Confused and need help

[anjelica101]

I recently tested positive for HSV1 and HSV2. My partner tested positive for HSV2. Is there anyway to know how long it has been in our system? Can I give him type 1? I have never had an outbreak of sores or had fever blisters so how do I know if I'm contagious? Is it possible we both had it and just didn't know or did I give it to him since he only has type 2? Please help. I am devasted and don't know what to do.

[gracefromHHP]

You can't tell by the blood tests just how long anyone has been infected.  Since chances are good that neither of you have ever been tested before for herpes you probably will never figure out who had what first either. What's important is knowing who has what. Since you both have hsv2 - it's not an issue.  Your partner also isn't likely to contract hsv1 from you either. Hsv2 offers significant protection against acquiring hsv1 later on.

grace

[anjelica101]

Thank You. I am still in shock since I never had any of the classic syptoms that they tell you about. My partner's ex recently told us that the Dr thought she had shingles. From what I've heard the two (hsv and shingles) can be confused. Is that right? I went to the web site you recommended on another post and read the herpes handbook but a lot of it is still too technical for me. It also isn't very clear about sex. Do we stop everything but sex w/ a condom now? I appreciate your insights.

[gracefromHHP]

You both have hsv2 - no reason to change anything in your sex life.

grace

[waringblender]

You are fine without condoms for the purposes of herpes. You can't pass 2 back and forth since you already both have it. Type 1 genitally (if you even have this) doesn't shed all that much compared to type 2, so he wouldn't be at high risk for it anyway.

If you have any genital symptoms, it's best to refrain from sex until symptoms have cleared.  Actually, if you do get any genital symptoms, have someone take a look because a culture could tell you if it's 1 or 2, so at least you'll know. But most type 1 is oral. And genital HSV1 doesn't shed all that often, so he is safe performing oral sex on you.

I don't think I've ever heard of anybody having type 2 but not type 1. ?? It's just kind of odd. :) Good luck!

[anjelica101]

Thank You all for the information. I was quite upset when I found out but I am learning more about it and have come to realize that it is going to be ok. It's just that there is so much stigma attached to the disease that it's hard not to feel dirty and ashamed at first. I do have one more question, since we both had an outbreak at the same time is it likely that we both had the virus and somehow caused an outbreak by being intimate? I just thought it odd that we both showed syptoms at the same time. Thanks again.

[waringblender]

Outbreaks simultaneously are probably a coincidence. :o)

[anjelica101]

I thought I would post my results so maybe someone could explain them to me.
hsv1/2 igG = 20.4
hsv1igG = 2.0
hsv2igG = 4.26
hsv1&2 igm = 1.04
These are the abreviations and numbers the Dr. told me. She said the first tests for antibodies to both, the next two are type specific and the last tells if you've had a recent outbreak. She also told me that type 1 can turn into type 2 if you have an outbreak of type 1 and then have oral sex. That didn't sound exactly right.

[waringblender]

You are positive for both.

The two types are separate and don't "turn into" the other ones. They can both be found orally or genitally, although type 2 orally is really rare.

[auntiejessi]

Urrgggh this is one of my biggest pet peeves with docs.  If they don't know what they are talking about, they should shut up and do some research first.

The number doesn't denote location - it tells you which strain of the virus you have.

Think of hepatitis a, b and c.  They are all viruses that affect the liver, and the letter just indicates which strain you have.  It doesn't denote location, same as hsv1 and 2.  Think of them as cousins.

AJ

[anjelica101]

Cousins I wish had not come to visit. :) Thanks again everyone for your help. I have gone from total shock and humilliation to acceptance and now finding humor in something I can not change. I am glad I found this forum. It helps to talk with people who have experienced what you are going through. It also helps to have a reality check sometimes, as I have read other posts I noticed "waringblender" is very well at providing. :o)  So no more moping, I will live another day with greater insights and hopefully more tolerance for things I don't understand.  

[Esmith]

Hi Grace,

You said:
"Hsv2 offers significant protection against acquiring hsv1 later on."
Is that true for the reverse? I've gotten cold sores since I was little. Does that significantly protect me against getting HSV2?

[auntiejessi]

No.  It might make a subsequent hsv2 infection milder, but it doesn't offer protection against getting hsv2.

AJ

[lilbit77]

A blood test can tell if your newly infected or not, depending on how much antibodies you have built toward it. When I was first dianosed with it they done a blood test about 3 weeks after and she said based on my results I was newly infected. Try not to be too devastated, you will find with time, you wont have a bad outbreak like you did the first time, it will only be one spot. When i have an outbreak now its just one single lesion. If you take valtrex on the first symptom for like 2 days u wont ever outbreak. I went two years with not one outbreak. FYI Stress is the main cause of breaking out. If you get really stressed or worried about something it will cause it. Try to keep your stress level down as much as possible. Its the best medicine for it. Best of luck.

[gracefromHHP]

A blood test can not tell you if you are newly infected or not. If you have a negative blood test and positive lesion culture initially and then test + on the blood test in a few weeks/months then yes indeed you are newly infected. Just based on the numeric values though you can not determine if it's a new infection or not.  Your provider evidently doesn't understand the tests very well.  3 weeks into things about 1/2 of folks will have seroconverted to test + on the blood tests to boot.

And yes - about 1/5 - 1/4 of folks when they take antivirals at the very first sign of a recurrence can prevent it from turning into a full blown ob.  The earlier you start your antivirals the better they work !  Terrific advice to remind folks about :)  

For most folks stress is not a trigger for their recurrences. Plenty of studies on pubmed.gov that confirm this but for some reason that thought still persists.  For most folks there aren't any clear triggers for ob's :(  

grace