Aa
support/advice???
Today I found out that I have genital herpes. I'm a 20 year old female. I originally went into the doctor for pains and I was treated for a UTI and when the pains did not subside and bumps started showing up I went back to the doctor and she told me I had herpes. I was shocked and devestated. I've had the same partner for over a year now and I've never had any symptoms or outbreaks like this ever before. Is it possible to have had this before my present partner and just never known about it? I still don't know if my partner has herpes or not yet considering I just found out today. I don't even know what type of herpes I have. How do I know what type I have? I think I have type 2 because it is in my genital area and I have no signs of any infection in/near/around my mouth. Can you spread your genital herpes to your mouth by a towel or something like that by touching the infected area and then accidently touching your face? I am just sooo shocked and confused about how something like this could happen. I've always been cautious and regular on STD checks, I guess I just never thought something like this could happen to someone like me. I was so hysterical this morning when I found out I didn't get a chance to ask the doctor what I needed to ask. I've been researching online all day and just getting as much information and trying to soak as much in as possible. How long does the inital outbreak take to heal once I've started my medication? I've just been in non stop pain and I just want to know when the pain will subside so I can get back to work and actually walk without being in pain...
I would really appreciate any advice/support anyone is willing to give me, Thanks! :)
I would really appreciate any advice/support anyone is willing to give me, Thanks! :)
find out if they typed your cultures. if they didn't, encourage them to do so. saves the patient a lot of time and money and gets much faster answers than follow up blood work.
If they didn't type your cultures you'll need to repeat your blood tests in a few months. if your partner comes back as hsv2+ though I'd assume you have hsv2 genitally.
grace
If they didn't type your cultures you'll need to repeat your blood tests in a few months. if your partner comes back as hsv2+ though I'd assume you have hsv2 genitally.
grace
I e-mailed my doctor about the tests and they were cultures. They already came back and the HSV was present. They didn't tell me what type it was. Do I need to get blood work done to know what type it it? My partner is going to the doctor on the 28th to get his blood work done. So after my 10 days of this medicine my ob should be over? The pain still hasn't gone away and it's been 3 days of the meds.
I would assume that the swabs that were taken were lesion cultures. Give your provider a call early next week and see if that's what they were and what the results were.
Meanwhile your partner can call their doctor to set up type specific herpes igg blood testing for himself. You'll need to know his status anyways in order to decide together what precautions to take.
grace
Meanwhile your partner can call their doctor to set up type specific herpes igg blood testing for himself. You'll need to know his status anyways in order to decide together what precautions to take.
grace
Ok, a few things:
1. HSV 1 or 2 does not equal the end of the world.
2. You can contract HSV 1 or 2 at either site. (Meaning you can have oral herpes in the genitals).
3. Having an existing infection of HSV (either 1 or 2) appears to lower your risk (but does not eliminate) of contracting the other form of the virus.
4. You may have been exposed to HSV for a long time without ever showing symptoms. (Typically symptoms appear within 24-72 hours).
5. Having symptoms now doesn't mean that your partner is unfaithful. He may be an asymptomatic carrier and not realize it.
6. Get a blood test, along with a full pelvic examination done by your gyno. Although it is possible to diagnose herpes visually, there are quite a few other diseases that can mimic the symptoms of a herpes outbreak.
Also, Valcyclovir (Valtrex) has been shown to prevent outbreaks much more efficiently than Acyclovir, so make sure to ask your doc about that.
Be careful to avoid touching your sores. If you do, wash your hands with warm water and soap. Be careful to avoid touching your mouth and eyes. It is possible to spread an infection to another site by using a towel on an infected area, but it is not likely.
Here is more info for you:
http://www.herpes.com/hsv1-2.html
1. HSV 1 or 2 does not equal the end of the world.
2. You can contract HSV 1 or 2 at either site. (Meaning you can have oral herpes in the genitals).
3. Having an existing infection of HSV (either 1 or 2) appears to lower your risk (but does not eliminate) of contracting the other form of the virus.
4. You may have been exposed to HSV for a long time without ever showing symptoms. (Typically symptoms appear within 24-72 hours).
