I Think I Have Herpes

I Think I Have Herpes

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The thought of you having a herpes outbreak comes cross your mind. You quickly erase the thought from your mind. You would die if you have herpes, but the symptoms are clear.
Go get a PCR (swab) or IgM/IgG (blood test) test. If you any symptoms have the doctor perform a PCR and you will receive immediate results. If you don’t have symptoms get a IgM and IgG blood test. The IgM will determine the first sign of antibodies, that will let you know it’s a new infection. The IgG will present if you had the herpes simplex virus for 12 to 16 weeks prior to the blood test. Please don’t self-diagnose. It’s very easy to become a WebMD doctor.
You want to know the symptoms of herpes:
Blisters/sores: they can look like paper cuts, pimples, rash, razor bumps, or lesions (sidenote these don’t have to hurt)
Itching (all over, face, mouth, genitals, thighs)
Swollen lymph nodes: neck or genital area
Aching legs, back, thighs or a headache
I was scared out my mind to get tested as well. You want to confirm that you have herpes before treating it as herpes. You will be shock other STDs have similar symptoms such as HPV, Bacterial Vaginosis, or Yeast Infection. You want to get treated for your symptoms that is present at the time.
You thinking it’s not herpes will change the fact that you may have the virus. It better to know than living in denial.
This is the biggest mistake that happens to individuals living with herpes. Your doctor performs a swab examine and state it don’t look like herpes. Don’t allow them to discourage you. You may have to push your doctor to test you for herpes by swab and blood test. You will learn that many doctors will try to persuade you from testing for herpes. They will tell you that it’s very common and it doesn’t matter. They will tell you everyone has herpes and it’s no big deal. You want to stress to your doctor you want to know your status and trust he/she will help you determine that.
I had my best friend to help me through this process. It took 3 days before I received my test results. If you want to read my story. Order my book today.
I will strongly suggest you have a friend, family member, or partner to support you. You will need someone that will not judge you or make you feel rejected. If you don’t have anyone, I would love to support you. You can schedule an session with me today.

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Learn about the herpes viruses. There are two types of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both can be considered genital herpes, since both types can be spread to the genitals. However, HSV-2 is far more common on the genitals. HSV-1 is the strain most common on the lips and mouth, but it can be spread through oral sex, just like HSV-2. [3]
X
Research source
Agabegi, S. (2013). Step-up to medicine (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

There are ways to effectively treat the symptoms of both strains when they happen, though there is no cure.
Treatment is an important part of managing the disease. If you don't treat genital herpes, you may spread the disease to others (including your baby, if you're pregnant), experience bladder inflammation, notice rectal inflammation and in severe cases, get meningitis.

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Watch for symptoms approximately 2 weeks after contracting herpes. While it may take a while for the first outbreak to appear, it's usually worse than outbreaks that come later. You may not know that you've been exposed to the disease, so pay particular attention to any symptoms you start to develop. General flu symptoms are signs of the infection. These might include fever, muscle aches, decreased appetite and fatigue. See a doctor if you think you're experiencing your first herpes outbreak. [4]
X
Research source
Domino, F. (n.d.). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).

[5]
X
Research source
Agabegi, S. (2013). Step-up to medicine (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

It may be difficult for some people to realize they've been exposed since it can take so long for symptoms to show up. Or, the because the disease can be spread through people that don't show obvious symptoms of herpes.

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Watch for redness and itching. After you've had sexual contact, pay attention to any redness or itching on your genitals or around your mouth. You may also notice tingling and hot skin at the affected area. A few days later, you may also see a rash or outbreak of herpes on your skin. [6]
X
Research source
Domino, F. (n.d.). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).

You should also be aware of some external factors that may contribute to the outbreak after infection. These can include: [7]
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Research source
Domino, F. (n.d.). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).

Trauma, stress, or menses. These can release cortisol, adrenaline, and other stress hormones or dramatically change the levels of hormones in your body. Any of these may lower your body's ability to fight infection. This gives the herpes virus an opportunity to become an outbreak.
Burning and itching before an outbreak (known as a prodrome). Reducing the itching and burning as herpes is on the verge of breaking out can speed up the outbreak. Scratching once the outbreak has happened can lead to more outbreaks and spread the virus.
Sunlight and fever. Sunlight exposes your body to ultraviolet radiation which can irritate the skin and compromise the underlying cells, giving an opportunity for a herpes outbreak. A fever or cold compromises your immune system so your body can't suppress the infection, which leads to an outbreak.

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Look for blisters or on and around the genitals. You may notice small blisters (bulla or vesicles) appear approximately 6 to 48 hours after other symptoms emerge. [8]
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Research source
Domino, F. (n.d.). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).

If the blisters break open and become ulcers, you'll see that they're filled with straw-colored liquid. Look for more blisters on the lips, mouth, eyes, tongue and other parts of your body. You may feel a tingling sensation in the area before a blister appears. However you may have no blisters or symptoms at all.

