Question:
I have a question. I have genital herpes, and although my ob's have subsided considerably, the site where they occur when I do get them always seems to be sensitive. I can't say it's actually painful, more like sort of jabby, as if the nerves are irritated. It's sensitive to the touch, or when I sit for long periods of time it bothers me, yet when I look (and I do... often) there's absolutely nothing there. I don't get itching or tingling, and it's not like the prodome symptoms I get sometimes, because that's almost always accompanied by a headache. And it's only since my last ob (about a month ago) that I've noticed this, but it's almost every day. Is this common, and if so, does anyone have an explanation for it? Are the nerves damaged at that site or something? And does it mean I'm contagious all the time? Frankly, I'm baffled.

Answer:
I've had that off and on.

My opinion is that what you are experiencing is the nerves still being touchy or tender. I can't say how long you will have it but for me it lasted awhile and then subsided and periodically re surfaces for a few days and recedes again. I think it is that the virus is having some type of activity there and that is when I'm cautious about contact with my partner.

I wish I knew for sure and could give you a definitive answer but since my dr can't answer the question for me and there is no day to day test to identify shedding it is the best I can give.

I use the antiviral meds, take daily vitamin supplements and it still happens. I can say that over time the sensation gets to be less often and ob's are less often. I do think that diet and levels of stress have the biggest effect.

Answer:
Thanks, Caliope. That makes sense.