hsv is irritated moreso by chocolate, nuts, white sugar, coffee and other forms of caffeine so it is best to avoid these.

[Imaginaryexit]

I would really like to talk with others that have this all over problem.

[Tammyshy]

Hi Iam having the same issue

[WindowPane]

Actually if you have outbreaks in other areas which the above testimonies prove that is possible and those areas are shedding they can transmit HSV to others... I know some folks who have HSV and experience the same thing and have been confirmed to be caused by HSV ... I absolutely believe that gential herpes could be transmitted through other means than sex since the breakouts can be anywhere below the waist... If you don't believe that people can have herpes outbreaks on other parts of their bodies just do a Google image search and you'll see outbreaks in just about every conceivable part of the body is possible... I know the standard answer is that gential herpes can only transmit through sex but the truth is if somebody's having an outbreak in any area of their body that area is contagious...

[Imaginaryexit]

One of my biggest concerns is..can you transmit while you do not have open blisters in these areas of irritated skin.  There are no answers on the internet.  

[feelingundone]

Correct.

[141169]

Is that true?
I heard many ppl said STDs only can transmit through sex,  so hsv2 shouldnt be able to transmit to oyher areas right?

[mcparsons1975]

This is a question!
Q: if I've had gentile herpes but take medication daily for it , could I break out on my arm with what looks like poison ivy bumps and they itch but not as bad as poison I've would...I rubb alcohol on my arm and its went away in a few days...is that herpes out break?