Genital Herpes & Constipation?

Hi, I am 34 and male. About a year ago, my bowel movements were perfect: I eat a meal and then 1-2 hours later, I poop without any problem and barely has to wipe since it comes out so smoothly. Then I started to get constipated towards the end of 2017. I could still work hard to get an empty stomach but then it would pile up again and the cycle repeats. About may-june of 2018, I could not get an empty stomach. Sometimes, it accumulates very bad then I only poop when I have 3-5lbs of poop. And it seems my stomach won't relieve the last bit and it accumulates again!!!

The last few months were very bad, my back start to hurt and upper body and don't feel hunger or wanting to go to the bathroom (dead stomach). I took some probiotics and colace. This helped but I still couldn't get an empty stomach and always leaves a little bit left. Now I always want to go the bathroom but can't poop sometimes (very annoying too).

I didn't notice my constipation related to any break outs but I have had break outs before. It feels like something in my body won't open up to relieve the poop rectum into the or something like that. So I just heard std viruses now can attack your stomach nerves. The sacral nerves aka sacral chakra controls nerves that your brain tells your body to poop and sacral chakra is related to sex. So stds basically are attacking the sacral nerves!!!

https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bowel/bowel-resources/how-the-bowel-works/

Will focus 100% on this and check back in 2019!!!

After three years together, my partner has unfortunately contracted herpes. His symptoms began 13 days ago, and he has not been able to defecate without a laxative for a little over a week, so 4 or 5 days after the initial outbreak. I never experienced constipation from herpes, and I had no idea it was a possible side effect. After doing a lot reading, especially of this thread, I understand that herpes can permanently damage the nerves of the colon and bladder leading to chronic problems. After a lot of research during the last week, I've reached some conclusions, with a possible hope for treatment:

• The chronic constipation should be identified as neurogenic bowel dysfunction. This term is usually used in relation to central nervous system disease or injury, like spinal cord injury or spina bifida. I have not seen the term used with HSV, but I think it should be. Neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction have been identified as possible consequences of herpes zoster (shingles).
• Since neurogenic bowel dysfunction is considered the result of permanent nerve damage, the sites I've read speak in terms of "bowel management". People who have posted here have talked about their own bowel management regimes. This is hard to take, as it requires a major change in lifestyle on top of dealing with the lesions and relationship issues.
• Treatment should begin as soon as possible after the first outbreak. Based on the comments I've read here, the damage to the nervous system seems to happen in the first week of the initial outbreak. I don't know if anti-viral medication will protect the colon nerves from attack, but it's the only defense we have right now. I have only seen one mention that treatment is URGENT after an initial outbreak, and why.At this site, https://www.austincc.edu/microbio/2421c/hsv.htm the author says "It should be noted that therapy for the first outbreak is critical because it reduces the risk of neurologic complications... Treatment should be started within 48-72 hours of the onset of symptoms." I have never heard a warning like this - it should be restated in all the public literature.
• Stem cell therapy might be a treatment for neurogenic bowel dsyfunction. This recent article from the Oxford University Press describes how a patient's bowel function improved after stem cell therapy to the spine: https://academic.oup.com/jscr/article/2018/11/rjy300/5178586 Obviously the patient suffered from a spinal injury and not a viral disease, but the principle seems compatible regardless of the source of the injury.

My partner started valacylovir 10 days after his initial symptoms, but I think it was too late. I strongly suspect that he will never get his full bowel function back. If his bowel function hasn't improved in 5 days, I will assume the worst, since almost every testimonial I've read says that it does not ever go back to normal, just manageable through a management regime. Hopefully the drug will stop any further degradation.

In the coming days I am going to be looking into stem cell therapies for his bowel dysfunction. I have also read that stem cell therapy to regenerate nerves is more effective the sooner it happens after the injury. I don't know if anyone has ever been treated for virus-related neurogenic bowel dysfunction using stem cell therapy, so it seems like new territory. If anyone has any information or suggestions, knowledge of studies or treatment facilities, I would really appreciate it.

I've started a very expensive infusion therapy called IViG. It has helped many patients with neurogenic autoimmune bowel dysfunction. I also use a drug called Prucalopride (brand name Motegrity) which just got approved in Dec '18 for use in the U.S. it helped with enteric nerve function which are the nerves that control motility.

