Aa
Outbreak question and visiting friend in hospital
Hi, Grace,
I've been reading the forums and appreciate all of your great advice.
I have a couple of questions. First, I recently went to the clinic to be tested for a wound near my anus which looks like it could be herpes. The healthcare provider said it "doesn't not look like herpes" and then asked if I wanted to start on Valtrex. I told her that we needed to wait to see (test results next week or so) if it really was herpes rather than jumping to conclusions based on the visual. I want to respect her experience but I was very upset by this. The thing is, it isn't going away. I've done a tremendous amount of research and have started a course of L-Lysine along with all kinds of other immune boosters and a totally healthy diet, tea tree oil topically and tylenol paste. There has been very little change and it's been 8 days. I also have chronic yeast infection which I trying to cure with Fem-dophilus and this condition has caused pain, swelling, itching and cuts over the years as well. The thing is, I haven't had sex in almost two years. I went through extreme stress last year and had no outbreak. Is it possible that what I am experiencing is not herpes but rather some other skin condition or reaction to losing 20 lbs in the last two months and not being very healthy (i.e. compromised immune system)? I am praying that it's not HSV...
Also, I also am supposed to visit a friend in the hospital this week and am nervous about this. I am *very* clean about everything--even before this situation--so am hoping that being in a hospital will not compromise the patients' immune systems (cancer).
Thanks for any insight you can provide.
I've been reading the forums and appreciate all of your great advice.
I have a couple of questions. First, I recently went to the clinic to be tested for a wound near my anus which looks like it could be herpes. The healthcare provider said it "doesn't not look like herpes" and then asked if I wanted to start on Valtrex. I told her that we needed to wait to see (test results next week or so) if it really was herpes rather than jumping to conclusions based on the visual. I want to respect her experience but I was very upset by this. The thing is, it isn't going away. I've done a tremendous amount of research and have started a course of L-Lysine along with all kinds of other immune boosters and a totally healthy diet, tea tree oil topically and tylenol paste. There has been very little change and it's been 8 days. I also have chronic yeast infection which I trying to cure with Fem-dophilus and this condition has caused pain, swelling, itching and cuts over the years as well. The thing is, I haven't had sex in almost two years. I went through extreme stress last year and had no outbreak. Is it possible that what I am experiencing is not herpes but rather some other skin condition or reaction to losing 20 lbs in the last two months and not being very healthy (i.e. compromised immune system)? I am praying that it's not HSV...
Also, I also am supposed to visit a friend in the hospital this week and am nervous about this. I am *very* clean about everything--even before this situation--so am hoping that being in a hospital will not compromise the patients' immune systems (cancer).
Thanks for any insight you can provide.
Thanks so much for your reply and thanks also for the note about Acyclovir. I will ask the clinic about that.
My question is: how do I know when viral shedding is taking place? An open sore is one thing but aren't we also contagious when viral shedding is taking place so how do I know when that's happening? I am really concerned especially because as I mentioned before, I had a really bad outbreak at the beginning of August, it took two weeks to clear, then I got my period, and then I got what looked like the start of another outbreak. It seems to have cleared but now I am having tingling and pain in the same spot still. And I've seen here people talking about having outbreak after outbreak, week after week, month after month. So it seems as if I have a never-ending outbreak and then even if there is no open sore, I may be viral shedding.
