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HSV-1 genital
I am currently under treatment for pudental neuralgia, and just finished a 3-week series of steriod injections into the impar ganglion. After the first treatment, I had sex with a guy I was involved with. It was painful, but I knew it would be because I had been trouble having sex for a long time now. In fact, I had only ever successfully had sex with one guy before. I know this recent guy tore me, because I felt it, and I kind of "heard" it, if that's possible. It was sore and I bled for about 3 days. I thought it was getting better, but urination became extremely painful and I went to see a gynecologist.
She told me I was torn and prescribed antibiotics. She also prescribed Valtrex and tested me for herpes. The culture came up positive for hsv-1. Blood tests came back positive for hsv-1, as well, and she says it shows that it's a new exposure. (I thought I might've already had hsv-1 orally because I had cold sores when I was little, or thought they were cold sores, and my mother still gets bad ones sometimes, but my gyno insists that I couldn't have already had it.)
So how did I get this? My guy did not perform oral sex on me, and the last guy before him was 8 months ago. And we did use condoms, although I know they're not foolproof. If he had it genitally, could I have gotten it genitally? If the last guy gave it to me, 8 months ago, would that show up now as a new exposure?
Also, the urination pain seems to be subsiding some, but the burning has possibly gotten worse, and I'm still bleeding. Is it not healing? It's been over 2 weeks since the sex; one week since the doctor cultured me. I've finished the antibiotics, but am still taking the Valtrex. And are the steroids having any sort of negative impact? Prolonging this or making me more susceptible? Also, is it true that hsv-1 genital is less likely to recur? Am I likely to give this to someone else? Is there anything else I should be doing? I'm so freaked out.
She told me I was torn and prescribed antibiotics. She also prescribed Valtrex and tested me for herpes. The culture came up positive for hsv-1. Blood tests came back positive for hsv-1, as well, and she says it shows that it's a new exposure. (I thought I might've already had hsv-1 orally because I had cold sores when I was little, or thought they were cold sores, and my mother still gets bad ones sometimes, but my gyno insists that I couldn't have already had it.)
So how did I get this? My guy did not perform oral sex on me, and the last guy before him was 8 months ago. And we did use condoms, although I know they're not foolproof. If he had it genitally, could I have gotten it genitally? If the last guy gave it to me, 8 months ago, would that show up now as a new exposure?
Also, the urination pain seems to be subsiding some, but the burning has possibly gotten worse, and I'm still bleeding. Is it not healing? It's been over 2 weeks since the sex; one week since the doctor cultured me. I've finished the antibiotics, but am still taking the Valtrex. And are the steroids having any sort of negative impact? Prolonging this or making me more susceptible? Also, is it true that hsv-1 genital is less likely to recur? Am I likely to give this to someone else? Is there anything else I should be doing? I'm so freaked out.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Its possible that your TM was caused by herpes years ago, yes. I'm not clear about that, but it certainly is possible. Normally, with an antibody test that is negative for both HSV 1 and 2, I would say that you are unlikely to be infected, but the test is not that sensitive for HSV 1 - it misses one out of 10 cases, perhaps even more. Your positive swab test is what you should pay attention to. Again, normally, if a person has a positive swab test and negative antibody test, it strongly suggests first infection, but again, this is probably less true with the HSV 1 situation than the HSV 2 situation. My best guess is: You've been infected for a while. This is likely not new, particularly because of the sexual practices that you describe in that encounter. But I can't be completely sure about that. Has this partner been tested for herpes?
You could repeat the ELISA test at some point down the road, perhaps four months from now. Or you could get your provider to order a western blot now, it is slightly more sensitive for HSV 1 than the ELISA test you had done this time.
If you have a sexual partner in the future who is HSV 1 positive, I think you don't need to worry about herpes in the relationship. Also, it is very unlikely that you will get herpes at any other location on your body once you have it established in another location.
You may wish to look at my website, westoverheights.com, or order my book, The Good News About the Bad News from amazon.
If you have other questions, please feel free to ask, OK?
Terri
You could repeat the ELISA test at some point down the road, perhaps four months from now. Or you could get your provider to order a western blot now, it is slightly more sensitive for HSV 1 than the ELISA test you had done this time.
