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Confused and concerned about whitlow...
Okay, so I was diagnosed with herpetic whitlow when I was 23. The outbreaks have always come the same way and in the same place (middle finger of my left hand). About 1-2 days before the outbreak, I feel some tingling and swelling in my finger followed by it being really itchy and erupting into a blister that is quite painful. I have always been very careful about keeping it covered and have taken Acyclovir to help. It's always covered with a band aid or other dressing unless I'm washing my hand or putting ointment on. The last outbreak that I had was earlier this summer and it came and went in the same way. As the infection was clearing up, I noticed what appeared to be a small white pimple on the outside of the knuckle on my right hand. No pain or itching...it was just there and I didn't think much of it. It took longer to go away than a normal pimple would and as that one was clearing up, a second one appeared between my knuckle and where my finger joins my hand. It cleared up in about the same time. Nether instance itched, swelled, or became painful. Friday night I was sitting watching tv and I noticed my finger getting really itchy and I look down and there is a patch of read skin where the second pimple was. This area itched like a *******, I panicked and wrapped it up in a band aid. I never noticed a sore or anything like I experience when I'm having an outbreak in the primary infection site. The only thing was the itching.... I made a Dr.'s appointment, but he can't see me until Thursday, and I was wondering if it is possible that I may have infected my other finger. The only time my outbreaks on my left hand are uncovered are when I'm washing my hands and changing the dressing on it. I have been so careful over the last 5 years and this is the first time I'm had anything like this happen. I was just wondering if anyone had any answers/comments..... Also, it's only been a few days, but all that is left on my right finger is a small red spot....
the virus is killed easily with soap which is why the shower isn't really much of an issue. Water flowing over the ob and then down on other body parts isn't an issue either. Really just being careful about touching your face/eyes when you have an obvious lesion is about the only concern and that too is very low. I'd also wipe with the other hand if they typically appear on your wiping hand ( no secrets here on this forum....he he he ).
Well...that makes me feel a little bit better. Like I said, when the Docter made the comment about shedding through the band aid, I just looked at him with a blank look. It's good to know that I have been doing the right thing by keeping it covered.
On a note back to the initial question that I had posted about. The area on my right hand finger that was in question has returned back to 99% of it's normal color and the only mark that you can see is where the second 'pimple' that I had written about in my first post first appeared. So all I have left for marks from the whole prcess are the remnants of what appeared to be the two pimple like bumps and nothing more.... I don't know if this gives you any more insight into whatever might have been happening, but the whole process has been nothing like what I have experienced when I have an outbreak on my left hand, except for the itching part that I experience Friday night. I possibly could have overreacted, but I just wish I would have gotten in to the Dr. sooner so it could have been cultured so I know 100% either way.
On a note back to the initial question that I had posted about. The area on my right hand finger that was in question has returned back to 99% of it's normal color and the only mark that you can see is where the second 'pimple' that I had written about in my first post first appeared. So all I have left for marks from the whole prcess are the remnants of what appeared to be the two pimple like bumps and nothing more.... I don't know if this gives you any more insight into whatever might have been happening, but the whole process has been nothing like what I have experienced when I have an outbreak on my left hand, except for the itching part that I experience Friday night. I possibly could have overreacted, but I just wish I would have gotten in to the Dr. sooner so it could have been cultured so I know 100% either way.
Grace...I had a weird question... I was wondering if smoking a tobacco product while infected with a cold sore could potentially auto innoculate someone with herpetic whitlow if the had a cut or scrape on their hands... Personnaly I can't recall ever having a cold sore, but I was just wondering if it was a possibility.....
no it isn't going to happen that way. the skin on the hands/fingers is too thick to be infected that easily.
Okay Grace, Just wanted to start out by saying that the service you all provide here is great and the help that you all give to people is such a wonderful thing. Thank you for answering all of my questions so far, it's been much appreciated.
Okay, now I wear contacts and have always worn them when I have an OB...since the OB is on my weak hand, I've always changed them after washing my hands, and the covered blister has never been close to my eye, but I normally use a finger on my weak hand that isn't near the affected finger to hold my eye open with the skin on my cheek and I've never really thought twice about it. I'm assuming I should just go back to wearing my glasses and 'get my geek on' while I'm having an OB. Am I correct in thinking this way or am I overthinking it a little. I'm assuming my contact would have to come into contact with the sore or I would have to have the finger that my sore is on touch my eye to pass the virus into my eyes? Or would there be a chance that even after washing my hands, there could be viral particles on my fingers...
My last question for now is involves children.... I have an amazing and understanding gal in my life who has been with me for a while and as far as I know has not contacted anything from me or my finger:) For the last year or so, she has been talking about the idea of us having kids and I'm scared to death to have a child because of my condition...I would be scared to death to pass this on to my child... are there ways to make this safer if I do happen to have a child, or am I stuck being completely paranoid about passing this on to my potential offspring?
Again...thank you for yer time and help...
Okay, now I wear contacts and have always worn them when I have an OB...since the OB is on my weak hand, I've always changed them after washing my hands, and the covered blister has never been close to my eye, but I normally use a finger on my weak hand that isn't near the affected finger to hold my eye open with the skin on my cheek and I've never really thought twice about it. I'm assuming I should just go back to wearing my glasses and 'get my geek on' while I'm having an OB. Am I correct in thinking this way or am I overthinking it a little. I'm assuming my contact would have to come into contact with the sore or I would have to have the finger that my sore is on touch my eye to pass the virus into my eyes? Or would there be a chance that even after washing my hands, there could be viral particles on my fingers...
My last question for now is involves children.... I have an amazing and understanding gal in my life who has been with me for a while and as far as I know has not contacted anything from me or my finger:) For the last year or so, she has been talking about the idea of us having kids and I'm scared to death to have a child because of my condition...I would be scared to death to pass this on to my child... are there ways to make this safer if I do happen to have a child, or am I stuck being completely paranoid about passing this on to my potential offspring?
Again...thank you for yer time and help...
well luckily having your "geek" on is a trendy look nowadays :)
really this is low risk and the way you've been handling it up until now is just fine as far as your contacts.
definitely you both should get tested to see who has what herpeswise. that way you can better assess each others risk in general plus if you are thinking about kids in the future, you both need to know hsv2 status most definitely. when you do have kids, cover your ob's like you do now. If you find you are having recurrences a lot while having diaper wearing children, you can always consider suppressive therapy to keep them down to a minimum. speaking of which, at the first tell tale tingle of a recurrence, start your antivirals to help keep the ob as mild as possible as well as heal fastest. I would err on the side of caution and wear gloves if you have a whitlow recurrence and are changing diapers but other than that, nothing really special to do other than what you already properly do.
really this is low risk and the way you've been handling it up until now is just fine as far as your contacts.
definitely you both should get tested to see who has what herpeswise. that way you can better assess each others risk in general plus if you are thinking about kids in the future, you both need to know hsv2 status most definitely. when you do have kids, cover your ob's like you do now. If you find you are having recurrences a lot while having diaper wearing children, you can always consider suppressive therapy to keep them down to a minimum. speaking of which, at the first tell tale tingle of a recurrence, start your antivirals to help keep the ob as mild as possible as well as heal fastest. I would err on the side of caution and wear gloves if you have a whitlow recurrence and are changing diapers but other than that, nothing really special to do other than what you already properly do.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
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STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
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