So how can I know what is an "active symptom" and know *when* I have "active symptoms"? (versus just normal body sensations)
I understand that risk to partner is for every single act and that's why I really need to know what is going on because otherwise, from the statistics, it seems like even touching someone will cause transmission. I am trying to clarify but think maybe we're missing each other here: what I want to know is about the *blisters and sores* when it comes to the genital region. I *know* I am infected and I know I am infected in that region. What I want to know is whether if I touch a sore on my anus and then touch a cut on my vagina if I will then get a sore on my vagina. Perhaps I am misunderstanding you when you say "infection" but I'm clear that I am infected, very clear on that unfortunately. I just want to know about the possibility of sores opening up on other parts of my genital region such as vagina, inner thighs, etc. especially since it's close quarters there and easy for fluids to mingle even if I am just sitting in a chair or walking. And I want to know if I can infect someone at any point if I don't have an obvious sore but am "shedding" (whatever that means). I don't want to worry about every little tingle and pain that I have but I really do need to have some idea about whether it's possible for new sores to open up in new locations within that infected region. I could almost deal with it if it's anal but to have sores popping up all over on thighs, vagina, clit at any point in time...any tingle all of a sudden could mean that the virus is opening a new sore in a new location.
Also, I'm wondering how the viral shedding relates to what you said earlier about 85% of the time not being contagious? If there is no indication of viral shedding (i.e. we have no idea when it's happening??), then that 85% "not contagious time" makes no difference--if I don't know when the 15% contagious time is--so I must operate under the assumption that I can be contagious all of the time then? And then how does that relate to what you said about transmission to men being only 96%? I would so much appreciate a reply on this as I'm very confused.
And is there a reason why I am having such a terrible outbreak--to the extent that it looked like herpes and I actually went to get tested--when it's been years since I had sex? Is this common? I thought the terrible outbreaks were supposed to occur within weeks of the initial infection.
Thank you so much for your advice on all.
My question is: how do I know when viral shedding is taking place? An open sore is one thing but aren't we also contagious when viral shedding is taking place so how do I know when that's happening? I am really concerned especially because as I mentioned before, I had a really bad outbreak at the beginning of August, it took two weeks to clear, then I got my period, and then I got what looked like the start of another outbreak. It seems to have cleared but now I am having tingling and pain in the same spot still. And I've seen here people talking about having outbreak after outbreak, week after week, month after month. So it seems as if I have a never-ending outbreak and then even if there is no open sore, I may be viral shedding.
So how can I know what is an "active symptom" and know *when* I have "active symptoms"? (versus just normal body sensations)
I understand that risk to partner is for every single act and that's why I really need to know what is going on because otherwise, from the statistics, it seems like even touching someone will cause transmission. I am trying to clarify but think maybe we're missing each other here: what I want to know is about the *blisters and sores* when it comes to the genital region. I *know* I am infected and I know I am infected in that region. What I want to know is whether if I touch a sore on my anus and then touch a cut on my vagina if I will then get a sore on my vagina. Perhaps I am misunderstanding you when you say "infection" but I'm clear that I am infected, very clear on that unfortunately. I just want to know about the possibility of sores opening up on other parts of my genital region such as vagina, inner thighs, etc. especially since it's close quarters there and easy for fluids to mingle even if I am just sitting in a chair or walking. And I want to know if I can infect someone at any point if I don't have an obvious sore but am "shedding" (whatever that means). I don't want to worry about every little tingle and pain that I have but I really do need to have some idea about whether it's possible for new sores to open up in new locations within that infected region. I could almost deal with it if it's anal but to have sores popping up all over on thighs, vagina, clit at any point in time...any tingle all of a sudden could mean that the virus is opening a new sore in a new location.
Also, I'm wondering how the viral shedding relates to what you said earlier about 85% of the time not being contagious? If there is no indication of viral shedding (i.e. we have no idea when it's happening??), then that 85% "not contagious time" makes no difference--if I don't know when the 15% contagious time is--so I must operate under the assumption that I can be contagious all of the time then? And then how does that relate to what you said about transmission to men being only 96%? I would so much appreciate a reply on this as I'm very confused.
And is there a reason why I am having such a terrible outbreak--to the extent that it looked like herpes and I actually went to get tested--when it's been years since I had sex? Is this common? I thought the terrible outbreaks were supposed to occur within weeks of the initial infection.
