Flowerteacher55

Hello! I am so sorry that you have been experiencing such burning. That is terrible! 😞 Is the burning from your skin or is it neurological? If it's on the skin, ice can help. Having a spray body of ice water and then misting the area can help, too. Avoid any soaps or products that would increase irritation, and avoid non-breathable clothing (spandex, for example). If it's neurological burning (like its coming from inside, not the skin) you can also try icing the area. You could also take an over the counter pain reliever, although you mentioned that you want to avoid taking too many of these (which is true, too many can indeed cause organ issues). I hope this helps! We are here for you! Sending blessings of healing and happiness your way! 🙂❤️ -- Grace

Hello! ❤️ I am so sorry to hear about your experiences. You did not deserve that at all. Remember that this is not your fault. You are not bad. You are not unworthy. You are not unlovable. You are good. You are worthy of love and respect. You are lovable. The way people treat us is a reflection of who THEY are. It does not show who YOU are. Sometimes we feel like, "I am the common factor in all these relationships, so therefore I must be the problem." That is NOT true at all! It isn't you. Some people are unkind and disrespectful. They are not deserving of you. However, this doesn't mean everyone is unkind! There are good souls out there! I promise ❤️ In terms of letting go of the anger and resentment you have towards your ex husband... forgiveness is key. It is much easier said than done. However, I want to share a story with you. After apartheid ended in South Africa, there was so much racism, hurt, death, destruction... and a council called the The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created, headed by Bishop Desmond Tutu. The point of the TRC was to unite South Africa after the long history of abuse and racism. People who had seen their family members murdered, their villages burned, and their civil rights abused listened to the offenders take the stand and genuinely apologize for the deeds they done against those harmed. It was shocking. So many people FORGAVE each other... and the power of forgiveness is that it honestly doesn't eliminate blame from the offender, but it frees YOU. It isn't showing weakness. It is showing strength. It isn't ignoring the hurt, but instead recognizing its power of you and choosing to not let it hold you back. You can read more about the TRC here: https://www.theforgivenessproject.com/stories/desmond-tutu/ I hope this helps 🙂 Stay strong. We are here for you ❤️ Be kinder to yourself! ❤️ Blessings, Grace

@eastnorthsouthwest Hello! I am so sorry to hear about your recent struggles. Frankly, that is chump-behavior. There are some humans in the world who do not react with kindness or respect. You disclosed, which was showing kindness and respect for their body and freewill. When someone doesn't respond with the same kindness and respect, that shows more about who THEY are, not who YOU are. You are a blessing. You are a beautiful human deserving of love, respect, and kindness. Don't let a couple of rotten apples ruin the bunch! Stay strong and keep the faith ❤️ Make sure you practice self-love and self-kindness. Remember, the way others treat you is a reflection of them. If someone tries to make you feel like it's your fault, or the relationship ended because it's your fault, they are not a person who is worthy and deserving of you. There is hope! ❤️ I am 22 and have had HSV since I was 19. I have been rejected so many times. At first it really hurt, but now I see it as a sifter of sorts; it reveals who people really are and it helps me sort through the chumps. @livingbeyond Hi! ❤️ It is so wonderful that you met someone who is kind. I love how you said you wouldn't have reached the levels of vulnerability and acceptance if you didn't have H. That is such a beautiful thing! Thank you for sharing that with us, it really shines hope for me and I'm sure for so many others! ❤️ Sending blessings and light to you both! 🙂 -- Grace

Hello, @Lisa2021! That is a great question. The Western Blot Test is used as a way to super super accurately test for HSV antibodies. Those who use this test are people who either truly believe they have HSV but have had all negatives tests, or those who believe they have false positive results. It is preformed by the University of Washington Virology Division Clinic. Check it out here: http://depts.washington.edu/herpes/pages/frequently_asked_questions I hope this helps! Blessings, Grace

