Juliegoddess

It seems very strange to mention it, but I thought my anniversary might be encouraging to anyone struggling with a first outbreak, or even just a shitty case of HSV2 that won't "settle down"... A year ago today I was out for a ride (I'm a cyclist) and I noticed how uncomfortable everything was "down there". At age 49, I knew my body pretty damned well, and I knew something wasn't right. Within a day, my ENTIRE pubic area was COVERED in painful sores, inside and out. I'd never seen anything like it, not even in photos of herpes online! Even though I jumped on anti-virus meds, I CONTINUED to break out in new sores... SORES ON TOP OF SORES (I kid you not; I documented everything in photos!)... By the time my poor body began to develop antibodies (it took over a WEEK of constantly breaking out in new sores), I had suffered through at LEAST 150 sores. YES. I counted. As I said, I took photos. With what I had read, herpes facts, other people's experiences, etc... I was PARANOID about whatever the hell a "second outbreak" would be like. Everyone said to me "Ohhhh, don't worry! Subsequent outbreaks will NEVER be like your first one!" This did NOT make me feel much better, because in my mind, a "much less severe" outbreak, for me, might end up being FIFTY sores... And I just didn't know if I could handle that. A "lesser" outbreak, with the "initial outbreak experience" that I had, was going to tear me apart, mentally and physically. At this point, there are some observations and points of gratitude I have. When I read all the stories here of young, young woman & men coming down with HSV2, I give DAILY thanks for the fact that I was 49 when this hit me. You get past all of the "give a fucks". You begin to see what's really important, and what isn't. You can simply HANDLE things better. Yes, I thought my "dating life was over". Yes, I thought "it's just you and the kids now, Julie... You are on your own"... No problem, really. But SAD. Soooo SAD. I LOVED sex! I LOVED intimacy! I intended to fill my life with the things that made me happy, and try really hard to push away feelings of loneliness. Another point of gratefulness: because I am 49, I no longer have periods. And, knock on wood! I HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE SUBSEQUENT OUTBREAK. I HAVE had some prodrome symptoms in June when my son graduated. It was the only real stress I'd had for the whole year. But, beyond that... Nothing. Mistakes with HSV2? First biggie: for heaven's sake, no matter HOW shitty you feel, DON'T tell your mother! My mom and I had always been close, but I discovered a side of my mom that really hurt me... Really shitty. Put it this way: at an extremely low point in my health (not a low point in my LIFE... just my HEALTH), I turned to her in a moment of weakness where I just wanted someone to care. BIG MISTAKE. Now granted, keep in mind that my mom is OLD SCHOOL. Eighty-one years old. Her idea of herpes was uneducated, uninformed, although as PLAIN as the cold sore on her face!! But.... Ah well. It's different when it's sexually transmitted, OF COURSE (insert sarcasm here!) Anyway... Advice? DON'T TELL ANYBODY. Sadly, (in my experience) people will SAY they care & feel bad for you, but in reality, they are simply glad it isn't happening to THEM. No one needs to know. No one. Your sexual health is YOURS, and you don't need to explain things to anyone. Fast forward to today. I am with a WONDERFUL man. The BEST MAN I've ever known. I'm happier than I've EVER been. Coming down with HSV2 has been the single - most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. Now remember, I'm older. I feel like it's different for me. But... I went to a herpes dating site, just for kicks. I loved sex too damn much to give it up, and I CERTAINLY was NOT going to have "the talk" with a prospective intimate partner. (Hey, I knew what my ego could and could NOT handle!) I ended up meeting an amazing man... Just AMAZING. So anyway... If you've read this far, thank you... Haha! I hope some encouragement can be gotten from my story. You all are wonderful people... Never, ever think otherwise..... Happiness! Julie

Hell no, don't tell your parents! Obviously everyone's parents are different, but just like Katidid says, you only need to tell those you plan to sleep with!! I made the terrible mistake of telling my mother (who is probably MUCH older than yours, and in the "old school" category) and she was judge, jury, and executioner. I was SHOCKED...but then again, I should have known better.

