Runny nose, congestion and cough

[Chugarhodes]

I may have exposed my boyfriend to herpes.  We are usually very careful, but he was gone for a long time and we were not as careful as we should have been.  I was just coming out of an outbreak, these lesion was healed, but we had sex unprotected on the 15th of February, on the 16th we used a condom, but it came off and on the 18th  and the 24th we used a condom that worked both times.  On Tuesday March 4th he started having symptoms of head congestion, a runny nose, coughing and sneezing.  He has no fever or muscle aches and so far has seen no bumps or blisters.  I am losing my mind wondering if those flu-like symptoms that he does have could be the beginning of more flu like symptoms with blisters to come.  Have any of you heard of common cold symptoms being symptoms of the herpes virus?

[gracefromHHP]

Those are not flu like symptoms - those are symptoms of the common cold.  

grace

[Chugarhodes]

I know that they are symptoms of the common cold, I am just concerned that they may also be symptoms of the flu.  (All the websites say flu-like symptoms).  It's been almost 20 years since my primary outbreak and I simply don't remember whether or not I had those symptoms as well.  I remember the fever and the aches and chills before the lesions.  Thank you so much for your response.

[gracefromHHP]

I meant it as in - these aren't the type of symptoms that we mean when we say "flu like" symptoms that go along with a newly acquired herpes infection. these are symptoms of the common cold so no need to worry.

Do you have hsv1 or hsv2? Do you take suppressive therapy to help reduce your bf's risk as well as reduce ob's so there's less avoiding sex because of them?

grace

[Chugarhodes]

I really don't know which one I have, I was diagnosed in 1989 a young girl in college and I am pretty sure that it was some type of swap test.  Yes I am on daily Valtrex.  I really appreciate you clarifying that for me.  We were both hoping that it was just the common cold and like I said it has been such a long time that I went through it, I simply did not know.  I really did a lot of research when I was initially diagnosed, but there is a whole lot more information as well as forms of treatment available to us now.  
Thank you again for the information, I was just a little confused about the flu-like symptoms

[gracefromHHP]

Well if you don't know what type you have - isn't it time to find out? did your bf get tested for herpes before you started having sex too to know his status?

grace

[veryconcerned77]

Is a cough generally associated with a herpes recurring ob in oral herpes?  I know the flu-like symptoms and sore throat can be, but I'm not sure if the cough is also associated with an ob?

Also, for someone with a primary ob of genital HSV 1, how long would the sore throat typically last?  And for future ob's, would the sore throat, fever, aches also recur?


Thanks.

[waringblender]

Jumping Jayzus, you're really missing the point here. The biggest issue you have is that you are taking Valtrex for herpes and you don't even know which type you have. If you have type 1, it's entirely possible your boyfriend also has it and then you wouldn't need ANY protection.

Get off the flu and cold bandwagon and go get yourself tested. Tell him to get tested too. Talk about missing the forest for the trees.