Hello! 🙂 Yes, in today's world, sex often does come very quickly in relationships. However, advocating for what you want and need (taking things slow) is so important and can help you stay true to yourself ❤️. Those who are actually respectful of you will be understanding and accepting of the pace you want a relationship to go! 🙂 In regards to the reaction of the man you have been seeing... that is such an immature response! Questioning if you were the one for him?! What the heck! That's just 1) cruel 2) disrespectful and 3) absurd; he didn't even ask questions or act mature at all. Herpes is a common medical diagnosis! It isn't a sin, it isn't a sign of evil or that you are a bad person. Also, it is important that he get tested as well, even if someone wasn't 'risky', they still should get an STI panel done (although it doesn't test for herpes, he could get a blood test if he wanted). You did your job-- you were honest with him. That is so kind and truthful, and you deserve a high five for that! 🙂 Honestly, when flags are shown and people reveal who they really are, listen to the reality. If someone shows a red flag like that -- their morals and kindness and understanding are equal to yours, and they aren't respectful of you (you were respectful of him, you were honest and told him about possibly having it). I say you can do so much better than that chump-like behavior! You deserve wholesome kind love ❤️ Stay strong! ❤️ We are all here for you! Blessings Grace

You are welcome! It is so frustrating and confusing how there are so many different answers one can get from asking different doctors or medical facilities about HSV. The inconsistency creates major inconveniences. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

Hello! The IgM test is a very sassy test because it is only useful if taken right away during your first outbreak, because it tests for antibodies that spike in numbers during initial infection, but then start to decrease to numbers that aren't detectable. This can cause false negatives to occur. That is why many people opt to wait 12+ weeks for the IgG test, since it isn't time sensitive. Instead, it requires patience (ugh!) to wait until 12 or more weeks for the antibodies to build up to detectable numbers. In terms of chicken pox and other herpesvirus-family viruses, blood tests test for specific proteins that are crated by the body in response to the virus in question. If tests can differentiate between HSV-1 and HSV-2, I would imagine that they can differentiate herpes from shingles from mono (I also have had mono and it sucks)! Note: I am not a medical professional! If it comes down to it, it could never hurt to ask your doctor about it 🙂 I hope this helps! 🙂 -- Grace

Hello! Meditation is wonderful 🙂 Keep up the self care ❤️!! Shingles can be so extremely painful, because of the shooting neurological pains 😞 It's great that you have since healed, although it took so long 😞! In regards to the antibodies, that is a great question. A lot of people have wondered this, too! I am not a medical doctor or professional by any means, however I have found some helpful information from Mayo Clinic Laboratories:(Here is the original source) https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/84429 The source says that the Herpes IgG Test tests for type-specific (HSV-1 or HSV-2) antibodies called glycoproteins. So, this means that there are specific antibodies that are tested for. I would then assume (I don't know for sure) that there are specific antibodies that are tested for when testing for Shingles. Your result of 6.48 is 5.38 above the positive starting amount (anything greater than 1.09 is positive). I am not exactly sure what the measurement means (is it measured in points? grams? atoms?) but I wish that test results were better explained to us. If anyone can answer this better, please respond to this post! Sorry I am not more knowledgeable! I will continue searching for answers from reliable sources and get back to you! 🙂 Blessings, Grace

Hello, I am so sorry that you are stressed. Yes, this virus is very sassy. You can tell your girlfriend to monitor her symptoms, and to be aware for prodrome symptoms and sores, etc. In 12 or more weeks, she can get an IgG blood test to see if she has it or not. That is so frustrating and annoying that it decided to show up after nine years of suppression! I am so sorry. If anything, you can at least take away information about your new subtle prodrome symptoms, and you can try and think about what might have triggered the random outbreak (what happened 15 days ago? Stress? Illness? etc.) Sending blessings and prayers to you and your girlfriend! -- Grace

