Boba_Femme

Hey guys- Its been a long time and I thought I would send and update, thanks to a little email prompting from Adrial asking 'where are you?' :) Well, the results from the herpes test on the arm were inconclusive but the topical anti-viral cream helped it heal within a week and some days. I was retested for HIV this past fall (14 months post HSV2 exposure) and the HIV test was negative. Woot woot! I did have a cold for almost the entire month prior to the outbreak on my arm and I was extremely stressed with the holidays; it was Thanksgiving and the day before I realized I couldn't afford to travel home to see my family. Thus, my guess is that just over three months post H exposure, my immune system still hadn't built up enough antibodies or that my arm was also infected during the initial exposure but didn't flare up at the time- if that is possible. The funny thing is, the spot on my arm had a second outbreak this past February despite being on 1000 mg of valacyclovir a day. I thankfully haven't had a second genital outbreak. Knock. On. Wood. After reading this forum and watching the fun and educational videos on this site, I realized that the second outbreak was nothing more than a manifestation of stress, and boy was I stressed with my birthday and valentines day in the same week compounded with these firsts with my boyfriend. I don't know if he'll make it, but I know I will!

I'm waiting for the day when someone discloses to me. Wouldn't that be a relief? But seriously, I hope to see some posts. Great topic, Konoa! :)

I was having drinks with friends (that didn't know at the time) and one let me take a sip from his drink and when I did he said 'now you have herpes'. I so wanted to say, 'you don't know how right you are' or 'seriously, now you do'. But I laughed. He was German and German's aren't generally known for their humor. :)

Hi CK- I guess you should wait and see what happens to your boyfriend, but I would highly recommend getting on antivirals (reduces transmission as well) and using condoms.

During my diagnosis, my doctor gave me a prescription for valacyclovir (Valtrex). I started taking that right away and I take it every day, outbreak or not. I just want to see the doctor recently. He increased my dosage. He also wrote me another prescription for Zovirax in case I got another outbreak. You might want to consider preventive therapy, Meaning you take the pills every single day to prevent outbreaks.

I'm so sorry you're going through this! Have you tried Zovirax? It's topical you can put it right on the site. Ask your doctor about it. It is a prescription. He or she may even give you a free sample. Use a Q-tip to apply it. I've also heard good things about Teatree oil. Maybe somebody else on the form has some thoughts on it? I haven't tried it myself.

Yeah...but perhaps since I did have broken skin there and a tendency to, err, scratch myself down there when partially awake (I'm like a guy sometimes), maybe I moved it? I doubt it jumped nerves internally. I'll let you know when the culture comes back

Doc said it looked herpatic- took a swab and increased my valacyclovir from 500mg to 1000 mg with higher dose during the outbreak. He told me not to worry too much, that it can get anywhere. But, we'll do HIV in Jan or Feb since it hasn't been 6 mo since the last one when I got my dx.

By the way, I could probably use a massage after this ha ha

The doc took a swab from the active lesion on my genitals. Then I think they did a culture and then I'm not sure what he did with the culture I think that's how they did it. but they were testing everything they took blood is well. there wasn't any oral swabs. I'm going to see the doctor at 10:30 AM today. I guess that I have a lot to talk about with him since I haven't seen him since I got my diagnosis. I'll let everybody know once I find out thanks for your help :-)

I did, but the chance of HIV showing up at the time I was tested, like less than 2 weeks post- HSV exposure, is low. I was going to get re-tested in Jan or Feb. I mean, the HIV rashes are spread apart, not raised, and red. Sorry, I phenotype things a lot. I'm a scientist. But I like genotyping for confirmation. I'm not sure if the HIV test was serum genotyping or antibodies.

Hi WCSD. Thanks for reaching out and asking others send the good vibes my way. I was in a 9 year relationship and I got HSV2 from the first person I slept with after that. He had a rash on the top of his leg and it went to my nether-regions. He was tested for the full spectrum as well, but his story might not be truthful. I mean, who really knows? I haven't been with anyone since him. I think I'm just blowing this out of proportion. It is possible that it's a secondary HSV infection like the one wrestlers get or zoster, though it's not on my ribs. I guess, get tested and see and let everyone know :)

It's possible. I mean, I got one, why not the other? So far, the rash really looks like the images of HSV on the skin. The HIV rashers look red and spread out, if that actually means anything. I've only had HSV2 for 4 months, but I understand autoinnoculation is more common during the primary outbreak.

Hi Adrial. Happy thanksgiving. I'm worried that I do have low immune system since my HIV test was done at the time of my HSV test, but it would be too soon to pick up HIV antibodies. I'll update after I go to the docs. My stomach feels like there is a lead ball in it. HSV, I'm handling. HIV. Whole other ballgame.

Ugh. I've had HSV-2 genital since Late July. I'm taking valacyclovir daily (500 mg) and haven't had a second outbreak since. I now have a cluster of small white blisters on my arm the size of a nickel. There was a pimple there and I was messing with it. I was wondering if it was HSV-2 and if it was possible to spread it from my genitals not during an outbreak to my arm. I get so worried that I have something else (the other big H) and am going crazy :( I did contact my doc. Oh, and I'm stressed out from work and have a cold/soar throat now :(