SPATX919

@Tallulah1984 I'm also a group fitness instructor. I happened to be on hiatus when I got my diagnosis but I was still working out 5-6 days a week. I haven't noticed any difference based on the intensity of my workouts and taking 2-3 days in a row off doesn't change much either. I hope that's not the cause because it keeps me sane!

It's perfectly normal. Every body is different and, as such, reacts differently to the virus. Right now your system is developing sufficient antibodies to keep the virus at bay but until that happens, you're going to experience symptoms. I would say I'm was in a mild (maybe a 2 out of 5) state of outbreak for probably 75% of my first year. Now that I'm in my second year, it's maybe 50% of the time. Anything you can do to strengthen your immune system will help. Healthy diet, moderate exercise, getting lots of rest. A daily probiotic helps me. Some people say L-Lysine supplements help, I don't personally notice a difference. You're probably better off eatin foods high in lysine than taking a tablet anyway. Look into some of the common triggers and see if you can figure out what yours are. For me, it's stress. Others see a reaction after eating certain foods (chocolate, coffee - sorry!) some react from sex or with their monthly hormonal cycle. Bottom line, try to pay attention to your body and your environment.

It's going to be different for everyone and, unfortunately, it just takes time to pinpoint your own prodrome symptoms. Some of the common ones include a tingling sensation, swelling and pain of the lymph nodes in the groin region. I've experienced both of these. I also feel a pain that feels like muscle soreness in an odd place - right where my legs and butt cheeks meet. It might help to keep a journal - keeping tabs on your diet, activity level, stress levels, sexual activity, shaving/waxing any any physical symptoms that seem out of the norm for you. Finding a pattern can help determine your trigger(s) so you can try to avoid future flare-ups. Do what you can to help build up your immune system as well. I've heard L-Lysine supplements help others but I haven't personally seen a difference between taking them and not. A daily probiotic did help me. A healthy diet can be beneficial as well.

HSV1 is so common I feel like the odd one out for not having it. And I don't refrain from kissing people I know have it, either. Yes, be careful giving oral because it can be passed to the genitals. Otherwise, just go about living your normal life because not much has changed.

Seriously, both those guys sound like an assholes. You don't need that kind of toxicity in your life anyway. You do you, and the right guy will appreciate it.

From what I understand, the IgG blood test is fairly reliable, particularly with differentiating between types 1 and 2. Mine was barely positive but the re-test came back positive as well. I hadn't had an outbreak at the time. My doctor told me I might never have one or I had and it was mild enough I didn't notice. At that time, it had been two months since my last exposure - but transmission could have occurred up to 6 months before testing. If you're going to re-test, maybe wait another month. It can take up to 16 weeks for your antibody level to test in the positive range. Unless you develop lesions, then have those tested.

I agree with both these ladies! Talk to your best friend about it, you're fortunate she's been through it and you know she loves you regardless. You can both bitch about what a POS that guy was. Just like you would after any other break-up. It's still too fresh for you now. Give it some time and you'll start to gain perspective. Until then, take it easy on yourself. Buy yourself something nice, get your hair done or just make time to take a relaxing bath more often.

Welcome! When I got my diagnosis last year I felt a lot of what you are feeling. It does get better, believe me. I spent a lot of time in this forum to come to terms with it. You're going to find that most of the people are pretty normal and still lead healthy lives. It was also a great resource for leaning about common triggers and how to treat your outbreaks. It seems pretty unlikely you could give it to your son because transmission requires skin to skin contact and I'm presuming your HSV2 is in the genital area. If you want to be extra careful, just make sure he's not using your bath towels or anything else that comes into contact with you genitals soon after you do. I'm in Texas so I can't meet with you in person, but I'll be glad to lend an ear if you need advice or just a virtual shoulder to cry on.