Hello, Friend, Welcome to the forum! 🙂 We are so glad you can speak your mind and share your story here. I am so sorry to hear about the struggles you've faced. Please know that you did not deserve for any of that to happen. None of it is your fault. You are good. You are pure. You are worthy of love and good things. Trauma is something that is rooted in our brains, and both consciously and subconsciously impacts us. I have my herpes from someone who was abusive to me. Knowing I have this virus reminds me of that relationship, and it really is not a fun reminder. I am so happy to hear you have been in therapy. It really is difficult, but it pays off. Also, there is something called tapping which has helped me with a lot. It's an emotional freedom technique similar to meditation. It really is beautiful. I suggest tapping with Brad Yates on Youtube! It's awesome. 🙂 In regards to the timeline... He got the PCR swab, it came back positive, and the IgG test came back negative; that sounds like he was recently exposed to it, which is why his body did not build up detectable amounts of antibodies for the blood test to come back positive. I wanted to ask for clarification, how much time passed between the time you were assaulted to the time you got back together with your ex? It happened during that 10 month break, however did it happen close to when you both got back together and were intimate? In terms of the shingles, what type of antivirals did they prescribe you (if any)? If it was Acyclovir, this actually is herpes medication and if you had herpes while you had shingles, it would have probably caused it to be dormant (not active with sores). Although the shingles antivirals may have suppressed the virus, it is also possible that you didn't have HSV when you had shingles. It is possible that the outbreak that happened with the UTI was your primary/first outbreak, as you said you have never felt these symptoms before, which means it is possible that your boyfriend gave it to you. I am so sorry that they refused blood work. That is so frustrating and patronizing. So many people have had the same experience of being denied blood work. Getting the blood test during the outbreak could have provided information about when you contracted it (either recently with an IgM blood test or over 12 weeks prior with an IgG blood test). Because you now know that you have HSV-2, and it has been verified via swab and blood, you don't need to get the Western Blot Test, as that is usually done for those who believe they have HSV and are getting negative test results on all other tests, or for those who believe they have a false positive. More information about the test can be found at the University of Washington's Virology Clinic website, here (this is about HSV FAQs): http://depts.washington.edu/herpes/pages/frequently_asked_questions I am so sorry if this was confusing! Feel free to reach out with any other questions, or feel free to direct message me anytime 🙂 I am sending you prayers and blessings of health and happiness. Remember that you are beautiful. You are safe. You are loved. The world is so blessed to have you! ❤️ Blessings, Grace

Hello! ❤️ I am so sorry that you are experiencing the physical and emotional stress! Please know it will be okay. We are all here to support you! Swab tests are quite sassy. Basically, they are helpful, but only really helpful within 48 hours of seeing a sore. And even then, the likelihood of the medical professional getting "enough" of the virus on the cotton swab varies, since it's prone to human error (swabbing a sore that is healing/not shedding the virus, etc). To answer your question, you have two options: 1. Do not take the medicine, so that a swab test has a greater chance of coming back positive. Also, ask for a blood test Sadly, this prolongs your physical symptoms, but it helps for the sores to not heal so quick and slow the viral shedding, so that a swab has a higher chance of grabbing the virus. Since you have the active lesions, the doctor may feel that it is needed for blood work to be done (really push for the bloodwork! Often times doctors say "No, it's not needed," however explain that this happened 3 years ago and you didn't get a definite answer and you want to know if you have the IgG antibodies! 2. Start taking medicine and get the swab done, and ask for a blood test. Again, taking the medicine might cause a false negative if you are getting another swab. However, Still ask for a blood test with the reasoning above! I hope this helps! Feel better ❤️ Blessings, Grace

Hello! Sadly, a lot of places refuse to do blood testing for herpes in general, unless symptoms are actively present. This is absurd, because 1) swab tests can produce false negatives, and 2) half of the time, you have to book a week out, and by then sores are gone 😑. Plus, you're the patient, and I think you should be allowed to request blood work! Anyways, I'll get off my soap box now. If Planned Parenthood doesn't want to do an IgM, you could go to another clinic or ask your primary doctor to write a referral for you to get blood-work done at a blood-draw facility. Most places won't draw blood without a doctor's referral. You could ask your primary physician or even your OBGYN. I hope this helps! Blessings, Grace

