The Herpes Support Thread

[mama_mich]

I wanted to create a place where women could come to for support, advice, and non-judgement relating to herpes.  I am newly diagnosed myself and information is scattered at best!  I thought an ongoing thread would be helpful.

I was just on www.herpes.com and some things I would love some feedback on are the following:

You can still spread herpes even if you are not having an outbreak. 

Condoms will not prevent the spread of herpes.

You can spread herpes by sharing a towel.

This last one has me so concerned.  I share a towel with my 3 y/o son sometimes.  I take baths with him...can he contract herpes by taking a bath with me? 

I thought it would be helpful to others to share what we do to prevent an outbreak, to shorten the duration, etc.

I take 1000 mg of L-lysene daily to prevent an out break.

If I have an outbreak I double that dosage and also take the homeopathic Hypericum to help with the nerve pain I get.

I also wash with a peri bottle 3 parts water 1 part peroxide.  Everyone always talks of the peroxide being so harsh but it really relives the itchy rawness and speeds up the healing for me.  Worth it!!

Towards the end I like to use a homeopathic spray of calendula to again help the skin healing.

Can't remember why but the last outbreak I took some GSE and there was a quick turn around on what was going on below.

It's possible I was having some bv mixed with an outbreak last time.  Has anyone else experienced that kind of symptom?

I have been reading up in Valtrex for the last part of my pregnancy to avoid an outbreak.  Seems like it was definitely helpful for a lot of women on the forum.  I know my mw wants me to take it the last 4 weeks and at this point I think I will.  There doesn't seem to be a threat to the baby taking valtrex as a possible outbreak would or could. 

My definitive diagnosis came 2 days ago.  Gone are the days I can think maybe it's something else.  I am single now and very pregnant.  I don't expect to have any intercourse prior to the birth.  I am kind of role playing in my head how you tell a potential partner about having herpes.  I worry about being in such a small town and everybody finding out.  I worry about maybe having a c-section to prevent spreading it to my child.  How would I explain that to my family?  Why the c-section?  I hope I'm not offending anyone here with these thoughts.  I don't think of myself as less of a person because I have this disease but I do worry about what others might think of me.... feels lame but I'm being honest.  I'm pretty active in my community.  A Lot of people know who I am and boy would this be the icing on the cake after the year I just had!!  How do you handle telling potential partners? Telling family?  I really like sex and I fear my sex life is over!?

[moonmamajess]

Hugs and much love to you mama!

I am so sorry you are having such a stressful pregnancy and wishing you a more peaceful and loving future. I was exposed to herpes in my first pregnancy, but haven't had an outbreak. I was tested while pregnant and tested negative, but also know that it may pop up at any time. I don't have answers to all of your questions, but am curious to see what other people know. I have NEVER heard that you can get herpes from sharing a towel...perhaps its possible? but maybe not probable? i don't know. What I can hopefully help you with are some alternative healing methods that may assist in healing both physically, emotionally. I have read a lot in Christiane Northrup's book Woman's Bodies Woman's Wisdom about herpes and she has some great insights. She even suggests visiting www.datingwithherpes.org for some questions you may have about getting back in the swing of things at some point.

As for your birth, I say go with the valtrex, many women have used it with much success, but I say only for the birth and discontinue it after your beautiful soul has emerged. The reason I say this is because it is important for your body to build natural immunity to be able to keep the virus under control. Some ways to do this are

-garlic- Northrup suggest to take 12 capsules of deodarized garlic when you feel the firmiliar tingling of an outbreak occuring, then take 3 capsules every 4 hrs after that, while you are awake for the next 3 days. She also recommends if you are pregnant to take 2 pills everyday, which I did throughout my pregnancy.

-avoid all sugars and sweet foods, especially chocolat- herpes thrives on a sugar rich acidic system

-avoid foods high in arganine-peanuts, chocolate, peanut butter- I know you are taking lysene so this should help with the arganine issue, excellent results have been achieved with L-lysine

-Rosemary Gladstar also recommends an echinacea tincture- 1/4 teaspoon 3 times a day for 3 months, and whenever you have an outbreak take 1/4 tsp every hour.

Some external relief can be brought by:

-aloe vera jel-cooling relief and helps dry up blisters gently

-green volcanic clay, glodenseal, and myrrh powder mixed w water or aloe vera to make a paste and spread on blisters

-an herbal salve made of St. John's Wort, Comfrey, and Calendula

or

-a solution of yogurt mixed with acidophilus and applied to the blister to heal...it may sting a bit at first

Take any of these that may work for you ---or leave em if they don't!

Also, one last important note, (sorry about the novel! hope somethin helps!) is that neither genital warts or herpes need to be a big deal. In many cases your immune system takes care of it and they wont cause you or anyone else any harm. You are not "bad" or tainted because you have them and perhaps you could rid your body of them by celebrating your yoni and your sexuality! Perhaps this is an experience to make you more of a whole person by going through it, and coming out the other end as a more understanding and loving woman to not only others, but especially YOURSELF!

I wish you a beautiful birth and much love and light in your life!

----------Jess