hsv1

[cooper1943]

I have been recently diagnosed with hsv1.I am male.  I recieved oral sex a month ago and have taken 2 igg blood tests came back positive. a year ago I had same test done and was negative so since this is my only sex experience I can assume I have genital hsv1. I have had almost all of the symptoms except the blisters. I have had tingling burning in my boxer shorts area. I fell really sick, I have not eaten in three days. so here my questions.

1. approxitmatly how long am I going to be experiencing these symptoms. I feel so sick.
2. What is my liklihood of transmiiting this gentially to my current girlfriend she is hsv negative.
3. can I take Valtrex or something else that will decrease the chance of transmitting this. does Valtrex help with genital hsv1?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

You can schedule a phone appointment with my office.  I would ask for either Lisa or Sheryl.  I'm not doing phone consults right now but both of them are very good and know their herpes because I taught them what they know.  

Terri

[cooper1943]

terri can we schedule a  phone conversation. I know it costs money and im fine with that.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Both of your values are in the low positive range.  If you were our patient, I would recommend that you get a herpes western blot as confirmation.  

The variation between the two results is definitely within the normal range for variation on this test.  

Did you also kiss the woman who gave you oral sex?  It really isn't possible to know if you got HSV 1 from this person or some other person in the past year.  We can't even be certain that you have HSV 1 infection because the results are in the low positive range.  

Do you know for certain that your girlfriend has tested negative for HSV 1 antibody?

Terri

[cooper1943]

thanks for getting back to me. I had my first igg blood test done 12 days after exposure the number came back 1.34. a week later I had another one and it came back 2.7. so what do you think that means. yes I have kissed a few people during the last year.

I went to a dermatologist today to see if he saw anything. he did not. I have checked my self daily for any bumps or anything and I have not seen anything. If I did have it genitally would the blisters most likely occur? could I have all these other symptoms like the tingling without blisters?

at this point I don't know what to do about sex. my gf wants to have it, I have been avoiding it as I don't want there to be any chance I give it to her if I do have it.  what should I do?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I would encourage you to look at the numeric values associated with you positive result.  Honestly, I think you are jumping to conclusions that you have this genitally at this point.  If your antibody tests were positive, how long after you received oral sex did you take the antibody test (and try to include the numeric value.)  Have you kissed anyone other than receiving oral sex in the past year?  If the answer is yes, you could certainly have acquired this orally instead of or in addition to genital infection.  It sounds like you think you have first infection NOW with these symptoms, but if you already have a positive antibody test, then you don't have first infection NOW.  It takes a while to make antibody after infection.  Do you see what I'm getting at here?  I'm not sure why you aren't eating, is that because you are upset?  Herpes does not cause stomach symptoms.  has your current girlfriend actually been tested for HSV 1?  If herpes is tested for, which it often is not in an STD screen, sometimes they only look for HSV 2  and not HSV 1.  

We don't have good statistics about how often HSV 1 is transmitted, either from the mouth or the genitals.  We also know that the traditional screening test for HSV 1 missed 1 out of every 10 cases, so the test isn't great.  There are also false positives on the test is index values between 1.1 and 3.5, which is why I suggest that you get the number.

Valtrex taken daily will reduce the risk of transmission of HSV , yes.

Terri