Question:
I was diagnosed with this virus back in 91', not by a culture of any sort, but only by a doctor doing a visual exam. From 1991-2004 I never had an ob again. But in the beginning of 04 I started to have constant ob's. I was only not having an ob a couple months of the entire year. Otherwise it was non-stop.

I spent most of the year down and wondering how I am going to live the rest of my life this way. My doctor agreed that it was herpes and put me on Valtrex first...didn't work...then she switched me to Acyclovir....didn't work. She raised my dosage...twice.....didn't work. I was taking Echinacea, Olive Leaf Extract, C, L-Lysine, Zinc...and the list goes on. Nothing worked!

My doctor finally had me go and get tested for HIV because she couldn't figure out why my body couldn't fight this virus. I was terrified! I have been in a monogamous reliationship for 13 years so I couldn't figure out why this would be happening to me.....and I have a baby too...so I was terrified for her health as well.

To make a long story short.....I was HIV negative (thank God), and they tested my blood for Herpes and also scraped my lesions and looked at that under a microscope as well. Well, my blood did test positive for HSV1 (oral herpes)...BUT....the culture of the lesions came back negative!!! It turns out that I have contact dermatitis and by changing my laundry soap and bar soap for a few days...everything was gone!

I was in hell for a year...not to mention the strain that no sex for a year can put on a relationship. The doctors just assumed and never looked any further into it. They kept prescribing meds, and when they didn't work, they would prescribe more! No wonder the meds didn't work.....IT'S NOT HERPES!

I just had to share my experience...I hope it helps someone out there!

Answer:
Many of us wish we had the same problem. :wink:

Answer:
Just have to say good username - I love that film!

Laney.

Answer:
Just have to say good username - I love that film!

Laney. Why thank you. I do too.

I guess I'm kind of feeling a bit like a mythical but real bogey man who walks among men, unseen but feared.

Heck, I'll put that in my signature!