oHSV1+ Virgin with gHSV1?!

[Whatsreallygoingon]

I have a unique situation and I’m just looking for more answers and any insight that you may have. I have been ohsv1+ since I was about 5yo. I typically get cold sores around my nasal/nose area and never on my lips (side-note: could I still shed the virus orally in or around my mouth even if I never have cold sores there?). I say all this to say, I have had this virus in my body for over 25 years now.

In 2017, I noticed I was experiencing some slight burning/itching, areas around my genital area, mainly in the creases of the vulva. My mind went to HSV but I was thinking it most likely wouldn’t be that because it didn’t present the way I was typically used to in the years of dealing with cold sores and I have never had any sexual encounters, of any kind. No vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Another abnormality I noticed was that these sores, scrapes were occurring too often. Like at least 1-3 times/month, coupled with just overall discomfort, irritation and itching even without any presentation of anything at times. I have more days with symptoms than without. From doing some research, it seems like I’m in a constant state of prodrome. I have tingling feeling in my genital area, sometimes in my leg, especially when I touch a certain area on my genitals. Just overall seem like nerve discomfort which I know the virus lives in the nerves so that’s another reason why I felt this could be HSV. The sores seem to come in relatively the same areas as well. Also, the healing time seems to vary from a couple days to maybe a week or so. I’ve read that gHSV1 usually tends to reoccur a lot less than gHSV2 so this is strange to me. And I also thought that if you’ve had the virus in your body for so long that you had a better chance of fighting it off in other areas of your body. Is there any truth to that? How big of an impact could my diet/stress level have on the frequency of this? Do you believe this sounds like herpes?

[Whatsreallygoingon]

Continuation:
I have had various tests done on these sores and once did a blood test. The blood test of course came back saying I was HSV1+, but I already knew that. Any of the culture tests I had done always came back negative and I’ve even had them done at various stages to try to see if something could be caught at different stages of presentation. I know HSV tests are notoriously awful but what’s the best test you think I should try in order to really figure out if this is officially HSV? Would a PCR test help in this determination? I’ve asked a couple doctors’ offices about this test and they never seem to offer them. Do you know of any online/at home versions that offer a HSV PCR swab test?

Doctors prescribed a couple things to help me heal and suggested yeast infections once. I even got valacyclovir and acyclovir prescriptions. I mainly took valacyclovir because I read that it tends to work better than acyclovir. But honestly, it didn’t seem to help improve anything. I want to say that it did seem to assist with my cold sores some. I even at one point was taking them daily for maybe 3-4 months but it was still the same deal downstairs. How long does it typically take before people start to see real results with this medication if they tend to have frequent outbreaks? I was prescribed 500mg and went up to 1000mg with not much difference. So I’ve since decided to stop taking them and I sometimes may incorporate it when I feel a cold sore coming on. Are you aware of any alternatives to assisting with HSV healing or lowering the frequency of an outbreak?

[Whatsreallygoingon]

Continuation:

Anyway, I’m feeling like I possibly could have spread the virus myself some kind of way but I can’t imagine how unless I somehow had the virus on my fingers when I happened to touch my genital area. But this is odd to me being that I’ve touched my genital area in the past and haven’t seemed to have an issue before. Is it possible to have spread the virus this way? One of the doctors I had did say this is a possibility. How would I know if I could possibly have herpetic whitlow? In the past, I have applied creams and medications to my cold sores using my fingers but I always washed my hands before and after. But would this be a way in which the virus could have gotten on my hands and turned to herpetic whitlow? I’m also aware of asymptomatic shedding so could it be possible by touching my face at a time when I was shedding, then if I touched my genital area that the virus could have been spread that way?

At this point I just want to know what I’m working with here so that I can figure out what I need to do to stop the frequency of it and the ongoing symptoms I seem to be having. I’m looking to start a relationship soon and I want to be informed on what’s going on with my body before going down any sexual path with them. Kind of hard to explain I’m a virgin but also have gHSV1 lol. If this is gHSV1, what’s the transmission rate for female to male? Or how likely do you think I would pass this to a future partner, given my specific situation as explained as is? This seems like some knowledge I should have in my arsenal if possible. Any help/insight on this whole matter would be greatly appreciated!

I tried to fit all this in 1-2 posts but I had too many points I wanted to make. I hope you’re able to capture all the questions I laid out in here and offer your honest opinion on what I’m working with here. Many thanks!

[Terri Warren]

And I also thought that if you’ve had the virus in your body for so long that you had a better chance of fighting it off in other areas of your body. Is there any truth to that?
yes!
How big of an impact could my diet/stress level have on the frequency of this?
Probably very little
Do you believe this sounds like herpes?
Not HSV 1, that’s for sure.
I know HSV tests are notoriously awful but what’s the best test you think I should try in order to really figure out if this is officially HSV?
Probably a western blot could tell you if you have HSV 2 but being a virgin, you don’t have that. Otherwise, swab tests of lesions are the best.
Would a PCR test help in this determination?
PCR testing for herpes should be done from skin lesions, never blood. And you’ve already done that.
I’ve asked a couple doctors’ offices about this test and they never seem to offer them. Do you know of any online/at home versions that offer a HSV PCR swab test?
Yes, at 24-7 lab online, they will send you swab tests. I would assume some of the swab tests that you’ve had done are PCR swabs.
How long does it typically take before people start to see real results with this medication if they tend to have frequent outbreaks?
5 days

I was prescribed 500mg and went up to 1000mg with not much difference. So I’ve since decided to stop taking them and I sometimes may incorporate it when I feel a cold sore coming on. Are you aware of any alternatives to assisting with HSV healing or lowering the frequency of an outbreak?
are we talking now about your cold sores or your genital symptoms? I don’t believe your genital symptoms are herpes. Oral antivirals are the best treatment for reducing the frequency of outbreaks and the duration
Is it possible to have spread the virus this way?
no, not after you’ve had a well established infection
One of the doctors I had did say this is a possibility. How would I know if I could possibly have herpetic whitlow?
You would have nasty blisters on your fingers.

If this is gHSV1, what’s the transmission rate for female to male?
Extremely low but not impossible, but I really don’t think that’s what is going on here.
Or how likely do you think I would pass this to a future partner, given my specific situation as explained as is?
AGain, extremely low

I think you are traveling on way the wrong path, thinking that somehow you have genital HSV 1 in spite of long standing oral infection, negative swab and virgin status. Sorry

Terri

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