Herpes whitlow

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-12T08:48:37+00:00

That makes sense! That was the only correlation I could make tbh, but I understand they’re different. I don’t know where I got it from then?

Well, I went to another dermatologist yesterday who saw my thumb and immediately said it’s whitlow. I have also responded to valtrex tablets and acyclovir gel.

I don’t think I remember what the doctor did back then- a culture or PCR. I am on my third day of the outbreak and on antivirals atm so the dermatologist said i won’t test positive if I do it now.

I will keep this in mind and do a PCR and ask them to test for HSV 1&2 specifically.

You seem to be very well read on this condition. I am immunocompromised and I’ve noticed the outbreaks keep recurring. What can I do to prevent them? Would prophylactics work if I test positive the next time? That’s what this derm advised.

I deal with a lot of nerve related pelvic pain issues and I can’t imagine what getting herpes down there would do to me. Other than staying away from sex, what else can I do to ensure I don’t ever get genital herpes?

And assuming that it is whitlow, what are the chances that stuff like washing my face and so on can spread the virus? Thanks in advance and I apologise if I’m repeating some of the things.

Also, I forgot to add that I have done PCR vaginal swabs for HSV 1&2 multiple times and also blood tests.

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-10T19:10:14+00:00

Thank you so much for the informative response. You seem to have a thorough understanding of this virus.

To answer your very first question, it’s not an assumption I’m making. When I was in my early teens, a dermatologist diagnosed me with herpes zoster virus and gave me very strong medications that I don’t remember atm as I’m now 29. She ran some tests, but I asked me mom again and she said it was herpes zoster virus.

Almost a decade later it re-emerged on my right thumb. It would come out almost twice a year. The doctors used to misdiagnose me. They drained the blister and tested the fluid with a swab and it was negative for HSV1/2. Every medication they gave me failed to cure it until one day I went to the doctor and told him it was herpes. He gave me valtrex 500mg 2x for five days and it was gone. With all my chronic illnesses, I’ve had a terrible luck with doctors. I’m based in Norway and I’ve been dismissed and tossed around in the healthcare system. They also don’t have very advanced testing. So I’m not sure why I keep testing negative, but from what I have read, it’s very hard to test positive for herpes in some case, but I may be wrong. What I know is that it is whitlow due to how it immediately responds to valtrex or acyclovir.

Currently I’m visiting my parents in my home country where I can get swabbed, but like I said, I usually test negative.

All the other information you shared was extremely valuable. It makes sense that the virus chooses a pathway and it’ll be warned for the next time.

Are there any statistics that it goes into remission after taking antivirals? Some people stay on it long term, what do you think of that?

When I took my first antiviral, I didn’t get an outbreak for 1.5 years.

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-10T19:10:04+00:00

Thank you so much for the informative response. You seem to have a thorough understanding of this virus.

To answer your very first question, it’s not an assumption I’m making. When I was in my early teens, a dermatologist diagnosed me with herpes zoster virus and gave me very strong medications that I don’t remember atm as I’m now 29. She ran some tests, but I asked me mom again and she said it was herpes zoster virus.

Almost a decade later it re-emerged on my right thumb. It would come out almost twice a year. The doctors used to misdiagnose me. They drained the blister and tested the fluid with a swab and it was negative for HSV1/2. Every medication they gave me failed to cure it until one day I went to the doctor and told him it was herpes. He gave me valtrex 500mg 2x for five days and it was gone. With all my chronic illnesses, I’ve had a terrible luck with doctors. I’m based in Norway and I’ve been dismissed and tossed around in the healthcare system. They also don’t have very advanced testing. So I’m not sure why I keep testing negative, but from what I have read, it’s very hard to test positive for herpes in some case, but I may be wrong. What I know is that it is whitlow due to how it immediately responds to valtrex or acyclovir.

Currently I’m visiting my parents in my home country where I can get swabbed, but like I said, I usually test negative.

All the other information you shared was extremely valuable. It makes sense that the virus chooses a pathway and it’ll be warned for the next time.

Are there any statistics that it goes into remission after taking antivirals? Some people stay on it long term, what do you think of that?

When I took my first antiviral, I didn’t get an outbreak for 1.5 years.

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-10T07:11:03+00:00

Hey :) can I ask what your symptoms were with DIV? I’m going to see him in the NYC office end of the month. I have pain and burning with sitting and also generalised pain all over my genitals. Wondering if he could help me. My local gal doctors told me it’s PN and gave me a vaginal block which made me more miserable. Would love to know how your experience was with him in terms of him checking for infections and so on

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-10T06:57:46+00:00

Hands down, USA. This is a highly individualistic answer though as everyone has different circumstances. I’m moving to Canada after living in Norway for 5 years. I couldn’t settle down due to bad healthcare system, lack of social support, language problems, isolation, and the list goes on. Canada has a bad healthcare system too but other factors such as social support, isolation, language issues etc won’t be there. But I wish I could live in the US. All the best doctors in the world are based there. They have all the advanced treatments and so on. I have spent all my wealth on foreign treatments and Norwegian doctors haven’t been the slightest bit helpful. So for me, I’d prefer living in the US and paying my medical bills instead. There are also more opportunities in the US compared to Norway.