Thank you so much for your advice on all.
boosting your immune system doesn't do anything for herpes. don't waste your time or money on supplements that supposedly do that.
generic acyclovir is available for $4 for episodic therapy or about $10/month for daily suppressive therapy. You need a prescription for it but it works just as well as valtrex - you just take it more often. call your clinic and ask them to change your prescription to acyclovir for you :)
as for thigh ob's, they are only contagious in that area when you have active symptoms. The skin on the thighs and buttocks is too thick for the virus to shed from without an obvious lesion present.
the risk to a partner is for every single sex act you can think of dear :) It really is that unlikely you'd transmit to a partner in general!!!
as I said before - nothing special to do in the shower - you aren't going to spread the virus all around your genital area. you've been infected with hsv for at least 2 years - don't let the IDEA of having herpes get the best of you!
generic acyclovir is available for $4 for episodic therapy or about $10/month for daily suppressive therapy. You need a prescription for it but it works just as well as valtrex - you just take it more often. call your clinic and ask them to change your prescription to acyclovir for you :)
as for thigh ob's, they are only contagious in that area when you have active symptoms. The skin on the thighs and buttocks is too thick for the virus to shed from without an obvious lesion present.
the risk to a partner is for every single sex act you can think of dear :) It really is that unlikely you'd transmit to a partner in general!!!
as I said before - nothing special to do in the shower - you aren't going to spread the virus all around your genital area. you've been infected with hsv for at least 2 years - don't let the IDEA of having herpes get the best of you!
And what is the answer on the issue of blisters: what are my chances of getting them on vagina or clit if I have had them on anus? (Please see my second-to-last post.) I am really worried about this and afraid even when I wash myself in shower for fear of transferring blister from one location to another esp. if I have cuts from yeast in vaginal area.
Please let me know about this.
Thank you!
Please let me know about this.
Thank you!
Thanks, Grace.
--As soon as I can afford it, I will have the blood test done to determine 1 or 2.
--I know I have a yeast infection as they did test for that when I was at the women's clinic having the culture done for HSV. I asked them to check for trich and everything but they said it is for sure yeast. I got my first one at age 13 and have been trying to deal with it since then (which is now over 25 years). I am doing a lot of work around diet because my problem is clearly systemic. It's slow going but I am hopeful and do see a little bit of progress, I think.
--I just found out about all this in the last two weeks so I am not on any antiviral. They are going to give me a prescription for Valtrex but I don't know when I'll be able to afford it. I am doing what I can to boost my immune system in the meantime. I am also very concerned about long-term use of Valtrex on my liver...
--Again back to the thigh: even if we don't have symptoms i.e. blisters, viral shedding can still occur at any point, right?
And how does the viral shedding relate to what you said about 85% of the time being not contagious? If there is no indication of viral shedding (i.e. we have no idea when it's happening), then that 85% makes no difference nor do I know when that 15% of the time is so I must operate under the assumption that I can be contagious all of the time. So that means that if I know I have herpes on my thigh, I cannot ever let anyone touch my thigh. Same with my genital region. So basically, no more skin to skin contact? Then how does that relate to what you said about transmission to men being only 96%? I would so much appreciate a reply on this as I'm very confused.
I don't know what else the thigh could be. It is a cluster of about 6 very red bumps with the center puss spot, very, very itchy to a maddening degree that appeared with both the first and the second anal outbreaks I had. I thought at first a spider bite but to have a bunch...doesn't make sense...and then it appeared again with second OB. Also, not bed bugs as my apartment and building were checked and nothing. So...what else. I know I need to get it checked out but I just don't have the money. In the meantime, I feel like a leper. Interesting since a family member of mine once worked with lepers many years ago...
Thanks again for any more light you can shed and thanks for your encouragement and for note on the book. I only told one friend and I've been really sick but can't tell anyone else. Another friend keeps telling me I need to get laid and she gets upset with me thinking I'm being too picky or rigid...I don't feel comfortable to tell her one of the reasons is this....
