Hi, New

[Shel]

Hi all,

Just recently had a HSV blood test came back positive for 1&2. The doctor really didn't tell me much, just said that means antibodies are in my system for both 1&2 and then he prescribed Acyclovir to take if I need it. I don't have any symptoms that I can readily identify though so I don't even now when to take this medicine. The only reason I would want to take it at this point is to not be contagious and I am really confused about the whole thing.

That is why I'm here...to find out more. I have only had cold sores on my upper lip in the past...If in the Sun or really high fever and usually only every other year or so and usually they are not bad. I usually just dab a little peroxide on it when I feel a tingle, and I normally don't even develop a sore.

So needless to say, the HSV 2 was really a shock and I have now idea how long I have had it in my system. I have never knowingly had any symptoms genitally. I have been reading up on the virus and I know that is possible. I am just wondering if I have not known what to watch for in the past.

I was just wondering if anyone here has had this same experience and has any feedback. My main concern is not wanting to unknowingly pass the virus on to someone else, if I don't know it is active or feeling any symptoms, how do I know when I'm most contagious. I am just finding out about this so a lot of this is new territory. Should the medication be taken all the time, just as precaution.......Is that good for you? Should you only take it if you feel symptoms related to HSV? It is just very confusing. I going to fill the prescription and try to figure this out. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Caliope]

Symptoms are hard to figure out. If you don't have ob's and you don't think you have symptoms you might want to fill the prescription and just keep it around if you ever get an ob.

But my advice is to not take medications unless you need to. It sounds like you don't need to right now. You sound healthy. You also are familiar with coldsores and what causes them to become active so you can avoid those things.

The best defense you have is your own natural immune system and you can keep it healthy by making healthy choices such as getting a good nights sleep every night, drinking lots of fresh pure water, eating healthy foods and avoiding things like too much smoking or drinking. Many of us include vitamin supplements with great success and exercise to stay healthy.

The antivirals may help reduce ob's and they may reduce transmitting hsv to others but this is not guaranteed.

[Shel]

Thnks

Thanks Caliope for response, that helps alot. Sounds like good advise. With the medicine (Acyclovir), I was just concerned that if I'm not having Ob's than what if it actually causes an Ob. Is that possible. I know that sounds paranoid, but ever since the Blood Test, i can admit I am very anxious. I just want to be informed so I can recognize Ob.

When the doctor said take the Acyclovir when the symptoms occur. I am just baffled. It seems like from reading on this board that everything seems like a symptom.

For Example:

Does he mean like the slightist itch down there = Take pills

Stress = Take pills

Tired = Take pills

Also, I'm just wondering if there are people that build up an amunity to the virus and therefore don't have an OB or is it possible for it to pop up at any time. Thanks for any advice.

[gutted.]

your HSV 2 isnt def "down thier" unless u have had an OB

you cud have em both orally.

[Caliope]

I'd consider an ob to be when you have visible blisters or lesions or ulcers that are either painful or are so obvious that you can't ignor them as they are contagious as all get out and you can spread them to yourself in other places.

If you all you experience is a little discomfort or a teesy tiny itch don't sweat it but if you have big time symptoms that cause your life to come to a screeching halt that is when you want to take the antivirals.

And if you've never had an ob there is no way of knowing where your infections are and as gutted said they could both be oral. don't let the names fool you they do not indicate location just the variety of the strand.

[goodgirlbadluck]

your HSV 2 isnt def "down thier" unless u have had an OB

In response to this it is very highly unlikely to have HSV2 orally basically unheard of you might want to recheck your sources on that one.

[bluefrog]

caliope,

why do you say not to take the prescription meds unless there is an ob? i thought that the meds were to suppress the virus, especially if you have a partner and are sexually active? maybe i am just misunderstanding?

[mbrauneis]

goodgirlbadluck that is not true it does occur orally its just not as common is all. but its not unheard of.

[gutted.]

GOODGIRLBADLUCK

i think you should check your sources missy.

otherwise how would we transmit HSV oral to genital.

try reading up before critising peoples comments.

[Caliope]

goodgirlbadluck - plenty of people have oral hsv2 infections but this information has been caught in the void the same way that genital hsv1 infections are caught in the void and subsequently are becoming an epidemic. It's nice to believe that the infections are localized to their preferred locations but this is not fact.

bluefrog - specifically speaking she did not say she would be taking antivirals for the purpose of suppression and it sounds like she may be a good candidate to not take antivirals if she never has ob's. (I am so jealous)

for some of us it is important to take the antivirals. I am very concerned about not infecting my partner (I am allergic to latex condoms and my dr told me the other variety would not help prevent transmission) and lately I have had many problems with ob's. Antivirals seem to be the best solution for me. ultimately I'd like to get back to the point where I do not have to take them constantly.

if you are in a relationship and you feel that transmitting hsv is a valid concern you should do everything possible to make yourself comfortable with how you deal with your infection. I say this because there are many who cannot take antivirals and have found ways to not infect their partners. I am still new to the idea of suppressives and find them to be an important resource for me.

[goodgirlbadluck]

Appearently this was taken out of context. I was just saying it is rare to get HSV2 orally I am well aware of the transmission hows and whys. I was responding to the comment

your HSV 2 isnt def "down thier" unless u have had an OB

No one here can say where anything is definite only the doctors and their test will show that. I am sorry it I mad people mad with this!

[Caliope]

goodgirlbadluck - I don't know that you made anyone mad. You certainly didn't upset me. I want you to have good information.

It is really unfortunate for the person who has no clue they have been infected to get a random hsv blood test only to discover that now they have a mystery to deal with of not knowing exactly where that infection is. It makes it doubly hard to figure out our sexuality and protection against transmission.

