Anonymous88

Hi, Reading your post has got me thinking that since I was diagnosed with hsv2 over two years ago I habe developed what looks like roseaca or however you spell it on my face. It is a constant red vessel rash on both my cheeks and can be itchy,wondering if taking acyclivor each day is the cause of it. I am nearly over a first outbreak that I haven't had since taking suppresive therapy so it shows it does work and the outbreak wasn't bad at all so I'm thinking weighing the options I will remain on acyclivor and deal with the red face. Maybe see if allergy tablets daily on top help with the hives?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read it all and respond. It has been very helpful in understanding how he may not of known he had it despite his symptoms. I will never know whether he did know or not but either way I have it now and people out there who delibretly spread it knowingly get away with it sadly. I thought shedding was that you had no symptoms with it at all,I did not know you could have all the symptoms except a visable blister that may or may not appear.. It was clear from his symptoms that he must of been having his 1st outbreak,I know he was having some personal family problems that were causing him stress so he may or may not have had herpes in his system but due to stress it came out,with herpes you just never know do you. But he lives in a different town so least I have comfort in not having to bump into him as this has been something that has took a lot to come to terms with,with time and in a way to forgive him and not hold onto anger and just see it as it happens and its a part of life. How long have you had this for? Does it effect your life and relationships? For me I decided to go on supressive therapy as I had painful outbreaks and it was a hard reminder each time and acyclivor has been a god send for me which has helped me heal from it and continue life pain free from outbreaks. I am in a relationship for over a year and he accepts it and never saw it as a problem at all,Apart from taking the daily tablets I wouldn't know I have it.

So this has played on my mind on and off for a few years. I was diagnosed with hsv2 2 years ago,I caught it off a guy I had slept with (when I asked to use condoms he said I promise you I have never had anything wrong with me) and we had unprotected sex (The sex was the worst, which makes it even more, not worth getting this virus) On the week before seeing him he told me that he hadn't been feeling well that he had a fever,swollen lymph nodes under his armpits, headaches and body aches but the day before seeing him he told me he was feeling better. I didn't know at the time till after I slept with him and was diagnosed as I had a blister appear (which may I add was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life,not being well enough to look after my son and go to work with countless trips back and forth to the doctors and sexual health clinic to diagnose me) that after doing my own research on a virus that I knew little about at the time that all his symtoms linked to a first outbreak that he was having. During sex I never saw anything there but to be honest I didn't go down there to inspect it fully and when I got my first blister it was just one sore, it didn't stand out and look as shocking as the photos on google but I did notice the day after that he did have a wart on his finger (he works as a fitter so probably caught it at work I'm not sure) Don't know if it was herpes on his finger that would of given me hsv2 there or whether he had one on his genitals? My question is..can somebody have hsv2 with all the symptoms just not the blister or that he had to have a painful blister somewhere and just not tell me seen as he had the rest of the symtoms with your first herpes outbreak. When I asked him he got quite defensive and never will I ever see or speak to him again as he ignored me after that.

I have had hsv2 for nearly two years and been on suppressive therapy,two acyclivor tablets a day one in morning one in the evening. I have been with my bf coming up to a year. It was his choice to not use condoms after a while and he has never caught it and I haven't experienced an outbreak whilst being on the tablets. Keeps my mind at ease

Hi all,I have had hsv2 for 2 years in March. I am on suppressive therapy & I can confidently say that I haven't had an outbreak since being on it. I met a guy who hasn't got hsv and it will be coming u0 to a year very soon. I was open about it before becoming intimate with him & it hasn't made a difference to our relationship in the slightest whether I have hsv or not. It was also his decision after a while to not use condoms (I'm on the contraceptive pill) we have a very healthy sex life with lots of oral sex and he hasn't been passed the virus at all. Don't know how I would feel to come off acyclivor but for me suppressive therapy has helped hugely with taking away worries and anxiety of transmitting it and experiencing a painful outbreak. Hope this helps!

@No More Tears D to be honest he doesn't sound like the right guy for you. The right person wouldn't make comments like that and be so unsensitive. You deserve better. I really wouldn't put stress on yourself. It's life and theres nothing you can do about it. Everyone including myself has their bad days about having this but then other days you just get on with it as we just don't have a choice and doesn't matter how much stress we put on ourselves or tears as it won't change it apart from make you feel emotional drained and exhausted. I'm not ashamed of having herpes, yes I get embarressed when I disclosed as it takes a lot of courage but at the end of the day I was passed it on through somebody who knowingly gave it to me with an active outbreak so for me why should I feel to blame. With him having sex and on top unprotected then it makes him just within a chance of getting herpes from anyone even if you wasn't on the scene. I have opened up to my mum and friends about it. If friends arn't very supportive and judgemental then you have to ask yourself are they really friends? One of my friends has always suffered with cold sores, and I have never looked at her any differently from my friends that don't. Xx