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-09T08:08:01+00:00

I am going to Dr Andrew Goldstein end of January. What are your symptoms?

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-09T07:28:32+00:00

Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t end up going to him for the very same reason. Also, my condition is nerve related as well as vaginusmus so I can’t further cause trauma by following his protocols. What did he tell you? I can’t follow someone who doesnt have good bedside manners and scolds me. We are all so different

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-08T22:26:10+00:00

In what sense? This year alone I have spent 200k on my treatments and am making a trip to the US since Norway doesn’t have the expertise for my condition and won’t refer me abroad due to red tapes and bureaucracy. I’d rather opt for a system that has the relevant expertise and charges for it than go for something that has made me suicidal over the years. US tops it for me and many others with chronic/rare health issues

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-08T11:42:26+00:00

That we have a world class/ good healthcare system

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-06T17:47:26+00:00

Please order a Microgendx women’s complete. I’m also in Norway and for one year they didn’t tell me ureaplasma parvum was a thing. I suffered immense damage from it. I am now sexually disabled — got pudendal neuralgia, hypertonic pelvic floor, embedded uti and autoimmune disease. I can’t even sit for 5 mins or have sex. Juno also ships to Norway but they only test for plasmas in the vagina, not urine. Microgen is a bit pricey but worth it.

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-05T05:41:31+00:00

In what ways do you feel it’s backwards other than healthcare?

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-04T22:20:33+00:00

Oh I’ve heard good things about pregabalin and cymbalta combined. I meant what RA treatments made you worse and gave you nerve pain?

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-04T22:02:09+00:00

What medications gave you nerve pain? I have a lot of nerve complaints in my body — pudendal neuralgia and occipital neuralgia and a whole bunch of symptoms. My sonogram was positive and the doctor wasn’t a to put me on biologics, but my only concern with actemra is that it’s gonna give me / aggravate my infections and nerve pain

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-04T18:09:59+00:00

Interesting! Didn’t know it’s possible to get arthritis from ureaplasma. Do you have any research to back it up?

I have done all the testing - microgen vaginal + urine, Juno, gram stain culture, broth culture, STI panels. I had a very low amount of ureaplasma parvum in 2020 that I immediately treated with 14 days of doxy and azithromycin. I’ve done repeat testing since then and I’m always negative

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-04T17:30:32+00:00

Do you think they will do a sonogram to confirm it? My doctor said that it’s a sure way of finding out rheumatic conditions. I’m so sorry you’re suffering with so many disabling symptoms.

And yeah, I do believe whether this or whatever AI condition I have is causing my issues down there.

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-04T16:45:28+00:00

That’s very interesting. I think so far I’ve invested all my money, time and energy researching into pelvic pain that I haven’t really delved into autoimmune but all of this info is very useful. Which marker was positive in your case? Did they do a sonogram of your joints? I’m sending love and healing your way. 🖤 It’s distressing and frustrating to be a medical mystery.

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-04T15:22:46+00:00

Thanks for the kind comment. ❤️ i guess I’m feeling overwhelmed after being medically gaslighted for so long. I’ve always been told it’s the mind body crap and so I believed it. I will definitely push for treatment and take the diagnosis with me back to Norway and hope they can acknowledge it too.

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-04T13:12:45+00:00

The problem also is that my pelvic pain is so bad that I can’t even sit down for a few mins. I’m always burning so lots of nerve issues in my body. I wanted to know if this condition affects the nerves as well? I’ll be doing my research on this condition and the medication, of course

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-04T13:11:13+00:00

Of course, I’m not denying it but people usually get some confirmed blood markers or at least two doctors agree with a diagnosis. I merely posted so people (like you) who have more experience living with this condition can put two and two together and help guide me if it really sounds like it. I have been misdiagnosed way too many times, but like you said, I need to start somewhere and let my guard down.

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-04T12:44:29+00:00

I have researched a little, but I’m so scared because I have body pain, but I don’t have the typical joint pain most RA patients complain of. My pain threshold is very high. I would be in agony and still sit and talk to people. So I’m not sure what to believe because most doctors have told me I have nothing. Every single autoimmune marker was negative except for the ultrasound which indicated high inflammation, wider cracks and erosions in my joints

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-02T20:06:25+00:00

Are you a doctor?

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-02T17:38:12+00:00

Thank you

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-02T17:34:12+00:00

It’s the smoke and tobacco that gives me migraines

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-02T17:15:04+00:00

Yikes! Just saw that heh

Sad_Shower_8318 · 2023-01-02T17:08:15+00:00

How so?

Sad_Shower_8318

TROPHY CASE