Just Diagnosed with Herpes 1 in the Urethra, Head of Penis.

[Curious79821]

Hello Doctor,
  I have just been diagnosed recently with Herpes Symplex 1. I had unprotected sex with a stripper one night while elebriated. She went down on me then I was inside her for maybe ten seconds without a condom on because I took it off. I went to the doctor a week later beause the head of my penis was very red. And swollen. I noticed that the head was getting sealed up by secretions which where coming out but somehow I never saw the weeping.
  I went to see my Doctor and he took a urine sample and found no bacteria in the Urine. Then he took a culture test where he scraped the inside of the urethra. Well I recieved a call on the phone three days later that the culture was posotive for Herpes Symplex 1. Of course this sent shivers down my spine and scared me to death. I have still yet to get tested for HIV or Syphallis. My doctor said it was too early to start testing for that. So at this visit when I was having trouble urinating he gave me a shot in the butt and I went to the parmacy and picked up four red pills that I was to take immediatly so that they could work with the shot or Lynacane that I was given with the needle. This was treatment for Chlamydia or Ghonnorea. Pardon my spelling. That was the real reason I went to the doctor in the first place, It hurt like hell to urinate, it was becoming so painfull I was dreading going to the bathroom.
   My doctor came back with a negative culture and said that I have Herpes Symplex 1. He said that was better than Symplex 2 but I don't want any Herpes so I'm failling to see the Silver Lining to this cloud. Especially since I have the infection below the waste. Isn't that Genital Herpes because of it's location? I also read that HPV 1 and HPV 2 are so close they are almost the same because they share so much of the same make up. He told me that I have to be responsible from know on with my bodily fluids. I usually always wear condoms, I was at a bachelor party and I still can't believe this happened.
  Anyways, My laundry list of questions is huuuge. I have been reading as much as I can about this disease. I am trying to find some comfort in something that is so uncomfortable. I'm going to make a list because I am very curious.

Help,

1. Can my Herpes be spread to anyone I kiss? If it only sheds at certain times and I have no way of knowing am I a risk all the time?
2. Herpes is very deadly to infants and I have a 6 month old neice that I love to death. Should I be keeping my distance from her?
3. Will these Herpes spread to other parts of my body? Will they show up on my face or neck or will they stay in my Urethra?
4.Will I be able to have a relationship with someone without the disease? I mean anyone without the disaese that decides to be with you is accepting the disease right? It sounds like it is as contageous as the common cold.
5. Will I be able to have children? That would kill me. I really want to have kids but reading the risks of having a child with Herepes could have deadly outcomes to the child.
6.I feel like a Leper. I don't want to give this awful disease to anyone else. I can't believe that person gave it to me. How do I keep my family safe?

I'm sure these questions will help me with other questions that I have. I'm just on the verge of getting depressed about this and I really need to chill out because I know it's not the end of the world. Family is really important to me and I don't want this to shut down my hopes and dreams. I am not married at the moment but now I feel it's going to be even harder to find someone that will be accepting of somone with a disease.

Keeping my head up.

[treesnake]

Hang in there! You will find someone. You are not a leper.  None of your family is at risk unless you are having sex with them.

[fanta1]

Hi curious,

First off.  You aren't a leper.  I believe it is about 60-80% of the population has HSV 1.  The reason your doctor said HSV 1 is better than HSV II is because the symptoms tend to be less severe and outbreaks, less frequent.  More people have HSV I than HSV II, and as i said before, the majority of the population already has it from growing up.  It is still considered genital herpes because it is in on your genitals, but do your best to keep perspective.  You can have children.  Someone correct me if i'm wrong, but generally the danger with transmission from parent to child has more to do if the mother is shedding the virus at childbirth - and this can risk can be avoided.  

Where do you go from here?  I would recommend reading as much information as possible.  Petal and Grace tend to refer to a free herpes manual and a fantastic book that goes into incredible detail about living with this condition.  (I don't have the links on me, so perhaps they will message and copy the links for you).  Personally, I choose to be upfront with potential new partners about my status and give them an idea of the risks involved and what I will do to help protect them (for instance, anti-viral therapy to suppress outbreaks and viral shedding, asking them to wear a condom, and not being intimate during outbreaks can reduce the risk of transmission).  Again, chances are, your partner may already have HSV I and if they don't know, testing is recommended so you both can make informed decisions about how to proceed with an intimate relationship.  

I know this is a depressing and anxious time for you.  I'm glad you're holding your head up.  Keep it up.  

[petal130]

Good post fanta1.

You can DEFINITELY have a relationship, get married, have children! Tens of millions of folks have herpes - it's truly not an issue. What fanta1 said is correct, it can be a concern at birth if the mother has herpes, and there are safe workarounds for that. All in all, neonatal herpes is rare.

The leper thing is that silly herpes stigma. I have genital herpes and I'm no different than before I got the virus. I'm still the exact same wonderful gal :-)  It takes a far, far back seat in my life.

