JenPhoenix40

A bit of personal experience since I wrote this. I decided not to reorder the Lauricidin. I was gone from home for a week of training, home <8 hrs, and left again for a week of vacation. During this time I wasn't taking lysine and was only taking Lauricidin on occasion (maybe 3x in 10 days). By the 3rd day of vacation I had a minor OB. I take Valtrex daily, so it was only one bump. I doubled the dose and it was gone in about 2 days. This was enough to sway me toward reordering Lauricidin.

It would seem that the claims that it can inactivate HSV are more of a theory. I can't find any studies proving or disproving effectiveness. My guess is that it can inactivate other viruses, so it's assumed that it works in the same manner on our herpes virus. I take Lauricidin, but it's expensive, and I'd like to know that I'm not throwing my money away.

My best friend of 35+ years told my secret. We're 40 yrs old and like sisters, so of course, I had confided in her. She then told her guy, her 17 yr old son, her brother and sister in law, and her mother. We aren't on speaking terms, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to be her friend again. That's the ultimate betrayal. Here's another shocker - a friend that I see every weekend nearly is the receptionist at the gyno office. When I needed the appt, I told her it was because I was pretty sure I had herpes, and turns out I did. Then I find out she told her live in boyfriend. Violation of my patient rights, but I don't care enough to fight it. I'm learning to just deal. If people talk, I hope it comes off as a reflection on them rather than all on me.

@serendipity515 Your story is so relatable. I was diagnosed in May a few days after my 40th birthday. After the initial shock, I decided it was time to get healthy and went on a herpes tailored clean diet. I lost 15 lbs and I'm working out with a hardcore trainer. I was saddened by the loss of my sexual freedom, which meant I didn't really date the past 2 mo. My ex boyfriend has been my kayaking buddy all summer, and I told him because we're like best friends. He was as understanding as you said of your ex. Three weeks ago he told me he was a closet alcoholic, and that's why it never worked with us. He preferred to drink more than to date. He quit drinking that day, and we've seen each other every day since. He is totally ok with having sex with me (I'm on valtrex), and he chooses not to wear a condom. It's crazy how this horrible diagnosis has turned out to be no big deal at all! Good luck to you!

Been a bad day. Someone who knows about me being H+ decided to try and incite drama. This is the lowest I've felt since diagnosis. What do you tell yourself on the days you're reminded of the general public's view on herpes?

Mine is HSV2 genital. I hope the lifestyle changes all but defeat the virus. Can't wait to join the gym next week. Lots of heavy lifting in my future, and my goal is to compete in the body building show here in town June 2016! #beastmode! Been wanting to do this, and herpes was enough motivation to go on and do it In the hopes that I prevent outbreaks by being healthier. I told the doc, actually she's a PA, about the videos, the great handouts that she could print and give to her patients, and about the moderator who's the "mother hen" of the forum. :) She took notes and said she didn't have any GOOD info to offer her patients, so she's going to check it out.

It's been one month since diagnosis, and I'm on outbreak #3. Luckily, only 1 bump this time and last. First OB was very minor as well. She thinks my immune system is doing a great job, but she put me on Valtrex for 6 mo. I'm moving, and she's concerned that frequent OBs will continue for the near future until settled again. BUT, I've had a kick a** immune system so far, and I dramatically changed my diet to super clean with lysine, monolaurine, and fish oil supplements, so hopefully by 6 mo out I'll be a world better. This was a commitment I had already made a few months ago, but being H+ was the kick in the butt to get serious. Anyway, she seemed intrigued by my attitude. Said she wished all of her patients could be ok with it like me, and that quite a few are on antidepressants because of the diagnosis. I told her about this board, and how it helped. Mind you, I'm already an optimistic, not much gets me down kind of person, but the board helps tremendously. She said she has a 16 yr old patient that breaks her heart. Nothing she says gets through to her, and every appointment she's deeper and deeper into a major depression. She's tried to get her into counseling, but the girl is too embarassed. As of last appt she's gained 40 lbs. She wrote the website down and was very thankful for it because she said she doesn't have much to offer her H+ patients. To be 16, as hard as that age is, and to be H+....I can't imagine how hard that is. She was going to pass the info along to the young patient, and hopefully she'll check it out.

@WCSDancer2010 I've been thinking a lot about not keeping this so hidden since your comments on the other 2 posts I've made. She asked to move in with me, and I said no because she won't work, is an utter slob, and is an alcoholic. I'm buying a 3 br home (I live alone), and she thinks she's entitled to live there since she's being served an eviction notice TODAY and I have plenty of room. She tends to get wasted and post rants on facebook about whomever she's mad at. Her next step could be to out me via social media. If it happens, not sure yet if I'll deny or own it and throw some facts out there, hoping to save face and help someone else reduce their risk of getting it. She told these 5 people before it ever came up this week about her moving in. So now that I've told her no, who knows what she'll do. Obviously, I'm not out anything in deciding to remove this person from my life. Not only is she disloyal, but worrying over her is a big stress that I definitely don't need as I navigate life with herpes!!

Just taking a moment to vent I guess. She and I have been like sisters our entire lives. She was never good at keeping secrets, so I didn't tell her much. I thought she'd grown out of it, so I confided in her during the symptoms while I waited for the doctor to reopen after Memorial Day holiday. When it was confirmed, I told her. Now I'm finding out she's not keeping this to herself. She's told 5 people that I know of. She even told me that she'd told 2 of them - her guy and her mother. I said, "I wasn't even going to tell my OWN mother, or at least not yet!". I've NEVER felt so betrayed. Of all things, you'd think something that carries so much stigma would be an obvious candidate for "the vault". I'm ok with the diagnosis, but if I want someone to know I'll tell them, and I'll frame it with facts and statistics. She ONLY did it to be gossipy. Her guy told her I'm a whore and she shouldn't be hanging out with me. She's literally been with 10x the men I've been with. Ughhh......been a bad week. Needless to say, I'm no longer speaking to her. She and I have travelled vastly different paths in life, but we still talk because we've been friends for so long. I keep reading that herpes is a good wingman and a way to filter out douchebags when dating. Apparently, it may be a way to filter out supposed friends as well.