--As soon as I can afford it, I will have the blood test done to determine 1 or 2.
--I know I have a yeast infection as they did test for that when I was at the women's clinic having the culture done for HSV. I asked them to check for trich and everything but they said it is for sure yeast. I got my first one at age 13 and have been trying to deal with it since then (which is now over 25 years). I am doing a lot of work around diet because my problem is clearly systemic. It's slow going but I am hopeful and do see a little bit of progress, I think.
--I just found out about all this in the last two weeks so I am not on any antiviral. They are going to give me a prescription for Valtrex but I don't know when I'll be able to afford it. I am doing what I can to boost my immune system in the meantime. I am also very concerned about long-term use of Valtrex on my liver...
--Again back to the thigh: even if we don't have symptoms i.e. blisters, viral shedding can still occur at any point, right?
And how does the viral shedding relate to what you said about 85% of the time being not contagious? If there is no indication of viral shedding (i.e. we have no idea when it's happening), then that 85% makes no difference nor do I know when that 15% of the time is so I must operate under the assumption that I can be contagious all of the time. So that means that if I know I have herpes on my thigh, I cannot ever let anyone touch my thigh. Same with my genital region. So basically, no more skin to skin contact? Then how does that relate to what you said about transmission to men being only 96%? I would so much appreciate a reply on this as I'm very confused.
I don't know what else the thigh could be. It is a cluster of about 6 very red bumps with the center puss spot, very, very itchy to a maddening degree that appeared with both the first and the second anal outbreaks I had. I thought at first a spider bite but to have a bunch...doesn't make sense...and then it appeared again with second OB. Also, not bed bugs as my apartment and building were checked and nothing. So...what else. I know I need to get it checked out but I just don't have the money. In the meantime, I feel like a leper. Interesting since a family member of mine once worked with lepers many years ago...
Thanks again for any more light you can shed and thanks for your encouragement and for note on the book. I only told one friend and I've been really sick but can't tell anyone else. Another friend keeps telling me I need to get laid and she gets upset with me thinking I'm being too picky or rigid...I don't feel comfortable to tell her one of the reasons is this....
at some point you should seek out a type specific herpes igg blood test to see if you have hsv1 or hsv2. knowing your type is important - you can't make educated decisions with partners unless you know what type(s) you have in your body.
have they been testing you for vaginal infections too like bv or yeast?
what herpes antiviral are you using and what dose?
I highly recommend buying Terri Warren's book "the good news about the bad news" . It's about $15 on amazon new and it goes into far more details about the psychological side of having herpes than her free handbook does. I think you'd really benefit from reading it :)
if you have herpes symptoms on your thigh, you should avoid sex until they have healed unless your partner has the same type of genital herpes you have. You are shedding the virus from the area of active lesions as well as from the anogenital area so sex isn't safe even if you cover the lesions when you have an active recurrence. Your thigh rash doesn't sound like herpes - if it reoccurs, be seen to find out what it is.
you are not contagious about 85% of the year on average. Keep reminding yourself of that!! I know when you start learning about herpes it seems like you are a huge risk to someone but you really aren't a risk all that often :)
You don't list your age but dating is never easy!!!
have they been testing you for vaginal infections too like bv or yeast?
what herpes antiviral are you using and what dose?
I highly recommend buying Terri Warren's book "the good news about the bad news" . It's about $15 on amazon new and it goes into far more details about the psychological side of having herpes than her free handbook does. I think you'd really benefit from reading it :)
if you have herpes symptoms on your thigh, you should avoid sex until they have healed unless your partner has the same type of genital herpes you have. You are shedding the virus from the area of active lesions as well as from the anogenital area so sex isn't safe even if you cover the lesions when you have an active recurrence. Your thigh rash doesn't sound like herpes - if it reoccurs, be seen to find out what it is.
you are not contagious about 85% of the year on average. Keep reminding yourself of that!! I know when you start learning about herpes it seems like you are a huge risk to someone but you really aren't a risk all that often :)
You don't list your age but dating is never easy!!!
