Genital herpes transmission/ suppression questions

[isab31]

Hi. I was diagnosed with HSV 2 about 8 months ago, this was done via positive culture while having blisters. I have been taking aciclovyr as suppressive therapy since. I am not sure whether I have had an outbreak as such since. I certainly have had no visible blisters but have had occassions where discharge seems more prominent. I was just wondering how likely it is that I will pass it on to a non infected partner if no condoms are used and sex is avoided during any visible symptoms. Does anyone have experience of being on suppressive therapy but still transmitting? Also, is aciclovyr as effective as valtrex as this appears to be the drug that has been used in the studies. Many thanks

[tedabell]

I thought I was freaking out grace has a lot to say about stress and diet she says that it doesn't play a part in outbreaks but maybe some people bodies are sensitive to certain foods and sweets. At one point I was eating excessive amounts of chocolate and I started feeling an outbreak coming on in as little as two days. However I still endulge in my snacks but the outbreaks just aren't that bad. They were really bad when I wasn't taking medication. At times I get alot of backache, itching, pain and irritaion in the vaginal area. Sometimes it feels like an outbreak is getting ready to happen. Like right now it feels like one is getting ready to come on. That's why I like to take my tablets at the same time everytime. It seems like the longer you wait to take your next tablet the symptoms start to come. I don't now about your symptoms but that is how my symptoms start.I hope I don't get an outbreak but my period is due on Friday that is probably why I feel like an outbreak is about to come on. Sometimes I get a outbreak while I'm on my period or just before it get ready to come on it's very annoying.

[wonderwoman08]

Everybody is different. I actually started taking lysine for the past two months and no outbreaks but this past weekend i went chocolate crazy from candy bars to cookies etc. and i got an OB in the last two days.

[gracefromHHP]

you have to know the difference between worthwhile research and articles that just continue the myths about herpes.  they are actually using arginine now to treat herpes which just even further disproves the lysine/arginine theory that was actually disproven over 15 years ago I think it was.  very few people have dietary triggers for their herpes so no reason to change your diet unless you notice a direct correlation between a certain food and ob's through a food diary. Of course eating healthy in general is best for the body - it's something I practice myself by eating a vegetable and whole grain based diet however no difference in herpes shedding rates or ob's in folks who eat "healthy" and those who think food comes from a drive through .

   Stress has been proven over and over again to not be a trigger for herpes ob's either though of course keeping your stress level down when you can is a good idea for your body as a whole.  we try really hard though here on this forum to make sure it's recommending proven treatments for herpes that have sound research behind them.  we also don't like to waste people's money by making them think they need to take multiple supplements either. we stress the proven treatments and educate with proven recommendations.  we also support folks and educate them on herpes, plenty of other places to go for whole mind and body changes that are good for the body in general.

grace

[tedabell]

Grace i don't know how many times I am going to stress to you about diet and remaining stress free. I understand what you are saying about you diet you told me earlier that diet and stress really aren;t factors for outbreaks to some degree I believe you. I been on daily suppressive theraphy for about 5 months know. I contracted HSV2 in August 2008. I didn't start my medication until June 2010 stop and then started back in September2010 and I been taking it ever since.Grace I got to give you credit in this area even if you aren't a doctor. I been living this Genital Hepes for almost 3years now and I know so much about it by reading and understanding my body as well as my ractions. Grace the reason why I continue to talk about stress an diet is because when I was first noticed my intial outbreak and other outbreaks afterwards I was under tremendous amounts of stress and I was eating alot of junkfood at the time and when I started to cut backfrom those things it seemed like the outbreaks began to decrease. Don't get me wrong it varies with each and every individual. Grace i am not saying that you are wrong about what you sid about diet and stress because I am still eating oreos and potatoe chips and icecream etc but I read an article about genital herpes that said something about chocolate it was considered a trigger so that is why I cut down on it grace and gelatin is not a good idea because it causes flare ups also. The artcle mentioned that herpes thrives off of chocolate and gelatin it produces more outbreaks. Grace I am learning alot about this disease and I;m seeing tremendous improvement from the things that I am doing to keep it under control.

[gracefromHHP]

when I say anything going on genitally, I meant more like the obvious stuff - redness, irritation, frequent urination, abnormal discharge , open cuts etc.  If you have to get out the mirror and inspect yourself because you don't feel anything, it's not something you have to worry about ( and I don't recommend daily mirror inspections either! ).

it will get easier in time - this is still relatively new for you.  you already are doing a lot to protect your partner by taking daily suppressive therapy and just being aware of your body!!  Focus on the positives about this , not just the negatives :)

hang in there!

[gracefromHHP]

lysine really isn't effective for herpes. neither are any herbal teas or vitamins.  obviously the book you have at home is one of those that just reprints info they find online without making sure first that there is quality research to back it :(  

you are not having ob's because you are on suppressive therapy, not because of your diet or supplements.

grace