HSV1 & 2 IGg Results

[user8892]

In August I received an index of greater than 5 and at 6 months index 45. My greater than 5 index would have been 5 weeks after infection,(end of june) would that mean I got infected 5 weeks before or was this long standing?

Also my 45 index was while I was on Valtrax for 3 months. (500 MG daily)

Where do males shed hsv1 both orally and gentailly? If you could layman’s terms explain where shedding happens.

Follow up to were ghsv1 shed, does it shed from your thighs, pubic area or butt? Or is it only penis, scrotum, perineum and anus? I asking bc my partner is negative.

How often do you shed oraly?

I want to makeout/kiss or perform oral, how safe is it to do so with no sores?

I’ve only got itching, tingling and burning sensation but not sores. Should I avoid contact with those symptoms?

I don’t get sores, but get a rash and dry skin around my mouth, above my lips and on face. Are these contagious?

I know I need to get to know the warning signs, but the burning between my lip and nose happens so frequently versus and jock itch or tenderness I feel gentailly, that it’s hard for me to know when it’s safe.

I’m at 9 months of abstaining and 6 months of suppressive therapy, is it okay for me to have sex and kiss now?

[Terri Warren]

While I am unclear about which type of herpes you have with an index value that high, I’m guessing you are referring to HSV-1. It is impossible to know if you became infected five weeks before this test or a long time before that. HSV one is shed more often from the mouth than from the genitals. If you have ever in your life had a cold sore on your lip, this is where the HSV one antibody is coming from. If you have never had a cold sore and you’ve never had a genital outbreak, it is not possible to know where your HSV one infection is located on your body. Orally, the viruses shed from your mouth and inside the nose and, genitally, from the shaft of the penis and the anus. We do not know the viral shedding rates from people who have HSV one infection but have no symptoms. The symptoms that you describe around your mouth and face do not sound herpetic to me. I cannot tell you when you’re shedding or from where. If you were on suppression, the shedding rate is greatly decreased.

Terri

[user8892]

It’s for HSV1. I believe I was negative prior to june interaction due to only experiencing symptoms after that. I never had a cold sore prior.

This started as a burning and redness in perineum area with no sores, then eventually Irritation in the nose and above the lips. (Never on the lips).

To help me process this, could you answer by line each of my questions?

Regarding shedding, so I only Shed from my nose? Like inside or exterior as well. And for mouth, if I have no sores? So people can kiss my cheek or touch my face and not be infected asystematicly from touching me and themselves?

And to be clear for a male, I can only shed on shaft of penis and anus? So not from pubic area, inner thighs or but?

My PCP told me that valtrax is not good to take for longer then a few months and wants me to get off of it. Is this accurate? Seems conflicting to what I’ve learned

Also, since taking supressive therapy for 6 straight months I’ve become familiar with the taste of my prescription pill. I’ve noticed that sometimes when I like my lips or around my mouth, I can taste it on my skin. Is this an undocumented sign of shedding? I know that sounds odd.

[Terri Warren]

Regarding shedding, so I only Shed from my nose? Like inside or exterior as well. And for mouth, if I have no sores? So people can kiss my cheek or touch my face and not be infected asystematicly from touching me and themselves?

I cannot tell you if you are shedding virus from your mouth or nose as I don’t know if your infection is oral or genital. If oral, then the answer is, possibly from both, and mostly from inside. People can touch you face and not be infected, correct.

And to be clear for a male, I can only shed on shaft of penis and anus? So not from pubic area, inner thighs or but?
Correct, unless you have an active lesion that could shed

My PCP told me that valtrax is not good to take for longer then a few months and wants me to get off of it. Is this accurate? Seems conflicting to what I’ve learned
It is inaccurate.

Also, since taking supressive therapy for 6 straight months I’ve become familiar with the taste of my prescription pill. I’ve noticed that sometimes when I like my lips or around my mouth, I can taste it on my skin. Is this an undocumented sign of shedding? I know that sounds odd.
I’ve never heard anyone tell me they can taste valtrex, but asymptomatic viral shedding has not taste.

Terri

[user8892]

That’s my concern that my pcp doesn’t know much about hsv1.

I believe I have it both gentailly and orally. I know it’s mentioned this is rare but I think I may have spread it to my face during self inspection.

Is it possible to be on suprisive therapy 1g daily?

How often do you shed oraly?

I want to makeout/kiss or perform oral, how safe is it to do so with no sores?

On your response: I don’t know if your infection is oral or genital.

I mentione: This started as a burning and redness in perineum area with no sores, then eventually Irritation in the nose and above the lips. (Never on the lips).

I believe I have it in both locations. Because how it started and not the irritation/episodes I know have on my face. Because I don’t get typical or common outbreaks Can doctor swab the surface of my skin with no breakout and detect the virus? I want to know if my constant itching, burning and off&on rash and dryskin is hsv1 presenting itself differently from the common signs

Could you address these 2 questions from my 1st questions

In August I received an index of greater than 5 and at 6 months index 45. My greater than 5 index would have been 5 weeks after infection,(end of june) would that mean I got infected 5 weeks before or was this long standing?