Sorry to post again but just re-read and want to clarify:
I understand that I am infected in entire anogenital region. My question is about the *sores and blisters* appearing in areas other than the anal region. Are you saying that they could just spontaneously appear anywhere from thigh to waist regardless of whether I touch a blister and transfer it from one spot to another?
I have read that blisters tend to appear in the same spot where they first occurred but have also read that one can transfer them from one location to another within the infected region. I just want to know whether or not I am risking getting blisters everywhere and whether I can expect them to start appearing because the whole area is infected.
Thanks again.
I understand that I am infected in entire anogenital region. My question is about the *sores and blisters* appearing in areas other than the anal region. Are you saying that they could just spontaneously appear anywhere from thigh to waist regardless of whether I touch a blister and transfer it from one spot to another?
I have read that blisters tend to appear in the same spot where they first occurred but have also read that one can transfer them from one location to another within the infected region. I just want to know whether or not I am risking getting blisters everywhere and whether I can expect them to start appearing because the whole area is infected.
Thanks again.
Thanks so much for replying. I have a lot of emotions going on right now and am just trying to make sense of things and find the best course of action. You were right on with the biohazard statement--that's exactly how I feel right now and it's making me start crying again just thinking about it. I go from thinking, okay, it's just a skin issue to feeling like I'm getting older now and if I thought the pickings were slim before, how much harder will it be to find a partner now...I have HPV, too, and along with the chronic candida, let's just say that thinking about trying to find someone who would even consider being with me seems near impossible but a future alone is almost too much to bear...
Speaking of which, I still don't understand why I am having a terrible outbreak now when I haven't had sex in almost two years. Can you shed any light on that?
Yes, my culture from anal region came back positive but I couldn't afford the extra $ to have them tell me whether it was 1 or 2. In addition to my breakout at start of August (and then what felt like a re-occurrence two weeks later after it had just cleared, just after my period), I have had some strange red and very itchy bumps on my thigh that look like they have a tiny little dot of puss in the center. As the second anal flare-up is fading, these seem to be fading, too, but the stress of the thigh is almost as bad as the anal (almost). So if I understand you correctly: men can much more easily pass it to women and if I take retroviral treatment, the likelyhood of a future male partner of mine getting HSV from me is very small, yes?
I guess what I am trying to understand is whether the herpes blisters on my thigh are contagious for a partner if he rubs up against them. Or for another example, let's say he has a cut on his thigh and we lay together and the area of blisters touches his cut. Is that what you mean by low risk of transmission? i.e. yes, he could get it from my thigh but the risk is low? If I need to cover my body whenever there is any skin abraision (and I do have very sensitive skin so get flareups here and there), then I should basically not hold anyone naked because shedding can always happen? Thanks for any clarification.
Also, to make sure I understand you correctly: if I have blisters around anal area, I will not infect myself and get sores in vagina?
Thanks again so much for your replies and advice on this.
Speaking of which, I still don't understand why I am having a terrible outbreak now when I haven't had sex in almost two years. Can you shed any light on that?
Yes, my culture from anal region came back positive but I couldn't afford the extra $ to have them tell me whether it was 1 or 2. In addition to my breakout at start of August (and then what felt like a re-occurrence two weeks later after it had just cleared, just after my period), I have had some strange red and very itchy bumps on my thigh that look like they have a tiny little dot of puss in the center. As the second anal flare-up is fading, these seem to be fading, too, but the stress of the thigh is almost as bad as the anal (almost). So if I understand you correctly: men can much more easily pass it to women and if I take retroviral treatment, the likelyhood of a future male partner of mine getting HSV from me is very small, yes?
