Question:
Hello out there,

quick version for those on the go:
- Isn't 7 weeks an unusually long time for an outbreak to last, especially when taking Valtrex?
and
- what other kinds of infection can herpes sometimes be confused with?

longer version for those who have time:
I'm having a strange outbreak, but I'm no longer sure if it's herpes. Your advice please?

I was diagnosed with HSV1 genital in 2003 (neg to HSV2).

My 1st outbreak occurred around the anal area, but NOT on the buttocks or vaginal area.

After this outbreak, I never had another outbreak, but occasional mild prodrome symptoms (around the same anal area). After a couple years, I was asymptomatic.

I have been in a monogamous relationship for the past 1 1/2. Once the relationship started, I started using valtrex or acyclovir for suppression, just to be safer. I used valtrex (500mg daily) when I could afford it, but mostly acyclovir (800mg daily).

In December 2006, I got a new bump in the front, on the outer left labial. It was itchy and almost like a tiny pimple.

I am travelling in remote areas of South America and have been forced to self-diagnose and self-medicate. Luckily I had a stash of pills...

I immediately switched from acyclovir to valtrex, just to be safe (knowing that valtrex is the more effective drug). Also, I upped the dosage to treatment dosage of 1 g a day (500mg 2X daily... sometimes 1500mg daily when my morale was low).

The bumps come and go, only on the left side of the outer labials. There are usually between 4-6 of these tiny bumps at a time. They seem to be very contagious and spread to a little cluster of about 4 bumps on my inner left thigh.

They no longer itch and there is no pain. I wouldn't know they were there if I couldn't see 'em... But because I've never had a herpes outbreak in front, I don't know what I'm dealing with.

It has been almost 2 months - almost exactly 7 weeks. After about 3 weeks of taking the treatment dosage (1g daily), I went back to the daily 500mg Valtrex dosage. Also, I've stopped having sex.

Sometimes the bumps are filled with clear fluid. Often, they have tiny pinprick white heads. Sometimes the white heads come out. (I don't try to pop them, but sometimes they come to a head on their own after a few days and after a hot shower.)

I am aware of the off-chance that I could have self-infected from the back to the front. How common is self-reinfection such as this?

But I'm no longer sure if this is a herpes outbreak. It is much much more persistent than my first outbreak, which lasted less than a week. Valtrex doesn't seem to help.

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE HERPES?

While I'm out of the country, I've read as much as I can online. This doesn't sound like warts, right?

Back in 2003, I had an abnormal pap. They did a culture and said I had a non-"dangerous" ie. non-cancer-causing strain of HPV... so it seems unlikely it would be HPV related... but you never know, I may have gotten another kind of HPV since then...

sorry. lots of questions...hope this all makes sense. I'm stressing out and missing my doctor and appreciate your insight.

Answer:
its not that u self infected ur self> ur genitals are front to back- its not like u put up a wall to seperate ur vagaina and ur butt.
Genital herpes, can affect the genital area (either front or back or both)

i does sound like herpes since u said they spread and are in clusters

sometimes people will have worse 2nd/3rd outbreaks then their firsts.

but 7 weeks.. thats seems pretty crazy, but its very possible that u have had 2 or more outbreaks at the same time, like back to back. just keep on the meds, and keep it dry/clean

and i would get ur self to a doc asap when u get home, or are in a realitivly "aware" place.. if u still are having it, maybe u could call ur doc? and maybe he will have more advice

Answer:
WaxedWrong wrote: "its not that u self infected ur self> ur genitals are front to back- its not like u put up a wall to seperate ur vagaina and ur butt."

good point. ;)

Thanks for your response.

I guess I just brought up the distinction between my vagina and butt because this outbreak (in front) is not in the site of the original infection... I thought that outbreaks usually occur at the original site....and I've always been asymptomatic in front.

Do you mean that people have 2nd or 3rd outbreaks that are worse than their first, even 3.5 years later? I know many things are possible with this virus, but of course I'm surprised and disappointed...

Also... it would be disappointing if Valtrex is so ineffective that the virus seems completely immune to the medication after 7 (going on 8) weeks.

An additional note -- The bumps don't ever seem to scab or crust over. They just emerge, over a few days turn from flesh colored to red, then form a tiny white-head, and then disappear. Does this sound familiar to you all?

Since I'm traveling and away from proper medical attention...I've started taking doxycycline (which I had on hand anyway for malaria prevention... ). Still hard to tell for sure, but it seems to be helping ... If it clears it up maybe it is some kind of bacterial infection afterall.

but yes... will get a doctor's feedback when I as soon as I can.

Answer:
This doesn't sound like warts, right? Back in 2003, I had an abnormal pap. They did a culture and said I had a non-"dangerous" ie. non-cancer-causing strain of HPV... so it seems unlikely it would be HPV related... but you never know, I may have gotten another kind of HPV since then... Actually, all doctors have ever said to me is that the HPV strain that causes warts is not the one associated with cervical cancer---meaning your old diagnosis isn't necessarily in conflict theoretically with you having warts. I am wart-ignorant, and need to get re-educated about HPV because there are so many strains of that and even the new vaccine doesn't protect against all that are cervical cancer related, according to a recent read. I'm confused. I'm curious about how your paps have been since 2003 and how exactly they diagnosed your HPV...