You ask: Why Did I Stop Blogging about Herpes?

Well, I really didn't, but I received an email from someone recently who was promoting their "new herpes website" and I thought OMG, ANOTHER ONE!!.

The author said to me:

It looked like you were publishing great content for a little while. Why did you stop?

I responded:

Thank you for your compliments. I guess the reason I stopped is "how many different topics and angles are there when it comes to talking about herpes. My opinions and thoughts are there for others to see. I just don't have time to devote to "thinking of something new" to talk about when it comes to herpes. It's a cycle, everyone goes through the same thing and nothing ever changes. I honestly don't believe there will ever be a cure for it, a vaccine to prevent others from getting this virus is possible and I've personally come to terms with it. It is helpful to others though and I do respond to them :-)

If you'd like to make comments on any of my posts though, feel free to do that because I will respond. I thought it would be a good idea to pop in to explain my lack of new and exciting Herpes information :-) I enjoy hearing from others who have questions or concerns or simply just stop by to say "Thank you".

Happy New Year to all.
Luanne

Herpes, Towels and Transmission

Many people are rather concerned about transmitting the herpes virus to a family or household member.  In regard to showering when you have a sore.  What I have always done in the past and even tend to do it this way anyway, is to wash all non-outbreak areas first with typical soap and water, then follow the "proper" way to towel off.

The proper way would be:  dry your face first, then your arms, belly, legs then private parts and then feet (do the "clean" parts first then the "dirty" parts last).  It's just like washing a baby if you ever had that demonstrated to you. If you have an active lesion - dry it off last (or even not at all - let fresh air do it for you!). If you use the same washcloth on your face as the rest of your body be sure to wash your face first, then your private parts. Once the washcloth is cool and dry any active virus on it is dead. The skin on our bodies is generally too thick for the virus to be that easily spread to other body parts. After your primary infection your body develops protective antibodies to help protect the rest of your body from herpes.

If you have more than one person in your household, then everyone should have their own towel, washcloth, toothbrush and razor and not share them anyway. It's for more of the risk of transmission of other germs/bacteria than herpes. The chances of transmitting through shared towel use are just theoretical anyways.  Towels and washclothes stay wet and warm longer than other surfaces. You can still all share the same bar of soap in the shower too, due to the fats in the soap easily inactivate.  So don't be afraid to share the family bar of soap in the shower as it is safe to share it.

If you're worried about others in your household catching it from your towel which might have been left lying around in the bathroom or laundry area, then once the towel is dry there's no chance of transmission anyways - the virus likes body temperature and once it gets cooler than that it starts to break down and isn't likely to be transmitted and dies within several hours.

You get herpes from direct skin on skin contact with someone who was infected with herpes. It is transmitted thru direct skin on skin contact with the genital area - routine day to day contact won't transmit it. It doesn't float thru water, get transmitted thru toilet seats or survive the laundry to infect anyone. the virus - it's very easily killed with soap and water.

Don't sweat it if you find out one of your family members use your towel/washcloth someday, because again, as soon as it's cool the virus becomes unstable and isn't going to be transmitted. The infected person would almost have to vigorously rub their towel over an open lesion and then hand it to someone and then they vigorously rub the same section of the towel on their genitals to transmit it that way which I don't think is going to happen so don't worry about it.

 

Herpes Might Lead To Alzheimer's

Now here is a scary thought. Now unfortunately, alot of what was originally written here is a bit of jibberish to me, but the word Alzheimer's and herpes together, yikes!!

New research says that herpes could play a role in the development of the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease.

The study shows the connection between a gene and herpes simplex 1, or HSV. The form of the ApoE gene called ApoE-4 is the top known factor for Alzheimer's while HSV is the form of herpes that leads to cold sores around the mouth.

The researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center, concluded that ApoE-4 allows the herpes virus to be more active in the brain.

"The data suggest that ApoE-4 may support the ability of HSV to be a more virulent pathogen," said Howard Federoff, lead author of the research.

The research studied the activity levels of HSV in the brains of mice with the human ApoE gene.

The HSV virus affects brain cells about whether or not the ApoE-4 is present. Although the mice with the ApoE-4 version has the virus being less latent and a better tendency to multiply.

