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Oral HSV1 Primary Infection
Hi all, Im 38yo, 2 months ago I started to get a sore throat, swollen & pus covered tonsils, after a week, visited the doctor who gave me a course of antibiotics which only helped a little.
After a couple more visits & weeks, I asked for a std screen because I thought it may be the cold sore virus, and the results showed antibodies for Hsv1.
The doctor said there was no treatment & to gargle with salt water if my throat got sore.
I've been suffering with headaches, very sore throat, hard to swallow, really bad chest pain, went to hospital once because it was so bad. It's been 8 weeks with no improvement. I have read that primary infection in adults can be bad. I'd like to know is there anything I should be asking my doctor for regarding treatment as 8 weeks seems a long time for this to continue.
Many thanks in advance.
After a couple more visits & weeks, I asked for a std screen because I thought it may be the cold sore virus, and the results showed antibodies for Hsv1.
The doctor said there was no treatment & to gargle with salt water if my throat got sore.
I've been suffering with headaches, very sore throat, hard to swallow, really bad chest pain, went to hospital once because it was so bad. It's been 8 weeks with no improvement. I have read that primary infection in adults can be bad. I'd like to know is there anything I should be asking my doctor for regarding treatment as 8 weeks seems a long time for this to continue.
Many thanks in advance.
Thanks for your ideas Fleetwood,
I've never tested positive in my life prior to this event, have never experienced symptoms so severe as this either. I had a sore on the back of my throat that took about two weeks to go away which the doctor swabbed for hsv1 but it came up negative. I've had canker sores my whole life if I bit my lip of side of my mouth but this is very different. The doctor swabbed other lesions at the back corner of my tongue today, I get results in a few days & will advise both the swab results & ask for blood results too. The doctor suggested its a matter of elimination, they've tried ppe's for reflux that didnt work. He thinks it may be stress related & has given me two weeks of valium to see what effect it has, if no effect, I have to get an endoscopy. I suggested antivirals but I don't think he's prepared to do that yet.
Will keep you posted.
Thanks again for talking to me about this
I've never tested positive in my life prior to this event, have never experienced symptoms so severe as this either. I had a sore on the back of my throat that took about two weeks to go away which the doctor swabbed for hsv1 but it came up negative. I've had canker sores my whole life if I bit my lip of side of my mouth but this is very different. The doctor swabbed other lesions at the back corner of my tongue today, I get results in a few days & will advise both the swab results & ask for blood results too. The doctor suggested its a matter of elimination, they've tried ppe's for reflux that didnt work. He thinks it may be stress related & has given me two weeks of valium to see what effect it has, if no effect, I have to get an endoscopy. I suggested antivirals but I don't think he's prepared to do that yet.
Will keep you posted.
Thanks again for talking to me about this
Definitely medical advice required here. I still suggest the second opinion. It can't be said that this isn't herpes related, there are of course plenty of stories that would suggest keeping it live as an option.
There are however four things that are worth pondering.
First, three weeks is pretty quick in which to detect a strong positive for HSV1 antibodies (ask for the actual HSV1 result). It is therefore possible that you have had it a long time even since your youth. There are a lot of people who the infection and don't know it.
Second, eight weeks is a long time for herpes symptoms to persist, especially if you have antibodies.
Third, where are the sores that will very often accompany a primary infection? They are present in most, but granted not all instances.
Fourth, how do you know that the HSV1 infection you have isn't genital and you hence have no HSV1 in your oral area at all and are unlikely to do so? This is unlikely but remains an example of why a further opinion is required.
There is a very effective treatment in terms of antivirals that your doctor can write a script for, it is very effective against HSV1.
There are however four things that are worth pondering.
First, three weeks is pretty quick in which to detect a strong positive for HSV1 antibodies (ask for the actual HSV1 result). It is therefore possible that you have had it a long time even since your youth. There are a lot of people who the infection and don't know it.
Second, eight weeks is a long time for herpes symptoms to persist, especially if you have antibodies.
Third, where are the sores that will very often accompany a primary infection? They are present in most, but granted not all instances.
Fourth, how do you know that the HSV1 infection you have isn't genital and you hence have no HSV1 in your oral area at all and are unlikely to do so? This is unlikely but remains an example of why a further opinion is required.
There is a very effective treatment in terms of antivirals that your doctor can write a script for, it is very effective against HSV1.
Hi Fleetwood20,
Thank you for your suggestion.
It was three weeks after symptoms started before my blood test.
I'm confident it was a primary hsv1 infection, a couple of days after kissing a lady, I started to get sumptoms of tonsilitis that have gotten worse & worse.
The doctor was confident it was a primary infection.
I'm having trouble with the severe pain, it's hard to swallow, I get bad chest pain, feels like breathing is restricted & something is in or around my throat a lot of the time. There are definite lesions on both sides of my tongue right at the back where it joins the sides of my mouth, usually hidden, have to push my tongue sideways to see them.
I'm going to the doctor again today. Surely there's something they can give me
Thank you for your suggestion.
It was three weeks after symptoms started before my blood test.
I'm confident it was a primary hsv1 infection, a couple of days after kissing a lady, I started to get sumptoms of tonsilitis that have gotten worse & worse.
The doctor was confident it was a primary infection.
I'm having trouble with the severe pain, it's hard to swallow, I get bad chest pain, feels like breathing is restricted & something is in or around my throat a lot of the time. There are definite lesions on both sides of my tongue right at the back where it joins the sides of my mouth, usually hidden, have to push my tongue sideways to see them.
I'm going to the doctor again today. Surely there's something they can give me
How long from the first signs of the sore throat until blood was drawn, try to be accurate by days. Was it a strong positive for HSV1 antibodies?
I would wonder if a second opinion is a good idea here. It is quite possible you have had HSV1 for a long time. In such an instance, then this is not a primary infection. You'd have to be suspicious if these are herpes symptoms at all. If it is a primary infection then there most probably would have been a source 2-10 days before the sore throat, does this align?
I would wonder if a second opinion is a good idea here. It is quite possible you have had HSV1 for a long time. In such an instance, then this is not a primary infection. You'd have to be suspicious if these are herpes symptoms at all. If it is a primary infection then there most probably would have been a source 2-10 days before the sore throat, does this align?
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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.
