~Minerva~

You’re welcome to message me any time! Happy to share my experience, and I look forward to chatting with you.

I just replied to your post before seeing this- whoops. I’d love to chat with you but prefer to do so more privately. Please message me if you want to talk. And yes, the only way to diagnose MM is with a lumbar puncture while you’re experiencing symptoms.

Hi! Glad you’re seeing a neurologist, as they are the best specialists yo help you. Feel free to send me a message if you want to chat or have any questions.

I feel for you so much. It’s such a shock at first and you can’t ever imagine getting back to life as you once knew it. Just know that the world needs you. Your family needs you. This community needs you. It does get better and the pain of knowing you have this virus living in you for life lessens and lessens as time goes on. I am going to be vulnerable and share something very private because I think it may help you feel not so alone: I was so mad at the virus for living in my body, and I know the only way for a virus to die is for its host to die. I wanted it dead so badly. But, I’m still here and doing just fine. You will be, too. Also, I would suggest seeking out a neurologist. That the speciality I had to turn to for my Mollaret Meningitis symptoms.

Hi there- the only thing I can speak to is her way of contracting HSV-2 because I contracted it in the exact same way. I got out of a very long, very serious relationship and made the mistake of having unprotected sex ONE time with ONE guy, and now I carry the virus. It happens. Actually, I would like to speak to one other thing as well- it’s hard to tell via text with no emotions, but your words regarding her carrying HSV-2 read as judgmental and unaccepting. Just because she had unprotected sex one time doesn’t mean she’s a bad or immoral person. Life isn’t black and white, and as humans, mistakes are made. To me, it seems like you would be better off letting her go and allowing her to find a partner who will not hold the stigma of this extremely common virus, or the fact that she had an unprotected one-night stand, over her head and simultaneously you can find a partner you are more accepting of and sexually comfortable with. Just an internet stranger’s perspective 🙂

Hi there- the only thing I can speak to is her way of contracting HSV-2 because I contracted it in the exact same way. I got out of a very long, very serious relationship and made the mistake of having unprotected sex ONE time with ONE guy, and now I carry the virus. It happens.

Yes, you can still acquire HSV-2 orally, even if you already have acquired HSV-1. Having one strain of the virus already does not give you immunity to the other, unfortunately.

You’re welcome! Hopefully my experience in tracking down this condition can help others who are suffering and unsure as to what’s going on with them. Thanks for the well wishes 😊

I don’t get outbreaks either, just low grade fever, stiff neck, sore throat/swollen neck lymph nodes, headache, blurry/double vision, and fatigue. It’s happens in a cycle, usually right before mensuration and right after ovulation. Did you read up on Mollaret Meningitis? Does it seem to fit your symptoms?

Hi there, I suffer from the same thing. I am in the midst of getting tested for Mollaret Meningitis. If you look it up, you can compare symptoms. HSV-2 is typically the culprit, followed by HSV-1. It’s going on 18 months for me. It’s rare, so there are not a ton of resources available. One doctor found one study for me that said it typically lasts less than 5 years, so fingers crossed that’s the case for me. Let me know what you think after you read up on it. It’s also called recurrent benign viral meningitis.

I’m really sorry you’re in this situation, and I truly hope you will find a way to get yourself out of it before your lives become any more entangled than they already are. It sounds like you two live separately, and I’m assuming share no children, so now’s the time to make a clean break. Don’t continue to sleep with him. I also have a feeling that you are a victim of “trickle truth” where you’re only getting small amounts of information regarding his indiscretions. You don’t deserve to be betrayed because someone “wants to feel normal”, never mind the fact that he is knowingly leading these women on with (apparently) no intention of following through. Also, shame and guilt are very powerful emotions, ones that overtake a person’s ability to be empathetic to the one they betrayed. I am living this life right now, and I understand how isolating and difficult it is. No one can see into the future, but I am absolutely positive that you can find happiness within yourself and then one day find someone to share that happiness with. Please cut your losses and walk away. You’ll thank yourself one day.