If you have a sexual partner in the future who is HSV 1 positive, I think you don't need to worry about herpes in the relationship. Also, it is very unlikely that you will get herpes at any other location on your body once you have it established in another location.
You may wish to look at my website, westoverheights.com, or order my book, The Good News About the Bad News from amazon.
If you have other questions, please feel free to ask, OK?
Terri
Thanks, Terri. I finally got the results. Okay...
Pap smear: Negative for intraepithelial lesin and malignancy. Cellular changes associated with inflammation are present. Cellular changes associated with herpes simplex are present.
HSV 1 IgG, Type Spec <0.91 index
HSV 2 IgG, Type Spec <0.91 index
(It appears that if it's less .91, this test doesn't give you a value. And it was less than .91.)
HSV Culture/Type
Positive for Herpes simplex virus type-1. Typing was confirmed by monoclonal antibody microscopic immunofluorescence.
HSV IgM I/II Combination 1.77 Ratio
I'm confused, because we did use condoms (which I know are not foolproof), but also it's 1, and I did not receive oral sex that day. Exposure was 8 days prior to the culture being taken. I was torn initially (I could feel it, but also there was blood) and it started to heal in a couple of days, so I thought I was fine, but then a few days later, the pain. My God, the pain. With urination.
So I don't see how I caught the traditionally oral kind without having oral sex. The last (and only) time I've received oral sex was about 9 months ago, but according to my doctor this is new.
Is it possible I already had it? Because I thought you couldn't get it genitally-genitally. And now I'm worried I'm going to give it to someone else that same way.
Oh, and I mentioned earlier the pudendal neuralgia--I was getting weekly impar ganglion blocks with steroids. I had started them already before I had sex and continued the series. (I was so happy I was able to have sex again, and then this....:-(
I'm coming down a bit, but I was completely freaking out about this. I've never had an STD before, especially an incurable one. I feel "damaged."
A strange question--I've been doing some research and my understanding is that your body and antivirals do kill off this virus, but it goes and hides in your nerve cells, and that's how it sticks around forever. And then comes out periodically. But it can't be eliminated, because your body won't attack its own nerve cells. Only my body has attacked its own nerve cells. I was diagnosed with transverse myelitis 13 years ago. Spinal cord damage was visible on an mri, and I couldn't feel my left leg and had very bad headaches. After lots of tests, I was told it was in response to "a virus." They ruled out fungal infections and bacteria, but based on my CSF it was definitely a virus of some kind. (Ironically, the #1 suspect for viral-caused transverse myelitis is herpes.) Do you think I'm likely to have another "episode?" I have scheduled an appt with my neurologist in 1 1/2 months, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask you.
I did recover fully from the TM. They said after 2 years I wouldn't get any better, but that wasn't true. I continued to get better and felt 100% after more like 5-7 years, somewhere in there. My current neurologist can't see any evidence that I ever had a problem--my reflexes and everything returned completely to normal.
I have been taking valtrex ever since I first saw my gyno. (She put me on it, before we got the results back, just in case.) Do you I should stay on it for awhile? I've been taking it for almost 2 weeks already. I frankly didn't think it helped, but on the other hand, with my pudendal neuralgia issue maybe I should stay on it as a suppressant? I'm trying to "cure" one, and don't want to confuse it with the other.
And if I'm with someone who is positive for hsv-1, but we don't know where, do we need to take precautions? Or can they not catch it from me because they already have it? How likely is someone to catch this from me? Can I still get it orally now?
My doctor gave me zero advice. Other than, take valtrex for 10 days.
Pap smear: Negative for intraepithelial lesin and malignancy. Cellular changes associated with inflammation are present. Cellular changes associated with herpes simplex are present.
HSV 1 IgG, Type Spec <0.91 index
HSV 2 IgG, Type Spec <0.91 index
(It appears that if it's less .91, this test doesn't give you a value. And it was less than .91.)
HSV Culture/Type
Positive for Herpes simplex virus type-1. Typing was confirmed by monoclonal antibody microscopic immunofluorescence.
