Herpes Information, Resources, & Consultation | Westover Heights

  • Home
  • Herpes Forum
    • Get Herpes Help
    • Getting a Herpes Western Blot – Video Consult
    • The Good News About The Bad News
  • Free Resources
    • Herpes Handbook
    • Living with Herpes Video
  • Contact
  • Login
  • About Terri
  • Home
  • Herpes Forum
    • Get Herpes Help
    • Getting a Herpes Western Blot – Video Consult
    • The Good News About The Bad News
  • Free Resources
    • Herpes Handbook
    • Living with Herpes Video
  • Contact
  • Login
  • About Terri

Long initial outbreak

› Forums › Herpes Questions › Long initial outbreak

  • This topic has 5 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 4 months ago by Terri Warren.
Log In Register Lost Password
Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • November 19, 2020 at 4:20 pm #71833
      Scottman
      Spectator

      I believe I acquired genital hsv probably late august. I had protected sex and I had a minor outbreak 8 days later and I took valtrex which I had for hsv1. I had tingling and burning in my groin and after taking the valtrex I had no lesions and my symptoms left within a week. Then three weeks later (about a month after exposure) I had another episode of burning in my scrotal region and I didn’t take valtrex. By the third day I had lesions on my penis and scrotal area. I got worse and by day seven I took some valtrex and the symptoms improved. I again stopped the valtrex but the symptoms never went away. The symptoms remained the same for the next week but after three weeks my penis began to hurt and it was hard to pee, so I started valtrex again. Valtrex causes insomnia in me and I started with a quarter of a pill each and eventually got to one pill (500mg) per day. The problem is I am now in week 7 of this and I continue to get lesions on my buttock and anal region as well as my scrotum. It’s almost pulsatile in that the pain will improve but then come back later in the day. It appears to be less when sleeping. The valtrex doesn’t help as much anymore and I can’t tolerate a higher dose due to dizziness and insomnia. My questions are

      1. Have you had people with this pain that comes and goes through the day?
      2. Why is this taking almost two months to go away. I’m otherwise healthy
      3. Should I just stop the valtrex and let it run it’s course? Is it delaying my antibody response?
      Thanks

    • November 25, 2020 at 11:11 am #71875
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      1. Have you had people with this pain that comes and goes through the day?
      That would be unusual
      2. Why is this taking almost two months to go away. I’m otherwise healthy
      I think it’s taking two months to go away because it probably isn’t herpes. Herpes doesn’t hang around like that.

      3. Should I just stop the Valtrex and let it run its course? Is it delaying my antibody response?

      I would strongly suggest that you stop the Valtrex and if the symptoms continue or get worse, go see someone and have it swab tested. And once you’ve been off Valtrex for 12 weeks, get an IgG test looking for HSV 2. I’m not at all clear that your self-diagnosis of herpes is 100% correct.

      Terri

    • December 6, 2020 at 3:33 pm #72001
      Scottman
      Spectator

      I continue to get what are like weekly outbreaks. I feel better on Sunday and Monday and then another occurrence of red skin and a couple of red pock like lesion show up. By Friday it is ending. I took the igg at 12 weeks post exposure and it was negative for hsv2 but I was on valtrex for around 3 weeks in the middle of it. I was off the valtrex for around three weeks before the test. My questions are
      1. Will the valtrex invalidate the test and should I repeat it.
      2. How long should I stop the valtrex for the test.
      3. I know the igg is 92% accurate but if it is negative should I bother with a western blot or do multiple negative igg tests do enough to convince you and me.
      4. Not saying this is me but people who have both hsv1 and hsv2 genitally, is there anything different about how they respond to it?
      Thanks

    • December 8, 2020 at 6:43 pm #72023
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      1. Will the valtrex invalidate the test and should I repeat it.

      3 weeks of Valtrex could impact the testing – I would redo the test after waiting 2-3 weeks.

      2. How long should I stop the valtrex for the test.
      Stop completely, but recognize, if this is herpes, you are more likely to transmit while NOT taking medication.

      3. I know the igg is 92% accurate but if it is negative should I bother with a western blot or do multiple negative igg tests do enough to convince you and me.
      Multiple negative tests do not resolve the issue of the test missing 8% of infections, no.

      4. Not saying this is me but people who have both hsv1 and hsv2 genitally, is there anything different about how they respond to it?

      the HSV 2 recurs far more often.

      Have you had the skin swab tested in the area you are concerned about when you have these symptoms? If not, you should.

      Terri

    • February 4, 2021 at 7:47 pm #72613
      Scottman
      Spectator

      Terri
      I ends up that I had scabies! They looked like vesicles. I never had scabies in my life and it caused inflammation of my penis and scrotum with red bumps. This is something people might consider when people have symptoms that don’t stop. My repeat lab work (quest) was negative for both hsv 1 and hsv 2. I assume that I don’t need to do a western blot and that the quest test should suffice. Do you agree/

    • February 5, 2021 at 4:32 pm #72638
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      I totally agree! Glad you were able to sort this out.

      Terri

  • Author
    Posts
Log In Register Lost Password
Viewing 5 reply threads

You must register to ask your own question or be logged in to reply to this question.

Welcome to the Forum!

About Our Herpes Forum

Terri Warren is here to respond to concerns and questions you have about genital herpes and your own personal situation.

For the past 30 years, genital herpes has been her special area of interest and she has conducted many, many research studies on various aspects of genital herpes.

Each interaction is a question with two follow up questions for $25.00.

Learn More About Our Herpes Forum

Get Personalized Help

Terri Warren is here to help you with your herpes concerns. Learn more about Terri

Westover Herpes Info

  • Do I have Herpes?
  • Living with Herpes Video
  • Getting a Herpes Western Blot
    & Video Consultation
  • Herpes Forum
    Terri Warren, ANP

Search Forums

Copyright © 2022 · Westover Heights Clinic · All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy

7410 SW Oleson Road PO BOX 427 Portland, OR 97223

Phone: Fax:

Website by 0101 Design