A Few Questions about Supressive Therapy

[earthzero]

My girlfriend was recently diagnosed with Genital HSV, but the doctors did not tell her if it was 1 or 2 because apparently they treat both types the same way (Valtrex). Regardless, she's getting her prescription sometime this week, and I am wondering when it would be safe to have sex with her. Obviously, we're not going to do it on the first day she gets them, but what would be a suitable amount of time to allow for Valtrex to do its job?

Sorry to make a new post Mods but my other one wasn't getting answers.

[waringblender]

What type(s) of HSV do you have, if any?

[waringblender]

Girlfriend needs to find out the type. It makes a difference. Find another doctor if they won't help her out with this.

[gracefromHHP]

When are you getting tested to know your own status?

grace

ps when you add a new question to your old thread - it bumps it up to the top again so everyone can see it.  

[earthzero]

I have Oral HSV1, and I am going to be tested with the IgG blood test sometime this week or next.

Also, she is wondering what Valtrex will do for her besides lessen ob's. Her first ob was so bad she had to go to the hospitol. She said it was the most terrible pain she'd ever felt, and I believe that. She could hardly walk it was so bad. Will Valtrex make them less severe, and if it can't, then what will?

[MacBernie]

What sort of pain was she experiencing that made her go to the hospital?

[auntiejessi]

Her first ob will be far and away the worst, and whether she's on valtrex or not, her subsequent obs will be less severe.  If she does get an ob while on valtrex, that will help prevent it from being severe as well.

The valtrex will help prevent further outbreaks, but if it turns out she has ghsv1, she might not ever get another one anyway.  

Aj

[earthzero]

Cheers for the replies.

Waring: Apparently, the culture which the diagnosis was based upon does not tell type, so therefore my girlfriend will need to go back in for a blood test. However, her doctor says it is NOT necessary since Valtrex works for both. She is debating whether or not it is worth the time and money to go get a blood test done somewhere else since the meds work for HSV1+2. If the meds work for both, then why is a type necessary?

MacBernie: She had terrible pain while urinating, like a burning sensation, and while I inserted my fingers into her, the same pain was apparent. It began with a terrible headache, then sores developed, which was misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection. Antibiotics were given, but pain still continued. She roughly had pain for 3 weeks.

Thanks auntiejessi, you've been very helpful. I hate to see her suffer so, its really quite terrible business, but I'm letting her know that its not some type of social death sentance or leprosy, that it is treatable and manageable, and it could be cured in our lifetimes.

Cheers again for the replies!

[gracefromHHP]

I would assume absolutely nothing. At this point you both need to find out who has what.  You can't assume this really is a newly acquired infection for her that she got from you just based on severity of symptoms.  You two can't make educated decisions about precautions until you both know who has what. It's well worth the money.

grace

[waringblender]

This guy has clueless written all over him.  I don't think he gets that he has to get tested too. He's throwing it all on the girlfriend. Lots of selective reading going on here.

Both of you need to know which types of herpes you have. That is the only way to figure out what to do as far as your sex life is concerned.

[earthzero]

I am waiting for her to type it because I've never had an outbreak. I know that even without an outbreak viral shedding can occur, but does that mean that viral shedding can occur anywhere, not just on the penis? How will a blood test determine where and when viral shedding will happen?

I get cold sores infrequently, so I know that I have HSV1 oral. Does the blood test tell me if I have HSV1 genital or HSV2 oral/genital? I'm not mocking or arguing with you, and waring is quite right, I am clueless on how a IgG will tell me where I have herpes (if sores do not develop) and what I can expect for ob's. I have been reading quite a lot, and I believe it was grace who gave me a link to some website for herpes on my other post. It helped a lot, but it does not say much about those who don't have symptoms.

One more question. If you already have HSV in one place, could you get it in another place? Lets say you have genital HSV2, can it spread to your mouth, anus, eyes, or other orafice?

[gracefromHHP]

Blood tests tell you what you have but not where you have it.  Statistically since you already know you have hsv1 orally, your hsv2 would be genital should you test + for it.

if she tests hsv2+ on the blood test and you don't then you know she had it before she met you and just never knew it.  

Once you have herpes on one body part, it protects you from getting it another. It's not 100% protection but it's up there.

grace

[earthzero]

I have tested negative for herpes via IgG blood test. To ask for the name of the test escaped my mind at the moment, but he said its 95%+ reliable. I asked for numbers, but the doctor said it was below the detectivity threshold so I shouldn't worry. He reccomended coming in after 3 months for confirmation, but since girlfriend is now on suppressive therapy and I am DEFINETELY using a condom from now on, he said seroconversion is highly unlikely.

My only question thus far is this: my girlfriend is a virgin and I took her virginity. So, where could she have contracted her HSV from? It is possible I could've performed oral sex on her while I had a cold sore or was in prodrome for a sore to appear, but I have heard, read, and been told that Genital HSV-1 is uncommon but possible. Any theories?

Oh, and still waiting for her to type it...

[gracefromHHP]

She could have hsv1 genitally that she got from oral sex with you ( or any other partners she might've received oral