Long initial outbreak

[Scottman]

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

[Terri Warren]

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

[Scottman]

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

[Terri Warren]

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

[Scottman]

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/

[Terri Warren]

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

Terri

[Author]

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