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HSV 1 genital
I was diagnosed with genital hsv 4 weeks ago. My husband has always had bad cold sores since he was a small child. We have always been mindful not to have oral sex when he was experiencing an outbreak but neither one of us new that shedding was also a risk prior to an outbreak. During my initial outbreak, he was getting over a bad case of cold sores.
My question is this. The doc put me on Valtrex for 7 days for the initial outbreak and told me that suppressive therapy was not necessary. I asked to be put on acyclovir (due to cost) anyway. I took the acyclovir for two weeks after finishing the Valtrex. Everything cleared up great, but I was experiencing some stomach upset from the medication and decided to discontinue suppressive therapy. Well, I started to experience an outbreak and started taking Tagamet. I read somewhere that over the counter Tagamet was helpful in suppressing herpes viruses, especially shingles. The outbreak went away but I discovered that I cannot take Tagamet with another medication I am required to take. After a week of no meds (acyclovir or tagamet) I am breaking out again.
I started back on the acyclovir and it seems to be working but I have some concerns. Are there any long term side effects from acyclovir use? I have read that hair loss is a side effect. Has anyone experienced this? Also I am confused about the whole genital hsv 1 thing. The doc told me this would not be a big deal and that Type 1 rarely recurs in the genital area. Is it possible that I am still experiencing the initial breakout or are these recurrances? Its only been 4 weeks. Any advice would be appreciated.
My question is this. The doc put me on Valtrex for 7 days for the initial outbreak and told me that suppressive therapy was not necessary. I asked to be put on acyclovir (due to cost) anyway. I took the acyclovir for two weeks after finishing the Valtrex. Everything cleared up great, but I was experiencing some stomach upset from the medication and decided to discontinue suppressive therapy. Well, I started to experience an outbreak and started taking Tagamet. I read somewhere that over the counter Tagamet was helpful in suppressing herpes viruses, especially shingles. The outbreak went away but I discovered that I cannot take Tagamet with another medication I am required to take. After a week of no meds (acyclovir or tagamet) I am breaking out again.
I started back on the acyclovir and it seems to be working but I have some concerns. Are there any long term side effects from acyclovir use? I have read that hair loss is a side effect. Has anyone experienced this? Also I am confused about the whole genital hsv 1 thing. The doc told me this would not be a big deal and that Type 1 rarely recurs in the genital area. Is it possible that I am still experiencing the initial breakout or are these recurrances? Its only been 4 weeks. Any advice would be appreciated.
don't self treat for yeast, go and be seen and get properly tested. it's well worth the effort. just because you had yeast before, doesn't mean that this is yeast now.
Hi Grace. One week before being diagnosed with GH Type 1 I went to my doc because I was experiencing a discharge and was spotting (very dark brown in color). He ran some tests. The tests came back positivive for yeast. I used Monistat for the infection. I do however have a history of bad yeast infections. I mean really bad! Maybe I should get some diflucan since I have found it to work better than the cream.
As far as testing goes, I was diagnosed with HSV 1 through a culture (swab). The doctor said that since I was having an outbreak, it would be the best way to know the type for sure.
Thanks so much. To be honest I've been so focused on the HSV infection that I really did consider other things. I'm making another apointment ASAP and having diflucan called into pharmacy.
Again, Thanks
As far as testing goes, I was diagnosed with HSV 1 through a culture (swab). The doctor said that since I was having an outbreak, it would be the best way to know the type for sure.
Thanks so much. To be honest I've been so focused on the HSV infection that I really did consider other things. I'm making another apointment ASAP and having diflucan called into pharmacy.
Again, Thanks
i encourage you to go back to your provider to be seen again this coming week ( since it's saturday now ). Get properly tested for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally. typically when you have recurrences like this when newly infected, it's because you have vaginitis . About 1/2 of all females who have bv, don't get obvious discharge or odor so make sure that they properly test you for it. bv can trigger herpes recurrences as well as mimick them.
what herpes testing have you had done so far?
no long term side effects to using acyclovir. at this point, make sure nothing else is going on that needs treated.
grace
what herpes testing have you had done so far?
no long term side effects to using acyclovir. at this point, make sure nothing else is going on that needs treated.
grace
Thanks for the encouraging words. I am hoping that my situation will be similar to yours. Twelve years without any outbreaks is good news. I know everyone's body reacts differently but it gives me hope that this will become a minor issue. Thanks.
Grace will probably come along with insight that's more medical than I can provide.
But from my personal experience. I also contracted HSV1 genitally from a partner that had cold sores as a child but I never saw him with a cold sore!
My first OB was pretty severe and painful and I was given a 7 day supply of meds to help clear up the OB. HSV 1 does not shed or re occur in the genital area as much as it does in its prefer site, the mouth. Therefore, supressive meds are usually not very effective for HSV 1, nor needed in my case.
The initial OB should only last a week but not much longer than that.
The first year after my initial OB I felt a little sore there and some tingling feeling like I 'may' get an OB. After that first year I have had NO outbreaks nor blisters or other symptoms. I have had HSV 1 for 12 years now.
From what I've read passing HSV 1 when you have it genitally is pretty rare since the virus does not shed nor activate very often.
But from my personal experience. I also contracted HSV1 genitally from a partner that had cold sores as a child but I never saw him with a cold sore!
My first OB was pretty severe and painful and I was given a 7 day supply of meds to help clear up the OB. HSV 1 does not shed or re occur in the genital area as much as it does in its prefer site, the mouth. Therefore, supressive meds are usually not very effective for HSV 1, nor needed in my case.
The initial OB should only last a week but not much longer than that.
The first year after my initial OB I felt a little sore there and some tingling feeling like I 'may' get an OB. After that first year I have had NO outbreaks nor blisters or other symptoms. I have had HSV 1 for 12 years now.
From what I've read passing HSV 1 when you have it genitally is pretty rare since the virus does not shed nor activate very often.
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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.
