How long do recurrent herpes symptoms last?

[camila123]

Hello,

My doctor confirmed that I have herpes 1 and 2, this has been devastating news for me, at my 42 years the person that I contracted the virus from was the second person I had sexual relations with (have known him for 16 years, well that is what I thought!).  I feel betrayed, and like a fool, I can not even forgive myself for letting this happen.  I got infected about seven weeks ago, and had my first symptoms about five days after our last sexual encounter.  They lasted about two and a half weeks.  I got on medication about two weeks ago (Valtrex) and to my surprise and disappointment about a week ago I started to have my second recurrence.  It came just before my period came, but I also got a yeast infection.  My questions are: Is it normal to get a recurrence so often? I am prone to yeast infections, does this mean I will be getting them every time I have a recurrence?  Now I am concerned about HIV, I got tested for that about two days after I had the last sexual encounter and the result was negative but I can not get that out of my head.  What do yo think about the difference in the medications acyclovir and Vatrex?  My insurance does not cover much for Valtrex which I am taking as a suppressive medication.  Does Acyclovir prevent outbreaks and prevent me from passing the virus to an uninfected person?  I have not been able to sleep well, since all this happened, could you please answer this questions for me?

Thanks so much!

[gracefromHHP]

Do you know the results of the igg?  If so can you post them here for me to confirm that you were properly tested?  All I need is the actual numeric results - ie hsv1 igg 3.3 and hsv2 igg 2. 3 or whatever they are.

You were on antibiotics previously so a yeast infection wouldn't be too unusual. If you aren't feeling better by monday, see your provider for proper testing.

Acyclovir works the same as valtrex, you just have to take it more often. It's WAY cheaper though.  As far as does it reduce infection to a partner - only valtrex has been officially studied for that but we assume that since they both reduce shedding the same that the results would be applicable to valtrex too.

grace

[camila123]

Thanks so much for answering!  The test was IgG, and it came back positive for both type 1 and 2.  The symptoms that I got this time were pain on the bottom of my buttocks, and in the back of my upper thighs.  I felt a sting in my anus but I could not see any blisters there nor in my vulva.  No blisters anywhere that I could see.  I felt like a tingling or crawling all around the "boxer area" for about 10 days, Am I contagious all this time because of the pain and tingling feeling?  I still have this pain today very little though but enough to know I am not OK.  The doctor prescribe me medication for my yeast infection and it has cleared.  What do you think of all this?  God bless you for all the help you give.

[gracefromHHP]

Did you ever get anything other than the igm test done?

If you read our read before posting post on this forum, we ask that you just keep adding new comments/updates to your original post so that we don't have to go look for prior posts and read them first. It really does help a lot. If you just keep adding all future comments to this thread that would be very helpful - thanks :)

grace