How long after being infected...

[cloud9r]

How long after you think you contracted HSV did you have a noticable Outbreak?

[cloud9r]

I'll go first.

After having unprotected sex a few times with the girl that gave me HSV2 I started having the tingle and itch down there but I didn't think anything of it. It wasn't until almost 3 months down the road that I had my first outbreak with blisters. Actually it was just one big blister.

[Gracie]

I was with the guy who gave it to me for 1 1/2 years before I had my first outbreak (he conveniently told me at that point that I 'must have gotten it from him'). My first outbreak was horrible, I had a fever, chills, cramps, you name it. I think I just got unlucky right before then and picked it up, I don't think I harbored it in my body very long. Whenever I get any kind of skin rash (chicken pox, poison ivy, eczema, herpes) I get a really bad case of it so I think as soon as it 'took hold', I broke out.

[5in]

BUMP

Lets hear some more answers. I think this is a very good thread.

Didn't get my first outbreak till about a month after being exposed.

[ouch]

I had my first outbreak literally a day and a half after exposure!!

It was just one small teeny little red bump. It broke open, and then it hurt like HELL (when I peed.) I KNEW immediately something was wrong....got a culture.Voila Herpes.

THEN, I also had bloodwork done...NO HERPES (the antibodies were not built up yet SO....)

After that...I never had any outbreaks, just some tingling sensations, but that was it. I was almost convinced I didn't have it, that the culture was incorrect. I was in major denial.

My WORST outbreak wasn't until much later, when I was six month pregnant. I guess my hormones made the virus go crazy and I was in so much pain, it made my damn TEETH HURT....(not really, but just to give you an idea of how bad it was.) It was scary.

But yep, initial "outbreak" came almost immediately for me.

[5in]

I had my first outbreak literally a day and a half after exposure!!

It was just one small teeny little red bump. It broke open, and then it hurt like HELL (when I peed.) I KNEW immediately something was wrong....got a culture.Voila Herpes.

THEN, I also had bloodwork done...NO HERPES (the antibodies were not built up yet SO....)

After that...I never had any outbreaks, just some tingling sensations, but that was it. I was almost convinced I didn't have it, that the culture was incorrect. I was in major denial.

My WORST outbreak wasn't until much later, when I was six month pregnant. I guess my hormones made the virus go crazy and I was in so much pain, it made my damn TEETH HURT....(not really, but just to give you an idea of how bad it was.) It was scary.

But yep, initial "outbreak" came almost immediately for me.

what is tingling? I always hear the word in context with symptoms, but I'm kind of confused? I guess it doesn't matter, but I would like to know. thanks:D

[Caliope]

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[Deadhead]

I can remember feeling a tingling sensation the next morning. I can recall driving that bitch home out into east bumblefuck and having this unusual sensation. About 1 day later the cold sore started. The firt ob was by far the worst, it was 3 weeks until it finally healed.

[1hopnot]

I'm not sure when mine was. All I know is 3 or 4 days after I had sex (unprotected) with a guy I'd been with for 3 months I had a bad headache, itching pain, and then lesions. Culture was negative (didn't get to doc in time) blood test positive. The guy told me not to talk to him ever again and how it was my fault and he has not went to get tested. So now ill never know.

8 years is a long time!!! I wonder if that is in rare cases that the virus doesn't show. I wonder if I've had it and my sex just irritated it and if I just never noticed outbreaks??? But I tell you one thing. I've never experienced pain like that. When I was in tears and could barely walk. I wore guys boxers it was so bad.

So my question is....WHEN DID PEOPLE GET TESTED, after realizing something was wrong and did it show in your culture or blood test.

[Bea]

I went straight to the doctor when I got the first outbreak. I was in so much pain it was unbelievable. Turns out I also had a bladder infection at the same time.

Killer. Man that was pain.

I never figured out how I got the virus. My boyfriend of the time had a major outbreak the same time as me. So we dont know who gave it to who. Never figured it out.

I was sick as a dog for a week. It finally went away and did not return for almost a year. I have had more outbreaks in the last 5 weeks than I have had in the past 3 years. (Since taking Valtrex). Weird.

Turns out it may be my diet. Gonna switch that around majorly and see if that helps.