I was exposed in late April 2020 and had my first OB in early May 2020. I’ve not had any OB since then, though I suffer from recurrent viral meningitis. I do typically take daily valacyclovir, though I’ve gone through periods where I don’t (like 7-10 days), and still no OB. Do you take daily suppression meds?

I did not have any bleeding, though I could see how that could happen. I hope you’re feeling better and more healed up now.

I’m so sorry to hear you are suffering. I have not been officially diagnosed yet, as I am still going through all the necessary testing, but have you read up on Mollaret Meningitis? I have been working with a neurologist as well, hoping to find some answers as to why I am suffering from random fevers, horrible headaches, bouts of vertigo, etc. since being diagnosed with HSV-2 last year. From what I’ve read, and what my neurology team has said, IV anti-vitals are the way to “cure” this. Treating just the headaches and/or vertigo will not help, as the virus is responsible. I hope you’re able to get some answers and some relief. All the best!

You’re welcome! As for testing, he hasn’t had any symptoms, blood tests are notoriously unreliable, and he doesn’t care one way or another if he were to contract it, so there just hasn’t been any need or desire to get tested. Oh, and as I mentioned above, sex-wise everything is the same as it was pre HSV-2.

It took 6 days for me- I was taking Acyclovir every 8 hours for 5 days. I noticed a big difference on day 3 or 4, and by day 6 the sores were completely gone. And yes, you can spread the virus to other parts of your body. It’s important to throughly wash your hands with soap and water each time your hand comes in contact with the sores.

I am +, my husband is - I was infected last year while separated from him. We got back together shortly after. I am on daily Valcyclovir 500mg, have not had an outbreak since my initial one, and have not passed the virus to him (to our knowledge). He has told me he’s in this for the long run, and if he gets it, he gets it; though I think there is slightly more risk of a male transmitting it to a female. To answer your question- our sex life is the same as it was pre. If I was ever to have an active outbreak, we would abstain. Did you ask either of the doctors what the approximate risk of transmission is while on daily suppression plus condoms? From what I’ve read, it’s quite low, but I’m no expert.

Were you tested for chlamydia? And/or trichomoniasis? I know those two are notorious for discharge and can both easily be cleared up with the correct antibiotic.

My understanding is that the swab test is the most accurate as it looks for the HSV virus within the sample taken. My guess is because you are on daily suppressive therapy, you simply do not produce enough antibodies to register on a blood test. Are you comfortable enough with your medical provider that you would be able to ask them for their professional explanation?

I’m glad you’re working on finding a therapist; I think the right one can really help you work through the feelings surrounding this. I have heard stories from people saying they were told “be happy it’s not HIV”, which I find to be dismissive and quite honestly, cruel. You can relieved you don’t have HIV while simultaneously being dismayed that you have HSV-2. I, luckily, was never told anything like that by the doctors I’ve been treated by, but I would not take kindly to a comment like that. I’m sorry you’ve been spoken to that way. My initial outbreak was more systemic- really high fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, etc and much less about the actual outbreak. I have not had another one since, so I can’t speak to them getting better, but everything I’ve read says they will get less severe as time goes on. The fact that you’re on a daily suppression regimen should also help. Again, I am so, so sorry this happened to you. You are strong and you will get past this. Wishing you all the best.

No, unfortunately having one doesn’t make you any less likely to acquire the other.

I’m really, really sorry this happened to you. I can only imagine what it must feel like to be a survivor of sexual assault, while simultaneously being a victim of HSV-2. You are stronger than you know, and I applaud you for reaching out for support. You are not alone ❤️

I’ve had two Botox sessions since acquiring HSV-2, and I’ve had absolutely no issues whatsoever.

Yes, this exact scenario happened to me. I tested negative for HSV-2 on a blood draw, and positive on a swab. For reference, blood draw was 2 1/2 weeks after exposure, swab was 3 weeks after exposure. At this point, 8 months out, I might test positive via blood, but, for me, there’s no point in requesting the test.

I’m sorry you’re going through the regret and shame again- those are hard emotions to work through. Have you requested an Rx to help clear up the outbreak quickly?