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Vaginal Cuts and Herpes
Grace,
I have recently been diagnosed with Herpes 1 (not a suprise) and Herpes 2. Since then, I have poured over the doctors and others comments on false positives, symptoms (or lack there of), etc. I have been married for the 10 years and with my husband for 13 and feel very strongly that he has not cheated on me. So I'm figuring if I do indeed have it, then I've had it for at least 13 years. I'm definitely coming to terms with it after the inital shock, but there are many questions still lingering based on all that I've read and understand about this very complex STD. Here's my "story": For many years, I have struggled with "paper cuts" in my labial folds (always right on the crease)that have seemingly become more frequent and more uncomfortable in the past few years. Some heal quickly, others not so fast. During these times, my labia is often swollen, the interior red and it is often accompanied by itching. My husband, on the other hand, has never had a noticeable outbreak. My husband told his Doc that he may have been exposed, but was told if he's never had an outbreak than he doesn't have it so don't worry abou getting tested. We're going to test him anyway through my doctor, but here are my questions and test results from the Herpes Select Test.
Results: Herpe 1- 5.2, Herpes 2- 3.0
1) Does it seem strange that my husband hasn't had a noticeable outbreak after all these years?
2) If he tests negative, would it make my positive result more likely to be a false positive after 10+ years of unprotected sex?
3) Why, if the tendency is to have less outbreaks over time, do I seem to be having more? (Do my kids really give me that much stress?? :)
4) Should I be retested along with my husband or just wait for his results to come back and then decide?
I have recently been diagnosed with Herpes 1 (not a suprise) and Herpes 2. Since then, I have poured over the doctors and others comments on false positives, symptoms (or lack there of), etc. I have been married for the 10 years and with my husband for 13 and feel very strongly that he has not cheated on me. So I'm figuring if I do indeed have it, then I've had it for at least 13 years. I'm definitely coming to terms with it after the inital shock, but there are many questions still lingering based on all that I've read and understand about this very complex STD. Here's my "story": For many years, I have struggled with "paper cuts" in my labial folds (always right on the crease)that have seemingly become more frequent and more uncomfortable in the past few years. Some heal quickly, others not so fast. During these times, my labia is often swollen, the interior red and it is often accompanied by itching. My husband, on the other hand, has never had a noticeable outbreak. My husband told his Doc that he may have been exposed, but was told if he's never had an outbreak than he doesn't have it so don't worry abou getting tested. We're going to test him anyway through my doctor, but here are my questions and test results from the Herpes Select Test.
Results: Herpe 1- 5.2, Herpes 2- 3.0
1) Does it seem strange that my husband hasn't had a noticeable outbreak after all these years?
2) If he tests negative, would it make my positive result more likely to be a false positive after 10+ years of unprotected sex?
3) Why, if the tendency is to have less outbreaks over time, do I seem to be having more? (Do my kids really give me that much stress?? :)
4) Should I be retested along with my husband or just wait for his results to come back and then decide?
p.s. Maybe we should start a new posting to post back and forth or at some point figure out a way to reach eachother without having it be public knowledge, before this post ends up in archives and difficult to dig out. Let me know what you think. So glad I have you to relate too. Sounds like we have so much in common and feel the same about it all too. Take care, EB
Here's the other old site:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/WomensHealth/messages/188.html
No real answers, but at least some possible temporary solutions. Was talking to my good friend the other day and she said to stop checking things in the mirror! Give myself a break from it. I figured she's probably right...lets see if some of this itching is psychosematic...kinda like if you think about head lice, your head will itch! I had a good couple of days. Everything looked and feeled a little healthier down there. (o.k., so a snuck a peek here and there). But today....ugh...feel so dry, the inside is red and irritated. One cut that cropped up late in the day. Trying to drink more water...so hard. How's your meds working? I ordered up my suppressive therapy. I'll take it for awhile to see if it helps. If not, I'm headed back to the Dr. I wonder if that Western Blot Test is easy to get. Do most labs do it? So much talk on those old forums about yeast, the occurence of cuts around monthly cycles, birth control...wonder if my BC has anything to do with it. Wish I could remember time lines. I just started taking this pill in October of 2006. I've been taking it continuously (without having a period) to see if it helps ward off the monthly migraines. Seems to lessen them to every other month instead of every month. Who knows, there always seems to be someone that shoots down each possible theory. I do think that hormones play a part though.
