Herpes Medication found in my husbands bag

[countrysidefields]

I have just found empty packets of tablets from an online pharmacy box dated 17th dec 2024 for anciclovir in my husbands laptop bag.
All the empty packets and packing was also in the box, like it was hidden in there.
When I googled that medication it's used for genital herpes. He doesn't and never has had cold sores.
I am obviously thinking the worst seeing how it was hidden away. Please don't judge me, I wasn't actually looking on purposes, I happened to come across it.
Am I right to be assuming the worst?

It’s used for cold sores too I take it not genital herpes, does he get cold spots?

My husband got chicken pox, really really bad. He was also over the top dramatic like he was gonna die 🙈 but he was given sane tablets. Anti viral they said. I’m assuming if your husband had chicken pox you would have noticed but just saying it’s not just for herpes? Ask him?

Personally i would do as you say you'll do; think it through first- how you'll react if he admits to extra-marital sex. You'll have choices, depending on the facts i suppose. Been there myself, so empathise...

If it was just for a cold sore you’d get a cheap cream from the chemist, this was from an on-line chemist so I assume you can’t get the medication from a chemist and he didn’t want to get a GP appointment.

I've been on it for 20 plus years for zoster which is shingles on the face. I haven't had an outbreak in years but GP not happy to let me come off it. Maybe your husband's been on it so long he doesn't think to mention it ?

What a completely unnecessary nasty comment. Let people gather their thoughts in a safe place without this judgement.

Maybe you could do some additional research before you raise this, otherwise he would deny anything because he loves you, but you could end up even more suspicious? I know its bad but check his phone and bank details :-) good luck! I've been there

He'll probably deny it, get mad at you and say it was you that's cheating or gave it to him.

People asking if it could be for your kids... If my husband did that and never thought to tell me I'd have just as big issue with that

Acyclovir can be used for shingles and lip sores. The virus can lay dormant for years before it happens again

The main issue, I gather from your post,is why he hasn't told you. The secrecy leads to suspicion. If he had any illness that was common and he needed medication he would surely have told you. Not that I'm suggesting anything sinister but it would certainly raise doubt in my mind being hidden. The only way to get answers is to confront him

I had this for shingles. Having said that, the fact he's hidden them says he's hiding something. You also need to get checked out. Herpes can be dormant in your system for years, so try not to think the worst. It may be herpes from a long ago partner. Again, this is why you must get checked out.

I too have had this item for shingles
My hubby has also taken it for shingles
My hubby never told a soul beyond me and his Dr as he was adamant that people would judge
You need to know the facts before jumping to conclusions
I hope it all works out for you

Herpes meds and no sex at home, definitely sounds like he's cheating on you. Wise up! Anyone in a healthy relationship discusses health issues and the medication they're taking. I'd spy on him rather than confront him immediately. If you approach him now, he'll just accuse you of being paranoid. Good luck X

Hope tonight goes okay, OP

I have recurring shingles on the surface in my eye, get it when I'm run down etc. maybe once every couple of years but if it was something like thst he'd have told you I assume.

As a lot of previous posters mentioned and you said yourself OP, if it were any of these things he would just tell you when he got whatever the symptom was.

The herpes zoster family of loveliness includes, as everyone has said, cold sores, genital sores, rashes of skin, sores of the eye... But they don't move around the body, so once the eye always the eye. Once a cold sore, always on the lips, etc. Doesn't mean you can't collect them all like Pokemon I guess but if you get it once, it can recur in the same part of your body when you are unwell or stressed out or so on. This means he could have had it as a teen and it hasn't flared for a decade; it doesn't imply he cheated necessarily. Still not good but if he says it's that it might be.
Apologies if this is not relevant now OP, I'm rather late to the thread.

Does he know shingles is from chicken pox reactivation? Nothing to do with genital herpes/colds sores etc and definitely nothing anyone would judge!

