Uncertain future with chronic herpes

[Lexieton]

Hi

I am a 29 year old female who has lived with what I have been told was type 2 genital herpes for 2 years.

I have never experienced a blister or a sore. My symptoms are as follows:

– swollen labia
– redness
– pain
– tingling and pain in buttocks and leg

I had a blood test although I am not sure what type and was told that I have HSV2

Outbreaks

I suffer from these continually unless medicated. I have been taking a twice daily dose of acyclovir 800mg (so 1600mg a day) for the last 18 months. I stopped recently as I changed to a less demanding job (no flying no time zone changes) and hoped that the symptoms may not return. However within a week I experienced the symptoms above ( again no blisters or sores). While taking the medication I rarely if ever experience anything. I don’t drink and don’t smoke.

My questions are:

– is this definitely herpes even though no sores and the fact that I get it continually
– is it safe to be on these drugs every day forever?
– do people suffer from herpes continually in any cases?
– any other course of action?
– right now I am still not taking the medication in the hope that by maybe enduring a whole outbreak my body’s defenses will be stronger in the future?
– I am recently married and went to get pregnant. My husband is herpes free and a bit worried. It is also hard to find a window to have unprotected sex if I am contagious with outbreaks

Please feel free to add anything and thanks very much for your time. (PS I live in the Middle East and the local medical care is not great on these subjects hence my reason for not consulting my local doctor)

Lexie

[Terri Warren]

Are you saying that you were diagnosed via a blood antibody test? It would be useful for me to evaluate that test result to help you more accurately. No, herpes does not happen every day in anyone I have ever seen as a patient. I suppose you could be the first exception but it seems unlikely. But if you have no symptoms when you take the medicine, then none of this makes much sense. So I am going to answer your question as though these symptoms are herpes, though they too are quite atypical.

It is safe to take the medicine continually, and indefinitely with information we have gather over the past 30 years. I am assuming you are taking this higher does because you did not do well on 400 mg twice a day?

If you were may patient, I would suggest that you do swabs of your genital area when you have these symptoms to see if they are really caused by herpes.

Do you know that you husband is uninfected because he has had blood tests to determine that he is not infected? You could do artificial insemination if he is very concerned about contracting herpes from you.

Terri

[Lexieton]

Terri

Thanks for your reply.

The test was an antibody test but I don’t have the results anymore. However I am certain they said I was positive for both HSV 1 and 2. I don’t know how good the clinic was and how aware they were of potential false positives with some tests ( I’ve discovered this thanks to google).

Yes correct – with 400mg the symptoms didn’t go. However even with 1600mg twice a day I sometimes have the sensation that something is going to happen. Tingling etc as above but never sores. However generally things are ok on this dosage.

One additional bit of info – at first I tried topical application via cream and it had zero beneficial effect.

But if not herpes then what else?

My husband has not been tested but is symptom free.

I am mid outbreak now and it is just as described sore, swollen labia and red and nervy sensations down leg etc. no blisters no sores. I should try and get a swab but I don’t know a clinic that does it here. I can send a picture attachment if that would help

I stopped taking the pills last week as mentioned. I got flu like symptoms then the other as described over last couple of days.

Do you think it is worth leaving it untreated to see how it develops? I have read that one should expect outbreaks to decline over time and mine don’t seem to at all.

[Terri Warren]

You could try and see what happens if you don’t treat it, yes. see if it actually develops into a sore. If you want to send a picture, do.

Terri

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