Hello! 🙂 Welcome to the community. I am so sorry to hear about the stress and worry you are experiencing, and I am sorry for the anxiety and shame that your partner is feeling. Please know everything will work out. Things may seem so chaotic right now, but with understanding, communication, education, and kindness to yourselves and to one another, the relationship can still thrive. ❤️ In regards to what happened, please know that it must be SO anxiety-causing to have been in that situation! Alcohol reduces out ability to make judgments and often causes us to act impulsively. Alcohol really inhibits the brain's ability to think critically! If anything, it seems he is really into you, and when the alcohol came into everything, he was able to let go of his worries (you mentioned that he was holding/pulling back during intimate moments). Honestly, your forgiveness and kindness is amazing. Many people in this situation would feel like they were taken advantage of or lied to or put in danger... you seem to really see it as a humanizing situation in which understanding and kindness need to shine through. Thank you for being so kind. ❤️ I cannot even imagine the sadness he is feeling. He is so lucky to have such a kind and understanding human like you who wants to educate him about things and boost his self-esteem. Joining this community would totally help him! We are an understanding and kind bunch ❤️. In regards to if you should get tested... You could go get the IgM test now and the IgG later. Or, you could wait 12 weeks. The IgM actually may be useful since he had a fairly recent outbreak and you had unprotected sex. Even though you had the HPV vaccine, the vaccine only protects against 90% of HPV strains. It can take weeks, months, or even years for HPV to show up in a cell sample, however if you start experiencing symptoms, then obviously a swab would be needed to be done. Regardless, each year during your annual OBGYN visit when they do a PAP smear, you can ask them to test for HPV since you have been exposed to it. Stay strong ❤️ It will be okay. I am sending you (and your partner!) prayers and blessings! 🙂 -- Grace

Hello! 🙂 I am so sorry to hear about the neurological symptoms and swollen lymph nodes. That sounds terrible! The neurological impacts of HSV can be so scary, and the biology of how herpes dwells in the spinal cord never ceases to amaze me. It's great you started suppressive therapy, I pray that it works for you ❤️! Stay strong! ☀️ Blessings, Grace

@Almostperfect Hello, I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your husband. I cannot even imagine the heartbreak you have been feeling. Your outbreaks may be occurring because of stress. Loss and grief can manifest in the body, and can trigger different physical responses (one of them being HSV outbreaks). The antidepressants may help reduce the stress, which can in turn may help reduce outbreaks. I am on Zoloft for my OCD and it helps me feel relaxed enough to be able to handle my stress, which is good. I hope that your antidepressant helps you! ❤️ Please know that you are not alone. We are here to listen and support you however you need. Remember that you are so loved, and that you are beautiful, and that you are strong ❤️. Sending blessings and prayers your way ❤️ -- Grace

@Believe in yourself Hello! 🙂 Just wanted to reach and say that I hope you have been feeling better! ❤️ Blessings, Grace

Hi! 🙂 Nothing you say is graphic! Feel free to explain your symptoms however you need to! 🙂 Since the color is turning lighter, it sounds like the skin is continuing to heal, which is a good thing. The redness could be from friction in general (especially if you wear thongs or clothing that would cause that) or from having had a sore there. In terms of preventative care, having a diet rich in lysine can be a preventative measure, however I am unsure if topical application of lysine to areas that get affected would prevent sores. It usually is a reactive way to handle the sores (versus preventative). However, that is definitely a good question and you could ask a doctor or dermatologist! 🙂 Also, for the vitamin E, make sure what you buy is skin-applicable and good for sensitive skin, especially if the area you might apply it is red or sensitive. Honestly, anxiety about herpes can cause psychosomatic symptoms! We often times are so paranoid and scared about it, that we manifest physical symptoms, and this can lead to super stressful cycles of distress. Often times we itch because we have anxiety, or anxiety can cause our skin to feel hot and itchy, so we itch it. If you can, try and use another outlet to channel your worry about your HSV. You could try a stress ball, talking to yourself about your HSV (positive self-talk and reminding yourself that you are safe and okay), or tapping (an emotional freedom technique that I totally recommend!). Check out tapping with Brad Yates on youtube. Amazing stuff 🙂 In your little description, you mention that HSV impacts your relationship, which is so difficult. I am so sorry about that. Remember that you are beautiful, worthy of love, and you are not a danger. You are safe ❤️ Sending blessings and prayers your way! ❤️ -- Grace

