Flowerteacher55

Hello, I am so sorry you are experiencing such physical and emotional stress. You don;t deserve that. Please know you are not alone. We are here for you! Congratulations on the birth of your son! ❤️ That is such a blessing. I am so sorry the outbreaks have been so intense. Hormones can trigger outbreaks, and hormones change significantly after birth. If you have given birth recently, have you gone to an OBGYN? Perhaps a hormone-regulating birth control pill would help, if hormones are what's causing these outbreaks. If the antiviral you are taking doesn't seem to be helping, you could try another type of antiviral. If you are taking Acyclovir, for example, you could try Valcyclovir or Famciclovir. Maybe asking your doctor and even your OBGYN about this and seeing if they have any suggestions would help. Please know that there is hope. You can make it through this. It is not your fault, and you are not any less of a person or a mother for having these outbreaks. This may be interfering with your ability to function and mother, but please be kind to yourself ❤️. Acknowledge that you are doing the best you can with all this stress you have on your plate! You don't need to go through this alone. There are many mommas on the forum here that have struggled, and they are happy and healthy and have overcame so much! The same is going to be true for you, I promise. If you need any support, please reach out and direct message me or post on the forum anytime. We are always here for you! Sending blessings and prayers your way ❤️ grace

Hello! This is such a great topic of discussion, so thank you for bringing this up. Disclosure is really scary. Telling anyone anything that may cause them to not want to be with us is scary. Oftentimes we are afraid of their reaction, and if they will judge us. The good news is, that is on them. How people treat you is a reflection of them, not of you. Disclosure is made easier when we engage in positive self talk and self affirming thinking. When you are not ashamed of yourself, and know your worth, you have no reason to fear disclosure. You have no reason to feel shamed of your HSV. It does not make you a bad person. You are not dangerous. You are not risky. You are a wonderful human with so many personality traits and stories and love to give, and you have a common virus. It doesn't change who you are at all! The right person will know that ❤️. Something that helps with disclosure is scripting it, or making a game plan for what to say. First, it's always great to choose a discussion time when the other person isn't already stressed or angry about something else, since they may react in a way they normally wouldn't (since they are under other pressures). Second, think about what you want to say and how you want to say it. Something that helps is saying, "I need to tell you something very vulnerable for me, and I need you to just listen and then ask questions at the end." This way, you can share what you need to without interruption, and this gives the other person time to process and think before speaking (sometimes people interject with surprise or random questions and it's like... yo, can you please chill and wait until I am done speaking thank you! Third, prepare for questions. If you don't know an answer, say you don't know. You can also refer them to helpful website and fact sheets, such as the one on this site! Access it here: https://www.herpesopportunity.com/lp/ebook Finally, give them space to think if they need it. Maybe they will say "yeah I don't care!" or "I have HSV-2, too!" or, they might say something rude and at that point you know who they really are, and you have used the wonderful magical power of disclosure to see who someone really is! It's like a "good human detector". When we disclose, we use these powers to our advantage! 🙂 I hope this helps! 🙂 If you want help writing a disclosure script, feel free to reach out. Stay strong! Blessings!

Hello! I hope you are doing well. I am so sorry you are experiencing this rash. Please know that everything will be alright. We are here to support you however you need! Although people typically think of HSV as occuring in the mouth or on the genitals, HSV can pop up anywhere close to the region that has the infection. So, for the collective term gential HSV, people may experience outbreaks in the inner thighs, thighs, lower back, and buttocks. It all depends on the person, and not even on the actual gential parts. So, the name genital HSV refers to that whole region (which now that I think about it perhaps we should be more specific and not always use the general all encompassing term 'gential' HSV if someone doesn't have genital symptoms). Anyways, I digress! From the photos you shared, those could very well be HSV sores. Was the scabbing picture taken after the non-scab picture? If so, that sounds like potential HSV, since HSV sores typically go through a healing cycle of pinkish or reddish blisters that ooze, then crust over and scab and eventually fall off. Also, have you had any symptoms such as burning, itching, tingling, or oozing from the spots on your thigh? If so, did you also have these during the first and second outbreaks in the past 6 months? When did you notice the first outbreak? What happened right before (where you with a new partner, etc)? I hope this helps! Sending blessings your way!

