EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS

[Guest Anonymous]

This is a ROUGH draft of an 10,000 word paper I am writing for an english class I am currently taking... It outlines alot of the questions I've read on here... Remember it is my rough...

Statistics

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD?s) affect millions of people around the world today. The number of adolescents infected with STD?s every year has reached epidemic proportions. The numbers are staggering to say the least. It is estimated that over ?eight thousand American teens are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease every day. They estimate that 46% of the girls are likely to become infected with a disease after their very first sexual encounter.? Even as you read this paper ?one out of every five adolescents is currently living with some type of STD.? Out of those people currently infected with STD?s it is estimated that 50 to 80% of the American adult population is infected with HSV-1 (Cold Sores ? Labial Herpes or Orofacial Herpes). In 2003 it was estimated that over ?20% or over 50 million people? are in fact infected with HSV-2 (Herpes Simplex Virus), many of which are unaware that they even have the virus. ?Recent studies show that more than 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with genital herpes each year.?

Description/Symptoms: HSV-1 & 2

Scientists have discovered 80 different strains of the herpes simplex virus. From these 80 known strains only 8 of them actually affect humans. The most common strains include Cold Sores (HSV-1), Genital Herpes (HSV-2) and the Herpes Zoster (HZ-Shingles). Cold sores and mouth blisters are basically facial herpes and are generally caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. The HSV-1 strain generally affects the upper portions of the body (from the neck and up). HSV-1 is usually found on or around the mouth however it has been known to affect areas around the eyes, nose, ears, and the interior of mouths although this is very un-common. Most doctors don?t actually consider HSV-1 a type of STD because so many people are in infected with it (50 ? 80% of the general population). Although it is un-common there are thousands of cases each year where HSV-1 affects the genitalia of people infected with the virus.

HSV-2 is the strain that generally affects the lower portions of the body (from the waist and down). HSV-2 is a highly contagious STD primarily affecting the genitalia of both men and women. In men symptoms typically start within 10 days after direct exposure to the virus. Although symptoms very dramatically from person to person the first sign of the disease may be an area of reddening/swelling or tingling of the skin. Some patients will experience flu like symptoms, which may include ?fever, muscle pain/tiredness and swollen tender glands (lymph nodes) in the groin.? If infected the reddening is almost always followed by a development of blisters or ulcerations. The blisters or ulcerations will often group together to form lessons on the skin. The blisters or ulcerations will look like small pimples, which become fluid filled. Eventually these ?pimples? burst to form an ulcer. When these lesions/pimples/ulcers burst a person/patient will under go excruciating pain. The fluid that bursts will contain high levels of the virus itself multiplied millions of times. It is highly contagious during these first few stages as the virus is actively shedding (multiplying). Once the virus is done multiplying the ulcers begin to heal by slowly crusting over. The healing will vary from person to person but can last between one and three weeks. Once the healing is complete the crust falls off usually leaving no scaring of skin tissue. ?In men these lesions can occur on the penis, urethra, scrotum, upper thigh and around the anus. In women, the lesions in a first episode can occur on the lips of the vagina (the vulva), urethra, cervix, upper thigh and around the anus.? Women generally experience pain for an average of 9 days while the lessons can take one to three weeks to heal. Most patients will experience no scaring of skin tissue however frequent outbreaks in the same area will leave scars, especially if outbreaks occur often without leaving time to completely heal.

The majority of patients infected with HSV-2 can expect several outbreaks, ?reoccurrences? of the virus within the course of their lifetime: about three to six times a year. In my research I have found that women tend to suffer more outbreaks because of their menstrual cycles, which tend to cause stress and ultimately reduce their immune systems strength. Reoccurrences will tend to decrease over time, and it?s not un-common for the outbreaks to stop completely. ?When the virus first enters the body it multiplies quickly, invading and destroying cells.? The initial outbreak is usually the worst a person will experience. This is largely due to the fact that this is the first time your body has been infected by such an infectious disease. Your immune system actually goes into a state of shock as your T-Cells amongst other cells are destroyed in the attack, damaged to the point where they burst (explode) giving birth to hundreds and thousands of identical herpes simplex viruses that had previously infected the cell. Your immune systems T-cells will spend the next two to three weeks trying to fight off this dominating virus. The truth is that your immune system actually defeats the virus in the end (kills it), but not before the virus had a chance to retreat into your nervous system to establish it?s permanent residency in your nerve bodies found near the end of your spine. Once residency is established the virus (defeated) lays dormant (not active) until it?s next outbreak. This state is known as ?latency.? Reoccurrences from this point on are much more mild and tend to be less mild as time passes. This is because your immune systems T-Cells actually built up a memory of the virus and how it was defeated in the past. It is much easier for these cells to combat the virus and it gets easier as time goes on, especially if patients keep active, eat healthy, exercise to support a strong healthy immune systems.