I'm a woman so I can't answer all your questions, but I'll try to help. Have either of your doctors order a blood test? Six weeks since contact might be long enough for antibodies to develop and show up on a blood test. It can take up to 4 months, though. From what I understand, HSV1 tends to live in the upper part of the body (face and mouth) while HSV2 is lower (genitals) - it is possible (and even common) to contract HSV1 in the genitals but the instances of HSV2 in the upper body are rare. I was exposed at least two months before I saw symptoms. I actually found out when my blood test came back positive. I went directly to a lab for testing after being warned about possible exposure. I then saw my doctor to get re-tested and a prescription. She told me that the time that it's possible I have a very mild strain of the virus. It reacts differently with everyone, though. For your sake, I hope you're worrying over nothing. If your pending results are positive, don't fret too much. This forum is an enormous support. If they are negative, get a blood test to put your mind at east anyway. And get another one in a couple months just to be sure.

Thank you for your words of encouragement, @RegularGuy - I was having a really tough night and just putting into words did help tremendously. I'm so grateful to have this forum as a sounding board and I promise I'm not all doom and gloom. I've tried episodic and suppressive therapy with Valocyclovir. It doesn't do much to help, but my symptoms are so mild I haven't felt the need to try another medication. I'm due for my annual this month so I'll ask my doctor to try a different brand of medication. In a fit of trying to get outside my comfort zone, I joined an online dating site (that isn't strictly for positive people) just to put myself out there. Nothing ever changes if nothing ever changes, right?

As to Adrial's mindset of the Herpes Opportunity - Other unfortunate circumstances in my life (my best friend has stage IV pancreatic cancer) have led me to read up on Post Traumatic Growth Syndrome. I highly recommend a book called "Upside: The New Science of Post Traumatic Growth" by Jim Rendon. While I don't consider HSV2 to be as traumatic as life-threatening cancer, it has taught to to look for the good in my situation and focus on that. Some days are definitely tougher than others. Here's what I've found so far, if it helps: 1. I now have motivation to maintain a health, balanced diet and physically active lifestyle. 2. I've become less judgmental of others because I've felt judged and know how it feels. 3. I only seek meaningful relationships. 4. I've learned that the few close friends I've told genuinely love me. 5. I've learned to become more conscious of what is causing stress and deal with it accordingly before it snowballs. I've started wearing a mindfulness tracker that measures my breathing patterns and warns me when I'm getting tense and need a break. 6. I've learned to forgive myself.

We all have good days and bad. Today is one of the bad ones. Thankfully, they'e become fewer and far between. Forgive my rant. Better out than in, right? I'm just a couple days away from the anniversary of the day I got The News. I hadn't had an outbreak at the time, I was advised to get tested by someone who already knew. My giver neglected to disclosed and wouldn't admit to anything until I confronted him with my test results. Spoiler alert: If stress is a trigger, getting blindsided with that kind of betrayal is enough to wake the beast. And if he's the kind of asshole that doesn't disclose, he's the kind of asshole that will turn his back and leave you to struggle alone. The really sad part is that I would have accepted the risk if he'd told me. While my physical reaction been mild, it's pretty much chronic. In the 12 months since finding out, I've had maybe a total of 3 months that there wasn't something going on in my nether region. Not full-blown blisters, but red and irritated skin. Because of this, I've closed myself off to the idea of loving someone new. I'm scared to disclose and even more scared of giving it to someone I care about. My only sex partner has been my giver (because I'm just that much of a sucker) so I haven't had to face the fear of rejection. I've only told a few very close friends and no family. I've pulled away from many of my friends because I can't bring myself to let them know how I got swindled. Everyone thinks I'm this strong, independent woman but that's just an act. Most of the time I feel pretty pathetic and alone on the inside. I like to think of myself as attractive. I'm fit. I'm funny. I'm kind, I have a good heart. I'm gainfully employed and own my home. And still, there's always this little voice in my head that reminds me I'm 40, single and have an incurable STI. Who's ever going to love that? Regardless, I'm happy to have this forum. Not only has it been a great resource, it has allowed me to vent my heartache. Thanks for listening, so to speak.

