Newly Diagnosed HSV I & II - Herpes Message Board

stevenr · 05-21-2005, 11:40 AM

Hello, I am new to this forum.

I just received results and I was told that I have been exposed to HSV I & II.
I was told that these infections would have been over a year ago. It does not make sense. I have never had unprotected sex and I have never had any outbreaks oral or genital. About the 3 months ago I had receptive oral about 4-5 seconds (I guess this would be unprotected sex). The girl just dove down before I could do anything. I was not expecting it. I was upset that she did that before I could put a condom on.
I have had horrible symptoms.
-Painful and swollen lymph nodes
-Night sweats
-chronic cough (10 weeks) some days it is not there and some days I cough a lot. Throat feels sore. I have never smoked or been around 2nd hand.
-pimple like rash on forehead.
-Nueropathy ( itchy skin, pins and needles on hands, wrists, and feet. Lasted about 1 month).
-Eye Floaters ( Eye Dr. said many people get them and not caused by any virus).
-Weeks ago I woke up with a lot of mucus in my right eye.
I am looking for a new Dr. My Dr. tested for every STD but HSV. I had so many HIV tests (PCR Qualitative and ELISA 1/2'S) over the past 3 months. I was told I am clear of HIV. I was also told that my HSV infections are over 1 year old.
Is it possible that these symptoms are associated with that brief oral sex experience? I don't know what else to test for??? I am going to my HMO to get a new Dr. When I see my new Dr. should I request any meds? This is new to me so I am asking any of you folks for some advice.
Dr.'s are human and many GP's don't appear too familiar with STD's.
-Any diets available for HSV I, II?
-Will I need meds?
I have also had ulcers in my mouth but Dr. said everyone gets those especially if you are stressed.
Any advice or comments are greatly appreciated.

youandme · 05-23-2005, 07:53 AM

Hey!
First of all, did you have a hsv blood test done? If so what kind? I hope they did a type specific Igg blood test, that would indeed tell you if you are positive for hsv-1 and hsv-2. Exposure is actually a pretty bad word to use, you either have hsv-1 or hav-2 or you don´t.

I guess the doctor was trying to tell you that your infection wasn´t a new one, that´s why he said that you´ve been exposed to it a year ago. It´s hard to tell exactly when one accuired the virus, but if your Igg score was high enough then it could indicate an older exposure.

You said you never had unprotected sex. Well, unfortunately hsv can be transmitted even during protected sex, so you could have well been exposed a year ago or even earlier. Symptoms don´t always start directly, some people have the virus for years and don´t show symptoms. But of course it´s not impossible that you got something from the girl who gave you unprotected oral. That would have been hsv-1, hsv-2 rarely likes the oral region and rarely gets transmitted that way.

Have you had any genital symptoms? Blisters, lesiones, rash? Your other symptoms can be hsv related - or not. Some of them can be caused just by stress.

If you do get clear hsv symptoms then you should discuss antivirals with your doctor. You can take them episodically or supressively, to lessen the chance of an ob and the chance of transmitting the virus.

Hope some of that helped!

stevenr · 05-23-2005, 07:55 PM

Thanks youandme,

I appreciate the information. I am a little hesitant on going back to my HMO. It seem like I could practice better medicine with the internet. My Dr. did not diagnose me with HSV. My Dr. said HSV does not manifest itself like that and did not even consider HSV. I tested at a private clinic.
I have a small pimple like rash on my forehead. I also have had what looks like pimples on my penis. Dr. dismissed those as pimples. My Igg for HSV I was 3.3. and Igg for HSV II was 4.3. Both IGM's were less than .90 that is why they told me they were old infections probably a year old. I have seen 4 Dr.'s at my HMO and they all are pretty much in agreement. One sent me a referral to an endocronolgist. I have no idea why? Over the years I have gotten iritis about once a year and I was prescribed eye drops (topical steroids) that cleared it up. I have had night sweats for about 2 months, a dry cough that is there some days and some days my throat is just sore. I have had swollen and painful lymph nodes. I have tested for just about everything--diabetes, std panel, including 5 HIV I/II ELISA tests including 4 PCR DNA tests. I was feeling horrible during the day. My nodes are back to normal and my night sweats have stopped. I still have a rash on my forehead that comes and goes. Oh, I forgot about the eye floaters. I do have floaters. Eye Dr. checked them out and said many people get them with age and are not caused by a virus. My Dr. said an Infectious Dr. is not required. I may seek a private Dr.'s opinion. Thanks again youandme for taking the time to respond.

youandme · 05-24-2005, 09:24 AM

Hey Steven!
Seems like you are going through a massive amount of stress due to your health. I think a large portion of your symptoms is due to that, stress, anxiety etc.. I went through the same when I was first diagnosed with hsv, I was afraid of every single disease there is, mainly hiv though. Had many tests done, so far all clear. I´ve calmed down since but can still get a bit upset if I let myself start to ponder over hiv etc..

You have done all possible tests and have come out clean. You need to start to focus on relaxing and taking care of yourself. Take care of your health, mental and physical. Stop touching your lymphs, they will enlarge and get sore just for that. If it still seems to you they bother you, then go see a doctor and get a medical opinion on the issue. As to the pimples, very stress related easily. You could see a dermatologist about that.

Are you having any genital problems due to your hsv? If not, consider yourself lucky

. Educate yourself about hsv, so that you will recognize possible symptoms or prodomes, transmission possibilites, how to be safe with a partner etc.. If you´re not having symptoms then you might not need antivirals, but you could still take them supressivly if you wanted to lower the risk of transmission.

But the key here is to calm down. You know now that you have hsv-1 and hsv-2, very common, like you probably already know. Know the facts about the virus and take care of yourself.

You´ll be fine

!