Transmission

Transmission is one of the most interesting features HSV-1 & 2 have. One of the biggest myths about HSV-1 & 2 is that it can only be transferred through bodily fluids, similar to that of an HIV infection. HSV-1 & 2 are transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact. ?Most people are actually infected by HSV-1 for the first time during childhood. The first infection known as the primary infection is passed from person to person by direct contact with infected skin or saliva.? Condoms for example provide almost 0% effectiveness when used by males on females infected with HSV-2. Females will probably have sores outside the interior of their vaginas. The problem with condoms is that they can only cover so much of your genitalia. The same works when a male is infected with the virus. If his sores aren?t covered by the condom or are outside the area of protection and he?s shedding the virus there is a good chance that the virus will be passed onto yet another innocent un-suspecting host.

The reason why HSV-2 is becoming such an epidemic around the world is because the virus often shed?s without any visible symptoms. Researchers say that most of the people who are in fact infected with HSV-2 don?t even know it. The reason they don?t know it is because they have no obvious symptoms of the virus yet it continues to shed/multiply on the hosts skin. There are thousands upon thousands of cases each and every year where this happens. In these cases, the virus is spread from one person to another asymptomatically. Asymptomatic shedding is the leading cause for infection of both HSV-1 & 2. Bad virus?

Both HSV-1 & 2 can be transmitted orally. For example if a female (infected HSV-1) is currently shedding the virus whether it be asymptomatically or she is about to get a cold sore within a couple of days yet there are no visible signs and she goes down on a guy, that guy has an extremely good chance of getting the virus. Both HSV-1 & 2 can over lap, which means you can get HSV-1 in the genitals or you can get HSV-2 facially. It is extremely hard for scientists to tell the difference between the two strains because they do over lap so much.

A common myth about HSV-1 & 2 is that you can get infected from sitting on toilet seats, or using towels used by infected persons. Although these situations are extremely rare they are not 100% impossible. Viruses can?t survive outside the body for very long making transmission through toilet seats or towels near impossible. The virus attached to a cell dries up which first disables the virus as it dies. Keep in mind that viruses don?t and can?t live in oxygenated environments. Some scientists believe that this one known weakness is the next step in a cure for the herpes simplex virus.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Herpes Simplex Virus 1 & 2 can prove to be extremely difficult for some people, especially if they don?t experience outbreaks. The problem with diagnosing herpes is that doctors can?t properly test you for infection unless you have open sores located some where on your body. This is why it is extremely important to go get yourself looked at by a doctor as soon as possible if you have discovered any type of sore in or around your genital area. Testing starts with a doctor examining you visually. If he suspects infection he will do a standard swab test, which would test you for different types of STDs (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea etc). He/she will than take a specific cultured swab from an open sore on your body and send both to a lab. Results generally come back in seven to ten days.

Some people who don?t get outbreaks demand blood tests. When patients get blood tests done, researchers test for certain antibodies in the blood that were previously used by the immune system to combat the virus. These tests have a high probability of failure and are often inconclusive. Keep in mind that this virus uses your nervous system where it?s in latency for most of the time. There are no traces of the virus in the blood system unless you are about to have an outbreak. A dormant virus is un-traceable. Dormant viruses have no effect on your body.