My argument is that NO oral hsv2 infections are NOT rare they are common and getting more common the same way that genital hsv1 infections are becoming almost as frequent as genital hsv2 infections.

I have found that much of the information on the internet on hsv infections is antiquated. That is the beauty of this forum - we may not be doctors but we are real people with real experiences and real infections.

Dr's used to say you can't get hsv1 genitally and they were dead wrong. You'll find many citations on the web saying hsv2 oral infections are rare and that is absolutely bogus information. They don't test for oral herpes the same way they test for genital. It's pretty difficult to diagnose which strand you have by simply looking at your coldsore. For genital infections they do actual tests not just visual diagnosis.

earlier you asked if some people build up an immunity to the virus over time and I have read that most people over time find that their ob's become less frequent and less severe. It may be that our immune system has contol over it or that our lives have changed significantly in a way that the virus is not being encouraged to surface as often. I had the opposit experience.

[Shel]

goodgirlbadluck - I don't know that you made anyone mad. You certainly didn't upset me. I want you to have good information.

It is really unfortunate for the person who has no clue they have been infected to get a random hsv blood test only to discover that now they have a mystery to deal with of not knowing exactly where that infection is. It makes it doubly hard to figure out our sexuality and protection against transmission.

Thanks, for the replies. Definitely not mad at either of the opinions. Even though they were both completely opposite. I guess that is the point, the virus can be mysterious. And "Caliope", you hit it on the head that it is hard not knowing exactly where the infection is because it is hard to know how to handle or treat it. Like I said, my doctor really barely even allaborated on it. I wonder if he just doesn't want me to stress, because stress can make it worse. But obviously there are some things I need to know for my own health and I am very concerned about transmission to others, obviously.

He is a general practitioner so maybe he just isn't well prepared to go over all the issues. I will say, that there is really no way to not stress just knowing that the HSV 1&2 were positive. He didn't even show me the results. He did discuss that the lab did not send him the results of one of the levels. The IMG? so maybe when I go back for my follow-up in Sept he'll speak of that. He didn't even ask me if I have ever had an ob in the genital region. I did tell him I get the cold sore on my lip. Told him the last time I got one that actually became a sore was 2003, but I do get a little tingle in the exsact same spot and it sometimes gets a little pink and I do the peroxide thing. But I told him that before I got the test, when he first brought up getting the test done in the first place.

When I came back a month later for the results, he just asked me how I was feeling, did all the regular Blood pressure, temperature, weight, stick out your tongue, etc. Then at the very end of appt he said OH Yeah these tests .....Let's see.....apparantly you have been exposed, have the antibodies to HSV 1&2. So I'll go ahead and give this prescription for Acyclovir. I was too shocked to press for info. I just said when should I take this Acylovir, because I feel fine now.

I know that I will ask him more questions, but he didn't ask me to come back for an Appt. till Sept.........I appreciate all the info, cause I'm not just going to forget about this until then. Luckily, I'm not in a relationship right now, but I am concerned for the future and I need to get educated about this, so I appreciate the feedback.

[Caliope]

I wouldn't worry about getting the IgM result. It is not a reliable variable that explains anything if you've had coldsores for many years.

Your general dr sounds like he knows as much as my obgyn and when I got my results I found that initially I couldn't ask the right questions I was too shocked I had to go home and mull this over and do some research and make a follow up appt to discuss my questions. My obgyn stressed that he sees many cases of hsv. I felt less alone and less like a leper but there were so many questions he couldn't answer that in the end come down to how I want to conduct my life.

I feel the biggest thing any of us with hsv can do is to maximize our personal health and the strength of our immune systems. I found this reality to be abstract and difficult to grasp - if I already make healthy choices how can I make them more healthy - it is about personal discipline and putting yourself and your health first at every turn. You have to make yourself your priority and then your body will look out for you.

best wishes.

[bluefrog]

caliope, thank you for the clarification of taking antivirals.

[cornbred]

I don't know

Am I the only guy on here? If so I feel like a dummy. Oh well. It is nice that I'm not the only one that gets cold sore. They suck.

[ALONE-N-TULSA]

Nope

Am I the only guy on here? If so I feel like a dummy. Oh well. It is nice that I'm not the only one that gets cold sore. They suck.

Dude you ain't the only guy on here....don't feel like a dumby.This is a place to recieve info,help and support from others like yourself who are in the same condition as you are.

[ALONE-N-TULSA]

Correction!

Dude you ain't the only guy on here....don't feel like a dumby.This is a place to recieve info,help and support from others like yourself who are in the same condition as you are.

DUMBY? It should be dummy....sorry bout that (I'm a one fingered typer some times it slipes off a key or two).

[naz]

Hi

Hi Shel, I am in the same situation except my doctors did not give me any meds or say I have to take anything right now which confused me if I have hsv 1&2 shouldn't I be on meds. I am trying to get educated about this disease, I have had no genital ob's I have had 3 cold sores in my life time/so I never new I had it i figure I would get tested because of some female problems I was having and doctor said it does not look like herpes at all, they did a swap and it came up negative,they did a blood test to rule it out and it came up positive(shocked). So I am real confused about this disease. I need to find out should I be on meds or what???

[bluefrog]

regarding antivirals

thanks caliope,

i read so many different conditions and reasons for using/not using antivirals. guess i have no need to worry about them unless i have another ob (god forbid) or meet somebody who wants to be with me regardless of my H.

[Caliope]

Naz - you don't need to be on antivirals. If you don't have ob's why would you want to take medications?

The only reason you may want to take something like Valtrex would be to reduce the chances of spreading it to a partner who is hsv negative.

Otherwise they are to stop ob's in people who have them frequently.