Source:
Date of original article: January 4, 2007 9:19 a.m. EST
Written by: Josephine Roque - All Headline News Staff Writer

Could this be herpes?

The first sign of a herpes virus appearance may be a rash, together with painful and itchy blisters, on the affected area of hour body. This affected area can be the mouth, anus, buittocks, penis, scrotum, vulva, vagina or buttocks. These blisters can then turn into painful ulcers. On the first outbreak, you may also suffer from swollen glands, a fever or headache and a general rundown feeling. There may be a burning sensation when urinating.

Usually, it takes up to three weeks for the first symptoms to appear but the virus can lie dormant in your system for many years. Sometimes before an outbreak occurs, you may notice some warning signs such as a tingling, burning or itching feeling in the areas where the sores will later appear. Herpes will always have the same symptoms for each outbreak. The first outbreak is usually the worse so although the symptoms seem to stay the same, the actual pain and number of sores should lesson each time an outbreak occurs.

The only proven way to prevent genital herpes being transmitted is to abstain from sexual contact completely or to be in a long-term relationship with a partner who has been tested and who is known to be uninfected. The relationship with this partner must obviously also be mutually monogamous. All other relationships must be handled with extreme caution.

Although the outbreak of genital herpes may eventually clear up without treatment, it is wise to start treatment as soon as possible. Natural healing products have been found to be very helpful in reducing both the symptoms and the duration of the infection.

source:

Please.....Do NOT Feel Ashamed!!

How ridiculous when I hear people feeling as though they need to be ashamed for having contracted herpes. I do remember at one point in my herpes journey that I did not feel as I do now and it's certainly a path we all have to take. For me, it was 10 years in denial, then 3 years of trying to "tell" someone which was totally emotionally draining, but I needed that. Then I discovered the internet and it's been all up hill since then. I have vowed never to sleep with someone again without having the talk and so far so good. We are all at different places in regard to "the grieving process".

A place where we all eventually, hopefully get to where we are "at peace" with ourselves and having herpes. I personally have finally found that peace. Attending the social gatherings, both on a national and a local level is the very best thing that any of us could do for ourselves and for each other for that matter. I simply can not describe how surrounding yourself with others who have this virus, empowers you!!

You have to go just once to understand what I'm talking about. When you leave a gathering or even standing around chatting, you almost want to say (or this is where I'm at in my journey) "I'M SO FRIGGIN GLAD I HAVE HERPES!!!" I have met so many wonderful people. And you know what, someday you will get to that point too, believe it or not. You have to learn to accept and love yourself as the saying goes, before anyone else will accept and love you in return. I find that the more people I tell, the easier it gets. Mind you, I haven't resorted totally to telling every single person in my life, but there's a time and a place for everything. Herpes only consumes my mind and time, because I want so much for the stigma to go away. In fact, there are times when I even look for the moment to open up the STD topic. You can start that topic with anyone and you don't even have to out yourself in the process. Just simple dialogue is all that is needed to spread awareness.

It's amazing how if it's a one-on-one conversation, they voice their fears and then I in turn say to them, but if you really really cared about that person, would you totally disregard them as a partner? It really makes them think. And if that's all any of us can do is just spread awareness, open up a line of communication, then that's a good thing.

I received an email from a classmate about a year ago and someplace through my emails, she gathered that I like to "spread sunshine". That really made my day that she was able to pick up my positive vibes about life. As others have said, Herpes does not define who I am. I am happy in life, love my family, love my friends and love meeting new people (which includes my herpes family too). I look forward to meeting more of us who live with herpes. It truly is a good thing which comes out of our shared situation.

I personally am proud to know so many wonderful people with herpes.

What I've Learned From Herpes

Life Lessons That Getting Herpes Forced Me To Learn. Some funny, some not so funny, but all true. I don't even remember where I got this list of lessons from, but I wanted to save it here. Enjoy.

1) I am not bullet proof

2) My vagina is not bullet proof

3) If I need to feel less alone all I need to do is some mental math on how many people in the room probably have herpes.

4) Sex without lubrication was never a good thing, now it's even less of a good thing.