Cures/Vaccines/Medications

How can you kill something that isn?t even alive? My search for the truth about herpes took me right back to where I started. This is the only part of my research paper that truly disgusts me. Here?s my story, straight up. I?m sitting here asking myself why we send men to the moon when we haven?t truly discovered earth. How can a virus not be alive? Why can?t we kill something that kills so many men, women and children every day? I wonder why I?ve spent hours, days, nights, and weeks researching this topic. Why can?t I stop reading about this? I can?t count the amount of hours I?ve spent answering questions from people in pain on the Internet forums. I can?t even sleep. In all honestly all this research has changed my whole outlook on life. I?ve probably done more research on this subject than anyone actually infected by the virus. Maybe even more then some doctors. Why? Because my best friend was exposed to this disease and it?s ruined his life. He?s just not the same anymore. Than again either am I. I can?t see very many people living a completely normal life with this disease. It?s always in the back of your mind. Why should so many people have to suffer? Why does society allow such things happen? Does the Government not see that this is in fact a major epidemic?

Some venders may tell you there is in fact a cure for herpes. Despite what people tell you there is no known cure for herpes at this time. There are no cures for viruses out there period. We can?t even cure the common cold yet our biological weapons divisions in the United States have created viruses that could level entire cities. Does that make sense to you? We have the technology. We have experienced personnel and I pay for health care through my taxes. Where?s the cure? I mean how close can we possibly be when our scientists can?t even figure out if these things are alive or not. As if they don?t know. The problem lies within the pharmaceutical companies, who make millions of dollars a year producing anti-viral suppressants such as Zovirax, Famvir, and Valtrex. I?ve researched each of these herpes medications and I can tell you that some will work, some won?t. Nevertheless these medications will never cure this virus but they do manage to burn a hole in your pocket. If you had the chance to cure herpes but suffer the loss of millions of dollars in lost revenues per year, would you do it?

I do believe that one day there will be a cure for the herpes virus. Trials for herpes vaccines have had mixed results but are promising. The truth is your body is capable of beating this virus on it?s own. The cure lies within your immune system, it?s up to you to make that system as strong as it could possibly be. If the immune system can stop an HIV infection from turning into AIDS it can certainly stop HSV. Exercise enriches your blood with oxygen. In all my research I truly think oxygen is the key in killing this virus. HSV1 & 2 can?t survive in oxygen rich environments. A healthy diet can and will boost your immune system, so if outbreaks occur they are mild to none.

Conclusion

Herpes Simplex Virus is a dramatically intensive experience. To anyone who suffers with this disease my heart truly goes out to you, and the ones you love. Know that you are not alone, there are over 50 million people feeling just as you do. Remember that the Herpes Simplex Virus is not fatal and what doesn?t kill you only makes you stronger. ?Setbacks are given to ordinary people to make them extrodinary.?

Rich

[Guest Anonymous]

Rich - this is great, very factual and informative - just what I needed to read. Question... you say "In all my research I truly think oxygen is the key in killing this virus". Can you elaborate on this for me please.

[Richard]

Thats right... All the viruses I've researched cannot survive in a oxygenated environment... For example if we were you take a sample of HSV positive blood and break it down to the cells that were infected and exposed that cell with the virus into our environment (outside) that cell would dry up which would first disable the virus and then kill it.... So if we could stabilize oxygen and pump high amounts of it into your blood stream it could disable the virus... Once the virus is disabled it can no longer infect your body... So even though you'd still have HSV in you, the virus could no longer attack you, it would be in permanant latency, forever.... This is why working out, and cardio are so good for people infected with HIV and HSV.... When you breathe hard during your work out your blood cells fill up with oxygen distributing it throughout your body making it hard for the herpes virus to become active, (outbreak) because the oxygen is rendering it from attacking.... I will be doing alot more reasearch on this later... What you read is just the beginning... I will be doing alot more reasearch on this and post on a later date... I'm glad you enjoyed my little article.... I recommend you exercise 5 - 6 times a week, I bet you anything you want your outbreaks will considerably decrease and you will have more energy than you've ever had before.... And dont go to the gym to fuck around, go hard for 1 - 2 hours per shot....