Why should you feel all to blame and put so much stress on yourself anyway..he is an adult whether it be casual sex or a relationship it doesn't matter. He has his own responsibility of using a condom so he is putting himself at risk whether it be with you or anyone else. If it is just casual sex,that could mean that he could be also sleeping with someone else as he has made it clear that he doesn't want anything more but sex. So having unprotected casual sex would be putting you at just as much risk as him of you catching something else. I have always put on myself that since having herpes I feel like the risky unclean one for having this but at the same time, others you become intimate with doesn't mean they have the all clear on things and could be transferring yet something else to you. Know your worth,there really is somewhere someone who would want to commit to you and treat you with the respect that you deserve..just takes time and patience. Best of luck x

Similar story for me also with a guy I met off Tinder. He lives an hour drive away so will never be bumping into him again but at the same time feel as though he just got let off the hook lightly by just passing this to me and walking away. I have always taken my health seriously,yes on rare occasions had unprotected sex (not one night stands) but always went to clinics to make sure I have the all clear before sleeping with someone and always have been open with discussions on whether the guy is too but I learnt the hard way when this guy said he had the all clear when it came down to us being intimate and reassured me that it would be fine to not wear a condom (all week he had been having is first outbreak the whole time but still decided to do this to me) I feel soo stupid,it was the worst painful sex I have ever had and what for..to be given this for the rest of my life from a guy who couldn't care less and theres no going back but just to keep swallowing those tablets everyday in hope of living my life as pain free as before. This is the worst thing to ever happen to me and because of this always being an issue with outbreaks it will be something herpes will never let me forget.

I had follocilitus or however you spell it before christmas and it was awful persistant itching that I could of itched myself raw. I thought it was another outbreak as it was all over my genitals,went to the clinic and she said she couldn't see any herpes sores but never thought to point out what the sores were. So I booked into see my doctor and by the time I got an appt it had spread down the tops of my legs. I was prescribed anti biotics to clear it and thankfully it worked. I must of got it from using a blunt razor It is so easy and confusing to mistake something like this also with a herpes outbreak even though for you it was the other way round. Any itch down there just makes me fe extremely paranoid at times as you just automatically assume its down to herpes. Glad for you that you got it sorted in the end even though being diagnosed with this isn't what we want to hear.

Thank you for sharing..I see a lot of peoples posts of people that have had it for a few years but not long enough to give some really good advice on if the outbreaks really do get better. I'm beginning to think this anti body thing is a load of rubbish. Why would you keep getting outbreaks even that long with it being in your system and your body still can't fight off the sores from forming. I totally agree, I feel like medical staff don't understand the severity of it. If only they could experience the pain and the toll it takes over your life so them then to take it more seriously. One guy who couldn't take his health seriously has affected the rest of my life and he gets to walk freely without any conscience.

Sorry to hear what you've gone through. I have had hsv2 for a year now, although suppressive therapy lets me live my life to near as normal as I can except taking two tablets everyday for the rest of my life till they find a cure, I can never go a day without thinking of what I have. I got given it by a guy who was having symptoms but wasn't honest with me and pressured me into him not wearing a condom, I never saw him again, he didn't care for me and now I have to live with this for the rest of my life. The worst thing for me about having herpes is the fact that for the rest of your life you suffer with outbreaks so it is a constant reminder and that theres a risk of passing it to someone and putting their life through hell and having to live with yourself even though you disclosed and they were made aware it still wouldn't make me feel better. If it was like chicken pox where your not bothered by it but it remains in your system then I can live with that but its not,its regular outbreaks. I read that people who have had it for 20 plus years still get outbreaks so to me this antibody stuff is a load of crap if your body still can't fight an outbreak coming on when you have had it for that long.

I would go to the sexual health clinic or speak to your doctor to see what they would suggest. I guess it makes sense if you feel you are getting the outbreaks since going on this new pill..maybe its down to hormones as they say having your period could trigger an outbreak.

Try durex thin feel

@Amando I know what your saying but I would much rather have Chlamydia than herpes..take anti biotics and then it's dons where as herpes it haunts you for life,it never goes away and you have to disclose to every person that you become intimate with. I agree they should educate everyone,as for me at school they were always just concerned about pregnancy. I even suggested at the clinic to have a poster up to make people aware that the full std test do not cover herpes but they refused so they help make the stigma worse by not opening up about the subject.

I am very open about having hsv2. Close family and friends know and a work colleague. Stds are a part of life..its just one of these things. Its taught me not to judge as lets face it nesrly everyone has had sex at some stage in their life so theres always a risk of them getting something. Keep your head held up high. I know its heartbreaking when you get rejected over something you have no control of. If anyone asked me if I had anything I am very open about it.

Yes me and my partner have lots of oral sex and everythings been fine.

I have been with my bf for 5 months and we have sex most days than not. It was his choice to not where condoms after our first few times. I even recently brought the subject back up so he knows the risks and it doesn't bother him. I'm on suppressive therapy and will never want to come off it until there is ever a cure.

