About me

First off - I am employed in the medical field but I am not here functioning in that role.   I do this all as a volunteer and I don't receive any payment for the services I provide. Think of me as just another "joe" with herpes who has taken the time to educate herself quite a bit on the virus and wants to help others.  I have been doing the online message boards now for over 10 years and I truly believe in helping others get accurate information and support.  I've walked in your shoes, I know how it is and I want to help you be educated on the disease, not fear it!  Some folks volunteer at churches, some volunteer at schools, I volunteer online so I don't have to get out of my pj's :)  It's what works for me and my schedule I keep.  

Second of all - I am not employed by any pharmaceutical company. I do not receive any compensation for recommending any medication or product. I really wish I did - I have kids who need college educations and any extra cash would be appreciated!!  Alas though the only thing I've ever gotten from the pharmaceuticals that I didn't have to pay for myself is a few free dinners from attending educational presentations from them. Momma didn't raise no fool - never turn down a free meal even if it means sitting thru a slide show :)  Yes, you can get folks to listen to lectures on incontinence in post menopausal women if you offer them a free movie and popcorn for doing so....he he he.   I've probably still given them far more than they've given me since I've been paying for herpes antivirals for over 20 years now....geesh!

So how did I get to know all that I know?  I take the time to keep updated on the journal articles about herpes as they come out. I thoroughly enjoy reading them and my background allows me to understand them so I can use that knowledge to apply to the boards.   I  attend the cdc std conferences when I can afford to do so ( I have to pay my own way to go to them ). I co-presented a poster at the last one even which was fun!   I make a real effort to stay as up to date as I can. Of course I've also had hsv2 myself for over 20 years now so that helps with the tips and tricks part of the boards for dealing with ob's, talking to partners etc. I  believe in giving the  most accurate information as I can so that erroneous info and myths about herpes do not continue to get passed around to folks.   I stumbled upon the online boards many years into my own herpes infection and realized that I really didn't know anything at all about the virus that I had lived with for so many years. It gave me reason to learn more for myself and to pass on to others.  10+ years of doing this, I've learned a lot :)

Why do I recommend most of the websites/products/books etc that I do? Well because I feel that they are the best resources out there. I don't have a ton of money to waste and I assume most others folks don't either so I try to make sure that I'm passing on free resources for education as much as I can. I also try to make sure that I only pass on accurate sources of info too. Terri Warren's free herpes handbook is awesome and she keeps it updated regularly so it remains accurate.  If you can afford her $15 book on herpes - even better, if not, plenty of ways to get the answers and support you need on the board.  Am I going to waste your time with a $40+ supplement that hasn't been proven to be effective? No I will not.   Will I tell you to take a more expensive medication when a cheaper one works just as well? Nope.  I'm a big fan of cheap as well as getting the most bang for your buck as I often say.  

I've been on medhelp for 4 years now. I am the Co-community leader for the herpes community and the std community.  I also volunteer on other boards under other names.  I also have the 2 best kids in the world and a bf who seems to think he can keep me from becoming a crazy cat lady some day :)  I also have 2 dogs which I  frequently offer to anyone who wants them depending on their behavior that day.    

grace