"EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS" article 2 FINAL

[Richard]

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 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 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 (Pus) 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 reducing immune system 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 almost always 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.

Patients actively shedding HSV-2 undergo excruciating pain during visible outbreaks, especially during the initial attacks. In fact the pain is so unbearable that many patients cannot and will not have sex, making transmission of the virus difficult. Some patients can go through so much pain that they?ll even have problems performing the simplest of tasks. Tasks such as walking can leave patients in so much pain that most will require painkillers just to get through regular daytime routines. For any ?bar-stars? reading my article these painful symptoms patients experience could be your only hope from infection. Keep in mind that this virus can still be passed on if patients haven?t completely healed from their outbreaks.

It is extremely difficult if not impossible for this virus to be passed onto others if patients aren?t actively shedding the virus. HSV-2 can only spread when the host is actively shedding before, during or after an outbreak. Most of the population is infected for the first time asymptomatically.

Transmission? ?Bar-Stars? Demise

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 asymptomatic or she is about to get a cold sore within a couple of days yet there are no visible signs and she decides to go 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. Is it wroth it?

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.

Search for the Truth

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 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 honesty, 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? Is contracting this disease worth the agony it causes bar-stars?

Dating/Marriage

?Has he/she cheated?? is probably one of the biggest most asked questions on the Internet forums these days. Your answer lies within your heart, as you look into your partner?s eyes when you ask him/her that question. I?ve learned long ago to trust my heart. The truth is your partner very well could have cheated, contracted the virus, which was than passed onto you. In the majority of the cases I?ve studied partners who haven?t cheated contracted the virus years ago. The virus has remained dormant or asymptomatic for years. The person infected has no clue that they have contracted the virus and may show no symptoms ever. In most of these cases the virus is shedding asymptomatically, the host spreads the virus to others un-knowingly. I have no credible evidence as to how long the virus can remain dormant in a host?s body, but I have read many testimonials that suggest the virus could remain dormant or asymptomatic for up to 15 years.

Scum, trash and garbage can be found anywhere on earth. The biggest scum/trash on earth are people who knowingly go around infecting others with this plague. Their sole mission in life is to have sex with as many people as possible. These people truly disgust me and they deserve to be shot like criminals. For those of you who knowingly date someone with herpes you know how it spreads and the signs to watch out for. If infected learn your body?s signs before outbreak and use common sense before you engage in sex with partners. These precautions can severally reduce spread of infection. For those of you involved in serious relationships your chances of catching herpes will eventually catch up with you even if protection is used. If both you and your partner are currently infected with the herpes virus, avoid sex during outbreak and wait it out until the ulcers have completely healed before engaging in any sexual activity. If you fail to do so you will continue to spread the infection from one partner to the other. If partner one is actively shedding HSV-1 while partner two is infected with HSV-2 (shedding) and they both have sex, there is a good chance that they will infect one another with both strains of the herpes simplex virus.

Cures/Vaccines/Medications

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. Suppressive therapy is not an answer. 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. I believe that the cure lies within each and every one of us. People who are willing to share their experiences on what works and what doesn?t is a key. If your not willing to help yourself who is? On the other hand 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 for example enriches your blood with oxygen. In all my research I truly think oxygen is the key in killing this virus. I don?t believe in suppressive therapy, in my opinion it?s a useless medication. Your body can cage this thing on it?s own, it doesn?t need suppressive therapy to do so. HSV-1 & 2 can?t survive in oxygen rich environments. For example, if we were to take an infected cell and expose it to our environment, that cell would dry up within seconds killing the virus inside. If we could pump high amounts of pure stabilized oxygen into your blood stream we could actually disable the virus permanently. There have been several tests in Europe where patients infected by herpes, HIV, hepatitis were put into sealed chambers and given oxygen therapy for several hours. The truth is when oxygen levels in the blood drop, illness rises. A few experiments held in Germany and Russia had promising results. Most of the experiments were actually being held for patients infected by HIV. The treatment I?ve researched relates to HSV because the patients were being treated for HIV sores located in different parts of the body. Even though oxygen therapy is a highly controversial subject most patients experienced relief as sores on their bodies healed quicker than ever before. The research is based on the fact that oxygen will disable if not kill viruses. The problem researches are having at this point is that oxygen taken in too high a dosage is toxic to humans. At this point we can?t pump enough oxygen into the body without crippling or killing the subject. Your blood stream is however capable of carrying enough oxygen to suppress outbreak infection. Research continues?

