Aa
I am afraid I have Herpes
I had unprotected sex several times with a woman I met a few weeks ago. The last time I had sex with her was last Monday. I gave her oral sex and penetrated her in the course of a passionate embrace. Three days later on Thursday, I find 7 blisters on my chin , and two blisters in my pubic area. They do not itch , they seem to fill with pus and then crust over. I have no other symptoms. I cannot believe I was that irresponsible but alas, I succumbed to my sexual drive and the deed is done. I am going to a clinic tomorrow but I figured I would post this to get feedback.
actually the $4 acyclovir deal at walmart and other places is only for episodic therapy. suppressive therapy is typically more expensive without insurance. It's under $20 at walmart last I checked.
grace
grace
As stated in my posts, I urged alex to see a medical professional to confirm a diagnosis. Suppressive therapy is very helpful in reducing the number of outbreaks and the severity. If a person has a very bad first outbreak that is very painful and bothersome, suppressive therapy can certainly lessen these symptoms in future outbreaks. Yes, some people do not need suppressive therapy as they do not have many, if any, further outbreaks. I was simply responding to a specific question by a concerned individual. I also never said that facial herpes was common, I only said that since he had been exposed on the face and genitals and was showing symptoms, I would recommend seeing a physician for testing. For most people who test positive for HSV and have a confirmed outbreak on the face, suppressive therapy is recommended to help avoid spreading the infection inadvertantly to the eye. As for suppressive therapy and the cost, you can choose to use acyclovir which is $4.00 per month through most of the major pharmacies, without insurance.
LissaValenz
LissaValenz
there aren't any benefits from starting suppressive therapy from the gitgo other than less bothersome ob's because you are on suppressive therapy. It makes no difference in the long term course of the infection.
no reason to treat an already healed ob if indeed this is herpes going on either. It's a waste of money.
many other things can cause these symptoms. The rates of mrsa infection from sexual contact are very high too and the treatments are completely different. At this point the op needs a proper exam and then follow up testing.
As to you knowing a thing or two, you aren't the only one dear. the 3 herpes experts here on medhelp also maintain that facial herpes isn't all that common. it's not a stat I've randomly made up.
grace
no reason to treat an already healed ob if indeed this is herpes going on either. It's a waste of money.
many other things can cause these symptoms. The rates of mrsa infection from sexual contact are very high too and the treatments are completely different. At this point the op needs a proper exam and then follow up testing.
As to you knowing a thing or two, you aren't the only one dear. the 3 herpes experts here on medhelp also maintain that facial herpes isn't all that common. it's not a stat I've randomly made up.
grace
Actually, if you in fact know a thing or two about the subject, you'll know that a visual diagnosis is wrong about 1/3 of the time. Only proper testing can confirm herpes. As well, oral HSV2 is not very common - only 3% of all oral herpes is in fact caused by HSV2, 97% is due to HSV1.
We also surely can't diagnosis people here on a forum. So to state something definitively "is HSV2" is not the best thing to do. He too needs to be seen and tested by his medical provider. As grace said, this could be something else going on.
We also surely can't diagnosis people here on a forum. So to state something definitively "is HSV2" is not the best thing to do. He too needs to be seen and tested by his medical provider. As grace said, this could be something else going on.
yi3o8, it would stand to reason that the outbreak on his face is HSV2 due to the fact that he contracted it while giving the girl oral sex. This is what I am basing my advice on. Either way, medication will be the same. I thought that these facts were obvious.
As for Alex, please post any test result that you get in the coming days. Don't worry, this isn't a death sentence, just a bump in the road.
LissaValenz
As for Alex, please post any test result that you get in the coming days. Don't worry, this isn't a death sentence, just a bump in the road.