@Sonia Hi!! Thank you for your positive kind words! I love how you said we have one life, and it is worth it (and we are worth it!) to fight and be strong 💕. So so true! I hope that your tests in six weeks go well and provide some answers. I am praying for you! Stay strong and keep us updated!! Blessings! 🌻🌟💛

Hello! First, breathe. Everything is going to be okay. You are not alone. You are not dirty. You are not bad. You are not a lost cause. You are pure. You are good. You are a blessing and you deserve respect and kindness and love! I am so sorry you have had this abrupt diagnosis, especially after being divorced and living the single life. Please know your dating life is NOT over. Don't give a common virus the power to ruin your love life. Love is stronger than anything! It is really hard to forgive ourselves for contracting HSV, but forgiving yourself and unconditionally loving and accepting yourself is such a key part in the healing process. Even though we have no reason to feel guilty or apologize for anything, telling ourselves we forgive ourselves helps us heal. It's not your fault you contracted this from someone. You may be mad at yourself, but forgive yourself and offer yourself love and kindness to get through this tough time. In regards to the person you have been with in between outbreaks, yeah, it is the ethical choice to tell the person you have HSV-2. You can explain that you were just diagnosed, but it seems you have had it since before you started seeing them. You can suggest they get an IgG blood test in 12+ weeks, or a swab test if they notice any sores. You can also provide a data fact sheet to help him process things, or a link to the CDC herpes site or even our fact sheets on this site! I can provide you with resources to share with him if you think it would help. Disclosure is really scary, and of course it doesn't feel good to have possible exposed someone to the virus. However, you did not know you had HSV. It's not your fault. However, is is an ethical duty to inform this person. Honesty is the best policy! 🌟 I hope this helps. Please reach out with any questions or concerns! We are here for you! ❤️ Stay strong!! Sending blessings and positive energy your way!

@RingofFire @DeMar @Saturnian Hello, Friends! I am going to ask all of your questions one day this week, I apologize for the lateness in asking the U of W. I actually just got my COVID booster and I am trying to finish a final project for my college, and it doesn't help that Washington state is three hours behind where I am! Lol. I am also going to email them the list of questions so they can prep answers before I call them! 🙂 Thanks for your patience!

Hello! I am so sorry that you have been experiencing such pain. 😞 There is hope! You will get through this and we are here to support you. Since the vaccine and COVID are so new, the medical field is still trying to piece everything together and how it interconnects with peoples' already-existent health conditions. Furthermore, there aren't too too many studies out there about HSV since the majority of the world has it (but I think this makes it all the more reason to conduct research on it, since so many people have it!). I am going to call the University of Washington Virology Clinic this week and ask them about this issue, and see what information they can offer regarding COVID and HSV outbreaks. I'm so sorry your relationship is suffering. It is NOT your fault. You need love and acceptance right now, not judgement and shame and loneliness. Maybe, express this to your partner and perhaps it could lead to a positive discussion and support. 🙂 Stay strong! Sending prayers your way!

Hi! I hope you are doing well! This is a great question. Prednisone is a steroid medication that reduces the body's inflammatory response. So, this means your immune system is lowered. This basically means you are more vulnerable to contracting germs and viruses. Prednisone is usually prescribed for illnesses such as Lyme Disease (several people in my family have it). Prednisone does have some unpleasant side effects, such as lowered immune system response, but it can also make you irritable and have extreme mood changes (since it's a steroid). If you don't need to take this medicine, I don't think you necessarily should. I understand that the doctor is trying to help you not have pain and inflammation, but I am not sure if you would really benefit from this medication, since you have to actually wean yourself off the medicine (you're prescription will say it) so you don't have withdraw. I hope this helps! If you have any concerns or hesitations, I would call another doctor and ask if you really need to take this medicine. Blessings!

Hello @Saturnian, I am so sorry you've been experiencing a rough year. You don't deserve that at all! If your doctor thinks you have an autoimmune issue, perhaps he could run tests? Candida definitely can overwhelm the body and cause an inflammatory response, so it is possible that is causing outbreak. Although it is challenging, it's okay to distance a little bit from your partner. You can explain to them what's going on and lean on them for support. Love holds us together and helps us get through the toughest of times! I am sending you prayers of health and happiness! grace

@LJ1209 Hello! I am so so so happy that you have overcome so much! Good for you for getting out of that relationship and making peace with everything. You are really an inspiration, and you are living proof that we are so much stronger than HSV, mean exes, and anything life throws at us. You are not defined by how people treat you -- that is on them! Thank you for sharing your story with us! ❤️ Sending blessings your way!

