Question:
Hi all, yes, I am in shock. I am a happily married and a mother of 3. I didn't have too many symptoms. Mainly a tiny cut, or at least it felt like a tiny cut. When I looked in the mirror all I saw was a small area of raw skin and my lymph nodes were swollen. I did go to the doc and she said it didn't look like classic herpes, more like a yeast infection and to my surprise and disbelief came back to be H. My husband and I are faithful to each other and the doc said it is possible for the virus to be dormant for years. Is it possible over 12-15 years? My husband is being tested next Thursday. Neither of us has ever had a cold sore or anything, so I am actually still in denial. I took valtrex and l-lysine and I am healed physically but not emotionally. How can things ever be the same? If my husband doesn't have it, I am going to feel guilty and scared that I will give him H. No one seems to know when it is safe, everyone is different, condoms may not work. How can you have a normal sex life if you are always in fear? How about oral sex? Would the person have a break out on their face if infected after the act? Has anyone had a breakout and then never had another one? If my virus or his was dormant for all those years is it possible it can lay dormant again? Sorry this is so long, I just have so many questions and I was reading a lot of stories on this forum last night and all of you seem to be so supportive and caring. What a wonderful place to feel safe and vent.

Answer:
I have been married for 20 years. I have never been formally diagnosed, but based on my youthful indiscretions I figure I've had the virus for around 25 years. Until about a year ago I only had small outbreaks, usually around the end of my period. Generally only a small blister about the size of a pin head and it would go away in a day or two. Then, out of the blue, I had an outbreak that swelled my entire genital area. It was super painful and debilitating for about 3-4 days until the Valtrex kicked in. My husband has never had any outbreaks.

Then about a week ago I had my 2nd big outbreak. As I recalled the events surrounding my first bad outbreak I realized that, like this time, it was triggered after taking a sulphur antibiotic for a bladder infection. The doctors said this medication shouldn't cause an outbreak, but the coincidence makes me think otherwise... at least for my body.

Anyway, I guess what I've learned from this site is that everyone has different experiences with the disease and different levels of outbreaks -- as I had small infrequent ones and then two major ones about a year apart.

I have basically just lived normally. Perhaps your husband can get tested to see if the virus is dormant in him -- although I guess it's difficult to test if you're not in the midst of an outbreak.

I just wanted to let you know I read your post and I wish you well.

Answer:
Thanks for your reply and input. This whole thing is baffling. What a wierd virus. I feel awful but I hope my husband does have the virus so I won't feel so bad and our sex life won't be so abnormal. I feel so ashamed for having this and if he doesn't have it I think I will feel even worse. Is anyone out there doing the suppressive therapy? And if so, which medications are you taking? And does it help?

Answer:
dreamer I was diagnosed with gh 3 months ago. I am certain that I've had it for about 11 years. I remember a time 10 years back having problems but nothing that I'd describe as classic hsv.

I had my first real ob 2 years ago and it was one sore. I then had a major ob this past January with blisters and when I got the positive diagnosis it stressed me so much that the ob lasted for at least a month.

I am using the daily suppressive therapy. I use the Acyclovir twice a day and I've been ob free now for almost 2 months. It keeps getting better every day.

Before I was diagnosed I used to have genital itching (severe) but that is becoming less and less with time. For that I am glad I got a positive diagnosis - I always thought I was just crazy. It was always worse before my period but I've had it twice now and no ob. I am trying to build my immune system and I take the recommended lysine and during the week before my period I upped the lysine to 1500 mg. a day.

If you have been with your husband all of these years it is possible that you both have it. I believe if we've had latent infections for years it can go back that way but the key is knowing your own body and what contributes to ob's and doing preventive measures.

Answer:
what is the difference between acyclovir and valtrex? and how much is suppressive therapy costing? And is that the safest way to go if my husband tests negative?

Answer:
I'm in California and I use Kaiser and they will not prescribe valtrex to me under my plan. I can opt to pay for it out of pocket if I want it badly enough. Valtrex is valacyclovir and I understand that it is superior to acyclovir because it maintains a higher level of antiviral in the blood stream which is why they have a once daily suppressive program. Acyclovir is the generic name for Zovirax and I get 3 months supply for $5. I take it twice a day at 400 mg. I hear that Valtrex will possibly have a generic by 2009.

Acyclovir made me very ill the first week I took it and I saw the best results after a month. Initially I took it 3 times a day. I experienced initial dizziness, nausia, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Now I don't notice any side effects except that it has reduced my appetite overall. I lost about 5#.

My bf does not have hsv and we do not use condoms. (His choice)