Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I was recently diagnosed with HSV 2 and I have alot of questions.My girlfriend was diagnosed first and I decided to go get tested.I showed no symptoms at all and the doctor told me that maybe I was asymptomatic and that I might not ever show signs.Well to make this story short I requested Valtrex even though I showed no outward physical signs.She didnt quite agree with treating something she said didnt exist but I told her that my biggest issue was suppression and lowering the chances of transmission.My first question is how likely am I to transmit to future sexual partners if I am asymptomatic amd taking suppression medication?
Okay here goes my best response. I have had herpes for about 20 years. I got it from my boyfriend who unknown to me had sex with a hooker and 2 weeks later had sex with me. Seven days later I woke up in the middle of the night in severe pain in my kidneys and private area - the pain was so sharp it shot up to my eyes and I remember feeling dizzy and like I couldn't see. I had to crawl on my hands and knees to the toilet. When I finally peed, I felt like I was going to die. The next day I went to the gyno and he ordered lab test. He confirmed 1 week later I had herpes and started me on antiviral medication. In 1997, I started valtrex 500 mg and it has completely knocked out the outbreaks. I have never spread the disease to anyone... because I have refrained from sex when I felt like I had something wrong with me in my private area, and I have stayed on antiviral treatment.
I am puzzled about the fact that you do not have symptoms? This disease is very powerful on the initial onset and affects the central nervous sysytem. Maybe you had sysmptoms, but did not realize that it was herpes? Tell your doctor to order the blood test to test for HSV 2. Your docotor may not understand you because you said you have not had symptoms, so stop saying this and just say I"I do not know if I had initial symptoms" and ask for the HSV-2 (herpes type 2) blood test.
Do not have sex with anyone until you get your lab tests back. Then, if positive, start the antiviral medication immediately and refrain from sex for the first 2 weeks of antiviral treatement. Tell your doctor you want to take Valtrex 500 mg once daily and ask for a 6 month refill. (Doctors usually will not give a 1 year refill - they like you to check in with them atleast every six months) Valtrex works great and you will be symptomless in about 3 months - but keep taking it every day for the rest of life. And do not feel bad about taking a pill everyday, because lots of people have to take pills every day. Like people with allergies, high blood pressure and diabetes.
You can live a happy, normal life. The key is being real with yourself and knowing that seeking treatment is the most responsible thing you can do. I am 38 years old and have lived a very full, happy life with herpes and intend to continue living a full happy life by staying on treatment.
Yes it is embarassing when I have moved and had to see a new doctor and explain to that doctor and nurse that I have herpes and need a prescription for valtrex 500mg. But hey, I will take that embarassement anyday over spreading it and living in pain! Finally, hopefully you learned to be more aware of how easy it is to get a STD and to reconnect with your body by understanding how your body handles trauma to it. I am confident that you can and will live a happy, normal life, just like me!
Ok ,thanks for the reply but one thing puzzles me even more now.The term asymptomatic means you have it but you show no signs at all.I've never had any blisters,sores,or painful urination.Ive seen pics online at the CDC and I'm like wow mine has never looked liked that before.I'm taking Valtrex now because I argued with the doctor and told her that I wasnt going to wait around for an outbreak for treatment.My girlfriend is haveing her second outbreak and I'm wondering why she is haveing her second outbreak and I havent had my first?
Hmmm. I can understand why the doctor would argue with you about taking the medicine since you are not exhibiting any outbreaks. Herpes infection HSV type 2 presents as blisters on the sexual organs or any part of the body that was initially exposed to the virus. Once you start taking Valtrex or any other antiviral medication - it is more uncommon to spread elsewhere. Each outbreak you have thereafter will remain in the nerve endings around the initial point of outbreak. So if you do not have blisters, you are not exhibiting a form of Herpes that requires TX - the actual blister is what causes Herpes to spread from one person to another or one part of the body to another - when you have sex and your bodies touch - if there is a blister on one person and it rubs and touches the other person - you can get Herpes, especially if it is the very first outbreak the person your having sex with has had.
Herpes is not like bacterial STDs where all you need is body fluid to spread it - Herpes is a blister and spreads by touching the skin where the blister is at. Like with cold sores of the mouth (HSV-1) if you kiss someone and they have a cold sore on their lip - you get it. When they do not have a cold sore, you can kiss them and you will not get it.
With that said, there is this thing called viral shedding that researches claim Herpes does and that with viral shedding there is no visible sign of a blister and herpes can be spread when this happens. But I can only say that I have had sex blister free and have never spread herpes to anyone. So I do not quite understand the viral shedding part - (I see this on TV when they advertise Valtrex - they put this disclaimer in) It may still be possible to spread herpes when there is not an outbreak....) But I don't think so.
Anyway. If you had a blood test and the doctor said you were postive for HSV-2, my only suggestion is to take Valtrex 500mg once a day for 6 months - stop, then wait to see if you have an outbreak. If you do not - you may be one of the people who test false postive? ummm if that is the case, u may want to make sure u are the only one your gf is having sex with - u don't want to be exposed to any more stds.
good luck and I hope this helps you out :)
It did.I dont quite understand it at all but im trying.I guess I would understand a little more if I had a blister some where on me but I guess its sill not a accurate science yet.Even after she was diagnosed ot was still another two weeks before I went to the doctor so I waiting to see if anything happened and it didnt.So when I went to the doctor and she asked to see my private parts.She did see any signs of previous blisters or anything.I just dont know.
Why don't you see a different doctor and get a 2nd opinion. Check to see if where you live there is a Centers of Disease Control STD clinic. If there is go there asap. Tell the doc there what all this info you posted here about what you are going through with herpes. Ask for a new blood test for HSV type 1 and 2. It might be a good idea to order a blood test for HPV (human pap. virus). HPV can cause warts - and there are various strains of the HPV virus that can be asymptomatic - unlike the herpes virus. That's what I recommend. Atleast you would know that the doctors at the CDC specialize in STDs and can really help you understand what is going on. Everything is confidential and they will take time to find out your problem - if any. I wish you the best