Hi,

I'm checking back to this discussion and address some of its participants to ask them about a bit of a status report. As for myself, I'm about to close my 3rd year after the initial OB, and after a very hard 1st year, a much more promising 2nd year, and an even better 3rd year, herpes is barely noticeable in my life. I do get herpes "activity" in my body periodically, like once or twice in a quarter, but the blisters don't grow enough to pop out, just itching, and the bowel movement only have minor occasional irregularities, but it's not constipation. This proves that the "permanent nerve damage" story is simply, and fortunately, not the case.

What about you guys, who reported here earlier, @triton, @JuliaAnna, @jan53585, @Nitelite007, @jz44lt and others, how are you??

Hi. I am experiencing exactly the same symptoms. I infact had developed a very bad case of constipation immediately after my diagnosis in 2019. Even time I had to poop I would have some amount of bleeding and extreme constipation, I then underwent a colonoscopy which revealed an anal fissure. I was put on a diet of fibrous food and powders. 2 Months later I Have a bad case of lower back pain and constipation and urine retention , but my doctors refuse to associate constipation with herpes, I had come by the Yale article too and its definitely herpes , I'm going to consult my doctor today and ask to be put on medication for this , I was also asked to get an MRI so please ask your doctor for the same that should make some revelations it's most definitely the virus wrecking havoc

Yes. I am going through this now and yes, I too feel like I am going crazy. my doctor has put me on a prescription called Trulance which has helped but you are basically stuck at home cor like 2 hours after taking it. i have asked to be switched to a different drug call Linzess that I was able to briefly try and it worked well. Sadly, this just treats the constipation symptoms hut its better than nothing.

Hi

This is my first post.

I contracted herpes virus on august 1, and got the first symptoms a few days later, just before leaving for a 1 week vacation.

It was a nightmare, i thought I had an anal fissure and unfortunately, didn't see a doc right away.

When i came back I saw a doc who confirmed it was herpes, and gave me antiviral therapy. Within a few days i felt better. During the outbreak I took laxatives because pooping hurt like hell. I had ulcers on the sphincter and they were bleeding. Urinating was also painful. I wish i had seen a doc before, to get the treatment right away.

Anyway, what's done is done.

First tests showed I was positive herpes 1 and negative herpes 2. I got tested 3 weeks later again and same results.

I noticed i was constipated as soon as i tried to stop laxatives. I thought it was because of laxatives. So I tried to improve my fiber intake, drink more water, eat prunes, probiotics, and so on... It improved a bit, but it never got back to normal.

First weeks were tough. I always had the feeling of been full and unable to empty. I was going to the toilet, but it was never a full relief. Strangely, I was feeling that something was wrong when i was contracting and pushing. Like the movement was not correct or weak. I felt that some parts of the colon or rectum were not contracting as before. That's my feeling anyway. My belly was always hurting, i couldn't easily sleep on one side.

I always feel pain in the lower left abdomen. Sometimes it's diffuse, sometimes a specific point hurts. It looks like it's inflammated.

I had a major abdominal surgery 10 years ago and each time I have symptoms in this area, I get very anxious. So of course, the constant constipation made my very anxious and depressed, to the point I had to take antidepressants. Being anxious increases constipation, it's a vicious circle. My doc requested a colonoscopy, and am still waiting for the hospital to set a date.

Lately I've stopped most laxatives, i only take 1 ts of chia, 1 ts of metamucyl, and one ts of flax seeds every night, with lots of water. I get one bowel movement every other day, that never feels complete. I will try smooth move tea.

The pills i take for depression and anxiety also have constipation as side effects. So basically, I'm constipated but don't know what are the percentages of it due to meds, anxiety, herpes.

Generally, I've seen improvement over time. Of course due to changes in my routines. I drink more, eat better, more fiber. My belly doesn't hurt as much as before.

I still have trouble pooping, still feels weird and incomplete. But at least I don't feel blocked anymore. I don't take antiviral every day. Maybe i should.

I will try to do more sport, and move more.

I will keep you posted about further developments.

Thanks!