Congrats on a negative swab and I'm not surprised. Lol
It's not because you contracted herpes that you will ever see it coming. My best suggestion: sleep very well, eat high ratio of lysine:arginine for about 1 month. In short, keep your immune system high. If it doesn't manifest itself within a month it's either because you never contracted the virus OR it's because you have it but you will just be a carrier.
Yes herpes does feel like throbbing. It doesn't mean you have it but to be safe, try to keep your immune system high. It's def a good investment for the future.
Avoid all coffee, chocolate, alcohol, etc for a while.
Most likely not. If you have hsv and it's shedding at the moment, then it can pick it up. That being said i highly doubt hsv in your situation