I was diagnosed with hsv2 over a year ago and I too put a post on here sharing my experience of how it is to have genital herpes in the UK with how they don't test for it,its shocking. The clinic then themselves help the stigma become worse because they are not educating people enough. I never knew about herpes until I caught it and I too was one of many people that would do the right thing to go in and get checked and then just presume that you are having the full std check and when it comes back negative then you are completely clear of everything but its not the case. They don't support you and just leave you to deal with it on your own. The lady who swabbed my outbreak actually said with a massive smile on her face that its herpes like I should of wrapped my arms around her happily like I had won the lottery...such a bizarre reaction to give someone. She didn't seem sympathetic at all. I am on suppressive therapy as personally for me after the awful experience of how I was given it is way too much on my mental health or keep being reminded even more when I have an outbreak I want to try and live a worried free life as much as possible but I feel my choice to stay on suppressive therapy hasn't been very supportive as the sexual health clinic professionals don't want you to stay on it so I have had such a difficult stressful time fighting to stay on the acyclivor. I am left feeling alone as no body else I know has outbreaks and I am very open with close people about it. Genital herpes is a big deal, no matter how positive you are about it. It has caused a lot to my life and with no cure.

Personally I think if that dosage is working for you then probably no need to increase it. I live in the UK and the recommended suppressive dosage with acyclovir is 400mg tablet twice daily and that's what I've been on and it has given me no problems and works perfect

Sorry to hear you are having a tough time. They do say the first year is the highest for outbreaks and it does get easier. For me after experiencing two painful outbreaks I went on to suppressive therapy and it has worked for me. I don't take lysine, or any vitamin supplement as I eat in moderation and think why should I have to suddenly change everything in life because of this when I don't need to. I don't smoke and I rarely drink but enjoy a good night out when I do. Hopefully within time things will settle. I am female and I apply a thin layer of vaseline aloe after I shave to help keep my skin as healthy as possible or for most of the time before I have sex just to prevent my skin getting damaged to avoid an outbreak and for me it works and I have had hsv2 now for a year. Best of luck,Hope you find what works for you. Also I suffered from itchy skin for about 3 months all over my body and realised that it was down to the shower gel I started using had fragrance in so I have swapped back to sanex or simple that doesn't have perfume or any agravating stuff in for the skin and my doctor advised oiltum cream and that has been really good and you can also wash with the cream to and then rinse it off.

I have had hsv2 for a year and had two painful outbreaks at the beginning. I then went on to start suppressive therapy of acyclivor 400mg twice a day and haven't looked back. For me they are a god send and prevent me from getting outbreaks.

Sorry to hear you are having a bad time. One thing that may be good to hear is that getting hsv1 in genitals isn't all that bad as they say your outbreaks are only about once a year on average if that compared to if you had hsv2 like I have that is more prone to multiple outbreaks each year that do decrease in time generally. Giving it time does help. I am guessing your husband has hsv1? Maybe he doesn't feel its a big deal as it doesn't bother him and prob has very few if any outbreaks. For me I think a bit of table salt on the blister helped draw the stuff out and dry it out,helping it to heal faster. After a bath or shower to use a hairdryer on a cool setting if its too painful to dry using a towel. Try to air out as much as possible i.e no bottoms in bed to help get air to it to heal and cause less clothes friction. If it burns when going for a wee,pour warm water down to lessen the pain, pain medication and herpes meds help. Hope this helps x

I am on suppressive therapy after two very painful outbreaks and its the best thing ever for me. Gave me hope that apart from taking two tablets daily and disclosing that I can continue to carry on living the life I had prior. I am a complete worrier so preventing outbreaks has calmed me so much and I have never had any side effects.

@mr_hopp I am a year into having hsv2 and experienced two outbreaks and went on to suppressive therapy..If I am on suppressive therapy is my body still developing immunity and building anti bodies to fight the virus if I was to ever in the future come off daily tablets or does your body only build it and fight it quicker if you are not on daily medication? I have got to keep remembering that my grandparents are child hood sweethearts and my nan has suffered all her life with cold sores and not once has my grandad showed any signs of it being passed on to him. I also confided in my friend who mentioned that her husband gets cold sores and she has even kissed him when he had sores and hasn't come down with them. I think it's just the worry of the unknown as each person reacts differently.

Yes you can still shed the virus even without any visable outbreaks and this goes for hsv1 and hsv2. This is why a lot of people end up passing the virus on without knowing that they carry the virus as they don't have any outbreaks or their outbreaks are very mild to not notice. Does your partner have hsv1 or hsv2? If you have hsv1 and perform oral sex there is a chance you could pass on the virus to cause genital herpes. Because you have hsv1 already your body would have created anti bodies so you have very little chance getting hsv2 aswel especially as you have had it for such a long time. I have hsv2 and my bf of over 4 months hasn't got the virus but he accepted what I have when I disclosed and we have sex mostly every other day including oral sex and he hasn't experienced and symptoms but I am on suppressive therapy which I think really helps.