panda53

It really shouldn't matter if your doctor doesn't think a swab test without the presence of any liquid will produce test results. Ask for a blood test. I went to my doctor with suspicions that I had the HSV2 virus and asked her to order blood work to test for the virus. She called me 2 days later to confirm.

This is all very new to me and was quite a shock. I have had 3 or 4 out breaks in about a years time. At first I did not have any idea what was going on and brushed it off to some sort of rash. After having a few out-breaks I suspected something was definitely not right so I went to my physician and asked to be tested. I have no memory of any flu-like symptoms and my out-breaks have always been in the same area. It starts with 2 or 3 small blisters, (not a lot of itching) the blisters pop within 2 to 3 days and scab over. With me, they always appear on my penis along the band where I was circumcised as an infant. After that phase it takes 2-3 weeks before everything is back to normal. Some sensitivity and mild itching during that time.

That's the exact spot where mine started (I was circumcised as an infant but the OB's I've had occur right on the top of my penis on that band where I was circumcised) and it started with a couple very small blisters that dried up and scabbed over after a few days. The area stayed very sensitive for 2-3 weeks after the scab was gone.

I am a male, 64 years old and have just tested positive for HSV2. I had 2-3 outbreaks before I went in to see a doctor to find out what was going on. I know for a fact that I have carried this virus for over 30 years before it reared its ugly head. I have done some extensive reading on the virus and still have questions that I feel could be best answered by someone with actual experience. I have read that the first OB is the worse one and that it can be accompanied by aches, fever, and other flu-like symptoms. This was not the case with me. In fact it took longer to discover what it was because it just seemed like a slight annoying rash. Have any of you had a similar onset of this virus? I have had 3 or 4 OB's since the first one roughly a year ago and they're always in the same area. It starts on the top of my penis on the band where I was circumcised as an infant. They start as a couple or a few small water blisters, scab over then go away. After they are gone it leaves that area very sensitive for 2-3 weeks. Obviously it's a sensitive area to start with but I wonder if the friction from any rubbing on my underwear may prolong the healing process or is this the usual time it takes for a complete healing? Is any area normally sensitive for a while after an OB? I also read that there is normally no scaring but I seem to be getting some small scars after it runs its course. Any of you experience this? Do these OB's normally get less frequent or even cease with time? Have any of you been helped by anti-viral medication and if so do you take it daily or only when you start to have an OB? My wife has not had an OB and we've discussed this at length and see no reason for her to get tested since we won't have other partners and I plan to use protection or abstain during an OB. Chances may be good that she has this too since we've had an active sex life for our 37+ year marriage. We each had some sexual experience before we were married and we are not going to do the blame game.(We would have no way to figure out where it came from now anyway) We are very much in love and committed to one another. Any input would be so helpful since I can't talk to anyone but my physician and my wife about this. Thanks in advance for your input.

I just received the results today that I tested positive for HSV2. I can tell you honestly that I have had this virus in my system for over 30 years. I am male and have been married for 37 years. My wife has never experienced any symptoms but I had an initial outbreak roughly a year ago and brushed it off as some kind of annoying rash. After a few incidents like it (maybe 3-4 in a year or 18 months) I started researching the herpes virus which led me to be tested. The doctor said there is no reason for my wife to be tested since I have been living with this for 30+ years and she is my only partner and I hers. The doctor said to continue your sex life as you have for your entire marriage and if you experience an outbreak come in and we'll give you anti-viral meds. I can tell you that I have experienced a roller coaster of emotions this past week and my wife and I have just breathed a huge sigh of relief that it's not as big a deal as we(I) first thought. We both had sexual experience before marriage and we're not going to play the "blame" game. We're deeply in love and committed to one another. Hope this helps.

I have just tested positive for the HSV2 virus (blood test). I had my first outbreak roughly a year or so ago but had no idea what it was and had no reason to believe it was anything more than some kind of heat rash. After having a few more outbreaks (and they have always been fairly mild) I started to do some internet searching and from what I read and the pics I saw, I was almost positive that it was the herpes virus. I talked this over with my wife and told her what I thought and we agreed that I should go get tested. Side Bar: We have been married for over 37 years and and I know for certain that she has been faithful to me the whole time. On the other hand, I was an immature idiot when we got married and shortly thereafter had a brief affair (approx. 34 years ago). After I came to my senses and realized how much I love the woman I married I broke it off and confessed my infidelity to my wife. I told her how sorry I was and that if she wanted to leave the marriage I totally understood and would bear all the blame. She chose to forgive me and we have managed, not only to repair our relationship, but we are more in love and more committed to one another now than ever before. Why is this so important to give you this information? Because this virus has been dormant in my body for at least 34-35 years and is just showing up now. My wife has never had an outbreak and it is remotely possible that I could have contracted this from her. She was married before and left that marriage because of his cheating. She's a wonderful woman and has had too cheating husbands (not fair). However, where the virus came from is not important to either of us and we're not playing the "blame" game. My doctor says to proceed with your sex life as you always have and since this is a monogamous relationship there is no need to have my wife tested. I agree with this since we both know that I have had the virus for 30+ years and she likely has it too but knowing that is not important to either of us. My doctor says that she can give me a prescription for anti-viral meds when I have another outbreak that will help to shorten the duration and keep things more mild. Sorry this is so long and drawn out but this has been a roller coaster week for me. I went from thinking my sex life, as I know it, was over to discovering that it's not nearly as big a deal as I first thought. Any input from anyone reading this is welcome.