I do feel fatigued prior to an OB, but I should also say I only have 2 flares to go on. I just found out 3 wks ago that I have HSV2, and before the first OB I was horribly tired. I also had nerve pain symmetrically in both legs. My skin from the waist down felt like it was on fire. Numb butt with constipation. Fever. Slightly numb vagina. Inability to start a stream of urine or completely empty my bladder for 2 wks. I had all of the bad symptoms. Luckily only a couple of bumps. Valtrex for 7 days cleared it up. Fast forward barely over a week and I had a severe fatique all day at work earlier this week. Within a day another bump appeared. Luckily, it hasn't worsened. I started Valtrex today. So yes, I definitely have fatique.

Just finished the last of the links, and they were all inspiring. A closet is just a hard talk. So true. My other best friend (of 36 yrs) has known since I had the first symptoms. She has shingles and has an incredibly stressful life lately. Her shingles are constant because she doesn't take care of herself, and she even has a scar on her cornea from them. She made me laugh until I had tears in my eyes when she said, "You won the herpes lottery!". She went on to explain that hers is very visible and very painful. No way to hide it, or even an oral cold sore, for that matter. HSV2 is easily hidden, and manageable. It doesn't scar, and she has numerous scars from shingles, even on her forehead. No one has to know unless I choose to tell them. It did put it all into perspective.

@WCSDancer2010 Quick question about my test results. They told me type 2, recent infection. When I read them today, the IgG test shows 5.99, culture was hsv2+, and IgM was 1:1000 (says range is 1:10). Seems from what I'm reading that the 5.99 means it isn't so recent? All quite confusing for this newbie! Recent is such a vague word...I'd like to know if this is weeks vs months vs years of being infected.

I'm inspired by those of you who are out of the "closet". That really is the best way to address it. I applaud you for having the guts to do it. I tell myself I don't care what other people think of me, but this has set that mantra on its ear. I told my best friend 2 days ago. She was my first in-person disclosure talk. As soon as I said the h-bomb she had a fleeting horrified look on her face. She quickly hid it, but it was so obvious that she, like me, thought this didn't happen to people we knew. Our friends circle. This is just a virus of poor, promiscuous folks who are completely irresponsible. It's a shame that it takes aquiring it to realize the truth about it. I'm so grateful to have found this forum, and the wealth of info that comes with it. It helped me quickly accept it. I'm an optimist by nature following a near death experience in 2007. Between the forum and that attitude, I've quickly flown past any depression and self loathing. It really is ok, and I'm glad I have something so minor. Could've been worse. I just wish I had known!

I had no idea that this was such a common STD. I'm well educated, successful, was in gifted program all through school....I'm a smart girl. Yet I had NO CLUE that herpes was so common. One in four women have it. I was just diagnosed a week ago, and received the test results confirming it this morning. Type 2, recent infection. I can't wrap my head around why some non profit ad council hasn't taken this issue on and gone viral with a campaign to better inform everyone. Is it because it truly is such a minor skin issue? While this is true, the stigma is much more hurtful than the effects of the virus. Maybe I'm thinking out loud. Maybe I'm just rambling. I truly had no idea how widespread this is though, and now I'm stuck with it.

This was just what I needed today. The quote from the Dame article about adventurous women put it into perspective. I've met some great people the past 6 months, had eye opening sex, and have so many funny stories that my friends joke about living vicariously through me and rhat I should keep a journal. Would I take it all back to be rid of this virus? You know....I don't think so. I have high confidence in dating, so I'm not sleeping with men to bolster my self esteem. I just have a high libido, and I love meeting all sorts of people (which is all so ironic since I am a bit shy). So, THANK YOU for helping me get my mind right about this silly virus. I did a disclosure text to a former fwb this morning, and it went very well. He asked a lot of questions, and learned a lot. Luckily he was tested a month ago and is negative!

Thank you so much for the info. I've been divorced for several years, and haven't pursued a relationship. Just started to date again and then I find this out. Not sure yet if it's a recent infection or not. Waiting on bloodwork, but there was no doubt of what it was. I have been talking to a great guy for a few weeks, and things are moving slowly, which is good. I find myself thinking that if I'm going to have any sex life at all while dating, it would seem that I should be on suppresive therapy for their protection. At the same time, I've realized that casual dating won't really work any longer, so I've shifted gears toward looking for a long term partner. I was going to read up on l-lysine and perhaps immune boosting supplements. It's all so overwhelming. I feel like I'm all over the board regarding my google searches. I'll be glad to get some knowledge and time under my belt and be past this initial scary phase.

Hello all. I recently had an outbreak on my 40th birthday that included nerve pain in my legs, fever, urine retention/difficulty starting a stream, and constipation. Only a couple of bumps, thankfully. I knew what it was, and the doctor confirmed yesterday, but did swabs and bloodwork anyway. She prescribed feneric valtrex for 5 to 7 days, and wants to see me again in a month. I have a myriad of questions and emotions, but my biggest one at the moment is why she doesn't prescribe daily suppresive therapy. She mentioned it being harsh on liver and kidneys since I already take thyroid meds and wellbutrin. From reading, it seems many, if not most, people are on a daily dose. Can someone clarify this for me?