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HSV 1. Genital and Oral. I need clarification.
Hello. Here is the situation.
I have been diagnosed with HSV-1 in the genital area about 8 months ago. During the first outbreak, I had itching, blisters and lesions that eventually healed. I was given Valtrex and it seemed to help. That first outbreak lasted about 2 weeks. A month later, it happened again, only this time, there were no blisters. just red spots around my penis. It lasted about a week and faded away.
The problem now is, I get it constantly. It appears, it leaves within a week and it comes back the week after. It's like I have those red spots appearing every two weeks. No blisters, no lesions. Just red spots, like a "mild outbreak" that won't stop coming back. I've been dealing pretty good with it emotionally/psychologically because I educated myself.
I met a girl and she's now my girlfriend. We've been together for 4 months. I told her what I had and the risk it involved before we ever had sex. We avoid sex and oral sex when the red spots appear and that's it. Otherwise, I we have sex alot.
What affects me the most, is not the fact that I have herpes. It's just the fact that I have it every two weeks and that it prevents me from having sex with my girlfriend, because I obviously want to reduce the risk of transmission. Recently, I infected my oral area too, I don't know how. But I did. So I had this cold sore and couldn't kiss my girlfriend for a week.
I've read everywhere that HSV-1 recurrences are supposed to be less frequent so I don't understand why I keep getting those red spots. Now that I have it orally, I'm beginning to worry about having it every two weeks in that area too.
I've been on daily Valtrex 1000mg for 3 months now, and 2 times a day when I have an outbreak. Except being expensive, it doesn't seem to change anything or help at all. I've been using Lysine and St-John's Wort on a daily basis too for 2 weeks and I thought it was working but I still got that first oral outbreak and it looks like the genital red spots are coming back, again...
I'm a pretty fit guy, I never get sick, I eat well, exercise alot and I know how to manage my stress.
So I have some questions now that you have the whole idea of what's happening.
Genital:
Is there anything more I can do ? I'm sick of having constant outbreaks of red spots and not being able to have some sexy time because of it. Will it ever stop coming back? It's been 8 months now and even all the pills and medication don't seem to work. It's like I have constant herpes and can't do **** about it. Also, how risky is it to transmit without blisters or lesions, are those red spots really risky ?
Oral:
Considering my genital area experience, should I expect the oral area to come back so often too ? I had my first outbreak of "cold sore" 2 weeks ago. I still had my daily Valtrex and pills plus I used the Abreva cream. It went away, but the place were it was is still reddish, like irritated skin. So I'd like to be able to kiss my girlfriend, but I don't know if I should consider that irritated skin still infected, or is it just that, irritated skin?
Sorry I have alot of questions, but I've been reading so much about it and it just made me even more confused . I deal well with it personally, but I don't want to pass it to my girlfriend even though she accepts the risk, I just wish it would be alot less frequent and I don't know what else I can do about it.
Thanks for your time
I have been diagnosed with HSV-1 in the genital area about 8 months ago. During the first outbreak, I had itching, blisters and lesions that eventually healed. I was given Valtrex and it seemed to help. That first outbreak lasted about 2 weeks. A month later, it happened again, only this time, there were no blisters. just red spots around my penis. It lasted about a week and faded away.
The problem now is, I get it constantly. It appears, it leaves within a week and it comes back the week after. It's like I have those red spots appearing every two weeks. No blisters, no lesions. Just red spots, like a "mild outbreak" that won't stop coming back. I've been dealing pretty good with it emotionally/psychologically because I educated myself.
I met a girl and she's now my girlfriend. We've been together for 4 months. I told her what I had and the risk it involved before we ever had sex. We avoid sex and oral sex when the red spots appear and that's it. Otherwise, I we have sex alot.
What affects me the most, is not the fact that I have herpes. It's just the fact that I have it every two weeks and that it prevents me from having sex with my girlfriend, because I obviously want to reduce the risk of transmission. Recently, I infected my oral area too, I don't know how. But I did. So I had this cold sore and couldn't kiss my girlfriend for a week.
I've read everywhere that HSV-1 recurrences are supposed to be less frequent so I don't understand why I keep getting those red spots. Now that I have it orally, I'm beginning to worry about having it every two weeks in that area too.
I've been on daily Valtrex 1000mg for 3 months now, and 2 times a day when I have an outbreak. Except being expensive, it doesn't seem to change anything or help at all. I've been using Lysine and St-John's Wort on a daily basis too for 2 weeks and I thought it was working but I still got that first oral outbreak and it looks like the genital red spots are coming back, again...
I'm a pretty fit guy, I never get sick, I eat well, exercise alot and I know how to manage my stress.
So I have some questions now that you have the whole idea of what's happening.
Genital:
Is there anything more I can do ? I'm sick of having constant outbreaks of red spots and not being able to have some sexy time because of it. Will it ever stop coming back? It's been 8 months now and even all the pills and medication don't seem to work. It's like I have constant herpes and can't do **** about it. Also, how risky is it to transmit without blisters or lesions, are those red spots really risky ?
Oral:
Considering my genital area experience, should I expect the oral area to come back so often too ? I had my first outbreak of "cold sore" 2 weeks ago. I still had my daily Valtrex and pills plus I used the Abreva cream. It went away, but the place were it was is still reddish, like irritated skin. So I'd like to be able to kiss my girlfriend, but I don't know if I should consider that irritated skin still infected, or is it just that, irritated skin?
Sorry I have alot of questions, but I've been reading so much about it and it just made me even more confused . I deal well with it personally, but I don't want to pass it to my girlfriend even though she accepts the risk, I just wish it would be alot less frequent and I don't know what else I can do about it.
Thanks for your time
Best Answer
Curious to the outbreak you state you had generally and orally. Did you have many blisters on your genitals. Did they burst-ulcerate-scab?
How do you know you had a cold sore? Did you swab that oral lesion? Was it above the lip or on the lip? Curious if what you state is a cold sore was really one to begin with. How long did it last? You sure it wasn't a pimple?
How do you know you had a cold sore? Did you swab that oral lesion? Was it above the lip or on the lip? Curious if what you state is a cold sore was really one to begin with. How long did it last? You sure it wasn't a pimple?
Usually the things that are common sense to a more healthy lifestyle will reduce outbreaks.
- reduce stress, if you have a stressful job them counteract with yoga, sports etc.
- eat better foods, more fresh produce, more water, more fresh air
- use supplements only if deficient in the diet, such as Vitamin B and Zinc in particular
- reduce stress, if you have a stressful job them counteract with yoga, sports etc.
- eat better foods, more fresh produce, more water, more fresh air
- use supplements only if deficient in the diet, such as Vitamin B and Zinc in particular
It is herpes.
It appeared about 7 days after an unprotected intercourse. The Doc was pretty sure about what it was. Had swab test and it confirmed HSV-1. Never had anything before. Had a blood test too, but the antibodies didn't appear yet in my blood at that time, I had just been infected. None of my parents get cold sores. My sister does; once a year or so.
It is what it is. I just don't understand why it's so frequent.
It appeared about 7 days after an unprotected intercourse. The Doc was pretty sure about what it was. Had swab test and it confirmed HSV-1. Never had anything before. Had a blood test too, but the antibodies didn't appear yet in my blood at that time, I had just been infected. None of my parents get cold sores. My sister does; once a year or so.
It is what it is. I just don't understand why it's so frequent.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
Start with the original diagnosis, how did that happen? What tests did you have before, during and after the first outbreak? Does either of your parents get oral cold sores?