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Living with HSV II for 20 years

I am a healthy 41 year old mother of 3 that was first diagnosed with HSV II in 1989. I am not sure exactly how I contracted this virus, because my boyfriend at the time, did not have any symptoms of HSV II. He had a cold sore on his upper lip every so often and I guess he had HSV I. I know that the first outbreak was horribly painful and I had blisters, fever and swollen lymph nodes. I am so thankful that the outbreaks experienced thereafter have all been much more tolerable. I have learned to live with this virus and know that stress in my life is the #1 trigger of an outbreak.  I typically have about 4- 8 outbreaks a year and I have never taken any medication on a daily basis to help suppress them. I have taken Valtrex over the years, but only took it to help shorten the duration of the outbreak. I also had it on hand to take if needed before any of my  3 vaginal deliveries, because I was aware of the potential risks of  having an outbreak and passing it on to my newborn. I am very interested in knowing more about which medicines today are good at helping to suppress the virus and to help eliminate viral shedding. I know  more research has been done in the past 20 years that gives more information on how some medications can help make the transmission rate of HSV II much lower. Also, I wanted to know if there is any research that might support whether a person was already more at risk of acquiring HSV 1 or 2 when this same person already had in their youth,  a bad case of chicken pox, mononucleosis, shingles and Epstein Barr Virus all before he/she was diagnosed with HSV II.
I am almost divorced after being married for 16 1/2 years and wanted to get the lastest information on HSV II,  especially before becoming sexually active again and how to approach this subject with a new sexual partner.  Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions for me.  
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55646 tn?1263660809
Thank, you Jenn, for you comments.  But from a scientific point of view, I must offer an alternative opinion.  Lysine, in multiple well done clinical trials, has not shown to impact the course of genital herpes outbreaks or recurrence rates, and no food or foods have been show in well done clinical trials to have any impact on the rate of herpes recurrences.  

Also, 95% of the US population over the age of 45 are positive for having had chicken pox and a very large percent have had mono, so that has nothing to do with the acquistion of genital herpes and does not predispose one to getting herpes.  

I do agree that there are good dating websites for people who have herpes if that's the route you chose.  

Just have to stick to the science so we keep it on the up and up!


Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

Reading your post was as if I had written some of it.    A few years older then yourself I have also been living with this since 1989.   Have tried medications, but prefer to use Lysine.    Also online you an find foods high in Lysine.    Try and reduce your intake of L-Argine as that seems to trigger outbreaks, as does stress.

I contacted this from my first husband and new it when dating.   It didn't take long for me to contract it and I have often wondered if I have a low immune system and pre-disposed to due having a bad case of chicken-pox and mono.

When divorcing dating with Herpes was scary 12 years ago.   It doesn't seem to be as a negative label these days.     There are dating sites for those with Herpes and that is where I meet my current husband.    Depending on where you live there are also local support and social clubs.  Once you get involved with these you will be more relaxed an surprised about how many people are effected by this.

Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
Taking 500 mg of Valtrex daily reduces the risk of transmission by almost 50%.  If you are going back in the dating/sexual activity scene, then I would suggest that you consider daily therapy as an important option.  There is no relationship between getting HSV 2 and having or getting the other herpes viruses that you mention, none.  I would strongly suggest that you read and watch a bit more for answers to your questions:  you can read the Herpes Handbook for free and watch a patient counseling DVD on our clinic website, westoverheights.com, and I have a book on Amazon, The Good News about the Bad News, that is comprehensive, and will serve as good reference for you, particularly about how to tell partners as you enter this next phase of your life.  I'm sorry about your divorce, I know that's difficult, and I'm sure you have some anxiety about telling people you have herpes, but I think it goes well for most people, and I hope it goes well for you, too.

Terri
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