Hello! Okay, thanks for the information. Hypothetically, your partner could have given it to you! Sometimes, people who are married and have been exclusive for many years never transmit their HSV to their partner. Sometimes, people transmit it right away, and others transmit it at some random stage! Try not to let emotions get in the way of the medical things. HSV-1 is very common, and it is possible to have it and not know it (asymptomatic) or have it but never noticed or identified the sores. It is wonderful that you both trust one another ❤️ Keep that trust and you can get through anything! Stay well. Blessings, Grace

Hello! 🙂 You have asked such a great question, thank you for bringing this up! 🙂 I am so sorry for your poor lil' butt crack (I love how you worded that) 😞🥺 that is so not comfortable! What an annoying spot to get a sore! In regards to the healing process, it depends on so many factors, and everyone heals differently in general, which is why some people have scabs fall off right away while others may have a lingering scab that then falls off, leaving different-colored skin (for me, it is much lighter than my normal skin color). Since it has been three weeks since the original blister, it sounds like it should be fully healed by now. How long it been since the sore scabbed over? Also, when did the symptoms of pain and burning stop? Usually those are indications that the virus is still active and shedding. So, even if a sore has cleared but you still feel tingling, itching, or pain at the site where the sore was, it's a good idea to abstain from intimacy/contact with that area. Another thing that can happen is scarring from herpes sores, although it isn't too common. This can happen especially if a sore was picked at, if you have sensitive skin that is prone to scarring, if a sore keeps coming back in the same spot, or if an outbreak is just really intense. To help the skin heal, you can use lysine cream, as you mentioned, or vitamin E, which you can either apply to area or take orally. Try not to use any soaps with scrubs/scrubbing beads, or scrub the new skin directly with a loofa. Avoid clothing that might be abrasive to the area, too. If you are concerned, it's never a bad idea to get a referral to speak to a dermatologist. Especially since you just recently started getting outbreaks after years of getting them, perhaps this is your body's new way of healing sores. I hope this helps! ❤️ Blessings, Grace

Hello! 🙂 I hope you are well. It is totally normal to be stressed during this uncertain time! Have faith that everything will be okay, regardless of official diagnosis. Since your doctor didn't do a swab test, and your partner did not give oral sex, there are a few other ways to see if it is indeed herpes. One is the visual exam, which your doctor said it looked like HSV. Next, the symptoms. Did you have the classic HSV prodrome symptoms (itching, burning, the sores going through the stages of healing, such as oozing, crusting, scabbing, etc, and did you have any tingling or other symptoms? Also, did the antivirals seem to help? Yes, a blood test one week after the outbreak wouldn't show too much, unless it was an IgM test. IgG tests (which is probably the test you had) test for IgG antibodies, which generally take 12+ weeks to show up in your blood in detectable amounts. An IgM test tests for IgM antibodies, which spike in numbers (making it detectable) during the initial contact with the virus and during the primary outbreak, but soon decrease in numbers and aren't detectable as time passes and your body builds up IgG antibodies. Taking the test during week 7 showed a slight increase, however it is still in the negative range, as you mentioned. Actually, this is really interesting, since you can see the rate at which your antibodies are building up (kinda cool!), however it is going slowly, so it is frustrating to be in a limbo of sorts where you aren't sure of it is HSV or not. I would say wait another 5+ weeks (the more, the better, even though it is hard to wait! 😞) and test again. In terms of what could also cause an increase in IgG anitbodies, I am honestly not sure. Other herpesvirus-family viruses, including chicken pox and shingles, MAY influence it, as these blood tests also check for IgG and IgM antibodies, however I am not a medical professional, so I cannot say for sure if they can differentiate between the proteins/antibodies they are specifically testing for (like, if they can see IgG HSV-1 antibodies from shingles and chicken pox ones). However, since you had symptoms and your blood antibodies are sloooowly rising (frustrating!) I would say it is leaning towards HSV-1, and it probably isn't due to shingles or chicken pox. Again, I am not a doctor or medical professional, so if you have more questions about that I would consult your doctor 🙂!! In the meantime, take notice of any symptoms you may have, and any new outbreaks. Be kind to yourself and do things that make you feel happy ❤️ Please know that no matter what, you are loved, worthy of love, and are a beautiful human being! 🙂 We are all here to support you! Blessings, Grace