[1hopnot]

Omg YES! When I went to the doctor not ONLY did I have herpes, UTI, bacterial infection and yeast infection. 4 months ago I went and I just had yeast (as usual) I think I eat too much sugar and carbs that's why. Although I am very petite. So its weird that I all off a sudden had that. I wish the guy would go get tested. I mean at least I could have some closure. Knowing he does or does not have it. Its not about the blame game. Because if you didn't know, you didn't know! Yeah, he says he got tested a few months ago and he was fine. But clearly test csn be negative one month and positive the next! I'm just confused... and him not talking to me doesn't help. Because its like do I go back and tell ALL of my partners (too many for comfort)

[Caliope]

post deleted.

[1hopnot]

Wow! Thank you Caliope!! I guess thats my problem. I KNOW the actions speak louder than the words. I just keep questioning everything and I need to stop! I guess its like...Ok if he really liked me and even if he did know. Why would he just ditch me and not work through this with me! Maybe I reacted to crazy for him or something. (He said i was too emotional) I dunno. I am emotional!!!

[ouch]

what is tingling? I always hear the word in context with symptoms, but I'm kind of confused? I guess it doesn't matter, but I would like to know. thanks:D

not sure how to describe it....down below, I get this weird little tingling sensation, sometimes almost an itchy sensation, but usually I just feel these tingles...usually in the same spot. I almost ALWAYS have an outbreak on the same side and spot. Thus, the tingles start in this area then progress to a "heavy feeling" down there or achiness. then PRESTO....nice little outbreak. UGH!

But the good thing about the tingles, you know it is coming so you can take the proper precautions, eat better, up your vitamins and hopefully, the outbreak won't happen OR be a small one.

[feelingbetrayed]

hey. I started sleeping with a guy in October and was having symptoms of fatigue, etc. in early Nov. and got my first outbreak a couple weeks before Thanksgiving. I got a blood test a few days after the OB occured and it was positive for HSV 1 and 2. I have never really had cold sores so I think I probably just got the HSV 2 from the creep who gave it to me and lied about it.

[Caliope]

post deleted.

[katie8]

The first outbreak usually shows up 2 to 14 days after you have been infected. But... it can lay dormant for years.

[Tiger5]

I was in a relationship for 4 years, absolutely clean and no issues that I know of. It ended, 3 1/2 months no sex. Start new relationship with LOTS of sex. He had a negative test 6 weeks prior to us starting anything. Was with a partner after his test, protected.

Week 2 of new relationship, I thought I had a yeast infection. Week 3 severe fever, 104 and swollen and red yonni. Go to doctor, cultures and positive test. He immediately gets tested with positive for HSV2.

Was it dormant in me and just activated? Seems unlikely, my OB is the extreme text book version. But his test was negative 6 weeks earlier. And he had always tested negative prior to that as well. As had I. Thankfully, he has not had signs of anything yet, only I get that "pleasure". I wouldn't wish the intial OB on anyone. Since it isn't clear yet, I can't speak to the future, just hope it isnt like this.

[Caliope]

Tiger5 - did you have a blood test when this ob occured and subsequently test positive yourself for hsv2?

keep in mind that there is no such thing as protected sex when it comes to hsv infections. Condoms cannot provide 100% protection against contracting or transmitting hsv due in large part to the fact that an hsv infection is not isolated to the penis and/or vagina and the condom cannot possibly cover all of the skin in the genital area that can be shedding the herpes virus.

if you had a blood test 2 weeks into your new relationship and you tested positive for hsv2 then I'd be in favor of the belief that you'd been infected in the past and had been experiencing a dormant infection. If you tested negative by this same blood test it is quite likely that you were recently infected.

A swab test cannot give a time line for infection.

[alwaysalone]

well, i was with my girl for 2 years. she runs off without telling me, i find comfort in a neighbor of 7 years. just once mind you. I hook up with a new gf for the first time one weekend and we finally get to do "it" and BANK there is this funny little open soar on the side of the mini me that hurts like a mofo. I think nothing of it cause I though for some reason maybe our piercings had maybe cut me you know? no itchy no fever, no nothing that would show i was sick. about maybe 2 months later I think BANK i get sicker then (*&^ . I can't get outta bed, i have to use pillows between legs to sleep and I'm like the walking dead.

THE BEST PART.

I go to the doctor and say "hey doc I got the herps can you help me out?"

the doctor who is not my main doctor and just shares the practice sticks a q tip in my whole and I almost fall to the ground in tears. Know what he says " how odd that normally doesn't hurt that much". I almost hit him just for saying it.