LissaValenz
I have had all of the testing, but unfortunatly it was too early for any of the blood work to come in. Whe I went to the doctor, I was in a full blown outbreak, so it was easy to see what I had. The sores responded immediately to anti-viral medication and I have been on suppressive therapy ever since. I could go back in and have all of the tests done again, but I have a very obvious case of HSV2, so it would only be confirming the inevitalbe. HSV2 is more common that you know in the facial area than you know of. That is why I am urging him to get to the doctor and to get on suppresive medication right away. During a first outbreak, you are the highest risk of developing Viral Meningitis due to the herpes virus, so you don't want to mess around. I just came out of a bout with viral meningitis, and it was not fun at all.
I'm not just talking here to give my fingers exercise, ya know. I do know a thing or two about the subject.
LissaValenz
I'm not just talking here to give my fingers exercise, ya know. I do know a thing or two about the subject.
LissaValenz
hsv2 in the facial area is still not very common but it does happen.
Going to be seen tomorrow is the best course of action. Many thing this could be and at this point it's too late for a lesion culture and typing to be done on your symptoms. since they are already crusted, no reason to treat them either. If your provider feels that these could be due to herpes, get a type specific herpes igg blood test now and repeat it in a few months. If you get a return of symptoms before then, be seen within 48 hours of their appearance for a lesion culture and typing for better answers.
Have you talked to this gal about all of this and asked her about her own testing yet?
grace
Going to be seen tomorrow is the best course of action. Many thing this could be and at this point it's too late for a lesion culture and typing to be done on your symptoms. since they are already crusted, no reason to treat them either. If your provider feels that these could be due to herpes, get a type specific herpes igg blood test now and repeat it in a few months. If you get a return of symptoms before then, be seen within 48 hours of their appearance for a lesion culture and typing for better answers.
Have you talked to this gal about all of this and asked her about her own testing yet?
grace
Yes it could be either virus, but my post still stnads. Fact: It is very common to get HSV2 on the face when engaging in oral sex. Fact: It is also very common to become infected on the face by HSV1 during oral sex. Either way, he needs to be to go the doctor and be tested. My bet is that he has HSV2 both on his face and his genitals so he needs to be put onto high dose initial therapy as soon as possible. You don't want those blisters on his face getting into contact with his eye! Better safe than sorry!
LissaValenz
LissaValenz
Just to go over some general info, if you have more blisters on your chin then it is most likely HSV 1. It could be both or just type 2, but type 1 prefers the mouth area.
It is possible that since this is the first outbreak that your immune system may prevent any severe outbreaks in the future, and there is hope that they may be few and far between. Also, if they are not weeping and turning into painful sores that take a long time to heal then it might mean your immune system is capable of fighting the virus.
As mentioned, antivirals can suppress the virus and minimize spreading. Best of luck, and hope the worst is past. Keep us updated.
It is possible that since this is the first outbreak that your immune system may prevent any severe outbreaks in the future, and there is hope that they may be few and far between. Also, if they are not weeping and turning into painful sores that take a long time to heal then it might mean your immune system is capable of fighting the virus.
As mentioned, antivirals can suppress the virus and minimize spreading. Best of luck, and hope the worst is past. Keep us updated.
Well, it doesn't sound very good, that's for sure. If you are still in the middle of an outbreak they will be able to diagnose you by visually inspecting the areas that have blisters and by taking swabs of the fluid inside them. Blood tests at this stage are not as clear cut. It can take up to 16 weeks for the antibodies to start showing up in your bloodstream after your first outbreak.
Since you have exposed yourself and have it both on your genitals and on your face, I would highly recommend suppressive therapy with Valtrex. It is the only anti-viral on the market that helps to keep you from spreaking the virus to others, along with condoms of course. It is good that you are going to the doctor tomorrow. It is important to treat a first outbreak quickly to avoid any complications and begin suppressing the virus in your system.
Good luck,
LissaValenz
Since you have exposed yourself and have it both on your genitals and on your face, I would highly recommend suppressive therapy with Valtrex. It is the only anti-viral on the market that helps to keep you from spreaking the virus to others, along with condoms of course. It is good that you are going to the doctor tomorrow. It is important to treat a first outbreak quickly to avoid any complications and begin suppressing the virus in your system.
Good luck,
LissaValenz
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