5) Good people don't abandon you because you have a stupid virus and the really good ones offer you support that empowers you to be able to "get on" with things.

6) Telling a guy you have herpes in hopes that he'll finally stop chasing you is not a good strategy. What the heck are you supposed to say when the macho jerk says "you are worth the risk"? My advice, tell him from the start that you are not interested in him. (And as soon as I get up the courage, I'll do just that.)

7) Telling the exboyfriend whom you never got over that you have herpes doesn't work either. They'll tell you something like "I'd still do you if I was still single" and then you sit there wanting what you can no longer have since he is now married.

8) I have (well had, till it regrows) a grey pubic hair and a mole down there ... interesting

9) I can make my labia lipsync to the radio while inspecting for lesions... a sure sign I spent too much time pointing mirrors down there during the first few months.

10) Some doctors are idiots, some are good, some are great, but most need to develop a better sense of humor. I mean really, how can a doctor with a straight face suggest you try alternate positions for sex to mitigate transmission risks, then wonder why you are getting the giggles, and then look appauled when you ask him whether it should be you or your partner hanging from the chandelier.

11) If one more person suggests I eat more garlic/sunflower seeds, echanacia, flax etc. I may just scream!

12) Rootbeer floats don't cure a darn thing, but they do make you feel better for a little while.

13) My ferret doesn't care that I have herpes. He still wants to play with me and hide all my socks.

14) Eventually, looking for lesions gets to be very boring as a hobby

15) There is not a neon sign hanging over my had flashing "Get herpes here, free!"

16) I am not being punished, if anything I have grown as a person since getting this. How can that be punishment?

17) Helping others get through the shock of discovering they have herpes helped me move forward too.

18) Things do get better with time, and that goes for more than just herpes

19) The world is still spinning, and

20) I am far more than this virus, far, far more!!

Childbirth with Herpes - Neonatal Herpes

I am scared to death of transmitting my genital herpes on to my infant. Is it best to have a C-Section or is it ok to have the baby vaginally during delivery? Is herpes transmitted through blood? Is it ok to donate blood and have herpes? Is herpes genetic, meaning can it be passed on through my DNA?

Answer: I found this website and information the best at describing the risks involved with a woman having herpes.

What to consider when a Women is affected by Herpes

Having herpes does not mean that you will not be able to have children. In fact, women with genital herpes can experience a safe pregnancy and normal vaginal childbirth.

Herpes is not a genetic condition and so cannot be passed on from parent to child in this way. Herpes is also not spread through blood, semen or vaginal fluids, instead, the virus is spread by direct contact.

If a woman is having an outbreak during labor and delivery and there are herpes lesions in or near the birth canal, the doctor will do a cesarean section to protect the baby. Most women with genital herpes, however, do not have signs of active infection with the virus during this time and can have a normal delivery.

If a woman has primary herpes (her first ever encounter with the virus) at any point in the pregnancy, there is the possibility of the virus crossing the placenta and infecting the baby in the uterus (about 5% of cases). This transmission of the virus to the fetus causes neonatal herpes, a potentially fatal condition. Mothers who acquire genital herpes in the last few weeks of pregnancy are at the highest risk of transmitting the virus.

However, women with a history of genital herpes before becoming pregnant have a very low risk of transmitting the virus to their baby. This is because of antibodies circulating in the mother's blood, these antibodies should protect the baby during pregnancy.

Herpes is not a genetic condition and so cannot be passed on from parent to child in this way. Herpes is also not spread through blood, semen or vaginal fluids, instead the virus is spread by direct contact.

Women with a history of genital herpes before becoming pregnant have a low risk of transmitting the virus to their baby. This is because of antibodies circulating in the mother's blood - these antibodies should protect the baby during pregnancy.

If a woman has primary herpes (her first encounter with the virus) at any point in the pregnancy there is the possibility of the virus crossing the placenta and infecting the baby in the uterus (about 5% of cases). This transmission of the virus to the fetus causes neonatal herpes, a potentially fatal condition. Mothers who acquire genital herpes in the last few weeks of pregnancy are at the highest risk of transmitting the virus.