Since there is no cure for herpes, most people infected by HSV-2 are traumatized. Never let this virus negatively affect your way of life. If you choose to do so you?ve already lost the battle. Think of the positive ways this virus could have on your life style. Think of the virus as an escape from your previous life and into another healthier more active life style. Get up off your couch and hit the gym. You have no idea of the benefits exercise will have on your life. Fight it off by maintaining a healthy diet this 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.?

I hope this latest version of my article is informative to all my viewers and that it answers at least some of the questions you may have about this disease... I'd like to thank any comments or compliments you guys might have after reading my article and rest assured that I do read them all and take them to heart...

THANK YOU

RICH

[Guest Anonymous]

first I would like to thank you for the time you have spent in your research, it appears you have spent quite some time studying this. Very good article and very well written.

Now a quick question. As you see it, without an outbreak, there is no sure way to test for herpies? sorry if this is redundent, thanks for reading.

[Richard]

No theres no way you can test for herpes and be 100% sure without taking actual samples from sores... The problem is most tests will detect herpes HSV-1 and because HSV 1 & 2 are so similar you might get a positive result for HSV-2.... Plus some ppl dont have anti bodies because they've never had an outbreak...

Rich

[Guest Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply Richard, not an answer I liked but it makes sense.

[Guest Anonymous]

Richard I liked the article, but can you help me.

A couple of days ago I developed what seem to be an in grown hair on my penis. But when I plucked the hair it seemed to form into a pimple and now there is a white dot next to the pimple. I think I might have herpes but I dont know. I haven't been in pain and I don't feel weird. The strange thing about it though my girlfriend has developed white dots on the lips of her vagina about 3 days ago and she says it burns whenever she urinates. But it only burns when the piss thouches the white dots. What I dont understand is I cheated on her like 2 months ago and now we both seem to get this at the same time. It might just be some bacteria but I dont know. Please someone tell me what it might be.

[Richard]

That could very well be herpes, and the symptoms your experiancing does sound like a classic herpes infection... It burns when she urinates because the acids in the pee burn when it touches the infection... The reason you both could have got it is because one of you could have just decently started shedding the virus on the skin and passed it onto the partner who then got an almost immidiate outbreak... It takes much longer for some ppl to outbreak while other it can affect right away... My suggestion is to act immidiatly after reading my message... Go get both of yourselves in a clinic and looked at by a doctor... Seriously don't wait another second, you must act while the sores are on the body... Visual checks are the best ion alot of situations like yours... Then again it's un-common to have only one sore on your body like you describe, herpes is an aggressive virus and usually developes into clusters... What you have could be just a pimple, and same goes for your gf.. The only way you could be for sure is if you go get yourself looked at by a doctor you trust... DONT WAIT ANY LONGER GO NOW ! ! !

Rich

[Guest Anonymous]

Richard,

it appears that you and I are on the same exact page with conquering this thing. I've read just about all of your posts and each time I find myself nodding in agreement. I too believe that some very "simple" things via nature, I.E. Oxygen, Garlic and even soap and water holds the key in being able to cure this virus. I further believe that the herpes virus was more than likely extracted from some animal in a Lab somewhere and intermittently injected un-knowingly into people over the years, no doubt, thinking they were probably getting some type of flu vaccination or something, and voila! (Does the Tuskeegee experiment with syphillis ring a bell?) there's now a multi-million dollar money-maker, between "research" and medications while millions of people suffer from the dreadful virus, that is known to come from animals not of the homo-sapien species! Same thing with HIV, I firmly believe that HIV is man-made, but that's another story! But think about it, over 50 million Americans carry the herpes virus, do the math! All theories aside, do you know of anything outside of http://www.neveranoutbreak.com where you can take a supplement that can better oxygenate your body? I don't take fro granted for a second, that I've been able to pretty much keep this thing "in check" Thanks in advance man!