On women, blisters can appear on the labia, vagina, anus, cervix, buttocks and thighs. Ulcers usually heal within 7 to 14 days.
On men, blisters generally appear on the scrotum, penis, buttocks and thighs.

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Notice any painful urination. During an outbreak, urinating can be very painful. If you're having trouble emptying your bladder during an outbreak, as some women report, get medical attention. [9]
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Women should also look for non-specific vaginal discharge (any unnatural or unusual discharge that you're not used to). It may be clear, white, or off-white pale and may also have an odor, although this is different from woman to woman.
Keep in mind that vaginal discharge is not a diagnosing symptom for herpes, but it is a possible symptom that, along with other symptoms, may help diagnose herpes. [10]
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Research source

[11]
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Trustworthy Source

PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source

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Visit your doctor or clinic for tests. It's important to know that routine STD tests do not test for herpes, so you will need to specifically ask for a herpes test. If you're currently experiencing an outbreak, the doctor can conduct a swab test, where a sterile swab is dabbed gently on the sore and sent to a lab for testing. Your doctor can use the culture to test for herpes. Your initial tests might include lab and imaging tests. [12]
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Research source
Domino, F. (n.d.). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).

If you are not having an outbreak, you will need a blood test. However this test is best administered 3-4 months after exposure to herpes, since it tests for antibodies (your immune system's response to infection). [13]
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Research source

Usually the diagnosis is through a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based swab test. A synthetic swab is rubbed vigorously over abnormal skin, placed in a liquid and sent to the lab. Then, using specialized laboratory techniques, the sample is amplified many times to see if the patient has herpes.
In some cases you doctor could do a herpes type-specific antibody test. This test uses an antibody to specifically target and determine whether the infection is HSV-1 or HSV-2. 50% of infected individuals usually test positive within 3 weeks after infection. If you've been infected for more than 16 weeks, this test will almost always prove positive.
Your doctor may also consider a PCR swab of lesion test. A sterile swab is used to vigorously swab the base of the lesion— applying enough pressure to collect epithelial cells without causing bleeding—and collect vesicular fluid. This is then sent to the lab for diagnosis.

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Treat your symptoms with antiviral herpes medications. If you test positive for herpes, your doctor will prescribe medications help to suppress the virus and its symptoms. Medication also reduces the risk of spreading the herpes simplex virus to others. Start treatment immediately or as soon as possible and take them according to your doctor's directions. Antiviral herpes medications include: [14]
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Research source
Domino, F. (n.d.). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).

Acyclovir. This is a first-line drug for genital lesions or frequent lesions on the labia from herpes. It can also be used topically to treat inflammation on eyes infected with herpes. Acyclovir is considered fairly safe in pregnant and nursing women and it's also used for pediatric cases.
Penciclovir. This is a cream that is used as a first-line medication to treat oral lesions topically.
Valacyclovir. This is a first-line medication used to treat primary and recurrent genital herpes.
Foscarnet. This is considered a second-line medication and is used when there is a resistance to the preferred first-line medication acyclovir. This can happen in immunocompromised individuals suffering from a systemic herpes infection. [15]
X
Research source
Agabegi, S. (2013). Step-up to medicine (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

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Manage your herpes by taking control of your situation. Read up on herpes and learn about the virus and the infection. The more you understand about what is going on in your body, the easier it will be to cope and deal with flare-ups and breakouts. Herpes is well-documented and highly-researched. There is ongoing research in this area and new treatments may on the way.
Your doctor will also have many recommendations and can keep you up to date on the latest medications available to you.

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Avoid spreading the infection. Take time to explain your condition to your sexual partners before you engage in behaviour that could transmit herpes -- this talk can be combined with a sexual health talk. Take precautionary measures to avoid further spreading the virus. These may come from lifestyle changes. For example, learn to recognise early signs of an outbreak, and consider exploring sexual practices that will not involve your outbreak site during these times. Use a condom in-between outbreaks. [16]
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Trustworthy Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

Go to source

If you touch a herpes sore, particularly when you are newly diagnosed, wash your hands with soap and water - your body will not possess antibodies for a few months and you could accidentally spread it to your eyes or mouth. If you have an active cold sore on your mouth, don't kiss anyone. [17]
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Research source

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Check for high risk factors. Realize that many people with genital herpes live without symptoms for a long period of time. Using high risk factors to determine your need for a test can help with early treatment. Factors that increase your risk of getting herpes include:

Immunocompromised states. A compromised immune system on its own won't give you herpes, but it will make it harder for your body to protect itself and fight an infection or breakout. Illness, stress, AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and even old age can be factors may make you more vulnerable to infection by the herpes HSV-1/HSV-2 virus.
Atopic eczema in children (also known as atopic dermatitis). Eczema is a common itchy skin disorder, but if eczema skin is infected with herpes, it can lead to a serious skin condition.
Occupational workplace exposure. Some professions that are exposed to the virus may be at higher risk of getting herpes. For example, dental health providers are at higher risk of contracting HSV-1, resulting in an extremely painful infection of the hand. [18]
X
Research source
Domino, F. (n.d.). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).

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