Tell us Your Herpes Story
By viola33 | April 29, 2008
I sometimes receive people’s stories with herpes and I often feel bad because I’m the only one to read them. If you’d be generous enough to share them with us, I would be extremely grateful.
You don’t know or maybe you do, how lonely people with herpes can feel, especially after first diagnosis. Sharing your story here can make a big difference.
Topics: Talk Herpes with Nathalie Foy | 15 Comments »
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Itreat my herpes with Hydrogen Peroxide,and it works.Ifirst had herpes thirty eight years ago when I was 18 years.I do not know how I contracted it.Ihave used acciclovir,zovirax,lysine valtrex etc,but all failed to satisfy me.It is only when I used H2O2 i.e. Hydrogen Peroxide that I got the first real relief from the disease.Use H2O2, 3% taken with milk or distilled water without chlorine.It is the best treatment against herpes.
July 29th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Well it’s been over a year…..
Unfortunately my relationship with this wonderful man ended because i had to move to another continent….it was painful and i felt very lonely…needless to say that he did get herpes from me…which made it even more painful. He wasn’t mad because he knew about it, but i was more angry at me because i took my medications, use the essentials oils, staying away from certains foods and it still didnt quite work. Anyway now back on the dating scene i meet this wonderful man, we’ve been dating for quite sometimes and he says he loves me. I’ve decided to tell him the truth today and risk being rejected…I am scared out of my mind, about his reaction and also about being rejected by him because i got very attached….
Since i contracted this disease, my life is very difficult, i stressed a lot and i get depressed very often. I try to move forward but so very often i cant get my mind of this painful experience, i think about suicide often i am not the person i was before my diagnosis….
part of me thinks i am better of alone, that i deserve to be alone…
I am so exhausted of having herpes on my mind days and nights…..
I seriously want out of this life at times…
Nathalie Foy says: Hopeless, you cannot stay alone like that. You need to visit a support group and maybe get therapy. I think you deserve to think about something else than herpes all day. I write about it all day and I never think about it as a threat. I know it so well, I feel I can even control it mentally. In your situation , I would consider suppressive therapy at least at the beginning. You can use acyclovir if you cannot afford Valtrex. I use all natural suppressive therapy but I can understand that at some point you may want to start taking medical suppressive treatment not for yourself but your date. Then you can tell your date that you are taking suppressive therapy and that greatly cuts the chances of transmission. If you transmitted herpes despite taking suppressive therapy then you should definitely use my natural protocol on top of that.
I believe focusing on herpes all day is probably one of the main reasons you probably transmitted it in the first place. I suggest you find a therapy, hypnotherapy, EFT… that helps you focus on how good you feel about yourself and helps you bring back some peace of mind in your life.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
i jsut got dignosed with genital herpes on my birthday, Ive only had this disease for a few months . I am so sad. Im so young only 16. I really dont know what to believe for cures. I take valtrex when i have a out break. I dont have the virus serve, because i only get one sore. Even my first out break was one sore. It lasted a week too. now when i get an outbreak it last two to four days. I dont get any of the symptoms , just a sore will appear. but i always get an outbreak around the 17 – 19 every month. im very confused . I even wonder if i have the virus. I would love to hear what anyone thinks. My doctor doesnt really have mucb to say either.. thanks
November 20th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I don’t know when I contracted herpes, but I always thought it was candida at first, until my gyn had a pap smear done and told me it was herpes. he gave me zovirax orally, but after i read the secondary effects ot it I stoped it.
Reading alot about it on the net, i found that lysine was somthing to consider, so I took it, and it did help but came back at every menstral period.. I also took probiotics and that was the thing that didn’t make it come back. When i stopped probiotics it would reappear.
So I’m writing this as an info for anyone it would help.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:42 am
I’m so frustrated and angry with myself and am no mood to read books searching for answers…I just want the answers. And really…I just want this to go away!
I was diagnosed with herpes in April of this year. I am over 50 and divorced after a very long marriage with the last few years of it being without much intimacy. When we separated, I went wild…sowed those wild oats so to speak, until I was diagnosed! The man I was seeing when I had my first outbreak called me after we had been together for a long weekend and asked me if I knew anything about his rash. I didn’t–but at the same time, I was starting to feel small sores, and a terrible burning when I urniated. Having had many urinary tract infections over my life, I initially thought that was what the burning was from; I also had a vaginal discharge which I knew wasn’t normal. I went to the doctor for the discharge and UTI symptoms and was told that because of the lesions that were beginning to appear, I likely had herpes. I was absolutely devestated and continue to have those feelings–especially when I feel what I think is an outbreak starting. I should have known better! I often times wish I had been more careful…I was stupid and now I have to live with my own stupidity.
