Aa
Afraid of exposing my boyfriend
I have been very paranoid about herpes for a very long time. After years of therapy, I am now not worried about it anymore for myself. In the past, I was always worried that every little pimple, prick, tingle, or whatever feeling in my genital area was atypical HSV2. It wasn't. I got tested several times. It wasn't ever.
Okay, once it was. I had an IGG Herpeselect IGG test for HSV 1 and 2, and the HSV2 was positive at 1.35. HSV1 test was over 6. I hadn't had any symptoms; it was just part of the normal panel of tests my doc does (he knows I am sexually active, so he usually asks if I want it, and I usually say yes). Then I had a Biokit for confirmation, as Dr. HHH suggests frequently, and the doctor said the kit was negative, so I went about my business, and didn't worry about it. Two years went by.
Anyway, it's summer time now. As usual, in the summer, I get occasional bites. I'm one of those people the bugs love. But I also scratch like crazy with some bites, so I usually put a bandage on bites that are really bad. Helps me remember not to scratch.
Anyway, I had an itch just above and to the left on my left knee that was killing me on Weds. So I put a bandage over it. 2 days later, went to my boyfriend's apt, where we made glorious love. When I replaced the bandage the next AM, I saw that the itch had become six blisters.
Next day, the blisters popped. Some scabbed. Plus there were new ones. I realized that it might be HSV2 that the biokit said I didn't have. No biggie, because a bi-yearly outbreak isn't such a big deal (thank you, therapy!). That was two days ago. I've been icing it ever since to numb the area. It's painful now, but healing.
I AM worried about my boyfriend's exposure. I'll get the WB, but assuming that it's HSV2 on my lower thigh and it was covered with a large bandage, what is the likelihood I gave it to him? I've NEVER had unprotected vaginal sex (easy to do, I just avoided sex).
Okay, once it was. I had an IGG Herpeselect IGG test for HSV 1 and 2, and the HSV2 was positive at 1.35. HSV1 test was over 6. I hadn't had any symptoms; it was just part of the normal panel of tests my doc does (he knows I am sexually active, so he usually asks if I want it, and I usually say yes). Then I had a Biokit for confirmation, as Dr. HHH suggests frequently, and the doctor said the kit was negative, so I went about my business, and didn't worry about it. Two years went by.
Anyway, it's summer time now. As usual, in the summer, I get occasional bites. I'm one of those people the bugs love. But I also scratch like crazy with some bites, so I usually put a bandage on bites that are really bad. Helps me remember not to scratch.
Anyway, I had an itch just above and to the left on my left knee that was killing me on Weds. So I put a bandage over it. 2 days later, went to my boyfriend's apt, where we made glorious love. When I replaced the bandage the next AM, I saw that the itch had become six blisters.
Next day, the blisters popped. Some scabbed. Plus there were new ones. I realized that it might be HSV2 that the biokit said I didn't have. No biggie, because a bi-yearly outbreak isn't such a big deal (thank you, therapy!). That was two days ago. I've been icing it ever since to numb the area. It's painful now, but healing.
I AM worried about my boyfriend's exposure. I'll get the WB, but assuming that it's HSV2 on my lower thigh and it was covered with a large bandage, what is the likelihood I gave it to him? I've NEVER had unprotected vaginal sex (easy to do, I just avoided sex).
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Well, there are lots if "ifs" in here. If you have HSV 2, which is the biggest of course. Yes, a western blot because at 1.35, the chances are about 85% that you are NOT infected (but 15% that you are). If you do have HSV 2 and you had sex with an outbreak present, you could have infected your boyfriend because virus can be shed from parts of your body that are not actual outbreaks. But it is great to know that you used condoms when having sex, reduces the risk of transmission by 30-50% if you do have HSV 2.
Have you spoken with your boyfriend about the possibility that you have herpes? Has he been tested?
