Trying to figure it out

[CanadaGuy2012]

I’m a 40 year old married male and never had any signs of herpes in my life until last year. I had unprotected sex with my best female friend in March 2011 and developed a few blisters around the base of my penis within a few days. I had sex with my wife during these days (before I noticed) and she developed blisters in the vaginal area a few days later. So within 10 days of the encounter both myself and my wife had blisters. My wife had swollen lymph nodes, the blisters all burst, and within 2 weeks it was all over. Over the past year she has had a few minor recurrences. As for myself, I suffered for 6 weeks with the first breakout, no glandular swelling, never any pain, but a few blisters coming and going in more or less the same area. Over the past year I have had minor breakouts every couple of months.

My BFF has blood testing available in her province and tested negative, I had to travel to the USA to get tested and had a very negative result in August (5 months after the initial breakout) on a Quest HerpesSelect. BTW I may have taken Valtrex a few weeks before this test. I just took another trip to the USA and got a second test and had a HSV2 result of 3.1, positive (during a breakout). My wife has a fear of needles and has not been tested yet. BTW we live in a very small town and the doctors here told me there is no type of lab test available for herpes.

Before March 2011, it was 5 years since I had unprotected intercourse with anyone else than my wife. I had absolutely no sexual contact with anyone else for well over a year before my initial breakout.

• Is it possible I caught herpes in one encounter with my BFF, and then passed it to my wife three days later? The odds of this happening must be extremely low?

• Is it possible I have carried this virus for years with no signs, suddenly have such a long initial breakout, followed by regular breakouts for a year? If so, what are the odds?

• How could  I test negative last August and positive now?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

That seems the most likely scenario to me.

Terri

[CanadaGuy2012]

Thanks for the information, it pretty much confirms what I suspected. Since my wife had really swollen glands the first time and it hasn't happened since, it must have been her first exposure. My initial outbreak at the same time lasted almost 2 months, so it was most likely my first exposure also. I must have been slow to develop antibodies and the Valtrex may have slowed it down even more, hence the negative test last year.

Well I sure hate to have to bring this up again with my BFF but she must be where I got the virus.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

It is possible that the Valtrex delayed your antibody production, yes.  It sounded like that to me when you first described  a late positive antibody test.

Terri

[CanadaGuy2012]

I took Valtrex for a couple of weeks around 7-8 weeks after the initial symptoms appeared. The first outbreak never really went away until I took the Valtrex. I got tested three months later and I can't remember if I took any Valtrex during that time, if I did it would only have been for a week or so.

My outbreaks are only maximum 5-6 blisters in a cluster less that half an inch long.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Yes, extremely unlikely.
Did you take Valtrex at any time after your first symptoms appeared?  This could delay your antibody response.

Terri

[CanadaGuy2012]

Sorry for babbling. The main reason I posted here was because I was wondering how likely it was that I could carry the virus without symptoms for over a year, have my first breakout 3 days after a sexual encounter, and have steady breakouts every couple of months afterwards. From your response I assume you consider this extremely unlikely. Thanks.

[CanadaGuy2012]

As you can imagine this is a very sensitive matter between myself and my friend. We are still best friends.

[CanadaGuy2012]

Thanks Terri. Last year's test was 5 months after the initial outbreak so I find it very strange I tested negative. but all along our symptoms have been very consistent with HSV2, tingling under the skin, red spots a day or so later, and blisters the next day. We only get a few though, mine are 5-6 in a cluster less than half an inch long. Valtrex usually clears it quicly if I take it early, but last outbreak I waited because I wanted to get tested and it took longer for the Valtrex to work. I even developped a new sore while taking 3000/day. Guess I have to accept these results, but I think I will get another test for myself and my wife just to make sure.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think it is likely but not certain  that you acquired HSV from the friend, though I'm not clear why she tested negative.  It is possible that the Valtrex impacted the antibody test, yes.

The timing of the transmission is quite typical.  A person with new infection will get symptoms, if they are going to get symptoms, 2-14 days after infection.  That seems to fit for both your symptoms from you friend and you wife's symptoms from you, if I am reading this correctly.  

No, I don't think that you had it for years.  The antibody test results and the symptoms don't fit with that scenario at all.  

Though the timing of the antibody tests and your friends reported results don't 'fit this scenario perfectly, this makes the most sense of any other scenario, unless your wife also had another new partner at almost the exact time that you did, which also seems unlikely.

Terri