HSV2 never causes lesions so far away from the genital area.
Newly diagnosed herpes is usually stressful -- you're not alone! But in the long run, it's a manageable problem that won't interfere with your life as much as you fear. Consider either of two excellent resources for guidance in dealing with it: the Herpes Handbook written by Terri Warren, moderator of MedHelp's herpes expert forum (hopefully to resume service someday soon); it can be downloaded free at her clinic's website www.westoverheights.com. Also a book by Ebel and Wald, Managing Herpes -- a still more detailed book, available (not free) from the American Sexual Health Association (www.ashasexualhealth.org) or at bookstores, including Amazon.
Hi,
Sorry to be annoying but i saw a bump on the palm of my hand a single small one this morning. I popped it with a needle and a clear liquid came out.
Could this be herpes? I have never noticed it before. Could the HSV2 spread to my palm?
HSV2 is stressing me out!
Thank you!
Thats very helpful
OK, that helps a bit. It was probably HSV2 all along, not shingles. Still, that's not definite: it is conceivable you have had shingles twice, plus an asymptomatic HSV2 infection. If it recurs yet again, it will further favor HSV2, but absolute proof would require testing of the lesions themselves for HSV and getting a positive result for HSV2.
Even though your first episode was more severe, both were probably recurrent outbreaks -- i.e. the first wasn't really your initial HSV infection. Initial genital herpes virtually always is just that -- genital -- even though recurrent outbreaks can be anywhere in the from waist to upper thighs (sometimes called the boxer shorts area). And two months is much too long for onset of initial herpes symptoms.
So my main advice above still stands: you should assume you had and still have genital herpes; that asymptomatic viral shedding probably is occuring in your genital area; and therefore that you can transmit HSV2 to your previously uninfected sex partners. OTOH, the chance of transmission for any single episode of sex is low, so it is unlikely you have infected your more recent partners. Still, it would be a kindness to inform them that they were exposed.
Finally, see your doctor to discuss a possible prescription for anti-herpes suppressive therapy to reduce the risk of transmission. But even with such treatment, you should also use condoms and inform your partners. Treatment and condoms reduce transmission greatly but do not entirely eliminate it.
The initial outbreak was diagnosed as shingles by a derm who looked at it. No test was performed. The sores appeared in a cluster about 8 or so on the right side, at the top of my panty line. They appeared 2 months after my last sexual exposure.
2nd outbreak last week 2 sores, very mild. exact same location. My gyno did a IGG test, positive for HSV2
By then i had already had protected sexual encounters, unprotected genital rubbing.
Can you say more about both the initial episode and the next outbreak? More precise location? Size of the outbreaks? How long it lasted? Other symptoms like fever, lymph node swelling, etc? What kind of test confirmed the second episode as HSV2? Also, what was the timing of the first episode in regard to sexual exposures?
Assuming the HSV2 diagnosis is correct, your genital area probably is also involved, i.e. that viral shedding (without symptoms) could be occuring in the vagina, cervix, etc -- in other words that you could transmit it sexually to partners.
Hi
Thanks for getting back to me.
The rubbing was unprotected, i do not get sores on or in my vagina. I'm concerned about viral shedding in that area even though I do nt get sores there. The blisters appeared the next day above my pubic line
Hi and welcome. Most often shingles are on the back area so its possible the pubic one was hsv2 also unless the swab showed shingles specific. The risk that you passed it is not very high as folks can have multiple rubbing with sores many time without contracting it. Its a combination of area, friction, and immune system as many people have hsv1 oral from childhood which carries herpes antibodies that does aide in surppressing.