kiwiguy

@2Legit2Quit could you send the link on the shedding study?

Hi all, still going on 400mg of acyclovir daily about 14 years now. And I have only had a couple of OBs that been about 4 years ago, however devastatingly I was informed last week that my now ex partner has been diagnosed with "H" although she is seeing someone else I can only assume it was me but she never displayed symptoms while we were together. So I guess as much as you can do your best to prevent passing it on there is still a chance and something that needs to be talked about. As much as I was open and honest about the condition at the beginning I feel I put a lot of faith in the fact that suppressive therapy would prevent passing it, this obviously was a bit of naivety on my part. Unfortunately there are no guarantees just honesty and understanding, suppressive therapy for me is still the best option and long term I have not suffered from any known side effects it is just a personal choice. I hope this helps. @ihaveittoo thanks for the mention.

@Leanne27 I can only comment on the suppressive therapy for you, others I'm sure will assist on your other queries, having been on suppressive therapy myself now for in excess of twelve years I would recommend to anyone to trail this for a while for your own peace of mind and to give yourself a chance to work out what is best for you. Managing H will come to you over time and as much as it is a "psychological trauma" at the moment, over time you will deal with it and live a happy and normal life, so I say yes to suppressive therapy (I take 400 mg acyclovir daily) the ob's for me now are less than once a year (after 20 yrs) and I feel as there a nil side effects currently, this works for me. I hope this helps you. ;)

Hi @KTK, I can only speak from a male perspective and been on suppressive meds for a while that you will get OB's from time to time and they will diminish over time so yes theoretically it will get better, I also take vitamin b which seems to assist, as you will read in many posts others have success with other supplements and vitamins so you should experiment and see what works for you, including certain foods etc hope this helps ;)

Regular blood tests would show any Issues, having been on 400mg of acyclovir now for over twelve years and no issues to speak of I really don't see any problems it's just a personal choice and one you both need to work through together. ;)

I have been taking 400mg/day for over 12 years without any complications to date, regular blood tests would pick up any side effects or liver/kidney issues. For me it just brings a little normality and the benefits out way any negatives, for now. You could also experiment a little also and see what works best for you, hope this helps ;)

The outbreaks for me were also monthly at the beginning, having now been in the club for 30 years I can assure you they will diminish in time. However for last 12 years I have been on 400 mg a day of Acyclovir this for my own sanity and normality, my yearly blood tests do show a reading of say a person how drinks a bit ( I drink little alcohol ) the benefits out way the negatives and will continue with this "therapy" as the cost here is also minimal. So I can only say do what you need to do to. Take care. ;)

I can't comment on the symptoms you are displaying but can't help but wonder if you suffer from anxiety that there is a connection. I understand anxiety as I have suffered in the past with it, this is more debilitating than herpes as anxiety diminishes the ability to think and rationalise thoughts clearly ( in my case). I take it you are on something for the anxiety this will help with dealing with the H+ side of things also I take a double dose of vitamin B daily which is great for stress etc. Get onto suppressive therapy for the herpes and maybe try and concentrate on sorting out the anxiety as this could cause more regular OBs, hope this helps a little ;)

Follow your dreams, make sure you have the correct information about the coast guard it's hard to imagine you could be discriminated for a skin condition. Your at the best place for help as your talking to people that understand exactly what you are going through, mentally and emotionally you will heal it will just take a little time ;)

Hi Mizz, sorry to hear your going through so much pain, I can only speak from a guys perspective, firstly keep thinking logically because your not being punished, take look around you and you will see that there are very few people on this planet that would have at some point in their life escaped trauma or disease and many far worse than being H+. I can only suggest that if you can stay on the suppressive therapy this will limit OBs and reduce the severity I take 400 mg daily and am lucky if I get 1 OB a year ( this I feel my have liver consequences but the benefit out ways that at the moment). Keep healthy and stay positive ;).

What you are feeling is completely normal you are on a roller coaster with highs and lows. To hear you say you will be ok speaks volumes about you and who you are, as much as you feel isolated and alone this will pass, you will overcome these feelings but only time can heal this. I understand you not wanting a relationship but this does not mean you should isolate yourself and this guy that you like why not just try dating and leave the sex side out of it until you have had time to deal with being H+. Trust me if you spend time here and talk with as many people as you can this will help you recover from the feelings you have now. Take time to learn about yourself and who you are, stay active and don't lock yourself away remember this only a skin condition not a death sentence. I'm know 30 years on being H+ and can tell you that life is yours to take. Stand up and make yours a success in whatever you want to be. ;)

Thanks for sharing your story! Happy to share ;)

Amen @kiwiguy. I'm just now hitting the 28 year mark, wish this site had been around all those years ago. People today are lucky to have all this available to them. I truly believe my life would have been so much different with this forum way back then, we can only hope that those new to herpes will take advantage of this site and learn and realise that being H+ is not the end.

Thank you so much for sharing @kiwiguy :) I was wondering did you ever pass it onto your partner during your marriage? I am so relieved to finally be able to share my experiences with others. I cannot honestly say if I passed it on but she is happy in a relationship and she has never said if she has it.

@kiwiguy Welcome to another veteran!!! I'm at 35+ years ... I almost don't know life without Herpes (in fact, I also had H1 orally from the age of 4 ... so I really don't remember not having it one way or another!) I've been on a number of forums over the years and this is by far the most supportive, accurate, and positive place I've seen .... I hope you will stay and contribute... it really helps the newly diagnosed to keep hearing that life DOES go on and while there may be a "new normal", it doesn't have to be far off of their "old normal" once things settle down. (((HUGS))) Happy to be here and hopefully help those who are going through what we already have ;)

This September I will be 50 and celebrate not only that milestone but also 30 years being H+, just typing these few words creates my blood pressure to increase and the anxiety I feel to finally put into words and share with you my story is liberating, I only wish that all those years ago I had this opportunity not only to share with others our similar stories but to realise that there was more than just me out there with thing called Herpes. My storey starts with sexual naivety with no real sex education it was learn as you go, which was fine until the second girl I slept with gave me Herpes ( just to type the word after all this time makes me cringe). I was so concerned about this sore on my man sausage I wrapped a bandaid on it and went to the doctor, I do still laugh to myself today at the comment he made about the first willy he had ever seen with a plaster on it. At 19 and clueless to sexual diseases as much as it was a shock to get this diagnosis, back then I was sent on my way and told I wouldn't die from it. OBs were not common for me for the first 5 years and it didn't really bother me until my first marriage and OBs were every month which was horrendous and as I was a closed book on the subject with the feeling of nobody to really talk to on H, life when I look back was really affected by this virus and it wasn't until the breakup of the marriage and my eventual breakdown that I finally sort help albeit 15 years later but with suppressive therapy and anti depressants away I went. To fast forward so not to bore you all to today, and spending time to read a lot of the postings on this amazing site the same things keep coming up from those that have had Herpes for many years the OBs do diminish and get less severe and I can say from experience that life does not end with the diagnosis of Herpes, as I said at the start I wish I could have had this opportunity 30 years ago as those that will come to this site to find answers they desperately need as i needed and to read learn talk and understand that I, we are not alone and there is life with herpes, time will and does heal the physiological trauma the difference today is the ability to start here on this wonderful web site, use it, embrace it and never forget that you are and never will be alone. ;)