Rich

[Richard]

Thats right... All the viruses I've researched cannot survive in a oxygenated environment... For example if we were you take a sample of HSV positive blood and break it down to the cells that were infected and exposed that cell with the virus into our environment (outside) that cell would dry up which would first disable the virus and then kill it.... So if we could stabilize oxygen and pump high amounts of it into your blood stream it could disable the virus, maybe even kill it... Once the virus is disabled it can no longer infect your body... So even though you'd still have HSV in you, the virus could no longer attack you, it would be in permanant latency, forever.... This is why working out, and cardio are so good for people infected with HIV and HSV.... When you breathe hard during your work out your blood cells fill up with oxygen distributing it throughout your body making it hard for the herpes virus to become active, (outbreak) because the oxygen is rendering it from attacking.... I will be doing alot more reasearch on this later... What you read is just the beginning... I will be doing alot more reasearch on this and post on a later date... I'm glad you enjoyed my little article.... I recommend you exercise 5 - 6 times a week, I bet you anything you want your outbreaks will considerably decrease and you will have more energy than you've ever had before.... And dont go to the gym to fuck around, go hard for 1 - 2 hours per shot....

Rich

[Guest Anonymous]

Thank you

I just wanted to thank you for the amazing information. I found out 2 weeks ago that I am infected with HSV-1 on my vagina. I am grateful that after visiting this website, my ob has not been as bad as alot of the other ones I have read about here. Nor have I had the physical pain. However, emotionally, and psychosocially this has been a pain in the psyche. Thank you so much, alot of useful information.

[Richard]

No problem, it's nice hearing ppl say thank you for a change, I greatly appriciate it... I'm here for anyone and everyone...

Rich

[Sub]

Man that article was incredible.... Your idea of using stabalized oxygen is extremely interesting and just knowing that there's a natural way to at least supress it makes me feel great. Going into the army might be a great idea after all if cardio prevents outbreaks

[Richard]

Man that article was incredible.... Your idea of using stabalized oxygen is extremely interesting and just knowing that there's a natural way to at least supress it makes me feel great. Going into the army might be a great idea after all if cardio prevents outbreaks

Thank you very much... I seriously take your compliment to heart... It's nice hearing people appriciate my writing for a change... I will be publishing the full article again within the next few months complete with cures that are looking promissing including the newest info on liquid oxygen and oxygen theropies used around the world.... A cure is just a few years away...

Rich

[lola]

Thank you so much.

[Guest Anonymous]

Rich, I just have to tell you how much I love you! You are truly an inspiration. I was diagnosed with the big H a few months ago and every chance I get I go online for answers. I am grateful that this disease wont kill me but it sure sucks to have it. I think i got more info from your article than all the hours I spent online and I just can never get enough It's nice how people share their experiences. I've had 3 outbreaks in a year, luckily not very painful but i am too looking forward to the day a major breakthrough takes place. Thank you for your concern and research and maybe we can all be a part of finding the cure! God bless you and your affected friend. Star

[Guest Anonymous]

HBOT is hyperbaric oxygen therapy. You breath pure oxygen under pressure in a decompression chamber. The virus is anaerobic, meaning it can't survive in a high oxygen environment. HBOT is used to treat many illnesses but I discovered it because I am a scuba diver and got decompression sickness (the bends). I had a nitrogen bubble in the base of my brain and spinal cord (this is also where the virus lives). To get that bubble out they had to put me in a decompression chamber which puts the air inside (and anyone in it) under extreme pressure, like when I was diving. What this does is makes all of the oxygen bubbles and the nitrogen bubbles in your system extremely small so they move throughout your body more efficientley. ( alittle lesson about diving... when you dive deep the nitrogen you breath in the air compresses and moves into your brain, tissues, spinal cord everywhere in your body. If you come up from diving to fast these bubbles don't move back out to your blood stream, into your lungs and then exhale like normal. These trapped bubbles are what causes the bends or decompression sickness) So they put me in this tank, put me under enormous pressure like I was under 60 feet of water and gave me pure oxygen, no nitrogen to remove the nitrogen in my system. This worked for the bends. Keeping in mind the virus can't live in a high oxygen enironment, I was breathing pure air under extreme pressures for 6 hours straight. I had the virus for several years before I got the bends and since I had this treatment two years ago I haven't had a breakout. I used to get them all of the time, every month. Now I don't. I researched this at great lengths and discovered there is actually some documented research on this area but the FDA and AMA won't approve it for treatment of herpes. No one will conduct more research or do a clinical trial mainly due to skeptiscm but I (and many others believe) it is because this is an actual cure and not a treatment. The pharmacuetical companies can't make money off of this because your breathing oxygen not taking a pill that you have to buy for the rest of your life. I have spoken to doctors who firmly believe this but won't "prescribe" the chamber to cure it because they are fearful that they will have their license revoked. Look up "hyperbaric oxygen therapy" on the web and read everything you can find. Buried in that information you'll find places that will give you the treatment, call a couple, when they are sure that you aren't with the FDA or AMA htey will negotiate a price and set you up for a session. The easiest thing to do would become scuba certified and then "fake" the bends. The only drawback is that it is expensive ($5000 +) and is dangerous. Breathing pure oxygen under pressure can kill you if the person treating you doesn't know what they are doing. Read about it.... knowledge is a powerful thing... stay open minded, it does work...