Hello! I hope you are well! Thanks for reaching out. You aren't alone, I'm sure! There are many folks who never get outbreaks. I have GSV-1 and have had it for about three-ish years and have only had about three outbreaks. Everyone's body is different, and everyone has different triggers that cause outbreaks to occur. It's wonderful you haven't passed it to anyone. Please know that even if you did, it isn't your fault. As long as you are honest in the beginning and let them know the risks, and they consent to everything, and make sure not to be intimate when you have an outbreak or prodrome symptoms, then you are doing your duty. You are not bad or dirty or unlovable. You are good. You are pure. You are worthy of love and respect and happiness! I hope this helps 🙂!! Blessings, grace

@RingofFire Oops! I forgot to add -- It's great you spoke to Terri Warren. She is wonderful. ❤️ Thank you for sharing her quote with us!

Hello @RingofFire! I am so happy that a doctor finally gave you some sort of possible diagnosis! If the Doxycycline works, it would make sense if you had some sort of viral or bacterial infection, since Doxycycline is a really strong antibiotic. However, urethritis can be caused by irritation and other urinary tract issues, too. Thank you again for sharing your story with us-- your possible diagnoses helps so many others with similar symptoms, since now they can ask their doctors to rule out the chlamydia or nongonnoccocal urethritis. I am happy you are feeling better. Keep us updated! Blessings! 🙂

Hi! Congratulations on your new baby!! 🍼 🐥 !! That is such a wonderful story, thank you SO much for sharing your story with us!! You have shown how good things and happiness are 110% possible with HSV!! If you have any other advice for new parents or future parents, please feel free to share!! Thank you again, and blessings to you and your family 🌻😊!!

Hello, I hope you are well! Thank you for asking such great question and sharing your story with us all! What type of blood test was it, an IgG or an IgM? If you came back positive for an IgG test, this means you've had HSV-1 for 12+ weeks, as IgG antibodies take a while for your body to build up. This would make perfect sense since you get oral cold sores, which are typically HSV-1. So, either you have oral HSV-1 (hence positive test) and some other type of rash on your genital area, OR you have oral HSV-1 and genital HSV-1 (very unlikely, but possible), OR you have oral HSV-1 and genital HSV-2 (if you took an IgG blood test, it's possible the test didn't pick up on HSV-2 since it hasn't been long enough for your body to produce a detectable amount of IgG antibodies). If it was an IgM test, and it came back positive for HSV-1, it would be more likely that the new sores are HSV-1. Have you taken any antivirals? And if so, have they made the sores go away? Also, did you notice any other symptoms associated with the sores, and have you been intimate with anyone who has HSV-1 or HSV-2? I hope this helps!! Sending Blessings your way! 🌻🕊️