I guess what I am trying to understand is whether the herpes blisters on my thigh are contagious for a partner if he rubs up against them. Or for another example, let's say he has a cut on his thigh and we lay together and the area of blisters touches his cut. Is that what you mean by low risk of transmission? i.e. yes, he could get it from my thigh but the risk is low? If I need to cover my body whenever there is any skin abraision (and I do have very sensitive skin so get flareups here and there), then I should basically not hold anyone naked because shedding can always happen? Thanks for any clarification.
Also, to make sure I understand you correctly: if I have blisters around anal area, I will not infect myself and get sores in vagina?
Thanks again so much for your replies and advice on this.
did your test results ever come back yet?
you are of no risk at all to anyone you aren't having sex with. you can hold your nephew without fear. You can use other people's toilets wtihout any fear or any need for any cleaning after you use them too. you are not a walking biohazard!!!
transmission to a male partner is overall incredibly low. If you did nothing but avoid sex anytime you had anything going on genitally, a male partner is 96% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from you. if you take daily suppressive therapy and use condoms properly in addition to that precaution, your partner would be 99% likely each year on average NOT to contract hsv2 from you. To give you something to compare it to - real use of the birth control pill results in 8% of women becoming pregnant each year.
you don't have to worry about infecting yourself elsewhere. you already have the virus in your entire anogenital area! no special washing to do. masturbate all you want - it's not an issue :)
no, it's not likely you transmitted hsv2 to your eyes.
you are of no risk at all to anyone you aren't having sex with. you can hold your nephew without fear. You can use other people's toilets wtihout any fear or any need for any cleaning after you use them too. you are not a walking biohazard!!!
transmission to a male partner is overall incredibly low. If you did nothing but avoid sex anytime you had anything going on genitally, a male partner is 96% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from you. if you take daily suppressive therapy and use condoms properly in addition to that precaution, your partner would be 99% likely each year on average NOT to contract hsv2 from you. To give you something to compare it to - real use of the birth control pill results in 8% of women becoming pregnant each year.
you don't have to worry about infecting yourself elsewhere. you already have the virus in your entire anogenital area! no special washing to do. masturbate all you want - it's not an issue :)
no, it's not likely you transmitted hsv2 to your eyes.
Grace,
As per your request, I have re-posted both of today's posts to my original post. I am hoping you can address both posts if you have a moment. Thank you.
In your reply (under question about transmission related to thigh), you said "You could put active herpes virus on your thigh for instance and it's not likely to infect you - you need that heat and friction...in order for the virus to infect" and so what happens if I have a blister or skin irritation (herpes outbreak) on my thigh and I am lying with my partner and my thigh is touching his thigh and we are hot and bothered i.e. there is heat and friction? I could pass it to him to his thigh? What if he has it on his thigh and then has high leg between mine i.e. heat and friction--could I be infected then?
I would really appreciate an answer on this because I haven't read anything in all my research that actually addresses this. The straightforward fear/issue/question is whether one can transmit the virus skin-to-skin when one person has a skin irritation (let's say it's not a full-blown outbreak with blisters but just redness and bumps) and they are up against another person especially on the thigh area.
What if I accidentally scratch (say, in my sleep) the blister on my thigh and then touch my mouth or eye?
On the eye note, is it possible that I could have infected my eyes with herpes? I notice some redness and discharge and had really bad pink eye about three years back. But we all used to get pink eye when I was a kid in school; it spread like wildfire. If I have genital herpes (confirmed diagnosis) then should I be worried about eye herpes? (Please note, I do not have health insurance or a doctor so can't go to eye doctor for tests.)
I really would like to know since right now it seems that transmission will happen no matter what precautions...
Thank you!
As per your request, I have re-posted both of today's posts to my original post. I am hoping you can address both posts if you have a moment. Thank you.
In your reply (under question about transmission related to thigh), you said "You could put active herpes virus on your thigh for instance and it's not likely to infect you - you need that heat and friction...in order for the virus to infect" and so what happens if I have a blister or skin irritation (herpes outbreak) on my thigh and I am lying with my partner and my thigh is touching his thigh and we are hot and bothered i.e. there is heat and friction? I could pass it to him to his thigh? What if he has it on his thigh and then has high leg between mine i.e. heat and friction--could I be infected then?