The doctor told me that since this was my first outbreak, my partner had surely given it to me-as it takes 2-10 days from being infected to begin infecting its new host (in this case, me). My partner didn’t deny that he may have given it to me…and it really doesn’t matter who gave it to who. His response was, “It’s only herpes, at least it won’t kill me.”
Now as I try and date, I am finding it very, very difficult to tell potential partners that I have herpes. I don’t actually quite know how say it as I’m afraid no one will want me yet–I know that I must be honest.
When the outbreaks–if they are outbreaks, occur, I seem to start getting that burning feeling–as if I have a UTI, and also start feeling some pain where one of the previous lesions were located. I have used MelaGel, an ointment from Melaleuca, and I think it helps heal or elimante the lesion(s). Has anyone else used MelaGel? What I’m finding really frustrating though, is when I take the Acyclovar, it seems that things get better…until I either stop taking or finish the medication, as if the Acyclovar is merely holding everything at bay until the medication is out of my system, the process starts over. Has anyone else had this happen?
From the time I was young I used to get cold sores on my lips. That rarely happens anymore though I occasionally get one lesion just on the inside of one of my nostrils–it’s very painful and ugly, and generally happens if I’ve had a cold and have been blowing my nose a lot. Some years ago my doctor gave me acylovar cream to put on the nose lesion which helped immensley–until I quit using it–then the lesion would come right back. I finally had to quit using the cream and just let it come back..as if the lesion (the germ/bug/virus) had to go through its process and work its way out of my system.
I’m wondering if all of the medications for herpes act the same way. Is it possible that something other than Acyclovar might actually clear up and stop the outbreak whereby the Acyclovar just may not work for me? Would taking medication all the time prevent or minimize the chance of my passing it on to someone else?
And finally, over the last couple of months I’ve had bacterial vaginosis twice–the last time, a few weeks ago, I felt like I was starting to get another UTI and another lesion as well. Over the last three or four days, I’ve been feeling like I’m it’s all starting again..like I’m getting another lesion and those same UTI type burning symptoms…and now today I’m 99% positive I have another case of bacterial vaginosis as well! I’m wondering if the VB is possibly causing the herpes outbreaks or perhaps visa versa. I’m not actually sure if I’m having another herpes outbreak or not–though I KNOW I’ve got the VB infection. I always figure though that I should treat my potential symptoms as if I am having another outbreak.
Am I wasting my time…worrying too much? I’m confused, frustrated, angry at myself as well as whoever it was that gave this to me…and darn it, I just want answers. Has anybody else had similar experiences with the medication and/or the VB?
I WISH I had been more careful…and Herpes just isn’t something I want to tell my kids that I have…so I can tell them not to do what I did. I am very embarassed and ashamed…and disgusted with myself for my foolish actions.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
I contracted herpes about ten years ago, I always thought it was yeast infection until one day I was in the middle of an outbreak going for my pap exam. The results came in positif. I was in shock, not knowing what to do next.
After all these years I thought is was yeast infection, so when did I catch this.
Not wanting to take zoviax orally because of all the seconcadry effects it has, i started my little research on the net.
Outbreaks for me develop ten days before my period, or when I’m stressed or don’t have enough sleep for a couple of days.
I finally fell on an article that was talking about L lysine. So I take 1500 the first 3 days and then go down on 1000 for 3 days then 5OO a day for three days. I do apply zovirav cream on the area, and I do diet a little, knowing that chocolate and dairy products increase the pain.
With that I’m fine, but if there’s any thing else i’ve missed i’d love more feed back.