[Guest Anonymous]

asking richard

richard, i have been lookig on the internet all night, i went to the health department when i got these pimple like things on my upper thigh and around my vaginal lips she said that it might be herpes but she did not know, she gave me a perscription but i didnt get it filled because it went away after about 4 days but about a week after that i got these little clusters of tiny white bumps on my upper thighs, and it is tender but not excruciating pain, and the thing that seems to hurt the worst is my lymp node on my right side where the sores are is very painful, it is swolen and painful. the tiny clusters of white bumps then kind of come together and scab over, i dont have any idea what it is.... reading about herpes it doesnt seem to fit. i am only 19 and have only had sex with two people and i am so sad and confused... and there is a sore by my vagina but not on the lips or in or anything like that... can you please give me some information, you seem so smart. i hope you read this. thankyou or if anyone else reads this and has some informaiton that might help me. thankyou.

[Guest Anonymous]

You're not alone christina!!!

Christina...I read your letter and TOATALLY understand what you're going through I had a strange bump that wasn't toatally on my vagina and i shrugged it off as just irritation from sleeping in a super uncomfortable thong...and then the lymph nodes swelled up and that freaked me out and so I referred to a women's health book to see what that could mean and it said that if your lymph nodes in your groin are swelling then you should most def. go see your gyno, because it means some kind of infection. I was so scared when I went to see my gyno., because I'm only 19 too and I've slept with my highschool sweetheart so the thought of an std was foreign and terrifying to say the least! Well it turned out that I did have HSV 2 and a mild case of it, but I don't understand why the dr. didn't swab your sores and run tests...I'd say next time you get them go back and demand that the dr. swab them and run blood tests, the sooner you know the sooner you can beat the virus!

[Guest Anonymous]

Richard,

Thanks for the time you have put into your reasearch. I am currently dating a girl with the simplex 2, so that is why I started the reasearch. As of now we only engauge in oralsex (she has only simplex 2). CAN I GET IT FORM ORAL SEX, IF SHE ONLY HAS IT DOWNTOWN?

I went and got a tube of Hydrocortazone cream and I throw a bunch of that on after we fool around. I think it helps but it does cause irratation ... mostly becasue I use 3times the directed amout.

As for your freind and your situation, I know how that feels. I have a very good friend that I have know since the 3rd grade and he got HIV. The saddest part is that it was his first time ... I honestly think it was his first sexual experience ever. However he did get some 2 on 1 action duing the transmission, so at least he got something out of it .

I feel bad for him, but I don't let him know it. I just carry on like normal and got to the gym with him all the time. He might have a serious infection but he looks like the Vin Desseal guy from the movie (Triple X).

That was a little off topic, sorry. Thanks again for teh HVS info and if you could help me with the question above (It is in CAPS) that would be great!

[Richard]

Hydrocortazone cream has absolutly nothing to do with herpes, herpes infection, to stop infection, or anything period... Hydrocortazone cream is used to stop irratation/rash and/or to kill yeast... Do not use Hydrocortazone cream unless a doctor has told you to do so for something... Most Hydrocortazone creams do contain steriods and if your using it for nothing, like you are, your doing nothing but irrating yourself... Once you get herpes, your done, there is nothing you can do to stop it besides ozone disinfectant which you would need to use directly after sex...

