hawk46
06-16-2003, 02:16 AM
Hi all, im new here, but i told my girlfriend i would see if there is any answers to what is happening to her...4 months ago, she found what looked like to be sores around the lips but not inside her...she put peroxide and alchol on them...which burned...they slowly went away...the doctor believed that she has herpes..now once every 6 to 8 weeks...she gets little bumps or a small cluster kind of like a blister...but its always just a small area..so now she is really upset and worried...and the last two doctors didnt tell her if she had it or not...and she doesnt want to make love until she knows...does this sound like actual herpes or just fever blisters...please help !!!
doug
doug
Sponsor
Colbe
06-16-2003, 12:37 PM
If your girlfriend wants to know if its herpes, she'll need to have a western blot, ELISA, Herpeselect, or Pockit test performed. These are all blood tests that a doctor can have administered if she requests. Some doctors might be hesistant, but usually if the patient insists, they will sign off on it. Her other option is to have those little sores cultured (they scrape some of the area in question and send it to the lab). I've never heard of a dual defense system. I don't think that would have any effect on immunity against HSV though. You may be infected and not be showing symptoms. You might want to also get blood tested. Good luck and sorry for the briefness, I'm running a little late.
By the way,
Herpes and fever blisters are synonomous. People just sometimes refer to it as fever blisters because its easier on the ear than "herpes"
[This message has been edited by Colbe (edited 06-16-2003).]
By the way,
Herpes and fever blisters are synonomous. People just sometimes refer to it as fever blisters because its easier on the ear than "herpes"
[This message has been edited by Colbe (edited 06-16-2003).]
Magnetic
06-16-2003, 02:42 PM
In addition to what Colbe said....
If you use condoms, which you should be doing, and if you use them for oral sex, then it should be pretty safe to resume sex.
If you happen to get cold sores, it might be worthwile for you - and her - to get tested and type checked. If you both have the same type of herpes, then you should be immune to getting it genitally from her. Note, too, that a lot of people have been exposed to the herpes virus that causes cold sores, but they don't get cold sores, so it is possible you have been exposed even if you don't get the sores. It might be worthwhile to get checked out.
If you use condoms, which you should be doing, and if you use them for oral sex, then it should be pretty safe to resume sex.
If you happen to get cold sores, it might be worthwile for you - and her - to get tested and type checked. If you both have the same type of herpes, then you should be immune to getting it genitally from her. Note, too, that a lot of people have been exposed to the herpes virus that causes cold sores, but they don't get cold sores, so it is possible you have been exposed even if you don't get the sores. It might be worthwhile to get checked out.
TheOneInFour
06-16-2003, 07:28 PM
Hi again Doug,
I didn't see this thread and wrote a detailed reply to you under the thread "Please someone help me" posted by "Ivebeenused."
All I'll add here is to comment about the condom strategy. Condoms can help reduce the risk, but it doesn't sound like that will help you much in this case, since your gf's OBs would probably make contact with you outside the condom-covered area. They're never a guarantee for prevention of herpes. By all means continue using them but know that this will only reduce the risk somewhat.
I'll also repeat what I wrote in the other thread: get your gf to get a swab culture test when she has another OB -- within 24-48 hours of onset of symptoms. A blood test doesn't need symptoms to be accurate, but if she's got genital HSV-1 (which usually manifests as cold sores around the mouth) then a blood test won't be all that useful (since about 90% of us have oral HSV-1). A blood test will tell you *if* you have herpes, but not *where* you'd be getting symptoms.
Let us know what you find out.
TheOneInFour
I didn't see this thread and wrote a detailed reply to you under the thread "Please someone help me" posted by "Ivebeenused."
All I'll add here is to comment about the condom strategy. Condoms can help reduce the risk, but it doesn't sound like that will help you much in this case, since your gf's OBs would probably make contact with you outside the condom-covered area. They're never a guarantee for prevention of herpes. By all means continue using them but know that this will only reduce the risk somewhat.