Hello @icetrails I hope you are doing okay. I'm sure it is scary and overwhelming right now, but I promise it will all be alright. I am so sorry about your experience with the doctor you talked to. You deserve respect, and frankly doctors should be happy when people ask questions-- it is indicative that the person cares about their own health and well-being (and their partner's health and well-being!). I am also 22 years old and am a college student, and I also have GHSV-1. I identify as a female and I was female at birth. In regards to doctor situation... Sadly, as young people, sometimes older people (especially in medical situations) treat us in a dismissive and patronizing fashion, which is just not professional nor respectful. It is totally okay to advocate for yourself in a respectful, way too! If you feel a doctor isn't being kind to you or meeting your needs, it's totally okay to speak up about that. In terms of dating life, don't let fear keep you from trying and having relationships. The right person will not be turned away by you sharing anything about yourself, whether it be that you are transgender or have HSV. You have nothing to apologize for or be ashamed of. ❤️ Hold your head high! Also, thank you for posting and sharing your story with us all. I think that so many folks can benefit from this thread, especially because the intersectionality of transsexuality and HSV is not discussed enough. Here are the answers to your questions: Can you get genital HSV-1 without sexual contact? Is it always from oral sex with someone who has HSV-1? HSV is spread from skin-to-skin contact with the infected area. A lot of people think sexual contact means genital to genital, or oral to genital, but it can be from other skin-to-skin contact forms, too. So, the contact may not necessarily be sexual, but the 'contact' part means skin-to-skin. So, if you have HSV in a private place, it would make sense for it to have been from sexual contact. In general, it could have been from contact with someone's body part that has HSV (so it could be lips, their genitals, thighs, buttocks, and hypothetically their hands if they have herpetic whitlow (herpes on the finger)). It is NOT always from oral sex. Gential HSV-1 can be passed to someone lips or genital region. In recent decades Genital HSV-1 has risen in numbers because of the higher rates of oral sex, especially among younger adults. Do I need to disclose before kissing anyone? (If I never have cold sores?) I will of course if I can transmit it that way, so I want to know the level of risk. It makes me sad to think that it will ruin moments of spontaneity 😕 This is a great questions. So, if you have HSV-1 on your genital area, it means you can only pass it from this area. HSV is not blood-bourne; it does not live in your blood and does not infect the entirety of your body. You cannot transmit it via kissing (unless you have oral HSV-1, which presents as cold sores or fever blisters). You do not need to disclose your H status until things head to the lower regions/you are going to physically intimate with someone. Who do I need to disclose to in my life? I obviously shared this with my partner and I've told a couple of trusted friends, but I don't feel ready to tell my family. Sharing the information with your partner is essential. You did your part! You do not need to share this information with anyone you do not want to besides those you will be intimate with. I've heard that genital HSV-1 is harder to transmit than other versions of the virus. Is that true? Generally, yes. However, depending on different factors, some people may be more likely to contract HSV-1 than others. Three factors typically affect the transmission likelihood of HSV in general: anatomy, medical history, and sexual practices. Anatomy: People with vaginas are more likely to contract HSV because the anatomy of the vagina includes more accessible mucous membrane areas (where HSV enters the body). Medical History: For people who have autoimmune illnesses, they may contract HSV-1 much more easily than someone who does have any autoimmune illnesses. Also, those who take medication that suppresses the immune system may also be at a higher risk for contracting it. Sexual Safety and Practices: Using a dental dam or condom when receiving/preforming oral sex can help reduce the risk of transmission, but cannot 100% prevent it. Some people take suppressive medication, but this is typically for those who have frequent outbreaks, do not want to use protect or have a long term partner, and/or GHSV-2. Can someone with genital HSV-1 receive oral sex? Yes. Someone with GHSV-1 can receive oral sex, but obviously not during prodrome symptoms (tingling, burning, itching, redness, etc that occurs before an outbreak (kind of like a warning bell!) or during outbreaks. Could you still pass H even if you aren't experiencing symptoms of prodrome or have an active outbreak? Yes. This is why understanding the risks and being open with your partner, and being safe, are essential. How do you start feeling more comfortable and less fearful with sex again, if your partner is on board? This is the million dollar question! Honestly, it all starts with self-acceptance, kindness, and positive self-image. You are NOT a danger. You are not contaminated or bad or dirty. You are safe and you are a beautiful human being. You are a wonderful person with a common virus. H doesn't change anything! You may be afraid of passing it to your partner, which can feel really scary. Remember that you cannot control when the virus sheds or when you have an outbreak, but you CAN control honesty and offering information to your partner. You were honest with them and did your part. If you feel like they should be more informed, have them check out some information (we have fact sheets on this site!). If they consent to still being with you and being physically intimate after disclosure and understanding risks, that is their choice. Of course, you do not need to do anything you don't want to do until you feel ready. Take your time, and heal from everything, be kind to yourself, and remind yourself that you are deserving of love and respect, and that H is just a common virus. It's the social stigmas that make it seem scary and bad! I hope this all helps you! Reach out for any advice or support anytime. Sending happiness and positive energy your way! 🙂 - grace

Hello Friend!!! First, I am so sorry you are under such stress. Please know there is hope! You are not alone. We are here for you. I am going to reply to you ASAP I just came home from Trader Joe's, lol! Sending blessings! 🌟