I would really appreciate an answer on this because I haven't read anything in all my research that actually addresses this. The straightforward fear/issue/question is whether one can transmit the virus skin-to-skin when one person has a skin irritation (let's say it's not a full-blown outbreak with blisters but just redness and bumps) and they are up against another person especially on the thigh area.
What if I accidentally scratch (say, in my sleep) the blister on my thigh and then touch my mouth or eye?
On the eye note, is it possible that I could have infected my eyes with herpes? I notice some redness and discharge and had really bad pink eye about three years back. But we all used to get pink eye when I was a kid in school; it spread like wildfire. If I have genital herpes (confirmed diagnosis) then should I be worried about eye herpes? (Please note, I do not have health insurance or a doctor so can't go to eye doctor for tests.)
I really would like to know since right now it seems that transmission will happen no matter what precautions...
Thank you!
Hi,
Please pardon if I am missing something here but I have been searching for info and am not finding specifics. I have a couple of questions and would appreciate your advice.
What I would like to know is if a woman who has had an outbreak near the anus can then later get outbreaks on or in the vagina. I was just diagnosed and am really devastated. I am meticulous with cleanliness but right now I feel as if no matter what I do, just because of proximity, the viral shedding or sores can transmit their fluids anywhere in this general area. It feels as if I am going to just end up being one big sore down there no matter what I do. Can you please speak to this. Right now I feel like I'll never be able to have sex again because of the diagnosis but if I so worried about spreading it to myself to other locations (such as vagina or clit), then I can't even pleasure myself.
Also, I am worried about holding my nephew. Can I even be around him, say if I am visiting his parents and use the restroom, wash my hands/get everything clean but then what about the towels? What about if he touches my cheek or if I give a hug? The viral shedding is what really has me upset even though I finally did run across one bit of research that says the virus only lives for about 10 seconds off the body (but longer with towels and such).
Final question: I have not had sex in years. How is it that I have had such a terrible outbreak now? Everything I'm reading says that the first outbreak is the worst and happens within weeks of infection but I haven't been with anyone so how can I be having such a bad outbreak right now? I went through a lot more stress all of last year and nothing happened. I must say that there have been a couple of occasions in the past where I felt a tingling and had a weird redness on my upper lip but that's it and that's on my face, not genital region. Now I have genital (diagnosed with culture) so maybe I just have it everywhere?
I also have chronic candida which I am doing my best to treat as well and this has in the past caused some very small cuts which is common to those with the condition. There has never been anything so bad as what I have recently experience with this outbreak, nothing that seemed anything other than the same chronic candida I've had since I was in my teens and nothing that even looked like what I just experienced with HSV (don't know if it's I or II since I couldn't afford the extra $$ to get specific result, just know that the culture came back positive).
Thanks for your help and any answers.
Please pardon if I am missing something here but I have been searching for info and am not finding specifics. I have a couple of questions and would appreciate your advice.
What I would like to know is if a woman who has had an outbreak near the anus can then later get outbreaks on or in the vagina. I was just diagnosed and am really devastated. I am meticulous with cleanliness but right now I feel as if no matter what I do, just because of proximity, the viral shedding or sores can transmit their fluids anywhere in this general area. It feels as if I am going to just end up being one big sore down there no matter what I do. Can you please speak to this. Right now I feel like I'll never be able to have sex again because of the diagnosis but if I so worried about spreading it to myself to other locations (such as vagina or clit), then I can't even pleasure myself.
Also, I am worried about holding my nephew. Can I even be around him, say if I am visiting his parents and use the restroom, wash my hands/get everything clean but then what about the towels? What about if he touches my cheek or if I give a hug? The viral shedding is what really has me upset even though I finally did run across one bit of research that says the virus only lives for about 10 seconds off the body (but longer with towels and such).
