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HSV 1 & Valtrex
Question for you...
I MAY have contracted HSV 1 genitally. I had previously had blood tests done which showed that I have HSV 1, but not HSV 2 (I've had cold sores). As of a week ago, I woke up with very red patches on the inside of my foreskin. Went to the doctor, he swabbed it and it came back as negative for HSV 1. I took one day's worth of Valtrex and by the next morning, it looked as though the red patch was nearly gone. I stopped taking the Valtrex as of then. The very next day after being initially diagnosed, I saw another doctor who said it didn't look like herpes at all and that I'm well equipped to fight off a reinfection genitally since I have it orally. Also have seen a urologist and dermatologist who both said it looked like some type of skin irritation, and not herpes since it never broke out into sores.
My question though is that the first doctor I saw, saw me before I ever took the Valtrex. If it's HSV1, (which my gf has genitally), would it have disappeared within 24 hours without developing blisters, etc.? Never had any pain, burning, itching...nothing. Just really, REALLY red patches of skin that burned when i swabbed it with rubbing alcohol.
Just wondering if the other specialists saw me too late to make an accurate diagnosis like the first doctor :/...
I MAY have contracted HSV 1 genitally. I had previously had blood tests done which showed that I have HSV 1, but not HSV 2 (I've had cold sores). As of a week ago, I woke up with very red patches on the inside of my foreskin. Went to the doctor, he swabbed it and it came back as negative for HSV 1. I took one day's worth of Valtrex and by the next morning, it looked as though the red patch was nearly gone. I stopped taking the Valtrex as of then. The very next day after being initially diagnosed, I saw another doctor who said it didn't look like herpes at all and that I'm well equipped to fight off a reinfection genitally since I have it orally. Also have seen a urologist and dermatologist who both said it looked like some type of skin irritation, and not herpes since it never broke out into sores.
My question though is that the first doctor I saw, saw me before I ever took the Valtrex. If it's HSV1, (which my gf has genitally), would it have disappeared within 24 hours without developing blisters, etc.? Never had any pain, burning, itching...nothing. Just really, REALLY red patches of skin that burned when i swabbed it with rubbing alcohol.
Just wondering if the other specialists saw me too late to make an accurate diagnosis like the first doctor :/...
Just looked up herpes encephalitis and scared myself...
Said that most cases are from recurrent infections and can be fatal...this is not as much of a transient disease as I had been led to believe it looks like...
Said that most cases are from recurrent infections and can be fatal...this is not as much of a transient disease as I had been led to believe it looks like...
These are very rare. Something like 1 in 100,000 get it each year. Its a swelling of the brain or a swelling of the outside lining of the brain,
K here's the last thing I'm curious about...
Herpes and meningitis/encephalitis...what're the risks?
Herpes and meningitis/encephalitis...what're the risks?
Gotcha. I tested positive with blood for HSV1 years ago, but have had cold sores orally, so I guess there's no distinguishing the two.
The red patches I had are nearly gone, and there's no broken skin, so I'll assume it's skin irritation. I explained that on the weekends, I surf each day, and usually wear the same bathing suit with only one shower on Sundays. I remember a couple days before I noticed anything, I had been at the gym in the morning and didn't shower until the evening (was cleaning the house and sweating ALL day) and was wearing the same clothes I worked out in. Maybe it was something related to those things? Multiple possibilities I guess :/
The red patches I had are nearly gone, and there's no broken skin, so I'll assume it's skin irritation. I explained that on the weekends, I surf each day, and usually wear the same bathing suit with only one shower on Sundays. I remember a couple days before I noticed anything, I had been at the gym in the morning and didn't shower until the evening (was cleaning the house and sweating ALL day) and was wearing the same clothes I worked out in. Maybe it was something related to those things? Multiple possibilities I guess :/
This might sound a bit confusing but swabs are extremely accurate for showing a positive result but are infamous for showing false negatives.
With a negative swab the tests are often subject to retesting with blood but with a positive swab the results are deemed conclusive.
With a negative swab the tests are often subject to retesting with blood but with a positive swab the results are deemed conclusive.
That's what I figured. I reread the post and it looks like people started to take it when they felt symptoms. I myself took it after symptoms exhibited. When I went to see the first doctor for my test results (negative) he said I should see a specialist as he could be wrong. Urologist and dermatologist both said it's not the classic "look," and they wrote it down as mild eczema/balanitis. They basically said all that means is "inflammation," and it could happen for any number of reasons.
Last question - are the swabs pretty accurate once symptoms appear? Only ask cuz my doctor said there's a possibility it could've been a "false negative."
Last question - are the swabs pretty accurate once symptoms appear? Only ask cuz my doctor said there's a possibility it could've been a "false negative."
It really boils down to the individual person that has herpes and also the individual doctors knowledge. Nothing is written in stone and vary from person to person.
You're awesome. Thanks for the post.
Here's what prompted my question:
http://www.************.com/boards/herpes/319197-cold-sore-valtrex.html
The first doctor that diagnosed me said that he's seen patients clear up HSV 1 from Valtrex this quickly, but not HSV2. The other doctors I met with said it wouldn't clear up that fast and that you'd definitely see blisters. Hate getting conflicting information from doctors!
Here's what prompted my question:
http://www.************.com/boards/herpes/319197-cold-sore-valtrex.html
The first doctor that diagnosed me said that he's seen patients clear up HSV 1 from Valtrex this quickly, but not HSV2. The other doctors I met with said it wouldn't clear up that fast and that you'd definitely see blisters. Hate getting conflicting information from doctors!
continued--its then converted into a more active form inside the cells containing the herpes virus. This transformation take time and your time zone is to short to have any effect. Bottom line is that it inhibits the herpes virus from mulitplying and would not have any effect on the virus that has reached the skins surface.
Hi, there is not sufficient time for the valtrex to have any effect on your symptoms. Once taken it needs to be absorbed into the body the its broken down to aciclovir
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