Here are the links for the Herpes Handbook, and Terri Warren's book, "The Good News About the Bad News"

http://www.westoverheights.com/genital_herpes/handbook/view_the_chapters.html
and
http://thegoodnewsaboutthebadnews.com/

[Curious79821]

Thanks for the advice,
  I have so much going on in my life at this point I'm trying to not let it affect me. It probably won't affect me till I tell someone that I care about that I have this and they reject me. I guess I just need to keep on truckin. I'm a big boy I know that. Nothing in life is ever easy. I just want to know what I have to do to take care of myself and others. I want to know what to expect and I want to know what preventative measures to take. I have been reading about this. It's driving me bonkers at times because there are so many contradictory statements. I was also reading about that Biokit. If my doctor told me that's what I have I think I'm going to trust his culture tests. It is the mental that I'm having the biggest problem dealing with. It's killed sex drive, everything.

[treesnake]

Biokit is only for detection of HSV-2

[Curious79821]

  What about kissing my Neice it seems like everytime I walk in my brothers house they hand me the kid. I honestly wash my hands constantly ever since I found out about this. I am very anal when It comes to this type of thing. I am also reading the website you sent me. Thank you very much. Knowledge is power and I need all I can get. It will help me sleep better at night. You are all very helpfull. It's good talking to people who also have the disease.
  On another note I hate using condoms, is this the end of life without Condoms? I usually am in relationships for long periods where Birth control is used. That life is over now isn't it? I guess I'll have to get used to using them again. Usually my girlfriends hate them too. I guess it's too late now to ask that question isn't it? I've read a lot of documents about not spreading the disease so condoms are a must. With random one nighters in the past I always wear for their protection and my own. I'll keep reading the website. I'm sure it has plenty to say about all of this.

Thanks,

[petal130]

Genital herpes is an STD - keep that in mind. It requires sexual contact - you have it genitally, not orally. Hug and kiss your niece! I know I do!!

Handwashing is really key whether you have herpes or not. We hear it everywhere as the way to reduce the spread of colds/flu. If you're having an outbreak and touch yourself, a simple handwash kills the virus - even then it lives very shortly outside the body.

As to condoms, it really is necessary, for now. You may very well meet someone with herpes already, then you can toss the condoms :-)   As well, there's suppressive therapy too - I didn't notice if you were taking anything.

Also, your culture would be the positive indicator for herpes; no need for a biokit.

Check out those links I sent you as well!

[Curious79821]

  Thank you again, I have been reading for the past 1/2 hour. Very interesting. Written very well while stating the facts. I was just asking  about showing affection towards others through kissing because the websites keep saying a common way of passing the disease is from being kissed by an adult when your a child. Hence I am an Adult and my Neice is a child. (also the cutest thing to ever hit the Earth.) What about partners, I mean having sex is one thing but can you kiss them? Passionately? Isn't it in my saliva? I know I should probably keep reading. I'll check back tomorrow after I have read the whole site.

[Curious79821]

  To answer your last question no I'm not taking anything. Should I be? I haven't looked into it yet. I was maybe going to start eating a little better and keep my workout schedule. I thought a healthy immune system was the best suppressant? I did read Valtrex site and they are saying that you can reduce transmission to as little as 3% to 4% by using along with condoms. I'm sitting here thinking, I just quit smoking two and a half years ago becuase it was so expensive, is this going to be the replacement? I'm sure it isn't cheap. Oi!, I can't win. I've only know I've had the virus for two weeks.

[petal130]

You can't transmit via kissing if you only have genital herpes. You can if you have oral herpes. Two different locations, two different avenues of transmission. Yes, oral herpes  (of which upwards of 70% of the adult population has), is spread via kissing.

Keep reading!  Herpes is a skin-to-skin disease and for the most part is not transmitted via bodily fluids. The virus works its way into the body during the sex act itself, via genital to genital contact (or genital to oral contact), along with heat/friction.

[Curious79821]

Isn't HSV-1 Oral Herpes? Just because it's not my face and in my urethra shouldn't make it HSV-2. One article I read said that Herpes if below the waist stores in the lower back, if it's around your mouth it's stored in the glands. So is what your saying? Where my infection is I can't pass it on my lips or tongue?

[petal130]

As to Valtrex, it can be expensive but of course depends on what kind of insurance you have. There is a much less expensive drug call Acyclovir, and it is just as effective and much cheaper.

The Valtrex study you read was for HSV2 - which is good news for you, as HSV1 genitally sheds less and has fewer outbreaks.

I think you're still confused about the two types, HSV1 and HSV2, and how both types can be oral or genital. It is true that oral herpes is typically HSV1. There are very few folks who have oral HSV2 - it just doesn't "like" the oral area. Now as to genital herpes, it is associated typically with HSV2, but about 1/3 of all new genital herpes cases are caused by HSV1. But again, HSV1 doesn't "like" the genital area, so most folks who have it have very few outbreaks and shed much less. I went back and read your initial post - the genital swab/culture you had done was in fact positive for HSV1, correct? Hence, you have what most folks have orally - HSV1. Same for me - my partner (who has oral HSV1) performed oral sex on me, and now I have genital HSV1.