Good luck for tonight. You are a lot calmer than I would have been in your circumstances. I can’t think of an innocent explanation that would also explain hiding it in afraid.

Thinking of you after reading all this
hoping he can tell you the truth
we here for you x

Still be safe get yourself checked

My daughter was prescribed this for a post viral rash. She wasn’t ill and just had a rash. Likely she had a mild virus and it’s caused post viral symptoms. It was quite embarrassing for her as she’s only young. Dermatologist said it can just appear. So could be another explanation

I wouldn't over react, herpes is an extremely common condition that can be dormant for decades before you even realise you have it, for all you know he could have got it from you if you're a asymptomatic. I think the fact he has gone for support and received medication for it shows he is trying to manage his symptoms and attempt to reduce transmitting the virus to you, he is maybe feeling worried about how you'll react or that his life may implode.

Remember it's an STD that pharmaceutical company's drilled into the public was HORRIFIC so they could make money. When really it's just a cold sore in an area that society deems unacceptable ... but wouldn't if it was on someone's face. It's really a very boring, unimportant virus.

I got genital herpes for the very first time over Christmas. I’m 48 and in a faithful marriage. My husband had a cold sore and we had oral sex.
i got my treatment from Superdrug as I was embarrassed and the timing meant Drs and Sexual Health clinics were shut. It is honestly the most painful thing I have dealt with in a long time - like fire ants biting me down there!!
My husband was devastated that he’d given it to me.
Just pointing out there may be a logical explanation as so many people have said. Maybe he had had it when he was younger and it flared up. I’m now resigned to the fact it can happen again to me in the future.

So to play devil's advocate here, I've used super drug online before for my sister. She had a mouth abcess and needed antibiotics and couldn't find a dentist quickly. I went on there, filled in the questionnaire that I believed I'd been exposed to a std, paid for the metronidazole and job was a good one.....I mean, it could be as simple as that! He's done it for a friend or family member. Yeah it looks bad but does he have a bestie that's a bit naughty? Maybe they're playing away and can't have it delivered to their home?? Unless you ask and have the conversation then there is a thousand situations. Calm and cool. After decades together, you'll know the second he gives the explanation. xx

I was prescribed Aciclovir tablets for shingles, they are also prescribed for the Herpes Simplex virus which obviously includes cold sores and genital herpes.
In your position I would be straight with DH. My first question would be to ask him if he’s been unwell recently, if so what? Then you could lead up to the empty packet of this medication in his laptop case.
I would never be complacent as to think my DH and I were not having a sex life because I thought ‘we were in a rut’. It’s a natural and vital part of a loving relationship and if we weren’t having sex I’d be wondering why. You need to address this with him too.
If he’s been unfaithful I think you both need to sit down and have a very serious and open conversation as to why.
I wish you luck and hope there’s a simple explanation, if there is please take this as a close call and get your sex life back on track, it’s important in a loving relationship. If he has been unfaithful which resulted in catching herpes only you can decide whether you can continue in your marriage, I’m not sure I could.

Agreed but, OP, would he not have mentioned it if he got a cold sore for the first time? Or chicken pox? Or shingles? Spouses do tend to mention things like this to each other, surely?

In your position, the very first thing I would do is take a photo of the boxes (with his name on them if it’s there) and exactly where you found them. Then tuck them back inside so you don’t alert him before you need to. Get yourself an urgent appointment at the sexual health clinic. Is there a date on the medication to show when it was issued? If so, start looking at bank statements and phone bills leading up to that date. How IT savvy is he? Would he know how to clear cookies and delete search history?

Then you need to talk to him. Do it when you’re not going to be interrupted and when your DC won’t be able to hear you. Tell him you’ve recently discovered something and if he’s honest with you, you’ll be prepared to listen, but he has one chance, and if he lies to you now, you’ll know, and there will be consequences. Then look at his face.

I’m so sorry OP, it’s bloody shit. I hope it’s something like a cold sore you’ve completely forgotten about.