Hello! Great question! The shingles vaccine is scary to many of us since shingles is in the herpesvirus family. While the two are in the same family, they are NOT the same virus. So, sould the vaccine trigger an outbreak? Hypothetically, of course. Will it DEFINETELY trigger an outbreak? Not necessarily. The common side effects of the vaccine are aches and general unwell feelings, which could trigger an outbreak since there is stress on the body. Also, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active case of shingles, people who are allergic to the vaccines/ingredients, and those who take medicine that lowers their immune system should NOT get the vaccine/wait until they are approved by a doctor. There are other cases in which someone should not get the vaccine, too. Talking to your doctor is the best way to see if you should get the vaccine. Also, here is information on the vaccines and side effects: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/shingles-herpes-vaccine.html#anchor_1593531339081 I hope this helps!! Blessings! 🕊️☀️

Hello, I am so sorry you are experiencing this extreme neurological response. I cannot even imagine how distracting and painful that must be. Please know that there is hope. You are no a lost cause. The world needs you. You deserve to live. Suicide is never the answer. If you ever need immediate support, call the UK Helpline at 800 689 5652, or call the Samaritans at 116 123. I am from the US, so I am not totally familiar with the social services of the UK, however are there social workers or places where you could go to talk to someone who could advocate for you to see a neurologist sooner than one year? The Samaritans have an online chat accessible here: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ perhaps of you told them your story they could help you see a doctor sooner. You are not alone. There are so many folks who struggle with extreme neurological symptoms. There are injections and other solutions to neurology issues (my Aunt has MS and she has constant thinking and burning everywhere on her body, and believe it or not Botox and other injections have helped, however a neurologist would be able to tell you if that would work for you!) Also, a spinal tap would be a great test to have done as well. I am praying for you ❤️. The love you and your partner have is a resource to rely on in times of need, too. It's okay to lean on your partner for support ❤️. Please direct message me if you need support or a friend to talk to. Sending blessings and prayers your way 🌻 -- grace

@panosM. and @RingofFire Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with COVID vaccines! We all appreciate it more than you know.

Hello! Sadly, not all information out there is accurate or true. However, yes, it is possible to give yourself HSV, but that typically occurs for those who may not practice the best hygiene or who have an immune-related illness that prevents them from building and keeping their HSV antibodies. However, with hand washing (not excessive though!) after touching sores and not touching sores if you have a cut on your finger, you help significantly reduce risk of passing HSV to yourself. Im sorry therapy isn't helping as much as it should. That can be very frustrating. I would really reccomend tapping with Brad Yates on YouTube. Tapping works to reduce the mind's defense mechanism and fight or flight response to a specific stimuli, in this case, HSV worries and anxiety. It's a blessing! Try these!! Intro to Tapping: Anxiety and Panic Tapping Videos; I hope these help! Stay strong. You can and will get through this. Sending prayers of healing! ☀️🌻

Hello! I am so sorry about this. You don't deserve this nagging pain and mysterious symptoms! I really think it is wonderful how despite this all, you are staying hopeful and calm. You are inspirational! ☀️ It is interesting that you had these symptoms five years ago. You could be correct that this has been a dormant and has recently awoken. Prodrome symptoms and lasting nerve irritation are similar but different. Prodrome symptoms can involve many symptoms, Including tingling, however these symptoms would typically cease after an outbreak. Nerve damage and irritations (usually called post-herpetic neuralgia) lasts and linger even after outbreaks end. A neurologist could best diagnosis and explain this as well. I hope you feel better soon!! It's great that you've seen some improvement. You are in my thoughts and prayers! Blessings! 🌟🌻

Hello!! Congratulations on your first baby 🐥🍼!! That is such a blessing ❤️ It is so great that you are already caring for the health of your baby, but please it's extremely unlikely to transmit HSV via breast milk! HSV is not a blood-bourne illness, such as HIV/AIDS, so it does not infect the blood plasma and other body-produced fluids such as milk. This is why people with herpes can still donate blood. However, if there is a sore on the breast, then stop breast feeding immediately until the sore is fully gone. Here is an article from the CDC regarding HSV and breastfeeding: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/maternal-or-infant-illnesses/herpes.html I hope this helps!! Congratulations again! 🍼🌟❤️