5. Having symptoms now doesn't mean that your partner is unfaithful. He may be an asymptomatic carrier and not realize it.
6. Get a blood test, along with a full pelvic examination done by your gyno. Although it is possible to diagnose herpes visually, there are quite a few other diseases that can mimic the symptoms of a herpes outbreak.
Also, Valcyclovir (Valtrex) has been shown to prevent outbreaks much more efficiently than Acyclovir, so make sure to ask your doc about that.
Be careful to avoid touching your sores. If you do, wash your hands with warm water and soap. Be careful to avoid touching your mouth and eyes. It is possible to spread an infection to another site by using a towel on an infected area, but it is not likely.
Here is more info for you:
http://www.herpes.com/hsv1-2.html
The only reason I know I have herpes is becasue my doctor looked at it and told me I did. She didn't take any blood tests or anything. After she told me that she took a couple swabs but didn't tell me what they were for. She just told me that she was going to treat me for herpes and gave me Acyclovir tab 400MG 1 tablet orally 3 times daily for 10 days, and I am still on Ciprofloxacin tab 500MG for my UTI. She just told me to make an appoinment in July and come back. Should I go get a blood test done? I don't know why she wants me to wait until July to come back? Does that mean that after I finish my 10 days of medcine that I am done with my ob?
Thank you so much for the tips on helping with the pain. I've just been taking vicodin and sleeping a lot hoping it will all get better soon. I appreciate you answering my questions. : )
Thank you so much for the tips on helping with the pain. I've just been taking vicodin and sleeping a lot hoping it will all get better soon. I appreciate you answering my questions. : )
You can have either hsv1 or hsv2 genitally. what testing did they do so far for you?
the herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com is a free and terrific resource for both you and your partner to read. it'll help you both understand all of this much better.
Your partner will also need to get a type specific herpes igg blood test done too so you can know what his status is.
the first ob can take 2 or 3 weeks to run its course even with treatment. what medication did they put you on, how much and for how long?
dermoplast spray is a topical anesthetic you can buy otc. You want the blue can for the genital area, not the red can. Most drugstores carry it and it's under $10. You can spray this on for pain relief several times a day as needed.
soaking in the tubby with some epsom salts is also comforting ( under $5 for a big box ). helps with pain and itching and helps to dry out the lesions.
going around without bottoms on is also helpful whenever you can. it gets cool, drying air to your genital area plus reduces friction to the lesions. it also helps discourage yeast and bacteria over growth - both are common with the first ob. In fact did they also test you for vaginitis when you were seen?
unless you have a medical reason not to, you can alternate tylenol and advil to get pain relief comparable to some narcotics - ie tylenol 1000mg at 6 a.m., advil 600mg at 9 a.m., tylenol at noon, advil at 3pm etc.
this will get better even though right now it feels like it won't get better soon enough.
keep asking questions!
grace
the herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com is a free and terrific resource for both you and your partner to read. it'll help you both understand all of this much better.
Your partner will also need to get a type specific herpes igg blood test done too so you can know what his status is.
the first ob can take 2 or 3 weeks to run its course even with treatment. what medication did they put you on, how much and for how long?
dermoplast spray is a topical anesthetic you can buy otc. You want the blue can for the genital area, not the red can. Most drugstores carry it and it's under $10. You can spray this on for pain relief several times a day as needed.
soaking in the tubby with some epsom salts is also comforting ( under $5 for a big box ). helps with pain and itching and helps to dry out the lesions.
going around without bottoms on is also helpful whenever you can. it gets cool, drying air to your genital area plus reduces friction to the lesions. it also helps discourage yeast and bacteria over growth - both are common with the first ob. In fact did they also test you for vaginitis when you were seen?
unless you have a medical reason not to, you can alternate tylenol and advil to get pain relief comparable to some narcotics - ie tylenol 1000mg at 6 a.m., advil 600mg at 9 a.m., tylenol at noon, advil at 3pm etc.
this will get better even though right now it feels like it won't get better soon enough.
keep asking questions!
grace
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
