OHSV-1 Transmission

[aussiecoldsoregirl]

Hello Terri,

Hoping you can clear some things up for me 🙂

I have very severe health anxiety in relation to my recurrent cold sores. I have had 6-7 per year since I was 5 years old. I discovered liquorice lip balm last year and it prevented outbreaks for an entire year, however on a recent trip to Europe I broke out with a huge outbreak and my usual one-dose 1500mg famiciclovir did not stop it (even though I caught it at the itching stage).

1. What are the chances of autoinoculating myself (through fingers, toilet paper, or clothing) with HSV-1 genitally if I have had cold sores for 15+ years? I strictly do not give or receive oral sex, I am only concerned about infecting myself. For example, if I touch my lip during prodrome, then touch toilet paper, then wipe am I at risk?

2. Is there a chance I am resistant to famciclovir? Is this common? I have no other health issues other than OHSV-1.

3. In your opinion, should I try suppresive acyclovir or valacyclovir? Suppresive famciclovir did not work for me, only the one dose at 1500mg as needed. If I were to try acyclovir as a suppresive, what dosage would you reccomend?

4. Do you have any thoughts on SADBE? Whether it may be worth a try?

[Terri Warren]

1. What are the chances of autoinoculating myself (through fingers, toilet paper, or clothing) with HSV-1 genitally if I have had cold sores for 15+ years? I strictly do not give or receive oral sex, I am only concerned about infecting myself. For example, if I touch my lip during prodrome, then touch toilet paper, then wipe am I at risk?
No!

2. Is there a chance I am resistant to famciclovir? Is this common? I have no other health issues other than OHSV-1.
that seems very unlikely but if it is not started at the very beginning of an outbreak, it may not demonstrate any improvement

3. In your opinion, should I try suppresive acyclovir or valacyclovir? Suppresive famciclovir did not work for me, only the one dose at 1500mg as needed. If I were to try acyclovir as a suppresive, what dosage would you recommend?
I would recommend either 400 mg twice a day of acyclovir or 500 mg once a day of valacyclovir

4. Do you have any thoughts on SADBE? Whether it may be worth a try?
I think there is some pretty preliminary evidence with the use of SADBE, actually

Terri

[aussiecoldsoregirl]

Hello Terri,

Thank you for this.

Do you have any opinion on snot/mucus from the nose transferring to the genitals by touch and causing GHSV1? Would this be possible if I have an established OHSV1 infection? Is snot an effective carrier of HSV1?

I am still a bit confused about how likely it is to get GHSV1 if you have an established OHSV1 infection (autoinoculation). Opinions I have read online seem to be 50/50 about whether it is possible or not.

I currently take a lot of precautions to avoid GHSV1 and don’t know if I’m being too extreme. Currently:
– I wash my hands thoroughly every time I use the toilet, cold sore or not
– I do not sit on public toilets
– I don’t engage in any oral sexual contact other than kissing mouth to mouth.

Thank you so much

[Terri Warren]

Do you have any opinion on snot/mucus from the nose transferring to the genitals by touch and causing GHSV1? Would this be possible if I have an established OHSV1 infection? Is snot an effective carrier of HSV1?’

It is not an effective carrier of virus and since you have an established oral infection, that is very unlikely

I am still a bit confused about how likely it is to get GHSV1 if you have an established OHSV1 infection (autoinoculation). Opinions I have read online seem to be 50/50 about whether it is possible or not.
It can happen when someone has a new infection and an immune response has not been established but extremely unlikely after you’ve had the infection for about three months.

I currently take a lot of precautions to avoid GHSV1 and don’t know if I’m being too extreme. Currently:
– I wash my hands thoroughly every time I use the toilet, cold sore or not
– I do not sit on public toilets
– I don’t engage in any oral sexual contact other than kissing mouth to mouth.

Yes, you seem to be very worried about getting genital HSV 1 after already having oral HSV 1.
Not a bad idea in general to wash your hands after using the toilet.
If you are willing to give up receiving oral sex for this concern, I find that sad but your call. If I were you, I wouldn’t give this a second thought!

Terri

[Terri Warren]

Do you have any opinion on snot/mucus from the nose transferring to the genitals by touch and causing GHSV1? Would this be possible if I have an established OHSV1 infection? Is snot an effective carrier of HSV1?’

It is not an effective carrier of virus and since you have an established oral infection, that is very unlikely

I am still a bit confused about how likely it is to get GHSV1 if you have an established OHSV1 infection (autoinoculation). Opinions I have read online seem to be 50/50 about whether it is possible or not.
It can happen when someone has a new infection and an immune response has not been established but extremely unlikely after you’ve had the infection for about three months.

I currently take a lot of precautions to avoid GHSV1 and don’t know if I’m being too extreme. Currently:
– I wash my hands thoroughly every time I use the toilet, cold sore or not
– I do not sit on public toilets
– I don’t engage in any oral sexual contact other than kissing mouth to mouth.

Yes, you seem to be very worried about getting genital HSV 1 after already having oral HSV 1.
Not a bad idea in general to wash your hands after using the toilet.
If you are willing to give up receiving oral sex for this concern, I find that sad but your call. If I were you, I wouldn’t give this a second thought!

Terri

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