So yes, the location that you have it is the location you transmit it from.

The nerve ganglia that supplies the genital area is where the virus settles. In oral herpes it would be the ganglia at the base of the spine.

[Curious79821]

Thank you so much for you replies,
  I really appreciate them. My cultures came back negative. But when my doc called me he told that I have HSV-1. I don't know if he's just going off the symptoms or what but I was given a lot of drugs to cure everything so I'm not sure what to think until I go for the blood test in September to finish off my STD testing. I was given the Lynacane initailly in me bum. Then I want to the pharmacy to pick up 250mg of Azithromycin to be taken with the shot to treat Chlimydea and Ghonnorea. Then after the cultures were taken I was given a notice from my doctor that I was tested posotive for HSV-1 even though my card says the cultures were negative. So I went and picked up my Valtrex prescription a few days later and started on that medication for a few days and then my infection dried up. That's where I'm at right now. I'm going to go for the secind group of test, HIV and Syphallis in August. I will ask the doctor to look for HSV-1 antibodies to make sure that i have it. So that's where I stand. So I will need to wrap it until I find the right one. Thanks Petal, you are a great help. You are helping me with getting my facts straight.

[gracefromHHP]

Since you have no idea what test was hsv1+, give the clinic a call today and ask. If they say it was a lesion culture then it was the test done on your urethra. If they say it was the blood test, ask them to read the results to you and write them down.

You can not diagnose genital hsv1 by a blood test. If your blood test was + for hsv1 at the time of your initial symptoms, odds are it's an oral infection you already had before of all of this.

grace

[Curious79821]

Well here's how it looks,
  I recieved the card from my tests in the mail saying that my cultures were negative. But a few days before I recieved this in the mail my doctor said that my culture for HSV2 was negative but he said that I tested posotive for HSV1. I have been so busy it really hasn't been on my mind but I will give my doctor a call tomorrow and see if he can answer a few more questions. He prescribed Valtrex which I took for seven days and the infection stopped hurting. It's a month later and the blister looking infection seems to still be lingering though. I'll call him tomorrow and hopefully get some answers. I never recieved a blood test either. The tests were cell samples from the Urethra when I was in pain and the infection was full blown.

[gracefromHHP]

definitely write down all your questions and give them a call and ask for more details since the results you received are unclear.

Since you still have symptoms a month later though it's not a bad idea to just make an appointment and go and be seen again and discuss this all there afte ryou've had another exam.

grace

[Curious79821]

Thanks,
  I'll do that. I made another appointment for September for HIV and other tests. I'll call the Doc tomorrow and Iron some of this out.

[Curious79821]

I just went to the doctor this past wednesday. I had blood taken to test for HIV and Syphalis. I asked my Doctor about the test and he told me that he is posotive that I have HSV-1. In the genetal region. I was bummed to learn that his test wasn't flawwed. Anyways, It still sucks that I have this. So far I've read that you're body will combat HSV-1 and after a few years it doesn't come out anymore. Are you still contageous at that point? Since my initial outbreak I have been fortunate. Nothing has really happened. Even after heavy drinking and I'm dehydrated. You think they will ever come up with a cure for herpes? From what I've read the cures could kill nerves and I like my penis too much to kill nerves in my penis.

[gracefromHHP]

When it comes to hsv1 genitally, about 1/2 of folks who have it never get another recognizable ob.  You should be more surprised when you do get one then if you don't.

Yes, you still shed the virus periodically genitally even if you aren't having obvious recurrences so you need to be talking about this with a partner.

grace

[Curious79821]

Thanks Grace, I know I have to be responsible about it. I was just wondering if there were any hope in sight. It hasn't bugged me at all which is good but honestly I wish I could just keep it to myself. It's funny but now that I have it I'm not as scared of it as I once was. I just hope modern science comes up with somethings that can cure it. they came up with Proactive for acne. Grace what if it is five years from now, My body will still shed it? in the infected area? Even without an outbreak?

[gracefromHHP]

Yes you will still be shedding periodically 5 years from now both with and without obvious lesions present. You just shed a lot less often in general with hsv1 as well as have less ob's in general.

You can still contract hsv2 genitally so getting your partners tested for herpes is important.

grace

[Lifehappens1234]

Curious79821, Now that it has been 9 years since your initial contraction of HSV-1 genitally; I'd like to know how your life has been since then? Have you met someone? Are you now married? How have your discussions been with partners? Have you discussed it with partners even if it was just a one night stand and you wore protection? Do you even have one night stands anymore?

I have a lot of questions as I was just diagnosed and I'm wondering how life has been for someone this past decade. Your questions/responses from the community have answered a lot of my current questions.

[NewEnglandLove]

Life doesn’t change. Going on 7 years now for me. I have met many wonderful people who didnt care about my HSV status. As long as your honest people will accept you.

You don’t have to everyone (i.e. coworkers, relatives, etc) but tell those you trust and love.

Nothing changes. You’re still the same person.