Final question: I have not had sex in years. How is it that I have had such a terrible outbreak now? Everything I'm reading says that the first outbreak is the worst and happens within weeks of infection but I haven't been with anyone so how can I be having such a bad outbreak right now? I went through a lot more stress all of last year and nothing happened. I must say that there have been a couple of occasions in the past where I felt a tingling and had a weird redness on my upper lip but that's it and that's on my face, not genital region. Now I have genital (diagnosed with culture) so maybe I just have it everywhere?
I also have chronic candida which I am doing my best to treat as well and this has in the past caused some very small cuts which is common to those with the condition. There has never been anything so bad as what I have recently experience with this outbreak, nothing that seemed anything other than the same chronic candida I've had since I was in my teens and nothing that even looked like what I just experienced with HSV (don't know if it's I or II since I couldn't afford the extra $$ to get specific result, just know that the culture came back positive).
Thanks for your help and any answers.
I removed your other post since it was already here in this post which keeps it easiest to follow :)
no need to avoid nuts because of herpes. no such thing as a herpes diet!
usually when recurrences are a doozy, it's due to vaginitis, especially bv for us gals. Did they test you for vaginitis when you were seen?
usually when recurrences are a doozy, it's due to vaginitis, especially bv for us gals. Did they test you for vaginitis when you were seen?
Thanks so much, Grace. I appreciate your reply.
I did notice that since losing weight (mainly cutting out all dairy, most sugars, meat, etc.) that my immune system was not so strong plus I started drinking almond milk, and that's a main reason I thought it might be herpes since I read that HSV outbreaks can be brought on by nuts. I'm at my wits end, though, because I need some kind of milk and can't do soy due to my chronic candida issues. I'm just doing my best to handle all of it...
My worry is the sores won't seem to heal after over a week and also why would I have such an outbreak now if I haven't had sex in two years? I know of one person who had HSV but we were very safe and that was over ten years ago! Is it possible to have such a bad outbreak--it is like what people have described as their first outbreaks--at this point in time?
I did notice that since losing weight (mainly cutting out all dairy, most sugars, meat, etc.) that my immune system was not so strong plus I started drinking almond milk, and that's a main reason I thought it might be herpes since I read that HSV outbreaks can be brought on by nuts. I'm at my wits end, though, because I need some kind of milk and can't do soy due to my chronic candida issues. I'm just doing my best to handle all of it...
My worry is the sores won't seem to heal after over a week and also why would I have such an outbreak now if I haven't had sex in two years? I know of one person who had HSV but we were very safe and that was over ten years ago! Is it possible to have such a bad outbreak--it is like what people have described as their first outbreaks--at this point in time?
no study has shown that lysine helps to speed healing of herpes lesions either orally or genitally that I'm aware of. Even the research that showed that it reduced genital herpes recurrences was minimal. we don't recommend it's use at all since most of us get more than enough of it in our diets anyways. the lysine/arginine theory with herpes was disproven many years ago.
Could this be something non-herpes going on? Yes it can be. Chronic vaginitis can cause thinning of the skin too in the anogenital area which leads to easy tearing of the skin.
no reason you can't visit your friend. you aren't going to have sex with them I assume so if you do have genital herpes, it's not an issue at all.
If your lesion culture is negative, follow up with a type specific herpes igg blood test just to err on the side of caution and to give you one less thing to worry about!
grace
Could this be something non-herpes going on? Yes it can be. Chronic vaginitis can cause thinning of the skin too in the anogenital area which leads to easy tearing of the skin.
no reason you can't visit your friend. you aren't going to have sex with them I assume so if you do have genital herpes, it's not an issue at all.
If your lesion culture is negative, follow up with a type specific herpes igg blood test just to err on the side of caution and to give you one less thing to worry about!
grace
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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.