Rich

[Guest Anonymous]

richard,

you seem like a really great person, you really seem to care about people you don't even know. people like you are rare in this world.

anyway, here's the situation: i've had a girldfriend for about 3 months, and i've never had anything that sounds even close to a herpes sore...until now. saturday night i found what i would describe as a cyst where my inner thigh meets the base of my scrotum. it was kind of like the cyst zits i get sometimes on my face. it hurt to touch it in the same way, but there really was no visible indication, i could just feel a bump that hurt when i pressed it under my skin. now it's monday night. i doesn't really hurt that much, it's raised a little and it's a little red, but nothing like pictures i've seen. no watery blister stuff. anyway, sunday night she said she vomited at work for no reason. she felt a little sick before and afterwards, but felt fine after a little while. i'd heard that people get sick when they catch herpes, so i started researchin like mad. at first i thought i might've caught it from her, but i understand you only get sick the first time. i kind of put it to the back of my head and dismissed it as paranoia, as i'm often extremely guilty of. i made a doctor appt. for thurs. anyways. now i went over tonight and she said she thinks she slept on her neck wrong because it hurt. then she pointed at it and said "right at the lymph node". i could've fainted. i remember reading about sore lymph nodes, but in the neck?

now i certainly will not sleep until that appt. i don't think i could go on living with the fact that i hurt her like this forevr. i'm even vomiting from nervous nausea. i know i'll just have to wait til the appt., but does anyone think there's any hope for me? i don't care abt myslf, just her. can one painful L-node iin the neck be a sign? vomiting? i've read about these as symptoms, but not too much.

thanks and love

distressed.

[Richard]

Raised skin, no visible signs of blisters... I dunno, I dont think that sounds like herpes at all... I dont think you have to worry, they'll tell you te exact same thing on Thursday, wait and see... As to what your gf could have... I dunno, mono, cold, flu, etc... Get my drift? It could be anything and everything, theres hundreds of differant things that cause those nodes to swell up... Let us know how Thurs goes...

Rich

[Guest Anonymous]

thanks for the hope, man. i was reading another post and i really liked what your father said about life being a series of battles (paraphrase). it really is. it's a really simple statement, but something about it really helped me feel better. but i think i can really handle anything happening to me at this point, it's the hurting of others that i never dreamed i'd have to cope with. if the test, if they can even perform one, comes back negative, i hope i can similarly help to comfort people. i tried to volunteer at an aids clinic a while back, but it didn't seem like they really need me. i never thought about using the internet for such things.

anyway, i'll let you know thursday.

[Guest Anonymous]

hey richard,

i just got back from the doctor's. he said he's pretty sure it's not, alothough i found another skin irritation in the same area, but totally different from the first one. he really didn't think a test was in order because there's no open or hardly even visible sores there to test. he said that usually the sores produce extremely painful sensations when touched. since i've been touching the area all the time, he said that's not a classic herpes sore. but then again, he said, you can never really tell with this disease. furthermore, he said if i have it, i've already given it to my girlfriend. he seems to think condoms protect you from herpes though, which is a different school of thought from what i've found on the web. he thinks you're pretty safe when you wear one.

what should i do now? i haven't brought it up to my gf because i've only been able to talk to her over the phone. should i tell her what's been going on, even though my doctor said not to worry about it, or should i tell what i had and what the doctor said? i think i will...one thing i've learned here is to be totally open with everyone about everything. i guess i should at least tell her what i've learned about the disease just so that she's aware.

i'm going to keep an eye out, but i guess i'm in the clear for now. i think we need to educate the public about this though so that people are aware of what this is and how easily it's transmitted. for instance, i had no idea that you could pass it along w/ no visible sores. and education would also help the people that do have it feel less ashamed. even VIRGINS can have it! it's just bad luck and no shame should be attached to it, although there'll always be some.

i just want people to know that this disease won't stand in the way of love, just lust, which is over-rated anyways.

i'll be around on this site...although hopefully under a different name. since richard is already taken, i'll have to use my middle name.

[Guest Anonymous]

oh, and thanks a million for your support, both to me and everyone else. it's the most valuable thing we have in this world made of people.