Hello @Olga1214! I am so sorry about your situation. That is very stressful. Please know you are not alone, and no matter what happens, things are going to be okay! ❤️ We are here for you! If you didn't have an outbreak, what caused you to get tested? Did you just want to check for a routine STI check? A positive IgG indicates that you have had HSV-2 for at least 12+ weeks, as it take that amount of time for the antibodies to build up to detectable amounts. Your result of 1.13 is positive, but is not extremely high, so it seems the exposure to the HSV was recent (over 12 weeks but perhaps within the last few months). You can totally get retested. 12 weeks might be better than the 6 weeks, just so then you won't have to pay another copay for another test. I hope this helps! Please know that you are beautiful, clean, and safe. Herpes cannot change who you are; it is a common virus! It does NOT have the power to change who you are. You are still an amazing and wonderful human being! ❤️ Sending blessings and prayers your way! 🙂 -- Grace

Hi, @Hopefulforhelp! I am so sorry to hear about your situation. Please know that we are all here for you to support you on this journey! I cannot even imagine the physical and emotional struggles you've been facing. Holy cow! 22 allergies is a lot! It's great that you already stayed away from most of them 🙂 It's great that your doctor referred you to a specialist/immunologist. I pray that provides insight and shines light on what could be done to help you heal ❤️. You are so strong and so kind to share your story on here, and we appreciate you! Please know that you are beautiful, you are a blessing, and that you are deserving and worthy of love and wellness in all its forms. I am sending prayers and blessings of health and happiness your way! ❤️ You mentioned God, so I thought I would share a saying that makes me feel supported in times of struggle: "One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints. Other times there was one set of footprints. This bothered me, because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. So, I said to the Lord, "You promised me, Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. but I noticed that during most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "My dear child. The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, that is when I carried you." Your positivity and hope are so inspiring! 🙂 Thank you so so much, the world and this forum are so blessed to have you ❤️. Sending blessings and prayers of wellness and joy your way! 🙂🌻☀️ Blessings, -- Grace

Hello, @Roset! I hope the blood result provide some helpful insight into what could be going on. Also, I have been vegan for 11 years, and a plant-based diet helps with so much! 🙂 I am sending you prayers and blessings of wellness and happiness! ❤️ Keep us updated on what happens! 🙂 Blessings! -- Grace

Hello! 🙂 I am so sorry to hear about your situation. That must be so stressful. Please know you are not alone, and you are a good person! Herpes doesn't change that at all. When you had the outbreak, did you have sex/intimate contact before the outbreak? If not right before, how long before was the contact before the outbreak? The test you were talking about, what test was it? Was it a swab test or a blood yest? Herpes is an odd thing, since it lays dormant and pops back up when it is triggered (usually by stress, hormones, etc). I also have GHSV-1, and it is less common for outbreaks to occur. I have had HSV-1 for 3 years now and have only had one other outbreak since my original one. Also, does your husband have HSV-1 or 2? Hypothetically you can always get a second strain of the virus if your partner has it. I saw you mentioned that your situation is impacting your marriage, and for that I am so sorry. Please know that nothing can come between love, especially not a common virus! It will be okay. We are all here for you! ❤️ Blessings. Grace

Hello, Friends! Thank you, @DistressedLady for your kind words. He seems very mature so I think it will go well 🙂 As you said, I wouldn't feel pressure to disclose unless intimacy was going to occur/the relationship was headed that way. I am definitely not ready for that right now! @My thoughts Thank you so much for your comment. Honestly, my OCD has been terrible this week. I've had a panic attack (or more) every day this week. It's finally gotten better today. Thank you for the reminder about HSV-1. That is definitely a positive and is less likely to transmit, anyways 🙂 @Neverwouldathought Thank you so much for your kindness! Yes, I do deserve good things! So do you! 🙂 I will start thinking about casual disclosures and give that a shot when the time comes. Thank you all again! I appreciate the time you all took to read and respond ❤️ I hope you are all well! Blessings, Grace