[Guest Anonymous]

I need Help!

I found out 6 months ago that i had Hsv 2 . It put lm e in the hospital for a week. After i got out of the hospital i went into depression for a month and a half. Ever since I found out i had something i can't get rid of things have never been the same. I still cry my self to sleep at night. I am only 16 years old my 17th b-day is going to be in feb. But i still feel like trash like it's my fault. The man that gave it to me didn't tell me he had it till i confronted him about it. Then he left me after we talked about him giving me something like that and not telling me about it. Its really hard to deal with these things. People try to tell me all the time that its going to be ok. But like i day if you aint been there then you wouldn't understand. Just knowing that you have this breaks you down so much inside that you cant eat, sleep, or even go out any more. I've been trying for so long to cope withthis but i just dont know if i can. I bearly eat once a day. I have a breakout every other week almost, and it hurts so much that i cant even walk. I had to leave my old school because i told one pearson that i thoughtr i could trust and they told every body in that school that i had it. Every boyfriend i have had since then has left me it makes me think that there is somthing wrong with me. how can people judge me over something i had and have no control over? Can you help me out at all. So what do you have to say to someone whos still afriad of stepping out of there own house?

[metoo]

HBOT is hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Hmm, wonder why you have never had an outbreak since? I'm sure the chamber did'nt kill the virus, did it?

[Guest Anonymous]

Re: I need Help!

I have a breakout every other week almost, and it hurts so much that i cant even walk.

I know how you feel, cause what you're going thru sounds a lot like what I'm going thru. I keep having recurrences too. Almost every other week, as well, which I don't understand. It's so depressing. I'll be anywhere and if I start to think about it, my eyes well up and I have to try really hard not to cry. It really sucks, and I wish people would be honest when they have it so the person they're with will know what they're getting into. I don't know if I can ever get used to this.

[Lasmom]

It's a Vicious circle - stress triggers it, it triggers stress. In time when you start getting used to this (I'm not sure anyone does) it will be easier. I remember being 16 - I wouldn't go back to that age without HSV, but you will get through, we all have. Unfortuneately, it's a hard thing to accept.

Remember that you are not alone, talk to your doctor about supressive therapy, look into stress therapy - I started doing yoga for a while...and SPEND ALL OF YOUR TIME with people who love and accept you. Don't waste a minute on anyone negative.

Good luck sweetheart!

[Guest Anonymous]

Janie i wanna talk.

Janie hey i wish to talk to you more about the herpes and how ours are similar please write to my hotmail adresse soon befor the christmas holdiays please. I really need someone to talk too if you dont mind and im guessing you might need the same. I'm the one you wrote under. My hotmail account is krystalhasson@hotmail.com

Sincerly yours,

Krystal

p.s. the reason why is because im looking for someone who won't judge me by what i got. So please write my hotmail.

OUR ANYONE ELSE CAN IF YOU ARE KINDA GOIN THROUGH THA SAME THING!

[Richard]

Negative ppl are worthless ppl...

[Lasmom]

Negative ppl are worthless ppl...

AMEN!