September 29th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
One night about 2 years ago i was being intimate with my boyfriend…during sexual intercourse the condom slipped off (it happened a few times before so we didnt make a big deal out of it and put it back on and continued having sex) The next morning i saw a clusters of rashes on the underside of his penis, i was scared and didnt know what to make of it and i asked him to go see a doctor. Unfortunately the result came back and we found out he had herpes. I was mortified…and i that moment something died in me because i just new that i had contracted the disease. I went to the doctors and they all refused to give me a blood test because they said it wasnt 100% accurate and the only way to know for sure would be to culture the rashes when i showed symptoms. I felt helpless, lonely and sad…i couldnt grasped the idea that at 20 yrs old i had contracted a lifetime disease from a partner i trusted. There is nothing worse than being in a state of total uncertainty…but despite that i tried to move on focusing on me and trying to stay away from the dating scene. in January of this year i reconnected with an old friend we started dating and for once in my life i felt like i found my soul mate…it was just perfect. After 3 months of dating i was diagnosed with Genital herpes i told him and i was so convinced that he would leave me. This man stayed by my side and helped me through the most difficult time of my life and since then we are still together. It is tough dealing with the disease and everyday is a struggle but you learn to live with it and make the best of it…i am still not healed and probably will take a long time before i heal because something in me changed forever.
My ex the one who gave me that disease left me after he was diagnosed with the disease…
Nathalie Says:
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Hopeless. By doing so you have helped the dozens of people who write me regularly asking if they have to remain single for the rest of their lives. Your story is pure gold to them. It will help them believe that they CAN find TRUE LOVE with HERPES.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:00 am
It is very hard for me to talk about herpes, specially because I had it at a very young age and the worst part of it is, that I was pregnant and I din’nt know who I got it from.I was 16 when I realized that I had it.At first, I did not know what it was, but when it started to outbreak so frequently, I decided to go to the doctor.
When I was told that I got it,I paid no mind because I never heard of it and I thought, it was a simple skin infection and that it would go away with a dosage of antibiotics.But when the doctor went on details explaning to me that this was a life time disease and that my baby could get it at birth .I fricked out and started crying.
I din’t tell my parents until it got worse and I had to stay away from my friends because I did not want them to know about it.Imagine a 16 year old girl,isolated from others just to avoid them to know about my problem.
It has been a terrible nightmere for such a young girl like me, but I’ve grown strong from this bad experience and at age 21, Iam trying to teach others to cope with this seriuos life time disease.
I also have a lot of hopes about getting your antidot and your book that will help me get back to my life doing and enjoying the things that
a girl my age should be doing.
I apreciate your support and genuine concern about this disease and consider me another supporter in this your crusade that is my own from now on.
truly yours.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Are you a professional journalist? You write very well.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:18 am
I really like your blog and i respect your work. I’ll be a frequent visitor.
July 27th, 2009 at 1:36 am
I have been diagnosed with herpes over a year ago and it has had a horrible impact on my life so far. I’m assuming I got it from a guy I was dating for a while who things didn’t work out with for other reasons. He never told me that he had it, and possibly never knew. But although what im starting to read is that I could have gotten it years ago and only started showing symptoms recently. Anyways I started dating someone new and had no idea how to approach the subject of telling him I had herpes. Although it was hard I eventually told him that I had gotten it from my previous partner but that I was taking medication to prevent outbreaks and spreading it. He decided that he cared about me enough to risk it and I let him. Anyways three months into our relationship I had missed a week or two of my valtrex due to lack of money to refill my perscription (because its ridiculously expensive!) and then the called me one day and told me that he thought he was having an outbreak. He went in and tested positive for herpes too. I felt absolutely horrible!!!!!! I couldn’t stop thinking how selfish i was and at the same time wanted to put the blame on him for taking the risk with me. He wasn’t angry with me, but obviously upset with the fact that he now has herpes for life too. He is an amazing person for caring about me enough to risk being with me, but now there are problems in our relationship. I constantly feel guilty and can’t stop wondering how our relationship would be without herpes? I feel like since i gave it to him i owe it to him to stay with him and be with him forever. He loves me and wants to marry me but i know I dont love him like he loves me and sometimes i feel so trapped i want to scream. Herpes has made me a prisoner of this relationship. I love him, but sometimes i feel like the only reason im still with him is because i gave him this lifelong disease and that i owe it to him. I hate having herpes and wish that my doctor was more informed on ways of coping and dealing with it.