HSV IgM I/II Combination 1.77 Ratio
I'm confused, because we did use condoms (which I know are not foolproof), but also it's 1, and I did not receive oral sex that day. Exposure was 8 days prior to the culture being taken. I was torn initially (I could feel it, but also there was blood) and it started to heal in a couple of days, so I thought I was fine, but then a few days later, the pain. My God, the pain. With urination.
So I don't see how I caught the traditionally oral kind without having oral sex. The last (and only) time I've received oral sex was about 9 months ago, but according to my doctor this is new.
Is it possible I already had it? Because I thought you couldn't get it genitally-genitally. And now I'm worried I'm going to give it to someone else that same way.
Oh, and I mentioned earlier the pudendal neuralgia--I was getting weekly impar ganglion blocks with steroids. I had started them already before I had sex and continued the series. (I was so happy I was able to have sex again, and then this....:-(
I'm coming down a bit, but I was completely freaking out about this. I've never had an STD before, especially an incurable one. I feel "damaged."
A strange question--I've been doing some research and my understanding is that your body and antivirals do kill off this virus, but it goes and hides in your nerve cells, and that's how it sticks around forever. And then comes out periodically. But it can't be eliminated, because your body won't attack its own nerve cells. Only my body has attacked its own nerve cells. I was diagnosed with transverse myelitis 13 years ago. Spinal cord damage was visible on an mri, and I couldn't feel my left leg and had very bad headaches. After lots of tests, I was told it was in response to "a virus." They ruled out fungal infections and bacteria, but based on my CSF it was definitely a virus of some kind. (Ironically, the #1 suspect for viral-caused transverse myelitis is herpes.) Do you think I'm likely to have another "episode?" I have scheduled an appt with my neurologist in 1 1/2 months, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask you.
I did recover fully from the TM. They said after 2 years I wouldn't get any better, but that wasn't true. I continued to get better and felt 100% after more like 5-7 years, somewhere in there. My current neurologist can't see any evidence that I ever had a problem--my reflexes and everything returned completely to normal.
I have been taking valtrex ever since I first saw my gyno. (She put me on it, before we got the results back, just in case.) Do you I should stay on it for awhile? I've been taking it for almost 2 weeks already. I frankly didn't think it helped, but on the other hand, with my pudendal neuralgia issue maybe I should stay on it as a suppressant? I'm trying to "cure" one, and don't want to confuse it with the other.
And if I'm with someone who is positive for hsv-1, but we don't know where, do we need to take precautions? Or can they not catch it from me because they already have it? How likely is someone to catch this from me? Can I still get it orally now?
My doctor gave me zero advice. Other than, take valtrex for 10 days.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I will read them when you get them, yes.
Terri
Terri
H,
I'm still trying to get my exact test results. I filled out the paperwork days ago, but they're taking forever. I'm going to call them again tomorrow. I hope you'll still read them when I get them.
Thanks.
I'm still trying to get my exact test results. I filled out the paperwork days ago, but they're taking forever. I'm going to call them again tomorrow. I hope you'll still read them when I get them.
Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Can you provide a little clarity about your antibody testing? Was it IgG or IgM testing? Was there a numeric value associated with the results? It would be best if you could get an actual copy of your results and posted them here for me, please, so I can make sense of them.
Yes, steroids can trigger herpes outbreaks because they reduce the local immune response that people have to herpes that keeps the virus more under control. We see people having herpes outbreaks when they've never had any after being on steroid treatment for various things - asthma, skin issues, etc. This fits pretty well with your situation.
HSV 1 genital infection does have a much better recurrence rate (fewer recurrences) than HSV 2, so that's the good news.
Lets look at your lab values to understand this better, OK?
Terri
Yes, steroids can trigger herpes outbreaks because they reduce the local immune response that people have to herpes that keeps the virus more under control. We see people having herpes outbreaks when they've never had any after being on steroid treatment for various things - asthma, skin issues, etc. This fits pretty well with your situation.
HSV 1 genital infection does have a much better recurrence rate (fewer recurrences) than HSV 2, so that's the good news.
Lets look at your lab values to understand this better, OK?
Terri
Typo above. It should be "pudendal" neuralgia.
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.
