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Antiviral reactions, ongoing symptoms and alternative treatment
Backstory: I began showing symptom for HSV in my genitals on March 10, three days after oral sex with HSV1 infected husband with no OB, but must have been shedding --which we had no idea was a thing! Waited it out thinking it was hemorrhoids (which I've never had, but there is a family history) from recent ice climbing and my period (same sexual partner 14 years so STI never crossed my mind) until March 17 when I saw my doctor. My doctor was concerned about the swollen lymph nodes and told me to call with any new symptoms. Doctor missed the exterior lesions due to being covered in preparation H so it wasn't until March 18 when I lost feeling in my legs that she identified it as herpes. Test confirmed HSV1. On March 18, I went on 10 days of 1000mg 3xday of valacyclovir and completed it. Post antivirals, I continued having leg pain and horrible itching although the pain in my genitals was gone -- figured everything was just healing. This past Thursday I began feeling the same onset symptoms I had originally (sore throat, teeth and ears hurt, pain in abdomen, and pain in genitals, and now a back ache but no swelling of lymph nodes). Started back on 500 mg of antivirals 2xday as I did not tolerate the higher dose well and my doctor said the only reason she put me on such a high dose was the loss of feeling in the legs. Last Sunday I took an hour long walk and pain and itching returned. I also tried to ride my horse as its my favorite thing in the world-- didn't even last five minutes. This was the first and last time I tried to exercise since the initial OB.
Does the loss of feeling indicate a more severe or entrenched infection in the nerves? Why was my doctor concerned? Can there be permanent nerve damage?
Friday night I started feeling a tingling/burning in the corner of the mouth and one little part of the above nostril. I noticed three little white pimple looking things in corner of mouth. Prior to the genital OB, I've never had cold sores. I had only taken one dose of the antiviral thus far so I was still having overall body symptoms. Is it possible for HSV1 to move to the location it prefers? Or am I just being overly sensitive? I've avoided even kissing my husband as I feel disgusting (physically and emotionally) and while I know this was not intentional, I have some irrational anger towards him-- just started therapy to deal with that.
The antiviral seems to cause aggression(although not as bad on lower dose), lack of appetite and drowsiness. Both times on it my lungs feel heavy and I cough up little white globs for a day or two. Doctor was not concerned the first time because I was crying a lot and she thought it was due to this. But it happened again this time; I'm much calmer this time. I'm very sensitive to meds and have weird allergies (synthetic vitamin D like added to milk or supplements - drink only raw milk and yogurt made from it- platinum - yeah, suppose to be hypoallergenic, wear a wooden wedding ring now- nutmeg/cinnamon/cloves and have the red head gene so I take higher doses to anesthetize, it wears off faster and probably have more sensitive pain/temp receptors). Has anyone else had lung issues? Or other reactions to the antivirals?
The itching after the OB got to the point of becoming unbearable. Was tested upon follow up for STDs, yeast and bacteria; all negative. My doctor suggested over the phone some nerve medications -- can't recall the names, but I'm wondering about the safety of these as her voice over the phone did not seem eager to prescribe these. Has anyone used nerve medications?
Or has anyone used any alternative therapies like acupuncture, reiki or anything else?
I meet with my doctor again on Monday, but just wondering if others have experience with any of these side effects, ongoing issues or therapies? Doctor said this recovery time is not normal and seems to be a bit unsure so I feel like we're just taking stabs in the dark about treatment at this point. I appreciate others' input and suggestions.
Does the loss of feeling indicate a more severe or entrenched infection in the nerves? Why was my doctor concerned? Can there be permanent nerve damage?
Friday night I started feeling a tingling/burning in the corner of the mouth and one little part of the above nostril. I noticed three little white pimple looking things in corner of mouth. Prior to the genital OB, I've never had cold sores. I had only taken one dose of the antiviral thus far so I was still having overall body symptoms. Is it possible for HSV1 to move to the location it prefers? Or am I just being overly sensitive? I've avoided even kissing my husband as I feel disgusting (physically and emotionally) and while I know this was not intentional, I have some irrational anger towards him-- just started therapy to deal with that.
The antiviral seems to cause aggression(although not as bad on lower dose), lack of appetite and drowsiness. Both times on it my lungs feel heavy and I cough up little white globs for a day or two. Doctor was not concerned the first time because I was crying a lot and she thought it was due to this. But it happened again this time; I'm much calmer this time. I'm very sensitive to meds and have weird allergies (synthetic vitamin D like added to milk or supplements - drink only raw milk and yogurt made from it- platinum - yeah, suppose to be hypoallergenic, wear a wooden wedding ring now- nutmeg/cinnamon/cloves and have the red head gene so I take higher doses to anesthetize, it wears off faster and probably have more sensitive pain/temp receptors). Has anyone else had lung issues? Or other reactions to the antivirals?
The itching after the OB got to the point of becoming unbearable. Was tested upon follow up for STDs, yeast and bacteria; all negative. My doctor suggested over the phone some nerve medications -- can't recall the names, but I'm wondering about the safety of these as her voice over the phone did not seem eager to prescribe these. Has anyone used nerve medications?
Or has anyone used any alternative therapies like acupuncture, reiki or anything else?
I meet with my doctor again on Monday, but just wondering if others have experience with any of these side effects, ongoing issues or therapies? Doctor said this recovery time is not normal and seems to be a bit unsure so I feel like we're just taking stabs in the dark about treatment at this point. I appreciate others' input and suggestions.
My doctor did a swab of the lesions around my rectum for testing. Symptoms did receded on the antiviral only to return four days later.
Your symptoms are not typical for herpes. What sort of positive test did you have? If it was culture or PCR from an outbreak lesion, then the diagnosis is confirmed. If a positive blood test, it could be from a distant past infection, since half of all adults have positive HSV1 blood tests.
Whether or not this started with herpes, most of your symptoms are atypical and really don't fit with herpes. Lack of improvement of those symptoms on valacyclovir -- especially in the high doses you were taking -- is further evidence against herpes as the cause.
My advice would be to remain off any and all treatment for at least a couple of weeks, then have your doctor reassess things. Or consult with an infectious diseases specialist or perhaps a neurologist.
Whether or not this started with herpes, most of your symptoms are atypical and really don't fit with herpes. Lack of improvement of those symptoms on valacyclovir -- especially in the high doses you were taking -- is further evidence against herpes as the cause.
My advice would be to remain off any and all treatment for at least a couple of weeks, then have your doctor reassess things. Or consult with an infectious diseases specialist or perhaps a neurologist.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
