Cleaning the shower..

[kim214]

I recently had an IgG test which came back positive for hsv1. Negative for hsv2.

For the past year I've been convinced I have genital hsv1 from an oral encounter 8 years ago. No concrete signs, just some discomfort in the past year since I started a new relationship (after 7 years of no man and no sex). The best way I can describe the feeling is 'chapped'. No sores but a bit of dry redness.

My dad and brother have coldsores so it could be that I actually have it orally instead from childhood. 2 cultures on the redness came back negative even when it felt a bit cut. So who knows.

My question is. When I have these 'outbreaks' down below, do I need to worry about water from the shower transferring the virus to the bottom of the bath? (We have a shower over the bath not a separate cubicle).

We have a bath adhesive mat which stops us slipping in the shower and under this stays wet for days I think while the actual top of the mat and bath are dry.

Can the virus have travelled in the shower water and be living under the bath mat?

My partners 5 year old stays with us and has baths. Before he comes I clean the bath like a mad woman and after every shower I clean it again while he's here incase he catches it

It's absolutely exhausting mentally. I also clean the toilet seat every time I use it while he's here. I worry if I have an outbreak that he may use the toilet straight after me and catch it.

I change the bed sheets on the day that he comes (good hygiene anyway I suppose) but because I'm worried that he may get in the bed and catch something from when me and my partner have had sex in there. Without going into unnecessary details, I'm worried about maybe dry 'wetness' carrying the virus in the bed.

Could anyone tell me if I need to take these precautions? It's causing me a great deal of anxiety and I am on edge every time he has a bath or uses the toilet. It takes me about 3 hours to be satisfied that everything is clean before he arrives

[HolisticGirl]

From what I understand the HSV virus is not a stable virus and does not live long once outside the body. In addition, if you have City water....the chlorine would kill what was shed in the water I would think.

[kim214]

I'm not sure about the water. I live in the uk and not sure what the water would kill. I'm so paranoid

[Mellisuga]

People cannot catch herpes from using the same shower, or toilet as you. Herpes is caught through skin to skin contact. You don't have to worry.

Here's a link that will help.

http://www.herpes.org.nz/patient-info/parenting-herpes/

[HolisticGirl]

I found this on the web today...thought it might put your mind at ease.

1. The herpes virus does not survive outside the body for more than about 10 seconds, and although it can survive for slightly longer in warm, damp conditions, it dies very quickly once exposed to the air. However, GHI IS contagious, typically through skin-to-skin contact with an infected area.
   

[kim214]

But wouldn't the bath mat/adhesive thing on the shower bottom keep the area moist enough for it to survive until the little boy went and had a bath?

Would it still be alive in the water that runs down from the shower and obviously down below then to the shower floor? Sometimes I rinse for a while so there's times when there's not soap to kill it

[kim214]

But wouldn't the bath mat/adhesive thing on the shower bottom keep the area moist enough for it to survive until the little boy went and had a bath?

Would it still be alive in the water that runs down from the shower and obviously down below then to the shower floor? Sometimes I rinse for a while so there's times when there's not soap to kill it

[HolisticGirl]

But wouldn't the bath mat/adhesive thing on the shower bottom keep the area moist enough for it to survive until the little boy went and had a bath?

Would it still be alive in the water that runs down from the shower and obviously down below then to the shower floor? Sometimes I rinse for a while so there's times when there's not soap to kill it

From what I understanding from reading.... No. It can only survive a short time outside of the body. It needs a host and a cell in order to live long periods. I would sayvit lives a few minutes IF that outside the body.

[Mellisuga]

Answer: No.

Plus, think about it - if you are worried about the plastic thing, the moisture would be underneath it - between the plastic and the bathtub. The boy's feet would have contact with the top of the plastic - the part that's dry and uncovered.

STILL - even if you all were sharing a hot tub - you will not transmit herpes.

ALSO - the skin on the feet are TOUGH. Herpes is transmitted to areas that are delicate (that's why you see it on the lips, and genitals - these are thin, mucosal membranes) or areas that have a break in the skin (like a cut).

http://www.herpes.org/top-10-questions/#7

[Mellisuga]

On that note...have you ever had a herpes outbreak?

It sounds to me that while you have been diagnosed with HSV1, you actually don't know the location. HSV1 is incredibly common (80-90% of the world population has it). As well, blood tests can sometimes be wrong, so its good to follow up on it. Based on your family history, you may have it on the lips.

Being diagnosed with herpes is certainly something that someone needs to adjust to. However, I would like to assure you that you are not a walking contagion. Pay attention to your body, and if you feel a tingle leading up to a blister, avoid touching the area (lips or genitals, wherever it may be). Wait for it to go away, and you'll be good as new. Herpes is a skin condition, and it is passed through skin to skin contact, nothing more.

[kim214]

Hi. Thank you all for the feedback.

I've never had a typical outbreak, on any location. I get dry patches down below sometimes which sting a bit. This could be herpes. I don't know as two cultures on those came back negative. It comes and goes every few days though.

The little boy sits I the bath mat for his bath rather than standing on it for a shower so wouldn't it be in contact with thin areas and more likely to pass? I just hear about it living in moist conditions and think the bath mat (or under) would be perfect conditions? Then what if some moisture from underneath came up through the holes in the mat that are supposed to be there.

I feel so sad. I worry if he accidentally touches my clothes near my thigh incase there is virus on there from when I've been to the toilet and done up my pants obviously before washing hands.

[kim214]

I have an appointment with the gynaecologist in July to try and work out what this dryness and splitting every few days is. I've had swabs for herpes that came back negative both taken on separate times and the day the split appeared. They also tested for yeast and bacteria and found nothing. So I'm still thinking herpes down below