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PHN
Hi -
I had my first OB of HSV 2 almost exactly a year ago (diagnosed by culture). I had a CRIPPLING first OB, followed by repeated OBs for a couple months, even while I was taking acyclovir. I had horrible PHN, mostly in my lower back, tailbone, and legs. The acyclovir caused severe bruising on my trunk and legs, and wasn't controlling the OBs. I switched to Valtrex 500/day about 6 months ago, and since then, have been completely OB free.
Even though I've been OB free since taking the Valtrex, I seems to keep experiencing PHN - usually it's just mild to moderate tingling/stabbing/burning/itching sensations in the genital area. However, this time, i have SEVERE pain in my tailbone, which is making it hard to move. It's exactly the same as what i had following my first OB, yet I haven't had an OB at all.
What could be causing this random PHN. Does this mean I am or was recently shedding? My partner and I practice safe sex, but am i putting him at higher risk while this is happening?
2 other questions - I was just thinking about trying to go off the Valtrex and see if I experience OBs. I haven't taken medicine other than it in nearly 10 years, and wish I could go off it, even though it has not caused any symptoms for me. At what point do the regular OBs stop in most people, without AV control? And secondly - while on Valtrex (taken every day at the same time, no pills missed) and using condoms, what is the genital and oral risk to my partner if I have no symptoms?
Thank you,
J
I had my first OB of HSV 2 almost exactly a year ago (diagnosed by culture). I had a CRIPPLING first OB, followed by repeated OBs for a couple months, even while I was taking acyclovir. I had horrible PHN, mostly in my lower back, tailbone, and legs. The acyclovir caused severe bruising on my trunk and legs, and wasn't controlling the OBs. I switched to Valtrex 500/day about 6 months ago, and since then, have been completely OB free.
Even though I've been OB free since taking the Valtrex, I seems to keep experiencing PHN - usually it's just mild to moderate tingling/stabbing/burning/itching sensations in the genital area. However, this time, i have SEVERE pain in my tailbone, which is making it hard to move. It's exactly the same as what i had following my first OB, yet I haven't had an OB at all.
What could be causing this random PHN. Does this mean I am or was recently shedding? My partner and I practice safe sex, but am i putting him at higher risk while this is happening?
2 other questions - I was just thinking about trying to go off the Valtrex and see if I experience OBs. I haven't taken medicine other than it in nearly 10 years, and wish I could go off it, even though it has not caused any symptoms for me. At what point do the regular OBs stop in most people, without AV control? And secondly - while on Valtrex (taken every day at the same time, no pills missed) and using condoms, what is the genital and oral risk to my partner if I have no symptoms?
Thank you,
J
Thanks again, Grace. One last question - what is the absolute earliest that a new infection of HSV2 can be detected on a blood test (earliest seroconversion)?
Thanks!
J
Thanks!
J
Yes stopping suppressive therapy increases the risk of transmission. Suppressive therapy cuts the risk of transmission by half.
No you won't develop resistance from stopping suppressive therapy now and then restarting it later.
Never assume that everything is related to herpes. It's not unusual to have a previous injury that you weren't aware of and then when you contract herpes it irritates the nerves enough to make a previous issue more evident. Sounds like it's time to see a neurologist about all this pain you've had for the last 2 years. If they determine it is all phn, there are medications to treat it.
Most of the folks I know on the boards who have had herpes long term still get ob's. Of course the ones who never do, probably aren't ever going to find the support boards and participate either. I know after 22 years of having hsv2 I'm still having ob's. I know waringblender does too periodically and she's been infected about the same time too.
grace
No you won't develop resistance from stopping suppressive therapy now and then restarting it later.
Never assume that everything is related to herpes. It's not unusual to have a previous injury that you weren't aware of and then when you contract herpes it irritates the nerves enough to make a previous issue more evident. Sounds like it's time to see a neurologist about all this pain you've had for the last 2 years. If they determine it is all phn, there are medications to treat it.
Most of the folks I know on the boards who have had herpes long term still get ob's. Of course the ones who never do, probably aren't ever going to find the support boards and participate either. I know after 22 years of having hsv2 I'm still having ob's. I know waringblender does too periodically and she's been infected about the same time too.
grace
Hi Grace -
Thank you for your fast response. I haven't had any other workups for this pain, as it only started 2 days ago, and I flew overnight from South America and only landed in the States this morning. It feels identical to the tailbone pain I had after my first OB, though.
I am sure I have HSV2, as I was cultured during my first outbreak, and the test returned positive for HSV2 and negative for HSV1. My partner at the time did not know he had it - he was asymptomatic and had never been tested, but got himself tested when I showed symptoms, and he was indeed positive (his test was a blood test).
My current partner has not been tested. We have only been sleeping together for about a month. He plans to get tested soon, so we can know if he has it or not.
Regarding OB frequency, the information obtained in studies tends to vary widely. A few that I've read say that in most people, OBs dramatically reduce after the first year, and often disappear after 5 -10 years. Is there a chance of developing resistance to the Valtrex if I stop it to see how I'm doing and then have to start again? And will i increase my chance of passing this along to my partner if I'm shedding and don't know it?
J
Thank you for your fast response. I haven't had any other workups for this pain, as it only started 2 days ago, and I flew overnight from South America and only landed in the States this morning. It feels identical to the tailbone pain I had after my first OB, though.
I am sure I have HSV2, as I was cultured during my first outbreak, and the test returned positive for HSV2 and negative for HSV1. My partner at the time did not know he had it - he was asymptomatic and had never been tested, but got himself tested when I showed symptoms, and he was indeed positive (his test was a blood test).
My current partner has not been tested. We have only been sleeping together for about a month. He plans to get tested soon, so we can know if he has it or not.
Regarding OB frequency, the information obtained in studies tends to vary widely. A few that I've read say that in most people, OBs dramatically reduce after the first year, and often disappear after 5 -10 years. Is there a chance of developing resistance to the Valtrex if I stop it to see how I'm doing and then have to start again? And will i increase my chance of passing this along to my partner if I'm shedding and don't know it?
J
What other sort of work up have you been thru for this pain?
The frequency of ob's varies from person to person and only time will tell how they will be for you. One study showed that after 5 years of being infected with hsv2, 25% of folks had less ob's, 25% had more and the rest had about the same number of ob's.
Has your partner been tested to know that they are negative for herpes?
When you were originally diagnosed - did you have testing to say that it was hsv2 or was it just assumed it was hsv2 because it was genital?
grace
The frequency of ob's varies from person to person and only time will tell how they will be for you. One study showed that after 5 years of being infected with hsv2, 25% of folks had less ob's, 25% had more and the rest had about the same number of ob's.
Has your partner been tested to know that they are negative for herpes?
When you were originally diagnosed - did you have testing to say that it was hsv2 or was it just assumed it was hsv2 because it was genital?
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.
