Question:
I am wondering how many of you are on daily suppressive meds vs. episodic, only treating the outbreaks? How long have you been treated? Any one have thoughts or experiences with either method? I was just diagnosed with Type 2 and am not sure how to progess in my treatment.

Answer:
I've been doing the suppressive Acyclovir and initially it was a miracle. Lately I am not so sure.

My rule with any medication is that if you can somehow avoid taking them you should do so. There are ways to reduce symptoms and ob's naturally and if you try them and find that they don't help then you might want to try suppressive.

the only other compelling reason to take something like Valtrex daily is if your partner is hsv negative and you are trying to reduce transmitting it to them.

Answer:
Caliope....exactly. My husband is negative (or at least we assume he is). He hasn't been tested because he had cancer and radiation 5 years ago that would have caused him to break out then if it was lurking. So, my primary concern is not transmitting it to him. He is 21 years older than I am, and is fighting off pre-cancer of the esophogus as it is. I just can't decide what to do. My doc says that my outbreak was "mild" because I only had one small lesion (that DID swell up to the size of a grape at one point)....God, the pain was worse than an episiotomy (and I've had four). But, I had a fever, aches, swollen glands, headache, etc....for a full week.

Since I was diagnosed, I have been meticulous about my supplements, getting rest, etc....but I WAS very run-down and sick (on steroids for asthma) for two months before (probably what finally weakened my immune system for me to break out after 20 years). So you see, I have to consider what's best not only for myself, but my hubby as well.

He is being so incredibly wonderful about this! I must brag on him for a moment....the day AFTER I was diagnosed, he took our wedding vows and had them beautifully printed, matted, and framed to demonstrate his committment to going through this with me. He and our daughter presented it to me yesterday. I consider myself blessed every day to be married to such a wonderful man!

Answer:
Your husband sounds wonderful,it is so lovely to hear.

I do not take anything apart from ginesing which was recommended by a post on here,i dont know if this will help but i do notice my energy levels are a lot higher.
I decided i was going to see how my body dealt with this virus,before i took ongoing treatment.

My doctor prescribed medication the first time, but i didn't notice any difference, but in all honesty had nothing to compare it with.

I have had a 2nd ob recently, and got through it, it wasn't half as bad as the first.

I am quite a healthy person and do not get ill very often,so i suppose it's a case of waiting and seeing how my body copes.

Answer:
It sounds like not only do you have a wonderful supportive husband and children but you sound like quite a wonderful lady as well. It's not easy to have a spouse fighting cancer and to be their source of support when your body is giving you grief.

As for his hsv status did the dr suggest that his treatments would have allowed an ob if he was hsv positive or is this your assumption? Did his esophageal issues start with GERD? There are some indicators that the medications to suppress acid production for GERD also assist in keeping hsv in check but this is not substantiated by research.

You could be like me and this crap just showed up out of nowhere because the stress hit the critical point. I too was on steroid medications for 5 years straight and I just quit them all and am seeing what happens. I have the inhaler with me at all times just in case and so far so good.

I wouldn't want to infect him either. It's especially important not take a risk at this critical time while his immune system is fighting so much.

Answer:
Caliope....actually, this was the assumption of mine confirmed by our mutual psychiatrist (whom we've known for many years)....I had called him to see if he had any tips on how I could've contracted this after so long, and he's usually a whiz at natural remedies (believe it or not).

His major concern was (and someone else early on in my posts eluded to this) that I should be tested for other potential diseases that could be weakening my immune system (standard cancer screening) or HIV (for MY peace of mind!). I had the HIV last week....no results yet, but doctor said would surely be negative. He actually SCOFFED at my shrinks' suggestion for further testing. So, I am going in next week to my GP for second opinion about that and the meds.

Getting back to your question (sorry, I ramble!), we will certainly discuss the need for husband to be checked with our GP, but I'm not sure what difference it would make at this point whether he's got it or not. He's never had any kind of outbreak. Of course, we haven't had sex since three days (thank God) BEFORE my prodrome started, and four days before the lesion. We plan to use condoms, boxer shorts, and have him shower immediately after. I am scared to try because I'm afraid it will hurt. He's being wonderfully patient.

Thank you for your kind comments, as well! I am trying to hold myself together while having four kids around (damn summer!). Hard to explain to anyone why I can't put on clothes that day, or sit down, or why I've been crying, ya know? I have basically had to go through all of this with an audience (including my ex husband) and not let on what's going on. I think this site, and those of you who take the time to respond, have kept me from going insane!! I'm actually doing pretty well! The upside to this is that I have always been anal retentive about my house being clean.....now I get one more "invisible enemy" to fight while doing it! Kind of spices things up! (What can I say....I'm a "bored" housewife.....doesn't take much to excite me :)

Answer:
susan101 - the only benefit to testing your hubby that I can see is to relieve your mind about the risks if he actually has it. wouldn't that take away some of your stress?

Of course you don't want to have contact during an ob. I had to wait a month or so before resuming sexual activity. I tried at about 2 weeks post and it flared immediately and we stopped. once the residual redness and swelling went away it never caused any problems or brought on an ob.

Stress is my trigger.

As for cleaning. I like a spotless place and am a germaphobe but outside of normal handwashing and an occasional wipe down of surfaces with bleach you're probably good.

Answer:
Caliope,
Yeah, reduction of stress would be good....but he would theoretically have to be tested repeatedly over time and to what end? Unless they want to put HIM on Valtrex....given all his other medical issues. That just occurred to me! Ok, we're off to GP this week for answers....

I know about the cleaning thing, too. It's terribly ironic. I actually am fascinated by viruses. Always have been. I read medical journals and textbooks on the subject for fun. I have a picture of one on my desktop (and rotate them occasionally--don't think I'll be adding Herpes to the list). Get this...my hubby actually found a place that sells stuffed viruses....he bought the whole lot of them for me. I had intended to hang them from the ceiling in my daughter's play room (Ok, I'm a little quirky that way).

Anyway, despite that, if ANYONE gets a stomach virus, I FREAK out. I mean, I won't go near the person without gloves and a mask, I usually quarantine them to the bathroom, I have a complete PHOBIA about vomit.

Who the hell knew that I would one day be blessed enough to get to study a freakin virus up close and personal?! I am learning far more about this one than I ever cared to know!

Regarding sex....that sucks....a whole month? I was planning to go for it (with plenty of lube) pretty soon. My lesion healed this past week....no more pain....I guess I won't know if it hurts or makes me flare unless I try.

Answer:
If your hubby has a bloodtest it might show up right away if he has hsv and that was where you got it. who says it has to take months?

If he has it and neither of you have bad ob's then why do the Valtrex at all? unless it is to prevent transmission. if he has it and no ob's what are you preventing?

If you aren't red or inflamed any more and you don't have any pain you might be just fine. I'm just ultra sensitive and my ob symptoms went on for ever.

I saw those stuffed viruses. they are rather cute if you ask me. the hsv virus looks like a pokey ball.