I'll also repeat what I wrote in the other thread: get your gf to get a swab culture test when she has another OB -- within 24-48 hours of onset of symptoms. A blood test doesn't need symptoms to be accurate, but if she's got genital HSV-1 (which usually manifests as cold sores around the mouth) then a blood test won't be all that useful (since about 90% of us have oral HSV-1). A blood test will tell you *if* you have herpes, but not *where* you'd be getting symptoms.
Let us know what you find out.
TheOneInFour
hawk46
06-17-2003, 01:34 AM
thanks alot for all the responses....im just trying to figure out why that i dont get anything...i havent gotten a cold sore on my lips in over a year....she has never had a lip sore...she was tested once...the one doctor said she had it...but the blisters that she gets like once every other month...only last for a couple of days then heals up, nothing bad...they just freak her out...because of this we dont make love very often due to she is too scared..so i dont know what to do..she is waiting to see a doctor again..
best wishes all
thanks
best wishes all
thanks
TheOneInFour
06-17-2003, 01:17 PM
It's not known why some people get visible symptoms and others don't; it just happens that way. The thing is that even if you don't have visible symptoms, you can still pass it on sometimes. If you have oral herpes (cold sores: usually HSV-1) you could still be shedding the virus some of the time, in which case you might have given this to her genitally. It doesn't happen quite as often as genital-to-genital herpes transmission, but it definitely does happen.
If you have HSV-1 orally (most of us do) and if she has HSV-1 genitally, you won't need to worry about transmission to your face through oral sex, since you've already got it there. Assuming she has genital herpes (of either type), you might already have it genitally too but just not be getting symptoms. Without symptoms there's really no way to know for sure if that's the case, unfortunately.
The two of you need to get the facts as much as possible and then sit down and talk about what risks you're both willing to take and what you're not. Certainly it's not advisable to make love when she's having an OB, as this could aggravate her sores and delay their healing. There is a risk of you getting it genitally through intercourse and you should avoid this if you have any kind of skin disruption (rash, cut, scratch, etc.) as this could provide an entry point for the virus for you.
Keep us posted how you two are doing with this.
TheOneInFour
If you have HSV-1 orally (most of us do) and if she has HSV-1 genitally, you won't need to worry about transmission to your face through oral sex, since you've already got it there. Assuming she has genital herpes (of either type), you might already have it genitally too but just not be getting symptoms. Without symptoms there's really no way to know for sure if that's the case, unfortunately.
The two of you need to get the facts as much as possible and then sit down and talk about what risks you're both willing to take and what you're not. Certainly it's not advisable to make love when she's having an OB, as this could aggravate her sores and delay their healing. There is a risk of you getting it genitally through intercourse and you should avoid this if you have any kind of skin disruption (rash, cut, scratch, etc.) as this could provide an entry point for the virus for you.
Keep us posted how you two are doing with this.
TheOneInFour
hawk46
06-17-2003, 06:36 PM
thanks again....
its just so strange that i went to the doctor and had a level II test done, the doctor said that i was a rare person with a dual blood defense system. its also so strange that she and i made love months before the first o/b...we are being very careful. she had stuff in the past like mono and things like that..so we arent sure if its because of that, since a doctor told her that sometimes the string can lay dorment for a while, just wanted to help her relax so we can make love again, especially when she is clean, thank you very much for everything...i heard there is some erbs she can take that will help..would love more info to that effect..she is so special to me...
in great regards
doug
its just so strange that i went to the doctor and had a level II test done, the doctor said that i was a rare person with a dual blood defense system. its also so strange that she and i made love months before the first o/b...we are being very careful. she had stuff in the past like mono and things like that..so we arent sure if its because of that, since a doctor told her that sometimes the string can lay dorment for a while, just wanted to help her relax so we can make love again, especially when she is clean, thank you very much for everything...i heard there is some erbs she can take that will help..would love more info to that effect..she is so special to me...
in great regards
doug
TheOneInFour
06-17-2003, 07:09 PM
She's very lucky to have you, Doug! :) Yes, herpes can lie dormant for years and then suddenly come to life and produce symptoms, or just suddenly start shedding and making the person contagious. She might also have HSV-1 which she could have caught from you by receiving oral sex. Either can be the cause when herpes suddenly appears well into a monogamous relationship.