He takes blood, swabs me all over and Im out the door

1 week later he calls me and says " hey great news your clean as a whistle". boy am I relieved. SO I'm not worried a month later when I hook up with this new girl. Everything is going great till one day I am over and BANg I get a blister carnival going on.

How awkward this is to have to try and explain to this girl that I just got tested and I have NO idea what this shit is. SO I got to MY Doctor this time and say "Hey doc I got the herps and this time I know for sure, can you help me out." one look at my major and he says "yup you prolly do. Lets run a blood test."

TURNS out that the doctor who did it the first time fucked up my blood test and it never really went through. They did one test and it came up clean so they thought i was clean.

THE WORST PART

This new girl I just slept with, the condom broke and guess what I GAVE HER! thats right ladies and gents, the herps. I had officially known this girl like a MONTH and i gave her my curse. Needless to say I went back and told her to get tested and that I was totally sorry and that the doc had told me I was clean.

THE "real" best part.

It has been almost a year since this happened. Me and the girl are STILL together and are vERy much in love. Do I think the herps brought us together? No, but it made me realize what a kinda person she was when she didnt flip out and shit.

[Caliope]

I'm sorry it ended up being hsv but it's great to hear that you have someone who makes you happy.

I like that you made your story interesting. It's amazing how many of us had dr's who screwed stuff up and we trust them and go on our merry way only to find out later how wrong they were.

Happy endings are always nice to read about.

[20Tearz]

You kno.. i dont even kno how long it took, because i slept wit the guy twice that week,, so it was definately within a few days .... it started wit jus this on spot that jus didnt look rite to me... and i felt like shyt... but i had pid at the same time. and totaled my car that week. yea wateva could go wrong that week did... and then i found out bout this shyt jus to top it all off. It was horrible had the fever, chills, my blood pressure was thru the roof... and i jus overall felt like a nice pile of poo...

GRRRR.... it came and went within a week but apparently decided not to go away cuz im startin another one.... very not happy...i get all the tingling and itchiness.... now im paranoid as hell everytime i feel the slightest twinge lol... anyone else break out the mirror and play inspector at the slightest hint of an itch, tickle, or anything???

[shutterbug]

I'm still not exactly sure. Assuming it came from my current boyfriend (we're waiting on the results of his antibody screen) then I would have definitely contracted it sometime within the last 3 months. We started dating in September, and I did not have a noticible outbreak until the first week of December. That OB knocked me on my ass for about a week. HIGH fevers (103.5+), overall "flu" feeling, extreme back pain, and I ended up in the ER per my doctors orders... etc... I'm pretty scared about future ob's...

[alwaysalone]

I'm still not exactly sure. Assuming it came from my current boyfriend (we're waiting on the results of his antibody screen) then I would have definitely contracted it sometime within the last 3 months. We started dating in September, and I did not have a noticible outbreak until the first week of December. That OB knocked me on my ass for about a week. HIGH fevers (103.5+), overall "flu" feeling, extreme back pain, and I ended up in the ER per my doctors orders... etc... I'm pretty scared about future ob's...

well they say the first one is the worst and I had mine really bad too. i couldnt even get outta bed. i have not had too many that have even been that close to how bad that one was. but all of them make you feel like crap. no one can say for sure but you shouldnt get anymore that are that horrible as far as all those things wrapped into one big shot.

[shoelover07]

I was in a relationship for 4 years, absolutely clean and no issues that I know of. It ended, 3 1/2 months no sex. Start new relationship with LOTS of sex. He had a negative test 6 weeks prior to us starting anything. Was with a partner after his test, protected.

Week 2 of new relationship, I thought I had a yeast infection. Week 3 severe fever, 104 and swollen and red yonni. Go to doctor, cultures and positive test. He immediately gets tested with positive for HSV2.

Was it dormant in me and just activated? Seems unlikely, my OB is the extreme text book version. But his test was negative 6 weeks earlier. And he had always tested negative prior to that as well. As had I. Thankfully, he has not had signs of anything yet, only I get that "pleasure". I wouldn't wish the intial OB on anyone. Since it isn't clear yet, I can't speak to the future, just hope it isnt like this.

Tiger....if you have only been with this guy 2 weeks and his blood test already shows anitbodies...he probably gave it to you. It takes several weeks to build up antibodies (at least 3 i think??) So my advice is get bloodwork done on yourself ASAP....if it doesn't show antibodies I would def. think you got it from him. He was probably infected just prior to your relationship with him and it has taken this long for him to build up antibodies against it.