August 16th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I have had herpes for 8 years now… I got it from a girlfriend, now my wife. The end of the world is here, I thought. We played it safe and used condoms (got it from her going down on me), but after a while stopped using them and were just careful not to have sex when I got a outbreak. Only thing is, after about a year or two I only have had one other outbreak, and the outbreaks after the first were almost nothing. Now, after living with herpes for so long and becoming a medical doctor, paying special attention to herpes, I have come to realize it is usually not that serious, and in most cases either becomes so insignificant to one’s daily life, or even non-existent. The most serious threat I believe can happen is shingles later in life, which are quite painful. I have not had any signs of an outbreak for 3-4 years now, it is so far in the past I barely remember it. Also, I definitely agree with what K says, most research I have read indicates little asymptomatic shedding, and in most cases there is NONE. In fact, my wife has not shown any symptoms, and we are intimate very often, although we cannot verify that she does not have it, since some people never show symptoms, and the antibody herpes simplex I she gave me will show up anyway because she has it orally already. My advice for anyone that has it is not to worry, see a doctor and wait for a while, it, in most cases will not be severe and will be VERY VERY VERY easy to live with.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I’ve had HSV for 20 years and have never infected anyone (outbreaks every 3-5 years– it hasn’t been a big deal). I appreciate your sane, down-to-earth approach to educating people about HSV, and particularly your statement:
What I don’t like is the manipulative publicity, lying, and data tweaking that is done by chemical groups just to get an extra buck.
I also have done extensive research and have come to the conclusion that Big Pharma wants to scare people about asymptomatic shedding so they will buy Valtrex (and other products). I’m sure you’ve noticed that on site after site intended for the general public, you’ll find fairly identical information, i.e., they all get it from the same biased, data-tweaking Big Pharma source.
I can’t afford your e-book but am thinking about recommending it to a friend of a friend.
Does it link to studies that show how rare asymptomatic shedding is? (I’ve found a few, but I don’t know if they’re the best or most definitive.) Are you able to make a strong case for the misinformation that is fed to the public? It’s difficult to convince people that the information they hear from a doctor (parroting the same biased pharmaceutical company sources) is inaccurate.
K
Nathalie says : I can read scientific studies in two languages and I can assure you that asymptomatic shedding exists and is a concern. It was discovered only ten years ago and until then no one mentioned it.
What I can tell you is that asymptomatic shedding time differs greatly if you have HSV-1 or HSV-2 in their natural or unnatural locations.
If there is something that the big Pharma doesn’t want you to know is that Valtrex is certainly not the only effective suppressive therapy available but the most expensive. They also make genital herpes a bigger concern that it really is…
May 27th, 2008 at 12:40 am
It’s unfortunate that people treat this skin disorder with such condemnation – but that is the reality for most. I have been in relationships with folks from both parties: those who love you enough to deal with it (and properly work with it), and those who simply walk away once they hear that you have it. The person that v. richards spoke about will either move on or come back. If he doesn’t come back, then he didn’t want to be with her that badly after all – and she would have to move on herself. If she is looking for a string of relationships, then she should let her partners know. If she is looking for mr. right (husband,partner for life) she could rest assure that he who accepts her for who she is, will be right for her, given the circumstances. I know some people who would welcome herpes over 99 percent of the diseases out there. It seems, however that people today have become more and more paranoid and germophobic than ever, to a point of such absurdity that it rattles my brain. I’m not particularly thrilled to have gential herpes, but I have never given it to anyone thanks to being strategically aware of its attacks, etc… I don’t know which method worked, but I haven’t had any attacks, symptons at all for sometime ( a year, now). But whatever it is, it’s working. And what I have read in Natalie’s website seems to have a great deal of merit, because it greatly resembles the way I approached a solution to GH – and as a unexpected surprise, a solution to other “diseases” and ailments as well!
April 30th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
well where do i start i moved to california last august and before i moved here i had only ever kissed one guy…. then i started becoming more sexually active i slept with three guys all at separate times then about 3 months ago i decided i should go get tested for STDs and i didnt get any results back… a little later i started to get sores in my genitals area i was super scared and i was hoping it was just a UTI or a yeast infection but i went to get it checked out and just a couple weeks ago i got the results back that i was positive for herpes… it was the worst feeling ever!! i didnt know what to do… and life went on. about the same time i heard about my herpes i met this amazing guy and really really liked him. so i was trying to get up the nerve to tell him about my herpes. the last saturday i got really drunk and he went down on me. i ended up telling him the next day and he hasnt talked to me since then. i feel like a horrible person and am just trying to learn to deal with the fact that i have a disease for life and because of it i lost a guy i really really cared about…