Is it possible for HSV1 to move locations? / general support

[Dragonborn]

Hello friends,

 

I am relatively new to this condition and my ignorance of it is somewhat frightening.

 

I got my news of my diagnosis 4-5 weeks ago, and I was traumatized. It was the most painful thing physically and psychologically I have dealt with. I am generally safe and very selective with who I become intimate with, but I slipped up and after a few months of seeing each other I had made a drunken mistake and became intimate without protection with a man who I had trusted. Textbook response and about a week or so afterward I began to have issues down there and suspected I was suffering from a case of Hemorrhoids. After a visit to the doctor she informed me it was most likely HSV... So she sends in the tests and I sit and wait for the news. Lo and behold, it came back positive for genital HSV1, so I began my treatment of taking those massive blue horse pills and hoped for the best. I informed my partner and surprise... He denies it and refuses to get tested, but as he is not showing symptoms of an outbreak, I know it would be near pointless anyway. He has stopped returning my calls and texts since then. I feel I have done my duty by informing him and have left it at that. I don't know what else to do. After the treatment was done I think I may have fallen into denial. I keep hoping that it will never happen again and I won't ever have to face the truth myself.

 

I understand that my response is unrealistic. I have now started to accept myself and the condition I will live with and have begun to heal emotionally. It's becoming increasingly difficult as it seems like my life keeps testing me with MORE and MORE issues to deal with on top of my health concerns. (I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well... which was a whole different pill to swallow as a 180lb otherwise fit 27 y/o female) and a car accident on top of that. Throw into the mix my horrible work environment in the military and myriad of other seemingly small issues, things seem to build up to the point that I'm really having a hard time coping. Because of this I think I may have built my stress levels to the point it may be bringing on my second outbreak. But I'm not sure. I guess everything feels ok down there... Nothing unusual besides a slight itch or tingle here or there. Will the symptoms of the second and recurring outbreaks be obvious?

 

Anyway, I really like reading all the loving and helpful comments on this site and was hoping to receive some advice and kind words as well. I have read many discussions, And even spoken to my doctor, but one other question remains a mystery to me, my initial outbreak seemed to be around the anal region. If it began there, will it stay there? Will it show up in the vaginal region as well eventually? Or is it possible to spread to other parts of my body? SO many questions!! Excuse my ignorance, but if I take a bath, is it possible to relocate that way? I guess this fear was brought up from when I received my smallpox vaccine, I was instructed not to take baths, swim or basically even look at the lesion lest it migrate elsewhere. I think since the HSV lesions look similar to what the smallpox vaccine site looked like, I freaked out. I feel really stupid for asking... But I wasn't sure the proper terminology to search for the answer on google... :(

 

Again, I really am thankful that this site exists as it seems like support in the military is hard to come by, even in the medical dept. I am so scared that I will be treated like a leper by everyone I encounter out here and will never really be able to confide in anyone close to me. At least on this site I can talk to friendly people who aren't judgmental and are very helpful and supportive. Thanks guys.

[HerryTheHerp]

Hey Dragon,

 

Well, good news and bad news. The good news is I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance. The bad news is you have herpes.

 

Well, if you want to look at it that way. Really, there's good news, and good news for you. Yes, you have HSV1 and that's not fun; the good news is that by the time we're older, nearly 80% of the population does as well. So, you're far from alone.

 

Can HSV1 (or HSV2) move around? Yep. It's called autoinnoculation and it can happen in the first 6 months after your initial infection. How does it happen? It can happen because you touch your sores then touch another part of your body. Is it common? Well, I autoinnoculated my ankles and my shoulder. Right now, my herpes and I have an agreement; it can breakout in those two spots as long as it leaves my butt and Captain Pepe LaScrew alone. If it does that, it gets the drugs.

 

Can you pass it around/move it around in a bath? No. If OB's are on your butt, can it move to your vagina? Not if you don't help it. That said, I'm assuming you had vaginal intercourse with your partner; it's possible it's already there, but you're getting your OB's around back. Regardless, it's in that nerve region, and since herpes infects the nerves, you should assume it's likely already there. Again, keep an eye on it, but don't go feeling around too much for the next few months just to be uber careful. Once it's established a location it likes, it tends to stay there. It's kind of like the full grown adult that moves back home; it's uncomfortable at first, and once in, it's very difficult to dislodge. ;)

 

Now, the good news about HSV1 genital is that it really does tend to quiet down pretty quickly for most people. You'll want to talk with your doctor about how it will interact with your diabetes. Because diabetes suppresses the immune system, you may/may not experience more frequent OB's and need to go on suppressive therapy to help keep your HSV1 under wraps. Of course, the better you keep the diabetes under control, the better your chances of accomplishing this.

 

Outbreaks tend to diminish in frequency and severity with time as your body develops antibodies against the virus. Again, the healthier you are, the faster this will happen. So soldier, watch what you buy in the PX, make sure to take your PT seriously, and good luck. Know we're here to cheer you on.

[Judith]

Hi DragonBorn,

first thing there are no stupid questions, if you don't ask question ,you don't get an answer and you will educate people with the wrong information....so welcome to that website.:)

You said that you have diabetes two which is an autoimmune sickness,( I do have crohn disease which is autoimmune related too :( lucky us )...so I am in your position and feel quit often betrayed too...why me ???well life sucks sometimes ..MORE and More issues to deal with ...we need to learn to accept it.. :)

For people like us the chance to get any kind of infection is much higher then for normal healthy people, so H accurse usually more issues for us then for other people......but this deepens on your immunsystem .I have HSV1 and I get more outbreaks then I should get with that version but this don't mean that the same will happen to you but for sure we need to look much more after ourselves then other people.

Can the virus go to other places, its not likely when you don't touch the open source but YES it can, I do get OB on different places on my vagina , lucky me again :) ..and I should never have gotten H genitals because I had H1 on my mouth since I was ten , so my body should have enough antibodies that it should never have got it down there......but as you see Herpes had a different plan :).......Herpes not always react as the statistic tell us , you will need to learn to listen to your symptom's and after a while you will find out what going on down there. Is it only itchy feeling which is there for some seconds (probably no OB ) or is this a constantly itchy feeling over couple of days ???well if you get it constantly and you get that burning feeling there is a big chance that you getting an OB....but as I said it don't need to be but it could show that your body fight the virus...you will learn to read the symptom's soon , Herpes will teach you and we will try to help you where we can....if you have more questions please let us know.

I wish you a good day

Judith

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WCSDancer2010]

@Dragonborn

 

Hello and Welcome friend!

 

Most of what I would have said has been said ... but quick question for you...did you have Oral sex? because if so, that is likely how you got it from your friend ...which could be why he is in denial about having it ... if he had a coldsore as a baby and doesn't know it or doesn't know it can pass to the genitals he very likely gave it to you that way as HSV1 genital doesn't pass as easily as it shed a lot less...

 

If that's the case then you might want to let him know that this is likely the reason you got it so he knows to be careful with Oral .....

 

(((HUGS))) Ask what you need to on here - rant, whatever. We are here to help you get through this ;)