Question:
So about a month ago my girlfriend got the chicken pox and I had a couple of sores on my hand so I figured I must have got them from her... I had the chicken pox when I was younger so I thought I had shingles...

After a couple of weeks after the sores started filling with liquid pus I started to worry so I got blood work done...

My Dr. said I have high levels of HSV-1 which means I just received the herpes virus as of recent. The blisters were located on my the inside of my palm on my hand. My girlfriend got tested and she does not have the virus... So the only way I could have received this virus is by shaking somebodys hand.

I can't believe I got herpers from shaking someones hand.. My question is, if I only have an outbreak on my hand is it possible to transfer the virus to my girlfriend through sexual intercourse when I don't have an outbreak?

Can she get the virus through un-protected sex?

Please let me know because I don't want to spread the virus to her and I'm afraid to tell her because she might freak out.

Thanks in advance.

Answer:
My Dr. said I can only transmit the Virus when I have an OB on my hand, is that true??? He also said that I will only get an outbreak on and around that area since the virus lays in the nerve.

Having this on the inside of my hand is going to be tough when an outbreak occurs becasue I don't want to spread it to myself or anyone I come in contact with.

Answer:
your hand and the surrounding area, will be the part you need to worry about. its herpes so shedding still does occur, which in that cause yes, you need to tell your gf, and be carefull during sex. in which cause>>>>>>> use your other hand.

and you should tell your gf anyway, because you dont want to her to get it, and think well i was negative 4 months ago, now im positive you cheating fucker... the easy way is just to tell her now, so there isnt that possibilty and she will know and MAKE the choice for herself which is her right- if she wants to continue having sex with you.

also, how old is your gf that she is just now getting chicken pox?

Answer:
She's in her 20's. She never got it as a kid and her niece got it recently and she didn't know she had it and she let her sleep in her bed one night. That happened to be the night they came out... Bad luck... but not as bad as mine:(

Answer:
Is it still possible to "shed" or pass the virus on when the blisters or sores are not visable?

I shake hands with ppl all day at work, which is probably the way I got it. So now, I'm in a situation where I need to know if I can have contact with other ppl when I don't have an outbreak.

My Dr. said it's only contagious when the blisters are aparent. He shook my hand when I left so I guess he was really confident about that. I've read that genital herpes can be passed on if there is no visable outbreak, is it the same for HSV-1 on a hand?

Answer:
ShotDown, given that you were exposed to chicken pox recently I can't believe your doc diagnosed you with herpes based on an IgM test! Absolutely insane, that is!

Keeping fingers crossed that it's chicken pox!

If it does sadly turn out to be HSV1, yes, you can shed when there are no outbreaks, but it is really hard to pass on to someone else's hand unless they have a cut or scrape... intact skin provides a good barrier to H as it prefers delicate mucous membranes. Again, that is why it is weird to think you have HSV on your own hand...

Answer:
I need to get tested by an HSV expert... I'm in the NYC area, is there a directory where I can find a clinic of some sort?

Answer:
Maybe this will help?

copied from: Herpes Friendly Healthcare Providers

NYC Dr. David Perlman, 10 Union Square, NYC 212-420-4470, Infectious Disease specialist.

NYC see the page from NY Help http://www.nyhelp.org/advisors.html
Maybrook Laura J. Ryan, P.A.-C Horizon Medical Group
721 Homestead Avenue Maybrook, NY 12543 (845) 427-0884

Montefiore Medical Center STD Center for Excellence
3230 Bainbridge Ave Bronx, NY 10467 718-882-5482

NYC Callen Lorde LGBT Community Health Center in NYC 212-271-7200 - Jennifer Johnson

Answer:
Thanks. . . .