How quickly does acyclovir work?

[wwill]

I recently had unprotected vaginal and oral sex with a friend.  The next day she told me she had herpies.  I was floored and overcome with worry.  She told me not to worry and that it wasn't a big deal!  I couldn't believe her response.  Ten days after the encounter, two small red bumps appeared on the shaft of my penis.  I went to the dr the following day and he gave me a blood, urine, and culture test.  I am still waiting for the results.  He also prescribed acyclovir for ten days.  I took the first pill right before I went to sleep.  When I woke up, I checked the progress of the two bumps and they were almost gone. Two days have passed and theyre entirely gone.

My question is this:
Is it possible for acyclovir to work that quickly?
Any info would be greatly appreciated
I am extremely worried that I have herpes

[gracefromHHP]

no acyclovir doesn't work that quickly.

the only testing you had for std's that was accurate 10 days post encounter was gonorrhea and chlamydia. All your other testing was done too early. You can repeat your syphilis, herpes, hiv and hepatitis testing again after 3 months post encounter.

the risk of contracting herpes from a one time encounter, even unprotected is incredibly low.

to best protect yourself in the future , save yourself worrying as well as frequent testing, always engage in protected sexual contact :)

grace

[wwill]

Thank you for your response and great advice.   I usually practice safe sex, but since I have known her for a while I thought it was ok, I know, no excuse!  

I also performed oral sex on her and fear I may have contracted oral herpes.

I really want to believe Im ok, but I don't know why those two red bumps appeared in the first place.  It seems only logical, unprotected sex, 10 days later red bumps.  I'll just hope for the best, but being the chronic worrier that I am, I know I won't rest till I know for sure.

One more question if I may:
Im recently divorced and have a 7 year old daughter who stays with me every two weeks.  Ever since this has happened, I have refrained from kissing her on her cheek( I never kiss her on the mouth anyway so thats no problem) I have been using my own soap, towel, washing my hands constantly and cleaning everything I touch.  Can herpes be transmitted through these forms or am I just overreacting?  Sorry for my ignorance on the subject.
Thanks again!!!

[gracefromHHP]

everyone in a household should always have their own towel, washcloth, toothbrush, razor and body puff - many common germs are easily transmitted through sharing them.  soap kills herpes and it's ok to share a bar of soap.  

no reason to hand wash more often than usual either.

many things can cause red bumps, not just herpes. considering how quickly these went away, odds are they really are not due to herpes.

[wwill]

Thanks again!   I'm wondering if I should stop taking acyclovir at this point.  I read online that it might make future blood tests for herpes harder to detect
I dont think I would be stressing this much if those bumps didnt appear.

Your thoughts about them disappearing within a day or two even with acyclovir were comforting.

[jasonb44]

When will you get the results ?  Was it just a one time unprotected encounter.

[wwill]

Yes It was just one encounter both vaginal and oral.  I just got the results of my tests.  HPV 1 positive HPV 2 negative.  I used to get frequent cold sores as a kid so  that didn't come as much a surprise.  I realize it may be too early to test HPV 2 so I will definitely test again in three months, but I will take this as a good sign.

Thanks again

[gracefromHHP]

it's hsv, not hpv. totally different viruses.

up to you if you want to stop the acyclovir or not since symptoms are gone. should you get a return of symptoms, be seen again promptly.

[wwill]

My apologies hsv 1 positive hsv2 negative not hpv.

I understand that i need to test again in 3 months, but since there were red bumps and i did get a culture swab test and it came back negative, how accurate is a culture swab test 11 days after possible exposure?

[wwill]

I should also include that I was seen by the dr and swab tested the next day after the appearance of the bumps.

[gracefromHHP]

lesion cultures have high false negative rates which is why we recommend the follow up testing.

[wwill]

I read online that swab tests are most accurate at first site of appearance (24 to 48 hours).

Is this true?

I don't want to freak out for the next three months, so I will hope for the best.

Thanks again for all your help.

[gracefromHHP]

yes they are most accurate when done during that time period.

[wwill]

Can a swab test be conducted too early?

In my calculations, the dr took the sample approximately 20 hours after red bumps first appeared.

[wwill]

I figure that if two bumps were clearly there then it would seem logical that an accurate sample could be taken.  I hope I not wrong in thinking that.

[wwill]

It's been 23 days since my encounter.  Although the swab test came back negative, I'm feeling slight pressure in my lower stomach, very mild burning in penis off and on for the past five days, and very mild back and leg pain.  Seven days into me taking acuclovir, a small red dot appeared on the tip on penis but disappeared 4 days later.  Are these symptoms of herpes? I don't know what to do?

[bobrope45]

Are you still taking acyclovir? You shouldn't, since you never had a positive result for herpes
Herpetic bumps don't fade quickly, trust me. But stop the acyclovir anyway - if you do have herpes, as you might believe you have, acyclovir will make the swab results unreliable.

[wwill]

I began taking acyclovir on the 4th of April and completed pills on the 10th as my doctor advised.  The day before I started taking pills two bumps appeared on my shaft.  The next day after taking pills they were gone.  Then on the  11th  a single bump on the head appeared, but disappeared 4 days later. Then the burning feeling in my penis and pressure.   All of them were bumps barely raised.  Is this typical on acyclovir?   Is it herpes? I should add that the swab test was done before any medication.  Should I go back to my doctor?  Im not sure what to do.  Please help

[gracefromHHP]

this doesn't sound like herpes going on.

continue to follow up with your provider as needed for your ongoing symptoms.

[wwill]

I rushed to my doctor because a rash appeared on the head of my penis.  He said it didn't look like herpes.  He gave me a urine test and the results were normal.  He told me to relax and drink plenty of water and  cranberry juice.  I'm mentally and emotionally exhausted.  
I keep thinking that because I had unprotected intercourse with my friend and she admitted to having herpes then I should have it too since I've never had these symptoms before.
How do I get passed this?
Any suggestions would be highly appreciated

[wwill]

BTW rash is completely gone after two days.

[gracefromHHP]

perhaps it's time to seek out professional counseling for your anxiety?

[wwill]

Quite possibly...
Thank you for your patience and good advice

[wwill]

Ok I made an appointment with a councelor but he can't see me until the 11th of may.   On Sunday day 29 post encounter I engaged in masturbation and a few hours brokeout in a terrible rash on the head and partial shaft.  It was blotchy with tiny bumps and red dots, very pronounced.  I have read that mastubating can bring on a herpes outbreak so I rushed to urgent care for the third time.  upon this obversation the same dr I have been seeing  decided another swab  swab test

[gracefromHHP]

did you use a lube when you masturbated? if so, was it a sex lube or a shower gel or body lotion?

no, herpes won't appear in a few hours after masturbation. your symptoms also do not sound like a herpes recurrence at all either.