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?

Me too.

I’m sorry you are going through this .

If I were you I would be thinking the worst. I can’t imagine him secretly getting medication for a cold sore . I’m pretty sure Superdrug online do STD checks too , so it could well be he had a test and was told he needed medication.

I agree with others - take a pic so he can’t deny and get yourself tested x

It doesn't sound good. He has been going to great lengths to hide it.
If he had shingles, you would know about it - it is quite obvious and makes you feel awful. Plus, he would mention if he had a doctor's appointment if it was for something innocent, wouldn't he?
I really hope I am wrong though OP. Good luck. What a worry for you.

OP , I have prescribed aclivoir as I suffer with herpes outbreaks ( on my leg) and have done for 20 years . Never had genital herpes . It could be something like this. But I would wonder why he hasn't mentioned it. I feel like absolute shit when I have an outbreak, and everyone knows about it !

Genital herpes is something that can just come about. It doesn’t mean he’s been cheating. He could have had an inactive exposure to it and then somethings triggered it like being unwell or stress. Even years later.

I order large packs of aciclovir online for cold sore outbreaks. Nobody would know I have them because I take the tablets as soon as I feel them coming on. Perhaps similar for your DH OP?

If he has ever had herpes before, if he has a weakened immune system, he can get a flare up. It doesn’t have to mean he shagged someone and caught it (recently). Just thought I’d raise the possibility.

I suffer with genital herpes. When I have an outbreak and am prescribed aciclovir it is 5 tablets a day for 5 days.

I hope it is innocent and you are both okay.

Ask him. Simple as.

This medication treats various infections.

This guy had 45 tablets 3 times a day soo that's 15 days worth.....

Good luck. I get it on my shoulder and take a suppressive dose. If he hasn't been wanting to sleep with you, it might explain why. Hope the talk goes well and well done for collecting your thoughts first!

Good luck OP

Asymptomatic shedding means there are no precursors, and a test can find the virus on the skin when the person feels nothing. This only happens in some people, mostly in the first six months. After a year or so, if a person is not having many episodes, they will rarely have virus on the skin without symptoms. Many episodes means more than 6 recurrences a year.

He is probably just looking after all those boxes for a friend.

This is just the patient information leaflet. A quick Google confirms they only supply for genital herpes.

It does seem secretive and I would also think herpes and cheating in this situation- otherwise why not discuss it?

OP I would still do a clinic check up or even a postal kit as you could potentially be at risk of other infections.

Herpes blood test is of little value as it can’t tell if it’s cold sores so will just raise anxiety and be a cost for no benefit.

https://herpes.org.uk could be helpful for more information plus they have a phone line.

No they really don't, here is the page for coldsore prescriptions on superdrug, and the page where coldsore treatments offered specifically outline acyclovir as the medication.

I should know, I was directed to them, by my own GP, and have ordered them from their coldsore section for years.

Just a general FYI. If a partner/spouse enters into a new relationship and has genital herpes, even if it’s been dormant for years, it is immoral not to
share that information in my book.
If the DH had it before his marriage, he should never have hidden it. Yes, it’s embarrassing but it gives the other person a choice and is far, far more common than you realise.
I used to work on a health project for young people and so found out an awful lot, and kept up with it all out of interest.
Genital herpes can have a devastating effect for young women in society in particular, which is wrong, and can cause serious complications for a baby during pregnancy and childbirth, so keeping it from
a partner if you know have it is seriously not on.
Some people are carriers who have no symptoms and pass it on without knowing, by the way, so if you do know, hiding it is really unfair.
I hope OP gets some much-needed answers.

Do you ever get coldsores? You can develop HSV1 on your genitals if your partner gets coldsores on thier mouth (which are most contagious just before the sore appears). HSV can also lay dormant for a long time.

Keeping it secret doesn't look good though. I bet he has either cheated and thinks he's caught it from that, or thinks he has caught them as a result of you cheating and he's getting his ducks in a row.

I was surprised no one else brought this up.

Is the no sex being driven by him? Does he normally start things? If he's aware he has an active infection then he could well be deliberately avoiding it to avoid discovery or passing it onto you.

If I was the wife, the secrecy would be a major trigger for me.

I'm sorry you are going through the stress of this situation.

This is my prescription- like I say 5 times a day for 5 days

It’s a different consultations/question for herpes / cold sore

but the treatment is the same