Reply To: HSV2 nightmare

[lostandconfused999]

I thought that the virus loses effect over time — is it not odd that he’s had HSV2 for decades but never had an outbreak until recently? Can the virus really be dormant for decades before a first outbreak? Would I be able to tell from his bloodwork how long he’s had it?

His doctor told him that the skin swab is most accurate and that he should not get blood work done. This seems like medical malpractice.

Does the nerve pain indicate that I am contagious while feeling the pain? It is almost always there. Does the stubbornness of this symptom indicate that I’ll experience recurring outbreaks often? I thought that because I already have HSV1 and rarely get any cold sores, my body would be better equipped to handle HSV2. I haven’t seen much information about nerve pain and HSV2 — is this a rare symptom? Could the nerve pain be permanent? I’m 37 years old.

I’ve heard about antivirals causing side effects like hair loss, and I personally experienced facial redness and upset stomach during the 5 days that I was on Valtrex. Is there anything I can do to decrease these side effects? Should I try a different antiviral? Could Valtrex have caused the yeast infection too, or was the prolonged yeast infection also somehow connected with HSV2?

Finally, why would 80% of people with the virus experience no symptoms while I have symptoms? Is there a problem with my immune system? What makes one person more susceptible versus another?

Do you have any recent insight into vaccine development and/or gene editing therapies? How far into the future do you think these may happen? I feel deeply betrayed by medicine and I cannot understand or accept why herpes testing isn’t routine. It feels like protecting asymptomatic people takes precedence over people like me, and the message is that people with symptoms just don’t matter.

Thank you again for your help as I struggle with this awful shock diagnosis and its effects.