Question:
I've had HSV-2 (genital) herpes for over a year and it gives me horrible back pain as a prodrome symptom (preoutbreak symptom). This makes sense since HSV2 resides in the lower back in the gangli.

I recently had a cold sore for the first time in my life, so I guess I have HSV-1 (oral) herpes now too. The week before the coldsore appeared, I felt waves of dizziness (it felt as if I was on a ship in choppy waters). I was thinking that maybe it was swimmers ear (I've been spending plenty of time in the water this summer). But after reading that HSV-1 resides around inner ear nerves, it has me wonderring if the dizziness was a prodome symptom of the HSV-1 outbreak... the coldsore.

Has anyone else with HSV-1 experienced an issue with balance before an outbreak?

Answer:
Wow, that is weird. I have had coldsores for years, and never experienced THAT before, but you know, everyone is different. Maybe you just now contracted it? That is why it is so strong (the prodomme sensations?)

I would say it is more likely swimmers ear, but I don't know for sure. Perhaps someone else here has had this experience?

For me, sometimes I get an itchy tingly feeling on my lips. But there will be nothing there. Then I will wake up the next day and lo and behold, a little blister will have formed somewhere on my lips/mouth. It will hurt to the touch....

But other than that, I Don't seem to recall any dizziness...maybe a headache, but that is it.

Is the dizziness gone now? If not, go to a doctor just to make sure it is nothing else!! keep us posted!

Answer:
As I said in the last post, I know for a fact that I didn't have HSV--1 before, (I know this because when I cam down with HSV-2 my doctor administerred blood tests and I came up negative for HSV-1, but positive for HSV-2). And the boyfriend who I dated last was positive for HSV-1, so I'm pretty sure that I just caught it, and that I caught it from him.

In addition, I've noticed that lots of HSV-2 sufferers do not seem to experience spine-twisting lower back pain as a prodrome syndrome, so I think that I'm more sensitive to this symptom (which occurs as a result of where the virus resides). So, it seems to make a lot of sense that I would be sensitive to pain and/or other issues related to the new home of my HSV-1, (nerves around the inner ear).

In addittion, I know that it's not swimmers' ear since the dizziness resolved shortly after I noticed the cold sore and began taking my Acyclovir and upping my intake of Lysine supplements. Swimmers' ear is due to a baterial infection and would not have resolved itself without the help of antibiotics, so i know it's not that.

No worries, I went to the doctor today, explained the situation and new HSV blood tests were given. The doctor said that it was rare, but it probably was a prodrome symptom. What can I say? My nerve centers are SUPER sensitive. :wink:

Answer:
I wonder if someone can answer this question for me. I have Genital HSV 1. I caught it through oral sex with someone who had an oral cold sore right after. If the HSV 1 resides in the nerves in the ears, is that true even when you have it genitally? Just wondering.
Hopeful1234

Answer:
Good question!! I would like to know this too! It seems that it would still...hence the reason that 'typically" hsv1 outbreaks in the genital are pretty mild, compared to hsv2 in the genital reason. It would have to travel so much farther along the nerve line before actually erupting, seems like a lot of work for a little old virus....

would love though to hear the answer on this! :?: