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HSV-1 Positive Results Today

Posted , 4 users are following.

sarah12839
sarah12839

Ugh, so I got the dreaded phone call from the doctor this morning. "Your swab came back positive for HSV-1." I'm not really sure how I feel today - getting actual work done seems impossible and I'm really sad overall.  I did have a couple questions for other people with genital HSV-1 if anyone is able to give me some answers:

1) How many outbreaks did you have in the first year? Any after? (Those sores are so painful - I'd like to know what to expect).

2) Can outbreaks occur back to back or it usually take time between them? I just cleared my initial outbreak and am going on vacation next week, would really love for it to not come back while on vacation. :-/

3) Is it worth doing supressive meds on HSV-1? My doctor told me she would give me the prescription but that I can take them either before I feel an outbreak starting or regularly for the first couple of months.

4) Is BV common with outbreaks? During my intial outbreak I also had BV which has not cleared up thanks to meds.

Thanks guys, I'm glad I have people to talk to here.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • amy07772
    amy07772 sarah12839

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with the same thing about three weeks ago. I'm still dealing with mental and emotional aspects of it. From what my dr told me generally people don't have a second outbreak from HSV-1. He said most people have the one (which is always the worst) then nothing after that. I have to go back for a follow up because he hasn't said anything about me taking any meds after the initial outbreak. My body is finally back to feeling normal again. So can't really help out with the meds but I will let you know once I speak to my dr. I don't think outbreaks can happen back to back in the same area. Let's say you have it on the genitals and you don't wash your hands and touch your mouth I think you could have another outbreak. But when you have the outbreak you body is building antibodies so that way that helps with preventing more outbreaks. I'm struggling with how to have a normal relationship. The guy in seeing doesn't have anything and he wants to know how safe it is to kiss or have sex and I honesty don't know. There will always be the risk I guess which is scary I know from what I have read that there is a 10% chance of passing it on by not using a condom. This is all while not on an outbreak. Then if you use a condom it goes down to 5%. If you wear a condom and are taking medicine that goes down to 2%. I'm new to this keep trying to find some more info but never really get a direct answer I guess. So I will have a long talk with my dr. I don't know what BV so can't help with that. I hope I have at least helped alittle
    • sarah12839
      sarah12839 amy07772

      Posted

      From everything I've read the emotional part is the hardest. I know logically that the virus won't kill me but because of the stigma it makes me feel so dirty/charged. It's awful.

      My doctor told me me that with HSV-1 we are only really contagious right before and during the outbreak. She said it's also very rare to pass it to someone that already has cold sores (hard for the virus to live in both places).

      Did you get a fever with your outbreak? I didn't have a fever but I feel completely worn out and tired all the time. Oh, and my back hurts. My sores are mostly healed but still feel generally blah. 

    • amy07772
      amy07772 sarah12839

      Posted

      I felt like I had a fever with my outbreak but I didn't. I was so tired my back also hurt because I was so sore down there it helped to hunch over when I walked. My whole body hurt. I still feel tired all of the time. I think this will always be an emotional drain on me for the rest of my life. With my outbreak I felt like I was getting the flu or some sort of sickness. So that helps with being able to tell if you are going to have an outbreak. I hope that I never have another one. My dr said about 90% of people with type one only have one outbreak or two but that is it.
  • jordan86846
    jordan86846 sarah12839

    Posted

    I was just diagnosed with HSV-1 genital last month.. I know you were looking for responses from people who have had it for a while but just thought I'd offere some support since one month ago I was exactly where you are. I thought there was no end in site.. My first and only outbreak so far lasted almost 5 weeks. From first symptoms to completely healed and no more post outbreak itch.. The itch made me think I had another outbreak coming on back to back. A lot of what I'm told and read and also from my doctor... When you contract hsv1 in your genitals you're somewhat lucky as opposed to contracting hsv2 since type 1 prefers the oral location it doesn't thrive as well down there... So many people have the initial outbreak and nothing ever again or very few and far between. I'm sure that's not the case for everyone but chances are good there won't be a ton of recurrent outbreaks with hsv1 genitally. As for the medication my outbreak was pretty severe I ended up with a catheter for 7 days just to urinate. She put me on valacyclovir for 10 days 2x a day and then wrote me a prescription for a year supply to take it as suppressive therapy. She said it may ke may not be necessary to take it but was up to me to do what I felt right. taking a suppressive dose of medication for it doesn't eliminate your risk of infecting another but helps to reduce it. I've also heard that it's better to see how your body naturally fights the virus and deals with it to see if you would even have a recurrent outbreak and make your decision based off of any recurrent issues.
    • sarah12839
      sarah12839 jordan86846

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice. I think I will wait and see what my body does after my vacation next week and just stay on anti-virals until then. I do hope it's a very calm year wither few to 0 outbreaks. My sores have mostly healed but I'm still worn out/tired and a little uncomfortable down below.
  • FelizCastus
    FelizCastus sarah12839

    Posted

    1. Usually 0-1 outbreaks per year for Type 1.

    2. Unlikely.

    3. Usually recommended for HSV-2 only. Can consider daily meds if you are in a discordant relationship (or planning on sex) and want to reduce transmission risk, or if you are a rare exception and have frequent outbreaks (but can't tell if you take daily meds immediately). HSV experts say to watch and see for several months to a year first, as you may need nothing.

    4. Associated for some women, but not all.

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus sarah12839

      Posted

      No problem! smile

      Regarding daily suppressive therapy, if you have a partner who already has oral HSV-1, or you are single and not planning on being sexually active (casual or otherwise) anytime soon, then best to see how your body handles the virus without meds first.

      Genital HSV-1 is usually mild after the first outbreak and far less recurrent. It is also much less infectious, but care should nevertheless be taken in the first 3-4 months (with others, including yourself after touching lesions or the infected area - remember to wash your hands), as that is when viral shedding is highest and when you are still building antibodies.

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