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Rheumatoid Arthritis and hsv-1

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and was recently put on Methotrexate.  After 8 weeks, I started developing symptoms, redness, burning, and pain down my legs, and my OBGYN diagnosed me with genital hsv-1 via a blood test and symptoms.  I stopped taking the methotrexate, as I assumed the infection came out of dormancy due to a suppressed immune system, which is an effect of this drug.   I took 500 mg of valtex 3 times a day for ten days.  The symptoms would sort of get better, still felt weird though, and then come back strong in a continuous 3-4 day cycle.  I was then put on Zovirax 200mg 5 times per day and topical cream every 3 hours.  The symptoms again would sort of go away and then come back strong in a 3-4 day cycle.  It has been over 3 months now and I am freaked out.  I have been tested for a yeast infection and bacterial infection, both negative.  

What is going on?  Are these symptoms not going away because of my auto-immune disease?  I have been tested for hiv, by the way.  It was negative.  Is this going to be my life now?  I am severely depressed and concerned about this.  My OBGYN has not really been helpful, and I can't afford another $25 co-pay, quite frankly.  

Thank you for your help.

4 Responses
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Avatar universal
The STD counselor on a Herpes support site **********.*** said herpes doesn't live outside the body for long..and you can not catch it from inanimate objects in a VERY RARE case if someone with herpes uses a towel after the shower and rubs enough of the "virus" off and someone uses it immediately after there is a VERY slim chance of them getting is since the towel is still damp.. but that would be a very rare occurrence.
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101028 tn?1419603004
hope it takes care of things for you :)

grace
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Avatar universal
Thank you Grace for your response.  I actually decided, after my last post, to get a second opinion.  He actually had me stop all anti-viral medication yesterday and said, like you said above, that my symptoms did not seem like herpes.  After a thorough exam, he diagnosed me with vulvodynia.  He then put me on neurontin.  I feel a lot better, mentally and emotionally, already.  

Thanks again!
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101028 tn?1419603004
you can't diagnose hsv1 genitally by a blood test. A blood test only tells you what you have, not where you have it.  The odds that this is hsv1 genitally causing your symptoms is very low. your symptoms and their re-occurrence rate sound like something non-herpes going on. if it's not herpes, all the antivirals in the world aren't going to control them for you.

At this point I recommend stopping the acyclovir and going to be seen the next time you have symptoms. if they see symptoms, they can culture them for herpes . I'd try following up with a neurologist also.

grace
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