I am 54, positive for HSV 1 and 2 and have only been diagnosed recently, after 30 years of marriage. So after all this time of lying dormant or at least unnoticed I've gone through a period of multiple outbreaks in the last few months. Am currently on acyclovir suppressive therapy. I'm looking for others my age on this site who might relate to this late-in-life situation. Anyone out there?
Meeee! But I've known for most of my life ... had huge OB's on my chin as a kid (H1) and got H2 at 17... didn't get properly diagnosed until my early 20's when my now ex-hubby got it but there was never any question about when I got it... it finally made sense that all the "yeast" infections and heat rashes I had were something else...that was in the early 80's before the internet and it just wasn't discussed then :p
Ah thank you! Do you take suppressive drugs? Has it gotten better for you over time? Will I ever feel sexy again? (Ok, you might not be able to answer that one.
Wow my post only half saved. Here's the rest: I am wondering how I have managed to have this for over 30 years and not passed it on to my husband, or how has he passed it on so long ago and not had symptoms himself? He does not want to be tested, says he doesn't care but he might change his tune if he has an OB. I feel like if I knew he had it I would worry less but I don't want to press him. It's a fragile time, for me anyway. Feel like I'm going just a little crazy but I am tolerating suppressive therapy now so that helps. Sorry for the ramble and rant and thank you!
I only take suppressive drugs if I'm in a relationship - I barely have OB's any more... and I have no problem feeling sexy with the right man :)
Look - it doesn't matter who gave it to who at this point. Your hubby is an adult and and he can make decisions for himself. And again, you can't figure out Herpes and why one person has horrid OB's from day one and others never get it.
Thanks so very much. I wonder if my OB's will ease up (they have all but stopped on suppressive drugs) since they have presented so strangely. Nothing for years then all of a sudden several outbreaks in a few short weeks. I feel addicted to the drugs--I know it will cut down my risk of transmission to my husband--but a part of me would like to see if this thing will go back to sleep. I have a very good friend who contracted H many years ago and she was the first person I told after my husband. She reported that she hadn't had an outbreak in 10 years. I am also on HRT so perhaps I'm not letting menopause do its job. Some days I am fine with this then it hits me and I get upset. I hope that as time goes on I will come to a place of acceptance. And of course I've got my eye on the clinical trials that are taking place so hope also that they approve more and better drugs. "It's just a virus with a rash" is my mantra these days. Be well!
Just so you know, when the virus is "sleeping" it's entirely possible that you could be shedding... usually not enough to pass it on but the risk is there.
And there's no way to become "addicted" to the drugs - they are very target specific and only affect the virus - in absence of the virus they just get excreted...
Ok, now on two acyclovir per day for suppressive therapy and have an outbreak. I assume I should take three per day for five days (what I read) and I've also left a message on my doctor's voicemail. I know you're not a doctor (probably could be) but does that sound right to you?
Thanks!