Take Care!
j
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/WomensHealth/messages/188.html
No real answers, but at least some possible temporary solutions. Was talking to my good friend the other day and she said to stop checking things in the mirror! Give myself a break from it. I figured she's probably right...lets see if some of this itching is psychosematic...kinda like if you think about head lice, your head will itch! I had a good couple of days. Everything looked and feeled a little healthier down there. (o.k., so a snuck a peek here and there). But today....ugh...feel so dry, the inside is red and irritated. One cut that cropped up late in the day. Trying to drink more water...so hard. How's your meds working? I ordered up my suppressive therapy. I'll take it for awhile to see if it helps. If not, I'm headed back to the Dr. I wonder if that Western Blot Test is easy to get. Do most labs do it? So much talk on those old forums about yeast, the occurence of cuts around monthly cycles, birth control...wonder if my BC has anything to do with it. Wish I could remember time lines. I just started taking this pill in October of 2006. I've been taking it continuously (without having a period) to see if it helps ward off the monthly migraines. Seems to lessen them to every other month instead of every month. Who knows, there always seems to be someone that shoots down each possible theory. I do think that hormones play a part though.
Take Care!
j
Hey girl,
I was reading this old post:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/WomensHealth/messages/674.html.
There's another one too. Let me go back and find it. Hope all is well with you. Will write more later...gotta get these kids to bed!
I was reading this old post:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/WomensHealth/messages/674.html.
There's another one too. Let me go back and find it. Hope all is well with you. Will write more later...gotta get these kids to bed!
Yes and right there with you on your whole post, trust me. I was going to break down too and spend the $15 for an MD posting/question. I think we both ought to go get a second herpes select test for one thing, even though, at least in my case, it probably is herpes. I have googled tears and cuts too off and on for so long and yes, read up on other things it may be so I hear you there. Unless it is in my mind the acyclovir seems to be working (knock on wood). I had one episode prior to my diagnosis, I think, where I was swollen and itchy and had several tears which actually burned when the shower hit them and the hardly ever do so I thought to myself then, ya, I have to have herpes, I just know it. When the NP saw me, of course she thought minor skin irritation and commented on my hands, skin and hair being so dry too. When the test was pos for 2, she herself was really shocked. I do think we ought to post our quest to the doc, get redraws on our herpes select type specific tests and continue to compare notes and provide support for eachother. What do you say new buddy?? Stay in touch. Back atcha soon and good luck to us both, eh?? Sincerely, Estrella
I went back and read that post which Dr HHH answered in the forum on 5/22 (and I replied too) about the herpes and itching. What kind of Doc is he? Herpes causes extreme itching. As a nurse I have always known that, with the amount of research I have done, I know that and the NP I saw after my blood test was pos as well as another NP at the Planned Parenthood clinic said yes, it causes extreme itching an an awful lot of cases. Sure some are very mild or even asymptomatic but herpes definately causes extreme itching. Is this a real doc? Makes you wonder. Sometimes the itching I have makes me want to leave my body it gets so bad. I think that is why in the back of my mind, I have always thought I probably had it. Kindof wish my intuition were not true but hey, at least I can take antivirals now and try to keep outbreaks away. Ok, back atcha soon pal. It is hard to not be obcessed with this stuff, isen't it. Responding to others posts for some reason kindof helps me deal with it better myself. Husbands aren't much better. They are like, hey I would have had it by now and it is not going to change a thing now let's have sex. We women on the other hand are like, no way, you are not in my skin and after this diagnosis, at least as far as I am concerned, sex? No thanks. Not to mention work, kids, etc. I am sure you are on the same page with me on all this as so far we seem so much alike and have almost identical stories and backgrounds. Write when you can. Always look forward to hearing from you. Take care, EB
Hey, first of all, sorry for forgetting the "b" part of your nickname each time! ;) I googled "vulva skin splitting" earlier and came up with a few new sites. (God only knows how many times I've googled "Vaginal Tears, Cuts, etc"). Several things came up for vulval lichen sclerosus and the like...which I've read a little on. When I mentioned this to the NP at my exam, she immediately said, "Oh no, I've seen that before, you don't have that." Similar to my doctor saying, "No, that doesn't look like typical herpes" prior to my diagnosis. I question whether I should call my doctor and say, "Its still here!! Are you sure you don't want to look into what else this could be??" The only thing that stops me is I really don't feel like paying for another Dr visit if they're not going to do anything more-or possibly worse-think I'm a hypochondriac (though it has crossed my own mind over the last several years!! The only thing going for me is there actually is evidence of something being wrong! ) I noticed you read that one post on the Dr Forum about "burning and itching" on 5/22. Found it interesting what the dr said regarding the non-response to Valtrex. If the Valtrex isn't helping her symptoms now, then it must be something other than herpes. Also, that "herpes doesn't cause such itching anyway". What??? That's half my problem! 1/2 Itchy, 1/2 Tearing! So I've gained two things from that post, that Valtrex should have taken care of my outbreak and this problem I have shouldn't itch. I'm about ready to pay my $10 and ask him what the heck is going on with me! Hope you had a good weekend...assuming you're in the US and celebrate Memorial day! :)
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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.