Also my 45 index was while I was on Valtrax for 3 months. (500 MG daily) does being in suppressive therapy make my antibodies higher?

I’m at 9 months of abstaining and 6 months of suppressive therapy, is it okay for me to have sex and kiss now?

[Terri Warren]

Is it possible to be on suprisive therapy 1g daily?
Yes

How often do you shed orally?
It depends upon whether you are having outbreaks and how often. People who have six or more outbreaks a year shed virus on about 1 out of every 4 days – that’s all we know about shedding frequently for oral HSV 1.

I want to makeout/kiss or perform oral, how safe is it to do so with no sores?
We just don’t know that.

In August I received an index of greater than 5 and at 6 months index 45. My greater than 5 index would have been 5 weeks after infection,(end of june) would that mean I got infected 5 weeks before or was this long standing?
There is no way to know that but we do know you didn’t get it in the middle of July, for example.

Also my 45 index was while I was on Valtrax for 3 months. (500 MG daily) does being in suppressive therapy make my antibodies higher?
It does not – no influence on antibodies with an index value that high

I’m at 9 months of abstaining and 6 months of suppressive therapy, is it okay for me to have sex and kiss now?
I would say the risk of you having sex and kissing and transmitting HSV 1 is low but I can’t tell you a specific number.

I would say you really have no idea if your infection is oral or genital at this point. At least from what you told me, I am unconvinced. And yes, swabs can be taken from an area that has no sore but presents with symptoms of other kinds.

Terri

[user8892]

What swab should I get?

I’m being told that 1g daily suppressive is unhealthy for the now and long term. Why is that?

I was instructed to take 2g in morning, 1g 12 hours after and an additional 1g 12 hours after that during outbreaks. This is very confusing to me.

Also, when get flare-up orally it’s never worth sores so I get push back from the doc when I asked to swab with no sores.

My outbreaks orally are, intense itching, burning with irratated/dry skin.

Again I believe I have it genitally also, but all I get is jock itch or anal burning or irritation

[Terri Warren]

I answered this on another post just now. If you want a swab test, I recommend PCR swabs or NAAT swabs – same thing. Better than culture

Terri

• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by Terri Warren.

[user8892]

Terri,
I have a few follow up questions.

First, I have both OHSV1 and GHSV1, as noted in previous dialogue it’s IGG confirmed only. Not swab confirmed. I know it’s both sites because I experienced my primary infection in the perineal area. My primary had no lesions, only redness and strong stinging/burning. Orally, I only get rash above my lip. Also, I am male and my partner is female and negative for both types of hsv

With that, I’m on 1g daily suppressive and reaching 1 year of being hsv1 positive.

Since I get rash/flare ups above lips & inside nose irration and no other traditional lesions genitally included, my question are about viral shedding absent of lesions for GHSV1 and both flareup/viral shedding for OHSV1.

1- If my partner wants to perform oral sex on me, how much of a risk is it to perform oral on me while I’m on suppressive.

2- Should I take a high dose like 2g before allowing her to perform oral)

My GHSV1 seems very quite, just 2-3 flare ups all year and haven’t had one since November. Id like to receive oral sex but don’t want to if there is risk.

3- I’ve read conflicting info on transmission. I drool a lot when I sleep. Does my pillow pose a risk?

4- How about if I wake up don’t shower and I drool all over my pillow and it likely touches every part of my face and hair?

I ask this because the conflicting info.

Regarding kissing, I break out or have herpic irritation frequently which has been difficult all year for me. Since increasing to 1g I experienced less occurrence and irritation. But get at least 1-2 my minor flare ups.

5- When is it safe for me to kiss? Again, I experience burning above my lip and inside my nose on and off all the time.

6- do you have any leads to swab testing for shedding?

[Terri Warren]

1- If my partner wants to perform oral sex on me, how much of a risk is it to perform oral on me while I’m on suppressive.
Small risk for sure

2- Should I take a high dose like 2g before allowing her to perform oral)
I don’t think that will be any better than the dose you are taking.

My GHSV1 seems very quite, just 2-3 flare ups all year and haven’t had one since November. Id like to receive oral sex but don’t want to if there is risk.

3- I’ve read conflicting info on transmission. I drool a lot when I sleep. Does my pillow pose a risk?
No

4- How about if I wake up don’t shower and I drool all over my pillow and it likely touches every part of my face and hair?
Not a risk for transmission

I ask this because the conflicting info.

Regarding kissing, I break out or have herpic irritation frequently which has been difficult all year for me. Since increasing to 1g I experienced less occurrence and irritation. But get at least 1-2 my minor flare ups.
You get outbreaks orally while on 1 gram of Valtrex – like blisters, ulcerations and scabbing?

5- When is it safe for me to kiss? Again, I experience burning above my lip and inside my nose on and off all the time.
Burning in your nose and on your lip all the time probably isn’t herpes – all the time.

6- do you have any leads to swab testing for shedding?
24-7labkit.com

You’ve made some assumptions here about locations of your infections – I would suggest that you really don’t know and should get someone to swab the symptoms that you have to see if you are accurate.

Terri

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