[Guest Anonymous]

To Richard: Erroneous statements in your article

Richard

Quoting your article,

"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. "

Where did you get this information on blood tests? There is a wealth of information on two accurate type-specific blood tests, the first being the HerpeSelect ELISA made by Focus technologies and on the Western Blot, the "gold standard" for HSV serology which has >99% specificity and sensitivity. Visit www.herpesdiagnoses.com for more detail. Blood tests do not directly test for "traces of the virus in the blood system" but for antibodies developed once the virus enters the body. Another thing, I read another post from you saying a blood test will not be positive if one has never experienced and outbreak. This is false. the body makes antibodies any time a foreign substance, such as a virus, enters the body, regardless of the physical manifestations of the virus in a particular person. Therefore, it is possible to detect an asymptomatic herpes infection via blood test after proper time to seroconvert, 4-6 months. I am not trying to contradict you (you seem to have done a great deal of research on this) but I am alarmed at the erroneous information you are giving people.

[Richard]

Well... Why dont you ask half the ppl on here, ask em why most of them tested negative on blood tests and then again, and then one day, got an outbreak for which they tested positive for later... Blood tests arn't even used by most clinics because alot of doctors believe their a waste of time... Most of my testing information came from actually talking to differant doctors (3), and one dermatologist...

Rich

[Guest Anonymous]

the onset of a breakout and how long it can take to happen

Richard.

I'm really upset with something I did, and now very nervous about it. 2 nights ago I sleep with someone I met in a bar. This is not like me and I have a million horrible things now running through my mind. I feel like I am getting a yeast infection from the encounter but now I'm worried that maybe that is a sign for something worse like herpes. When an outbreak starts is the feeling like this? I haven't been able to really find other symptoms then the pimples and swollen limp nodes. Could it be happening this quickly? should I be looking for something specific to be wrong or not feel right? Because I don't know him that makes me even more nervous, should I be this scared about the encounter?

thanks for help,

very nervous

[Richard]

Alot of the girls on this forum experianced yeast like infections before they got a herpes outbreak... There would be a hundred differant reasons for swollen nodes... And yes you can experiance symptoms that fast... Actually most people get their first outbreak within 2 - 20 days after exposure to the virus... Should you be worried... I don't think so... To be honest alot of ppl get worried about STDs after a night stand... That's normal, trust me... If you experiance other symptoms, blisters and what not I suggest you see a doctor right away... But from what you told me, it seems like its in your head...

Rich

[Guest Anonymous]

is it herpes

wel about 4 months ago i got an itching around the head of my penis and i saww red dots like pimples but with no whie headsjust red can someone tell me if it is hepes or not

[Guest Anonymous]

hey yeah thats the exact same as me, i had a few red dots like pimples show up and no white at all, im only 17 and i have never had sex wihtout a condom before only oral sex, the pimples went away after a few days, but now when i get erections the head of my penis becomes red and shiny and the forskin can cause wrinkles on the head of my penis, do you know what this would mean and am i over reacting? please help me

[Guest Anonymous]

could i also add that the pimples were painless i didnt even know i had them untill i saw them and i have no pimples or rashes anywhere else on my body or mouth

[Guest Anonymous]

Need to be sure how it is spread

I know that I have it (HSV2), and I'm devastated. Now I'm just trying to be clear on how it is spread. If I have no sore/symptoms, can I infect someone? You talk about viral shedding. Is there any way to know when you are shedding, like taking your temperature or something? Can I spread it by kissing? Do I have to be paranoid now whenever I hold babies or kiss children on the cheek? Or shake the hand of business partners? I feel like a leper! If I have no symptoms and have sex with no condom, what are the chances that my partner would get it? What are the chances with a condom?

Thanks so much, Rich. Your column was very informative and I can feel your compassion.

[Richard]

Sex without a condom, with no symtoms is low risk... As a matter of fact if you arnt shedding, there is no chance of spreading the virus.. shaking hands had no risk, even if your outbreaking... HSV-2 rarly affects the upper portions of your body... Dont worry bout kissing... Dont even think of yourself as being ""infected"" or ""dirty"" you arn't.... You know what... You caught the virus because you did something God designed you to do... Were meant to have sex... Its not your fault... And no if your shedding without symptoms theres no way of checking...

Rich