Hello! I completely understand. It's totally okay to cry when you talk about it. Emotions are not bad things, we just have to let them out in a healthy way. Crying is a totally acceptable way to let out sadness and feelings associated with how you got HSV. It's not your fault that you have it. If anything, you are not weaker for having HSV, but rather you are stronger. You've survived it! You're still here. You have a loving partner. Allow them the opportunity to comfort you. I'm sure if they knew how much anxiety and sadness you feel, they would want to help. They wouldn't want you to handle your fears alone. That is true love! I actually recently had an outbreak. I looked down at the sore and thought "alrighty then 😑" and then continued on with my day. After the first sore healed another one popped up and I honestly just frowned and laughed. I really didn't pay too much mind to it, granted I'm not in a relationship right now. I kind of conceptualize sores like acne. Like if I have a pimple in the center of my forehead, I get a little upset. But I don't let it consume my thoughts. I am very grateful that I rarely get outbreaks (this was my third). My OCD makes me get really freaked out sometimes, but I usually try deep breathing or prayer to help myself calm down. I remind myself of the truth and remind myself that fear is liar. Sometimes we have to take a moment to calm down. I've had moments where I can't stop washing my hands or wiping the toilet seat and I have to make myself walk away from the bathroom and breathe and relax and compose myself. It's hard to relax when surrounded by an environment that gives us anxiety (for me it's the bathroom and kitchen) so it's okay to walk away, remind yourself of the facts and that washing your hands once is enough, and then continue on with your day. Having someone to hold you accountable and support you is really essential. My mom and brother know I have OCD and will interject if they see me obsessively washing a dish or getting super upset. It's awesome to be able to go to them and cry if I need to because I'm upset. Perhaps if you tell your partner about your constant anxiety, then when you need some support you can just say a codeword for when you are having your thoughts and fears. Then they can give you a hug and let you know there's nothing to fear, and that you're safe. It makes all the difference and helps the fear and anxiety get less strong! You are stronger than the fear you feel. You are a warrior! Build a support network and focus on healing the shame and sadness you feel. Remind yourself this is not your fault, and that you are not weak or any less of a person for having H. H doesn't have any power over you unless you give it power. Remember, you have H, H DOESN'T have you. 💪🏼 Stay strong and faithful to yourself. You are a blessing and you are worthy of happiness. Use your loving relationship to fight the fear and help your self-love grow. We are here for you! Sending positive healing vibes! 🌻☀️

Hello, First, breathe. You are safe. You are okay. You are not dirty. You are not a danger to yourself or others. I want to tell you that you are not crazy. You are a person handling stress and it is manifesting through compulsive hand washing. It's not your fault. You are scared and care about passing it to others, such as your baby nephew. You are caring and kind. HSV could never ever change that about you. I have GHSV-1 and very bad OCD. I completely understand the obsessive fear and compulsions to want to wash your hands 24/7. I have had HSV for about 3 years now. I have been really stressed due to family issues recently and so I have been stressed. My stress manifests as OCD, so of course my OCD has been terrible. I have felt ugly and dirty for years due to trauma, and getting HSV validated these feelings. It was terrible. Through therapy and healing and tapping (a type of meditation which I highly recommend!!) I have really gotten better. You can too! I promise. Amazing news, it is very unlikely you'd give yourself HSV. You have antibodies to protect you from it. However, If you have an autoimmune illness, the risk is higher. HSV spreads via skin to skin contact with the infected area during shedding or an outbreak. It doesn't go through clothing. It doesn't spread by sharing a shower. When you touch a sore, and you wash your hands, you kill and wash away the germs. You are safe. ❤️ You are a good person who is under stress. Be kind to yourself. Remind yourself that you aren't bad or dirty. You aren't a danger. You aren't someone to be feared. Your fear of passing it to another could be worsened by repressed feelings of guilt or shame. Take time to process everything. Cry if you need to. Forgive yourself (not that you have anything to be sorry for, just sometimes forgiving yourself for any and all things is really healing❤️). Write a letter to yourself. Explaining that you know you are struggling but you are not bad or dirty and your fears are not stronger than the truth. We are all here for you! If you need any support, feel free to direct message me. You are a warrior, not a worrier! Sending prayers and blessings of happiness your way! ❤️ Blessings, grace