I think it would be the very best to know if you have herpes. If you do, and your boyfriend tests negative, then I would suggest daily therapy for you. But there is still things yet to know.
Let me know your answers, and perhaps I can help more.
Terri
Have you spoken with your boyfriend about the possibility that you have herpes? Has he been tested?
I think it would be the very best to know if you have herpes. If you do, and your boyfriend tests negative, then I would suggest daily therapy for you. But there is still things yet to know.
Let me know your answers, and perhaps I can help more.
Terri
A related discussion, OK, so that IGG 7 score? No mas. was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I will definitely stay tuned.
Terri
Terri
I will suggest that he get tested. Turns out, by the way, that he wasn't calling me for completely unrelated reasons. I have all reasons to believe that he wasn't infected (thank god), but I will still suggest he be tested. I'll post to let you know what happens. And I actually will! So many people don't follow up with updates, which frustrates me, because I'm so curious what happens to folks on this site!
Stay tuned to find out how he reacts!
Stay tuned to find out how he reacts!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The valacyclovir takes five days to fully kick in to offer the greatest protection against transmission, but remember, this is not perfect.
I would agree that you have HSV 2 infection, yes. What I'm wondering is if you got it from your boyfriend. Were you with anyone else within a couple of months of noticing the thing on your knee? He really should be tested in this situation. Yes, you need to tell him and get him tested. Let me know how it goes.
Terri
I would agree that you have HSV 2 infection, yes. What I'm wondering is if you got it from your boyfriend. Were you with anyone else within a couple of months of noticing the thing on your knee? He really should be tested in this situation. Yes, you need to tell him and get him tested. Let me know how it goes.
Terri
Well, I have gotten my herpeselect IGG test back (I decided to try again the herpeselct test, since it is cheaper, before going the western blot route). This time my number was around 7. So I've got it, and I need to tell my boyfriend.
Part of me really wants to kill myself. I can't eat, or drink, so I'm getting a yeast infection (this always happens to me, and has for years, even when I was in my 20s and never came close to testing positive).
So, of course, I need a prescription for Valtrex. How long will it take to reach the effective level in my blood to have the protective affect on my partner? Assuming, of course, that he doesn't dump me, which I think he might, because I haven't heard form him in 3 days and that was about the time it would have taken for something to show up in him (3 to 10 days) post possible exposure. Assuming, of course, that I didn't get it from him.
But seriously, it was on my ******* knee. It was my first outbreak, I'm sure, because I've been super paranoid about herpes for years. I'm very inspecty of my genitals and very comfortable looking at myself down there. I use OBs andam going to get a Divacup.
I wouldn't have missed ANYTHING going on down there, so I must have been one of the asymptomatic ones. Crazy and scary.
So yeah, if my boyfriend hasn't already dumped me, how long should we abstain from sex while I wait for valtrex to start being effective?
Part of me really wants to kill myself. I can't eat, or drink, so I'm getting a yeast infection (this always happens to me, and has for years, even when I was in my 20s and never came close to testing positive).
So, of course, I need a prescription for Valtrex. How long will it take to reach the effective level in my blood to have the protective affect on my partner? Assuming, of course, that he doesn't dump me, which I think he might, because I haven't heard form him in 3 days and that was about the time it would have taken for something to show up in him (3 to 10 days) post possible exposure. Assuming, of course, that I didn't get it from him.
But seriously, it was on my ******* knee. It was my first outbreak, I'm sure, because I've been super paranoid about herpes for years. I'm very inspecty of my genitals and very comfortable looking at myself down there. I use OBs andam going to get a Divacup.
I wouldn't have missed ANYTHING going on down there, so I must have been one of the asymptomatic ones. Crazy and scary.
So yeah, if my boyfriend hasn't already dumped me, how long should we abstain from sex while I wait for valtrex to start being effective?
And, I had sex with my boyfriend WITH a condom.
Oh yeah, and I'm a 33-year-old woman :)
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
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.
