I Gave Myself Herpes?

[nightmer.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the probably simple questions, but I keep finding conflicting information and my brain is fried from Googling.

I've had cold sores since childhood (presumably HSV-1) but haven't had a sore show up in a good 7-8 years.  Unfortunately, a small one showed up last week and I didn't really notice and probably touched it without thinking.

Yesterday a bump showed up on my labia.  White, kind of like an un-pop-able pimple, and with a similar sting to a cold sore.  Looks like herpes to me, unfortunately.  Just to make sure, it is possible for me to give it to myself, correct?  I wouldn't have antibodies or anything? I could easily have been exposed to dormant herpes in the past but it's been several years since I last had a "risky" partner (current partner hadn't had sex before me and has never had cold sores).  The timing makes me assume it's related to the cold sore, but it's still strange to me that this could happen.

I will need to have the bump tested for virus while it's active, since a blood test would be inconclusive because of the oral herpes, right?

I know it's rarer for HSV-1 to cause genital herpes, but possible.  Are there any differences in symptoms or treatments for -1 versus -2?

Comments

[archangelbeth]

It is not impossible for you to give yourself HSV in a different location, and in fact, HSV-1 will happily jump to the genitals if it can. Normally, your antibodies would protect you extremely well, but if your immune system were sad for some reason, you could self-infect your genitals from your cold sore.

It's also possible to've gotten HSV-2 -- your (presumed) HSV-1 antibodies would protect about 40%, but that's even lower than your protection vs. HSV-1. The timing does seem doubtful, but if your immune system is lowered enough that you had an outbreak one place, you could get it in another.

(And if you have viral colonies hiding out in the upper and lower sections of the spine, it is very common, if you get an outbreak one place, to get it in the other as well. If your immune system is lowered enough to let the virus out of its hiding spot one place, it's lowered all over the body, basically.)

If you have both strains, a type-specific blood test (if I recall correctly, HerpeSelect is supposed to be a good one?) will show antibodies to both strains. If you have only one strain, from auto-infecting, then the blood test will show only the antibodies to that one strain. Testing the bump quickly would be your best bet for catching it while it would still be shedding active viral particles, yeah.

Far as I know, there are no differences in treatment, and few in symptoms.

Good luck!

[nightmer.livejournal.com]

I have a very, very weak immune system so that sounds like the likeliest case (I'm surprised I suppressed either virus for so long, considering). And I didn't know it could get into the spine - crap.

Thanks so much! You're always so helpful with things like this.

[archangelbeth]

Oh, the spine is normal for HSV! That's where it hangs out so the immune system can't kill it (lower spine area for genital HSV, high up stuff for oral HSV); the virus-killing cells can't get into the spine, so there's a reservoir of virus holed up there. Every now and then, the HSV suppresses your immune system a little and runs down the nerves to the skin to shed viral particles. Meanwhile, the immune system plants... which are the "alarm" cells? T-cells? In the nerve ending/dendrite things, if I recall the terminology correctly. Anyway, these T-cells are hanging out where they can raise the alert more quickly when the virus shows up again. It's actually kinda fascinating.

If your immune system is weak, check your D levels! (I've told you this before, right? O:> ) My getting-sick got much less frequent once I started taking extra D. (Unless I slack off. Then I get sick and it can linger. O:p )

And definitely try to make sure you don't rub your eyes when you're having an outbreak; HSV can get to the eyes. (Cue Beth going WAUGH when she read that tidbit, seeing's how I've got oral HSV too...)

[nightmer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the spine thing was confusing me. So it can move to the spine on it's own, but it doesn't generally move from say, mouth to eyes or genitals without being transferred via fingers?

D as in vitamin D? I'll check that out. Diabetes makes me more prone to everything, it seems. Unfortunately it'll be a few days before I can get to any doctor, grr.

Do you know anything about transmission? My bf isn't that concerned about getting it, but I'd still like to avoid it if possible. Of course we're making sure he doesn't contact any sores, but everything is saying that soap and water will kill the virus, but I can't figure out if it's risky if he say, touches my face and then washes his hands.

Haha, totally agree about being fascinated with medical problems. It certainly makes it easier to read about them if it's something interesting. XD

[archangelbeth]

It latches onto nerves on the skin surface and races up to get into the spine before the immune system kills it, yes. And then it pretty much just uses those nerves as the "highway" -- so that's why outbreaks generally appear only at or near the spot of the first outbreak. Without being moved via fingers, it doesn't head elsewhere in the body generally, no. (Though the facial nerves are so close up together that there may possibly perhaps be a slightly increased risk of something hopping over. Maybe. Possible. Perhaps. I'd have to look that up a lot.) It can also go, via fingers, into the mucous membranes of the nose. Fun, fun, fun.

D as in vitamin D, yup! You can probably just take an extra D-pill every day that you remember, if you don't go out in the sun a lot. It is possible to overdose on D, but it's difficult, said my doctor.

Transmission... Well, there's about a 5% risk (give or take some percents based on individual situation) of asymptomatic shedding -- basically, being contagious without a cold sore or bump showing. So there is always a risk. You can take a daily dose of antiviruals (acyclovir for choice, 'cause it's cheaper) to reduce this chance further. Touching your face and washing his hands before he touches his own face or genitals should be quite cautious -- and it won't live very long on a dry surface anyway.

You might want to see if he can get a blood test. If he has antibodies already, that would protect him a lot. Case in point being my spouse, who thinks he got cold sores as a kid. I try to avoid contacting his mucous membranes when I have an outbreak, but at least once after doing some oral stuff, I wandered into the bathroom and AUGH MY LIP IS SWOLLEN DANGIT! But he has shown no evidence of any outbreaks, so presumably his immune system has fought off the additional invaders. ("Ah-ha! We recognize you! Those wigs don't do a thing. Avast, scoundrel viruses!")

Helpful, I hope?