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Life with herpes doesn't have to be sad
livingfree1
Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 01:36 PMre: Life with herpes doesn't have to be sad
Penelope James
Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 07:33 PMHi livingfree,
I think you're right. For a long time I tried to go off suppressive therapy because I'm sickened by the mark-up of pharmaceuticals, and have some moral issues with the US health industry. I wanted my body to be able to fight the disease on its own. I didn't have any luck and recently (very recently, as of last week) I decided to go back to suppressive therapy. However, I do know some people for whom that doesn't work. They have tried suppressive therapy and they still get outbreaks. What do they do then? That can be a frustrating situation.
This post wasn't intended to say that life with herpes is "sad". I was discussing a recent discovery in the medical world, my excitement and concerns about it, and I digressed a bit in saying that I'm anxious for a cure.
I'm glad you have such positivity. Do you think the scientific discovery that I discussed seems promising?
re: re: Life with herpes doesn't have to be sad
livingfree1
Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 11:25 PMYes I do think that the research being conducted at Duke University with the HSV-1 strain sounds promising. I intend to forward the information contained in your article on to my sister who is a microbiologist, just to see what she thinks.
I did not mean to imply that you were being negative about living with herpes, I just wanted to let anyone know who may be recently infected and scared, that having herpes is not the end of life and that there are treatments available.
As far as people taking valtrex and still getting outbreaks, I do believe that it is possible. Especially if the pubic area is aggravated (meaning shaving all the hair off, getting a sun burn, rough foreplay) and starting and stopping antiviral tx. I believe it is important for people to be in tune with their bodies and what may trigger an outbreak, so that they refrain from sex during these periods. I have been successful with the virus because I can get in tune with my body and I have stayed on antiviral treatment.
I do hope that the researchers can find a cure for HSV-2, because I would like to live without the virus inside my body...but until then I have to remain positive. I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago and my gyno at the time told me that there is not any reason why I can not live a happy normal life as long as I take my antiviral medicine and refrain from sex when I have an outbreak. 20 years later, his advice still holds true.
I look forward to hearing more about any research you uncover in regards to treatments for HSV-1 and HSV-2.
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I do not mind my life with herpes. It has made me more aware of how easy it is to catch something from someone. Atleast herpes isn't fatal. I can still do all the things I've always done, I just have to take once daily valtrex to keep the virus at bay. Really, that is not too bad. Alot of people have to take daily medication. For instance, people with allergies, high blood pressure, diabetes and even mental illness. So why should I mind the swallowing of a blue pill everyday... I don't. It reminds me that I am lucky that I got treatment and have never spread the virus to anyone. It reminds me that I can live a normal happy life. It reminds me to ask all sexual partners to show me their test results for HIV and to to thank god that I do not have a life threatening disease. Yes, I have been annoyed from time to time, but hasn't everyone at some point in life. I thank god for the many scientist who implemented the drug treatment valtrex 500 mg for herpes, and with people like that working on a cure, I am confident it will happen. Valtrex is a wonderful drug and has helped me live pain free for over 12 years. I have complete faith in the researchers working on a cure, because of how the drug valtrex and dramatically held the virus under control in my body.