Herpes 2 on eyelid

[concernedtoo546]

~1.5 years ago I discovered I was infected with HSV II - of course I thought it was a spider bite at first and was treated with antibiotics...~6months later it came back and again I was treated with antibiotics...I got it again ~8 months later and decided to go have a blood test which showed positive to HSV ii but not HSV I or zoster.  I have had a few more outbreaks and I had my boyfriend tested who was positive for HSV I and II.  I know I must have gotten this from him because we have been together for nearly 20 years....we do not engage in anal sex but have cuddled and been next to each other in many ways.  He does not have any symptoms....but in the past he has had cold sores but not since I've known him.  

I had my last OB in the middle of January.  Last week I went to doctor bc my left ear was blocked (I've also developed tinnitus in the last year) and the tinnitus was amplified.  He prescribed antibiotics and nose spray and told me it would go away in a week.  I also told him that I starting having stabbing intermittent pain which at first I thought was coming from ear but later was able to localize it to the left temple.  I also btw mentioned I started to have a weird rough skin patch on eyelid with what looked like two little bites...he prescribed a steroid crème (which incidentally says not to put on face....I did not use it).  The stabbing pain became extremely annoying especially bc Tylenol did not seem to help it. I called back the next day and they told me to take Aleve or ibuprofen which I did and that only helped a little bit.  The next morning I woke up with stabbing pain and my eye was swollen with edema all around the upper and lower orbital.  Back I went to the doctor and PA and they prescribed antibiotics and tramadol.  I filled the prescriptions but had made an apt with an ophthalmologist later that day....he told me I had zoster.  So he prescribed Valtrex and told me to try the tramadol and if it didn't work he would prescribe another drug.  Ok. A lot of other stuff happened (I had a severe ADR from taking the meds too close together on an empty stomach and drinking coffee which made me extremely ill all day Friday from 11 am till 1:30 am the next day).

Anyhow sorry for the long story but I do not think it is zoster....I think I might have touched my buttocks and then inadvertently touched my eyelid.....I would like to have somebody who is knowledgeable in herpes simplex II symptoms on eyelid.  

Thank you.


This discussion is related to Ocular HSV-2.

[concernedtoo546]

p.s. one doctor said it looked like cellulitis and the other said zoster - how can I determine which I have?

[concernedtoo546]

Thank you for your reply Dr. Rayoyakawa.  When I had a blood test last year I did not test positive for herpes zoster - is this bc I had not yet contracted it yet?  

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I do not think this related you touching your buttock.  Valtrex is effective for both Zoster and Simplex.

Dr. O.