I agree....thanks Katidid, for your thoughts. I'm still trying to figure out where I picked this up. Not that it matters so terribly much, but primarily so I can get this guy in to be tested. I had told everyone in the "ten day window" (and I actually took it out to all partners I'd been with in the last month)...and everyone was coming back negative. Of course, I was much-relieved, but still stewing a bit about where this came from. Then I remembered one brief encounter with my ex-parter I had actually all but forgotten. If HE comes back negative, well, I'll be completely stumped. Because this thing was SO severe...it HAD to be an initial OB in the roughly 10-day exposure window. I was not under any stress at the time; on the contrary, I was happy and content. So the whole "stress onset" just doesn't fit.

Hi everyone, My first (and only, thus far) OB was in mid November of last year ...the most excruciating thing I've ever been through. It was, according to what i've read, pretty bad. It hit me hard with horribly painful sores that literally covered the entire vaginal area, inside and out. I photographd and documented everything....and my closest estimate count of sores was about 125. There was not one millimeter of real estate down there that was not covered in painful sores. I also had a terrible greenish discharge. It was HELL, as I'm sure you all know. It took about six weeks to completely clear up, with some residual nerve pain. I've been on acyclovir ever since (and all through) the OB...thank god, I've not had a reccurance yet. My question is: when an initial OB is really really bad, as mine was, is it safe to assume that I did NOT have this lurking in my body for years and years...that this is the textbook initial OB that happens within a few days of exposure? I just simply cannot believe that this had been sitting in my body and just suddenly reared it's ugly head! This thing slammed me and had my body in absolute shock. Am I correct in assuming this? What do you think?

For my daily suppressive, I take 400mg in the morning, and at night. Along with my acyclovir, I take l-lysine. During an outbreak, my dosage goes up to 400mg, FIVE times per day. I also take the L-lysine supplement with each dose. For me, this regimen has already kicked the shit out of this virus in my body. I was just diagnosed in mid-november, and my initial outbreak was VERY bad. Within just a couple days of taking the acyclovir, I could feel some relief. I've never heard of taking the med only in the beginning of the month? That seems very strange to me...? Good luck to you! I strongly suggest the daily meds. They work fabulous for me.

Haha... Gotcha! I guess "my own research" will be just that: MY Own. Haha! Thanks for your help!

Thank you MMissouri... That's what I thought. Now, one more question: since I'm trying to decifer (as best I can) approximately when I contacted this. Would it make sense to have an IgG test NOW, expecting a false negative, as I believe this was a recent contraction, THEN have ANOTHER IgG test in a few months, expecting a positive (obviously I know I have HSV)?? In other words, is my "strategy" a good and/or reasonable one?? Lol! Thank you, in advance.

L

Also not intending to give medical advice, but my initial outbreak was EXTRAORDINARILY BAD, and my awesome doctor prescribed 2 grams per day: 400mgs five times per day. Yesterday was my first day on suppressive therapy, and I'm down to 400mgs twice per day. It took about two days to really see the acyclovir work, but considering how bad the OB was, I'm surprised they worked at all. I also take 500mgs of L-lysine with every dose of acyclovir. Ask your doc, of course. I can say that for myself, it was a wonder drug...and it's CHEAP, for the times when my insurance won't cover it (there's a limit to how much acyclovir they will pay for per month). Personally, I have had no side effects or issues taking it, even at the higher dose. I feel strongly that the drug with work very well in suppressing this shit in my body, as well as helping to prevent transmission. But, again... Talk to your doc. Hope all goes well! ~Julie

@optimist... Thank you so much, exactly what I suspected. So, perhaps you can tell me what test to specifically ask for? What is the IgG blood test called? Thank you so much, once again for your help :) ~Julie

Hello Everyone... I'm new here, and have been here for a few days, reading, reading, reading! I've already learned so many things here I never learned elsewhere. I had my first genital outbreak on November 12, and just got my blood test back. I was looking for the IGG number, but all I saw was IGM on my test results. The number was 1:18. I'm afraid I don't know what this means, and the absence of the IGG confuses me even further. I was positive for both 1&2. Can anyone shed some light for me? My deepest thanks! ~Julie

Very true! I joined a discount program at my local grocery store (Kroger) pharmacy. My refill of 50 400mg acyclovir tablets was only $18.82!!