Shedding Rate Question and nerve issue

[Anon_1999]

Good Morning,

Hope you are well.

I had a question about antivirals and how it affects antibody production.
So I know that for GHSV1, Christine Johnston’s study found that after about 2 years, ghsv1 sheds about 4 days out of the year. I have spoken with many people who know got on antivirals to protect their partners or lessen the chances or severity of recurrent outbreaks. I started taking it about 2.5 months after I was diagnosed due to anxiety, hoping that taking the antivirals would lessen the symptoms I was experiencing, whether real or just in my head.

So I guess my main questions are:
1. is 2 months into being diagnosed too early to develop the antibodies needed to achieve the 1.3% shedding rate (I believe that is the percentage).
2. I know that at 6 months in that it is supposed to be about a 7% shedding rate. Would the antivirals mess this up as well?
3. Is there a way to get to that shedding rate in the two years after taking antivirals?

Or I guess basically can you explain to me how the antivirals would hinder me or anyone else getting to that shedding rate in the 2 years? And would I just need to get off of it to get back on track?

The last thing, I have been having nerve pain I guess like right under my butt cheek. It feels like someone is zapping me over and over. Some aren’t that bothersome but others are so bad I have to stop walking. I have taken sitz baths and that seems to help at the moment but not long term. I thought at first it was going to be an outbreak but no bumps ever appeared and I have it for almost a week. It also hurts to laugh, sneeze, or cough because it’s like I am being zapped. I looked this up and I saw something about Pudendal Neuralgia. I saw that it can be caused by many things but saw that herpes was on the list of causes as well.

Have you ever seen this happen? Have you ever treated someone with this issue? Is there anything you recommend I bring up to my doctor about it?

I look forward to your reply.

[Terri Warren]

1. is 2 months into being diagnosed too early to develop the antibodies needed to achieve the 1.3% shedding rate (I believe that is the percentage).
Way too early. At 2 months in, your are probably shedding around 13% of days
2. I know that at 6 months in that it is supposed to be about a 7% shedding rate. Would the antivirals mess this up as well?
no, they would decrease the shedding rate
3. Is there a way to get to that shedding rate in the two years after taking antivirals?
We don’t have that data, sorry

Or I guess basically can you explain to me how the antivirals would hinder me or anyone else getting to that shedding rate in the 2 years? And would I just need to get off of it to get back on track?
We actually don’t know if people take antivirals from the start of their infection if they then go back to the initial shedding rates when they come off or how that is impacted and when

The last thing, I have been having nerve pain I guess like right under my butt cheek. It feels like someone is zapping me over and over. Some aren’t that bothersome but others are so bad I have to stop walking. I have taken sitz baths and that seems to help at the moment but not long term. I thought at first it was going to be an outbreak but no bumps ever appeared and I have it for almost a week. It also hurts to laugh, sneeze, or cough because it’s like I am being zapped. I looked this up and I saw something about Pudendal Neuralgia. I saw that it can be caused by many things but saw that herpes was on the list of causes as well.

Have you ever seen this happen? Have you ever treated someone with this issue? Is there anything you recommend I bring up to my doctor about it?
I have seen and read about people who experience this type of pain. I’ve also tested many many people who have that as their only symptoms and swear it is due to herpes but they test negative on the western blot. I would say if antivirals make no impact on that nerve feeling it may have not been caused by HSV, especially HSV 1 genital infection

Terri

[Anon_1999]

Hi, thanks for responding.

I realize I didn’t ask my first question in the best way so I’m gonna restate it.

1. Would taking antivirals two months after my initial outbreak, be too early to create the antibodies I need?

I don’t believe that Christine Johnstown’s trial tested for shedding with antivirals if I’m not mistaken.

I know a lot of ppl who have Ghsv1 who believe that they will get to the 1.3% in two years even while on antivirals as well. A lot of us also use it in our disclosures when we try to just state the straight facts that for Ghsv1 it is shown that it decreases drastically after two years.

I guess I’m just worried that because I started taking the antivirals 2 months in that I actually have greatly hindered my antiviral production. I am not currently having sex anymore so transmission isn’t really a problem but I have horrible anxiety and was convincing myself I was having outbreaks so my doc. put me on them.

2. I know there haven’t been many studies in Ghsv1, but for herpes in general and what you have seen have they studied shedding rates on antivirals to see the difference?
3. Do you know if anyone is studying antiviral effects on Ghsv1? I know everyone always says they don’t think it does anything? However, taking antivirals and knowing it’s cutting my 6-7% in half would be nice.
4. Have you heard of ssris or anxiety type medicines creating outbreaks? I was out on lexapro for anxiety and didn’t even think about it until it was too late to ask.

As far as the nerve pain goes, so far it has gone away with the help of some vitamin d and pain meds hoping it stays that way.

I think that’s it. Sorry for so many questions. Just trying to learn and navigate as much as possible cause I feel like I learn something new everyday.

Thanks again.

[Terri Warren]

1. Would taking antivirals two months after my initial outbreak, be too early to create the antibodies I need?
Probably 80% of people will have made antibody to HSV by 8 weeks out from infection.
2. I know there haven’t been many studies in Ghsv1, but for herpes in general and what you have seen have they studied shedding rates on antivirals to see the difference?
For HSV 2, antivirals reduce shedding by about 70%

3. Do you know if anyone is studying antiviral effects on Ghsv1? I know everyone always says they don’t think it does anything? However, taking antivirals and knowing it’s cutting my 6-7% in half would be nice.
I don’t know of a study like that, but I don’t think there is any biologic reason why the antivirals wouldn’t also work on genital HSV 1. The thing is, shedding is so low over time with GHSV1, that we just don’t know the magnitude of benefit, if that makes sense.

4. Have you heard of ssris or anxiety type medicines creating outbreaks? I was out on lexapro for anxiety and didn’t even think about it until it was too late to ask.
I have not, no.

Terri

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