[lauryn]

Rich, thanks for your note. I was just diagnosed with GH yesterday, and I am left feeling lost, confused and alone. I'm very curious to understand how your best friends life has never been the same. How so? I mean, I understand that it is not an easy thing to go through, and I can imagine it will always be on the back of my mind, but beyond the physcial symptoms, how has this affected him? Does he find it hard to meet people? Does he meet people at all? I just can't imagine bringing up the situation to someone I'm interested in, so I feel like avoiding it altogether. I broke up with my boyfiend of six years, six months ago, so it has been difficult enough for me to meet people. Please help!!!! Thank you!

[luminous]

HBOT is hyperbaric oxygen therapy. You breath pure oxygen under pressure in a decompression chamber. The virus is anaerobic, meaning it can't survive in a high oxygen environment. HBOT is used to treat many illnesses but I discovered it because I am a scuba diver and got decompression sickness (the bends). I had a nitrogen bubble in the base of my brain and spinal cord (this is also where the virus lives). To get that bubble out they had to put me in a decompression chamber which puts the air inside (and anyone in it) under extreme pressure, like when I was diving. What this does is makes all of the oxygen bubbles and the nitrogen bubbles in your system extremely small so they move throughout your body more efficientley. ( alittle lesson about diving... when you dive deep the nitrogen you breath in the air compresses and moves into your brain, tissues, spinal cord everywhere in your body. If you come up from diving to fast these bubbles don't move back out to your blood stream, into your lungs and then exhale like normal. These trapped bubbles are what causes the bends or decompression sickness) So they put me in this tank, put me under enormous pressure like I was under 60 feet of water and gave me pure oxygen, no nitrogen to remove the nitrogen in my system. This worked for the bends. Keeping in mind the virus can't live in a high oxygen enironment, I was breathing pure air under extreme pressures for 6 hours straight. I had the virus for several years before I got the bends and since I had this treatment two years ago I haven't had a breakout. I used to get them all of the time, every month. Now I don't. I researched this at great lengths and discovered there is actually some documented research on this area but the FDA and AMA won't approve it for treatment of herpes. No one will conduct more research or do a clinical trial mainly due to skeptiscm but I (and many others believe) it is because this is an actual cure and not a treatment. The pharmacuetical companies can't make money off of this because your breathing oxygen not taking a pill that you have to buy for the rest of your life. I have spoken to doctors who firmly believe this but won't "prescribe" the chamber to cure it because they are fearful that they will have their license revoked. Look up "hyperbaric oxygen therapy" on the web and read everything you can find. Buried in that information you'll find places that will give you the treatment, call a couple, when they are sure that you aren't with the FDA or AMA htey will negotiate a price and set you up for a session. The easiest thing to do would become scuba certified and then "fake" the bends. The only drawback is that it is expensive ($5000 +) and is dangerous. Breathing pure oxygen under pressure can kill you if the person treating you doesn't know what they are doing. Read about it.... knowledge is a powerful thing... stay open minded, it does work...

Anon.-

I was interested in HBOT having discovered that my new chiropractor's office has a portable chamber. The fast healing time of tissues that it promotes seems promising. The sessions are $100 and if you buy in bulk, $60. I was thinking that it would help heal an outbreak faster, and maybe lengthen the time between reoccurances. But you say that the virus is anaerobic... I'd like to know more. Do you really feel that one treatment cured you? Where did you find your research on the virus related to HBOT?

Steph

[sfgirl]

hi

Hi

great article - I've heard about oxygen being key to fighting herpes. With me though - when I work out it seems to lower my immune system - i get a cold the very next day and feel incapicated which then leads to a herpes outbreak. I used to work out a lot and get an outbreak every two or three months. I don't work out now - not very healthy I know, but I generally get one outbreak a year.

so it doesn't work for everyone - i know you're not saying it does.

[gotitsowhat]

Thanks for the info

The oxygen thing was something I didn't know much about.

As for the paper, good job--but you need more paragraphing to make it readable. My father was a writer and when I wrote things, he'd sometimes look over my shoulder as I wrote and say, "Leave more daylight!" Other than that, a very well written and helpful paper.

[SirRuskin]

Hi Rich thanks for the info, there is one thing that i am confused about, i have just spoken to my doctor and she says that although i had herpes my body has now fought it off and i am now immune to it and also that i cant pass it on to anyone else, but that does not agree with everything i have read online, can you please clear this up for me?

Thanks