Immune system and outbreaks

[hopefaith]

Hi all,

I recently acquired HSV-2 but have yet to have an outbreak - its been a little more than a year. I feel symptahy for those who experience painful and/or recurrent outbreaks. I am doing my best to live a healthy life to avoid getting one and have generally been a healthy person growing up with no major medical issues.

My question is: for those that do experience severe/frequent outbreaks, how would you characterize your health generally before acquiring/knowing you had HSV-2? Would you say you had a weak immune system (history of getting sick a lot, having a comprimised immune system such as autoimmune disease, allergies, diabeties, body has bad reactions to other infections not HSV-related, etc)

Is it rare for people with strong immune systems to get outbreaks? Just trying to figure out why some people have a really hard time with the virus and others don't show symptoms at all?

I respect everyone who has had to deal with OBs and am trying to understand how one's health history might help predict how the virus will affect a person and whether they might have or not have symptoms (other than triggers that weaken the immune system such as alchohol/drugs, poor diet and sunlight etc) Thx

[JBnATL]

Most people who have herpes don't know because they have never had symptoms and were never tested. If you have never had an outbreak, you probably never will. For most people their immune systems are strong enough to keep this virus dormant. Others like me, start out having outbreaks, but over time our immune system kicks into gear and eventually suppresses the virus. I haven't had an outbreak in many years.

I assume you had a blood test and was diagnosed that way? Do you know what your numbers were? If you have never had an outbreak and your number was < 3.5 you might want to retest. There is such a thing as false positive blood tests. Here is a link to an article that talks about them:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/IGG-Test-Result-Confusion/show/593272

I know many people who were initially diagnosed as being positive but later learned they had had a false positive test.

Good luck!

JB

[Paul1976]

Hi JB did you ever take anti virals in the first year or so to try and get the virus under control?

[JBnATL]

No Paul, when I got this my doctor only prescribed them for use when I felt an outbreak coming on. It wasn't until a few years later that I learned that if you take them daily it could help prevent outbreaks.

I know some people have said their doctors have prescribed them daily antivirals from the beginning for the first year to help their body get used to not having outbreaks.

Personally I think the only two reasons to take them daily are if you have frequent/bad outbreaks or are intimate with someone who does not have this (like I do).

Everyone should consult their doctors and do what they think is best for them.

JB

[Paul1976]

I'm currently on the suppressive medication and have been on it for about 18 months - my main concern is what happens when I come off the meds will my body cope with the virus or will I go back to numerous outbreak?

[HerpedUpOne]

Even if one is healthy and has a good immune system, arthritis and asthma medications CAN weaken the immune system (by design, both are autoimmune disorders) and cause flare-ups. It doesn't happen to everybody, but it can happen. Down the road, if arthritis develops and one needs predisone... one can be otherwise healthy, not diabetic or overweight or anything, and still need these drugs.

[Scared12345]

I have been taking natural for anti virals you think they work just the same? My doc suggests I don't take anti virals daily unless I have to for frequent OB

[Paul1976]

What natural anti virals have you been using and have you had any luck with them?

[Scared12345]

I don't get frequent ob so I don't know I only had 2 I think. I take 1500 mg of lysine, 500mg of olive leaf extract, vitamin b complex. I also eat garlic daily and use raw honey in my coffee instead of sugar as it has anti viral properties so does garlic. Today I started adding apple cider vinegar in my water and gonna rub it topically too to surpress virus along with coconut oil. I also put lemon in my water for vitamin c

[Scared12345]

What natural anti virals have you been using and have you had any luck with them?

Paul I had unprotected sex and now I am afraid of passing it. We been using condoms and ran out. I also slept with him a year ago just before my first ob when I didn't know. He didn't get it then. Wasn't I more contagious since I got the burning when I pee couple

Days later but I was really sore down there I thought it was from sex. I was seeing someone who gave this to me but I was also sleeping with this other guy on and off for years and still today

[Scared12345]

Paul I had unprotected sex and now I am afraid of passing it. We been using condoms and ran out. I also slept with him a year ago just before my first ob when I didn't know. He didn't get it then. Wasn't I more contagious since I got the burning when I pee couple

Days later but I was really sore down there I thought it was from sex. I was seeing someone who gave this to me but I was also sleeping with this other guy on and off for years and still today

He slept with many women over 100 chances are he has been exposed before me right ?

[Paul1976]

I don't get frequent ob so I don't know I only had 2 I think. I take 1500 mg of lysine, 500mg of olive leaf extract, vitamin b complex. I also eat garlic daily and use raw honey in my coffee instead of sugar as it has anti viral properties so does garlic. Today I started adding apple cider vinegar in my water and gonna rub it topically too to surpress virus along with coconut oil. I also put lemon in my water for vitamin c

I also take lysine 1000 mg, vitamin c 1000 mg, vitamin D3 5000ui, zinc 50mg as well as daily anti virals, I also have the lemon water as I've read it's really good for the immune system, I've tired the coconut oil and found it too difficult to handle! Regarding the other questions I would suggest that the virus was at its most active just before and during the outbreak, about the fella sleeping with over 100 people the chances are he has already got it however is symptom free

[Scared12345]

Yes just before the very first OB before I knew I had this. I thought for sure I have it to him but didn't. My BF ( different guy) at the time well guy I was seeing who gave it to me didn't disclose. I figured I was most contagious then but someone said the virus was still replicating. My friend also got infected when her ex BF she was still sleeping with had an OB and he didn't know he had it. I am thinking of taking vitmanin c or super Lysine has vit c too. Why do you take all this as well as anti virals I am trying to not take them daily just when I have an OB or go on vacation

[Paul1976]

I take both as I want me body to use the vitamins as sometimes it can take a while for vitamins to become reach there full potential so if I ever decide to come off the anti virals I'm hoping my immune system will be ready to cope with the virus