HSV1 OR 2

[Tinkerbell75]

I had exposure to HSV 1 over a year ago and had a genital outbreak. I have not had any outbreaks since. A few weeks ago I had unprotected sex with a guy who I know has HSV 2. I did so because we had both been recently tested for all other STD's and got the all clear and I had no idea that HSV 2 was transmittable without symptoms. Since then I have had a sore throat for a week or so but thought nothing of it. I then 2 weeks ago met a guy who I am now seeing monogamously, we had sex a week and a bit ago and it lasted all night. I then had an outbreak! I did not realise it was an outbreak, it happened about 24 hours after sex and at first I just assumed I was 'irritated' from the excess condom usage. This outbreak (I think) was worse than the first one I had of HSV 1 - does this mean it's type 2? Now to make matters a lot worse, I think I have infected my new partner! He has a rash around his belly button which is scabby blisters and pain in his groing. He also had a very sore throat within 24 hours of us sleeping together. Now I'm freaking out, what are the chances that I have contracted HSV 2?? What are the chances that I have then passed that on even though I had no apparent symptoms at that time and we had protected sex? I have almost no doubt that I have given him herpes but I am praying like crazy that it is HSV 1 and not 2 - what are the chances? Please help...

[gracefromHHP]

I missed that you had a 2nd blood test done earlier. still no way to know if you had hsv1 genitally or not the first time from your blood testing.  Either way at this point, hsv2 will be the cause of almost all recurrences, not hsv1 if your hsv1 is genital.

don't waste your money on dynamiclear. cheaper and better options out there.  some folks think it's helpful in speeding the healing of lesions but it doesn't keep them from coming back. you can get tea tree oil for under $10 and dilute that and use it and it works about the same at speeding healing of ob's. combine that with a $4 round of acyclovir and your ob will be gone in 2 or 3 days.  

since transmission isn't an issue in this relationship, up to you if you want to prevent ob's with suppressive therapy or just treat each ob as it occurs.  

[Tinkerbell75]

hi,

yeah, i guess we now know once and for all. I'm unsure what you mean by proper work up though? I didn't have any lesions at the time I went to the doc the first time, I had 1 or 2 blisters and just happened to mention it to the doc during a visit to get the pill or something and that is when she suggested I have a blood test as it sounded like herpes. The blood test was only positive for hsv 1 not 2, that was over a year ago. My blood tests in June this year showed exactly the same thing, then I slept with the incredibly ignorant idiot on Sept 1 and it's all been down hill from there.

When I got my diagnosis on Friday the doc gave me the little blue and orange booklet thing and I have read it front to back, it's well written and easy to read. I think the hardest thing has been obviously telling my current partner but he has been awesome. He doesn't blame me at all, he said I am as much a victim as he is but unfortunately due to all the misdiagnosis by his docs he is still under the weather but at least he is on the right meds now.

Are you familiar with dynamiclear?

Tiff

[gracefromHHP]

well at least you finally have proper answers since evidently you didn't get a proper work up done previously :(

have you checked out the herpes handbook yet?  google it, it's free to read online or print out at home.

keep asking questions!

grace

[Tinkerbell75]

Yes, I got my results on Friday & am positive for hsv2. My partner was swabbed today but it's a foregone conclusion now :(

[gracefromHHP]

blood tests tell you what you have, not where you have them.  you really can't know if what you had originally was hsv1 genitally or not if that's all the testing you had done. had you also had a lesion culture done that was at the very least hsv+ when you had your genital symptoms?

have you and your partner been to be seen and followed up on your current issues as I recommended?

[Tinkerbell75]

Yes that is correct, blood test just showed exposure (orolabial I believe it's called).

[gracefromHHP]

so you were originally diagnosed as having hsv1 genitally from a blood test too?  or am I misunderstanding?

[Tinkerbell75]

Thanks, I actually had a blood test last time to check for both types & just had another today, don't get the results til Friday though :( I feel so guilty, am 99% sure he has hsv, just praying it's 1 & not 2 as it will be enough for me to find out I have 2 let alone deal with the guilt of infecting another...

[gracefromHHP]

you and your partner both need to be seen and get thorough work ups done. this should be done sooner rather than later. get lesion cultures for herpes done. also you both should get type specific herpes igg blood tests done to get baseline herpes status on you both.  

what testing did you originally have done for your hsv1 genital infection a year ago?

grace