I have Herpetic Whitlow
Posted on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I have had Herpetic Whitlow on my left thumb for 12 years. I contracted it back in 1996 and I have no idea how. I have been struggling living with this debilitating disease and I find it really hard to care for my two children. I constantly wear latex gloves when bathing or changing them and am still in fear of giving this to them. From what I understand, in-tact skin doesn’t shed, so as long as I am not currently having an outbreak, I am not contagious. But I struggle with this aspect and even when I am not experiencing an outbreak, I still wear the gloves.
When I first got this, I was breaking out on an average of every other month, it was awful. But then my doc put me on Famvir, 500 mg, twice daily. Over the years, my OBs have become less frequent. I believe this is due to the Famvir and the virus getting weaker over time. I broke out a week before my first daughter was born, which sucked and then two years went by and I hadn’t broken out at all until I was pregnant with my second child. Then, I broke out at 7 months pregnant and again a week before the birth of my daughter. Luckily, I have a very caring and understanding husband who was willing to do all of the bathing and changing until my outbreaks healed.
This may sound completely ignorant, but I honestly feel that if I had Herpes genitally or orally, I wouldn’t struggle with this as much. For the simple fact that I would still be able to change diapers, bathe my children and interact freely with them without concern. Having this on my hand is very hard to deal with when having children. – M
I am FREAKING OUT. Seriously and fully. This weekend I felt pain in my finger, by Monday I went to the ER, when the DR walked in, she looked, and said “thats herpetic whitlow” … so after grilling her and being all over the web, I am still confused.
Can I infect myself on other parts of my body ? Like not to get graphic, but if I wipe, can I give myself genital herpes ??
Should I go to my Dr. and request immediately going on antibiotics forever ?
So many questions, I will leave it at two for now…
Are you sure it is whitlow? Did the dr take a culture? Do you think you have been exposed to the virus???
If it is whitlow – go get anti virals like acyclovir and keep ypur finger bandaged. As long as there are blisters present you are infectious.
But once it goes away you are no longer infectious unless there is a recurrence — which doctors say is very unusual…
Keep it away from your mouth and genitals and just wait till it is all gone…
I got my whitlow almost 2 montha ago and my finger hasnt totally healed….but im not freaking out..just kinda sux while it is active thats all…
Feel better….and good luck.
Xo
Pupie Thanks for the message. I seriously feel so freaking bad though :( I have not been sexually active in almost 3 years, and know that I do not have any other form of herpes. Which means that I got this thru it being somewhere that I was, a shopping cart, the Y, anwhere. It would be one thing to say, hey I participated in the risky behavior, I have to live with the outcome… but WTF.. I am a single mom of two little ones, I am afraid to touch them. :o( Not to mention the fact that I am freaking out about my kids touching anything in public. And how the Freak do you explain this to anyone without them looking at you all funny. I swear the more I write the more depressed I get.
ps. I did not have it cultured, but I am pretty sure that is what it is. I can’t see it being anything else. Definitely not dry skin etc.
You should have it checked. I was sure I had it as well, but upon speaking with a doctor he said it was probably Dyshidrotic Eczema. I looked up some pictures and they look very similar. I haven’t found out for sure, but it is worth having it cultured when you have an outbreak to make certain. We both may be worrying for nothing.