I'm almost a year from diagnosis and mine have always been mild. My doctor told me that I could have a fairly mild strain of the virus. I either hadn't had an outbreak or it was so mild I didn't notice before I was diagnosed. My exposure occurred anywhere from two to six months before I got my test results. It's different for everybody. You'll just have to figure out yours in time. Pay attention to what could be triggering them for you. For me, it's stress. For some, it's diet or hormonal changes, lack of sleep. In the meantime, welcome to the fold. This forum can be a great resource. I was here multiple times a day for my first few months.

What kind of blood test was done? IgG is pretty accurate (according to both doctors I've seen) and can differentiate between types 1 and 2. It can take up to 16 weeks for your HSV antibodies to reach levels that would reflect as positive. If I were you, I'd ask for a copy of your blood test results. If anything other than IgG type specific, I'd go to another doctor and ask for another blood test. Especially if it's been a while since your last possible exposure.

@livinglight I have not noticed any change during or around my period. It can be a trigger for some women, it's just not one of mine. I forgot to mention I recently noticed an improvement when I started taking a daily probiotic to strengthen my immune system. It's not gone completely. I still feel a little something just about every day, but not all day every day anymore.

@lostandconfused99 I just get my grocery store's brand - Organic, unrefined, expeller pressed virgin coconut oil. It comes as a solid but the melting point is low enough that your body heat will turn it liquid.

That sounds a lot like the symptoms I've been experiencing. I'm still in my first year, too. I've had a full panel of STD tests and gyno exam with pap. There is almost always some part of the skin around my genitals that is red and tender to the touch. I don't get sores often but when I do they are gone within a day or so. They never open up. I also get headaches, or rather one really long chronic headache. I posted in this forum about it a few weeks back and had a comment from someone who experienced headaches in her first year as well. And antivirals aren't doing much to help. I've tried the episodic and suppressive dosing at different times. No change. I think the virus is just making itself at home in my nervous system and this will continue until my immune system has developed sufficient antibodies. It treats everyone differently. For me, it's been mild but chronic. In the meantime, I've found that coconut oil helps ease the burning and diluted tea tree oil helps with the redness and itching. You can mix the two oils but I'e found them more effective on their own for me. Apply directly to the affected area with a cotton square. To dilute the tea tree oil, I wet the cotton and then apply a couple drops. It's strong so you don't need much.

It seems you already know you should tell him. If it were me, I'd own up to the mistake and apologize profusely. Also look into the transmission rates for female to male (as I understand, the rate of transmission is lower than male to female) so you can help answer any questions he may have. If you like this guy and he likes you, he may be discreet. Yes, he will probably be mad but at least he won't be in the dark. I also think you need to work on forgiving yourself. Mistakes make you human, learning from them makes you grow.

Thank you @janedoe - I'm still in my first year so this is still all new to me.

Does anyone else get headaches with their recurrent OBs? I've been having a mild, yet chronic OB for about three months now and have had a mild, yet chronic headache for just about as long. OTC pain relievers aren't very effective in treating the headache.

Coconut oil helps sooth the burning sensation for me. I put a little bit on a cotton square and apply over my genitals.

First of all, I'm so sorry to hear about your assault. No one should ever be in that position and I'm happy your husband is with you in this time of trauma. The virus treats everyone differently. These symptoms may be indicative of HSV but it could be something else entirely. HSV is not on the standard panel of STD tests. I didn't know that until recently. Had you been tested before the assault that you know of? Even if you think it's too early, I suggest you and your husband both see a doctor for testing and test again in a few months. If you haven't already, please seek a mental health care provider as well. The assault alone is enough of a burden but add a physical reminder? You're going to want a support system.

Since it only takes skin-to-skin contact, I would think the transmission rates are nearly the same.

Be careful if your partner isn't already positive for HSV2 because the virus can still be transmitted. Also, sex can also be a trigger. Are you taking anti-virals every day to suppress?

Is stress a trigger for you? It is for me and I could see how sex would help with stress.