If your doctor has not done blood testing on you, then I suspect they're theorising about this defense system thing. I'm not saying it's not real (I honestly don't know) but it's possible the doc is speculating that you don't have it, based on the fact that you don't have symptoms. But the absence of symptoms doesn't mean you don't have it, and not all doctors fully realise that.
Herpes simplex is part of a larger family that includes Mono, among other viruses, but having one doesn't make give you another in the herpes family, any more than having one strain of flu will give you another one.
There are some good discussions here about Olive Leaf Extract (OLE) and Oil of Oregano (OOO). You'll find a wealth of information here about alternative remedies. Good luck! Keep us posted.
The1in4
If your doctor has not done blood testing on you, then I suspect they're theorising about this defense system thing. I'm not saying it's not real (I honestly don't know) but it's possible the doc is speculating that you don't have it, based on the fact that you don't have symptoms. But the absence of symptoms doesn't mean you don't have it, and not all doctors fully realise that.
Herpes simplex is part of a larger family that includes Mono, among other viruses, but having one doesn't make give you another in the herpes family, any more than having one strain of flu will give you another one.
There are some good discussions here about Olive Leaf Extract (OLE) and Oil of Oregano (OOO). You'll find a wealth of information here about alternative remedies. Good luck! Keep us posted.
The1in4
hawk46
06-18-2003, 12:37 AM
yea the doctor did say that my blood does protect me from that stuff....kinda strange.. im very careful and love the girl beyond belief.. had the level 2 test done, the test said that my blood would protect me from it, she has only had small little o/b's, nothing serious..im so very very glad that i got on here. you all are very kewl and its like being in amongst friends..she just cant get over why these little things come on.. the o/b's are usually just outside the opening...we treat them, and 3 days later they are gone..her doctor never gave her a direct answer about the herpes thing..so she has been upset and confused since 4 months ago..
im going to try what you said about the prevention thingie and see what happens...many many thanks !!!!
smiles!!!
doug
im going to try what you said about the prevention thingie and see what happens...many many thanks !!!!
smiles!!!
doug
another20percenter
06-18-2003, 10:09 AM
Doug, I'd go to another doctor if I were you - like a dermatologist.
hawk46
06-18-2003, 05:55 PM
thanks yea as soon as i get insurance im going to do just that..i want to protect my lady as much as possible and this board is great!!!
doug
doug
TheOneInFour
06-19-2003, 12:11 AM
Doug, I would take this "dual defense" thing with a substantial grain of salt. I've *never* heard of a way of knowing who will or won't get herpes or who will get symptoms if they do get it. We just don't know enough about it to know that scientifically. Your doc sounds like s/he is just speculating, not scientifically sound. S/He might be right (that your system is such that you won't ever get it) but I don't know of any method of knowing this or even what a lab test would look for.
I only say this because if you do get herpes (this would show up in the form of antibodies in a blood test, which means you DO have it, even if you don't get outbreaks or symptoms) and if (gods forbid) your relationship doesn't last, you would need to know if you do have it, for any future relationships.
So please take this doctor's information with a very large grain of salt. There are NO scientific studies that prove why some people get it and others don't, or why some get symptoms while others don't, never mind how to test the person to determine this.
TheOneInFour
I only say this because if you do get herpes (this would show up in the form of antibodies in a blood test, which means you DO have it, even if you don't get outbreaks or symptoms) and if (gods forbid) your relationship doesn't last, you would need to know if you do have it, for any future relationships.
So please take this doctor's information with a very large grain of salt. There are NO scientific studies that prove why some people get it and others don't, or why some get symptoms while others don't, never mind how to test the person to determine this.
TheOneInFour