When a male partner has genital herpes and the woman has no evidence of infection, you may need to consider:

Should you have herpes present in the birth canal near the time of delivery, a caesarean section might be necessary to protect the newborn from coming into direct contact with the virus.

Babies can also contract herpes from being kissed by someone with a cold sore (5-8%). A young child cannot fight off infections as easily as an adult can, so serious health problems can occur. If you suffer from cold sores take every precaution not to put an infant child at risk.

Can Herpes be transmitted during pregnancy and can the herpes virus be passed onto an infant?

Infants can become infected with the herpes virus. If you have ever been exposed to herpes talk with your doctor before planning a pregnancy, even if you have never had symptoms or have not experienced a recurrence in a long time.

You will need to contact your health care professional for more information about pregnancy with herpes, and to obtain appropriate tests and follow-up care for the pregnancy.

If you are interested in talking to other mothers with HSV you may like to visit the Discussion Forum. It is a good place to go for encouragement and support.

Source:

Should Therapists Specialize in Herpes

I believe that physchologists, therapists, psychotherapists, marriage counselors, priests, chaplains and anyone else dealing with human relationships should be required to know about herpes and how it affects people both physically, mentally and emotionally. In many cases, it can tend to wreak havoc on couples and individuals both emotionally and as far as the trust factor goes. It would also be beneficial if general practicioners, gynocologists and whoever people go to for their diagnosis should also recommend that newly diagnosed patients go and talk to a therapist or to find someone who they can talk to and relate with.

So I'm putting a call out to any and all therapists. If you offer genuine support for people who are living with genital herpes, please add your comments to this post. Many times people aren't ready to meet a group of people, but might be willing or interested in just talking one on one to a therapist.

Dear Dr. Sue Johannsen

Dr. Johannsen really rubs many of us in the herpes community the wrong way and a friend of mine wrote her an email a few months ago and has given me permission to repost it here.

Kerry says: Who knows if they'll forward it to her. I believe I went easy on her because I don't think she realizes how she's not living in reality on the issue of std's. Here's what Kerry said:

"Sue, I really enjoy watching your show. I like how you are frank and real and tell it like it is. But when you answered a question the other night, it really upset me.

I don't remember the woman's name, but she called with a legitimate beef about her husband cheating on her with a 20-something who claims to be a "carrier" for hpv. She asked if that was warts. You made the face you always do when people bring up an std and said, yes, it is warts.

Sue, with all the added information out there on tv commercials and the push for more awareness of this very common problem, do you think maybe the next time someone asks about hpv you could also add that most people have had an hpv infection of one strain or the other at some point in their lives and not known it?

I have never in my life had a wart. But I had cell changes in my cervix that were precancerous and tested positive for one of the high-risk strains of hpv. After three years of constant vigilance I don't test positive anymore for hpv, but I'm fully aware that it could resurface at any time. I'm no different than millions of women out there and I think they need to be informed of that instead of stigmatized by the letters HPV.

Not to mention that you informed the viewer that if her husband had no symptoms for a month, he would be free and clear and Sue, that's not the case. Men are walking all over the place with hpv infections, never know it, and spread it to women. For certain strains, there are no symptoms for men. And the only tests for hpv are the Pap smear and DNA hpv test and they're not suitable for testing males.

I imagine the ridiculously high number of high-risk hpv infections could be the reason that they're developing a vaccine. Here are some links.

http://womens-health.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2003/108/1

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/cervical-cancer-vaccine1102

As wonderful as condoms are for preventing transmission of most std's, they really don't fully protect from hpv either.

Sue, I just had to write and ask you to please, for the sake of the young ones who haven't exposed themselves yet to sex or for women who don't go for regular Paps and think hpv is an "eww gross" std that won't happen to them, could you be a little more careful about the way you deal with those calls?

I'm not a nurse or a doctor, but I've unfortunately had to deal with this issue after having been in a monogamous relationship for years, and I know how awful knowing I could develop cervical cancer in the future is and I don't want women to be so stigmatized by the word hpv that they don't do something about it.

Even if you could update your website's information about it, you could help combat this problem.

Once again, I really like your show and have a great time watching it when I can. I mean no disrespect here, but I wanted to give you some feedback into what I think was a dropped ball issue.

Thank you for taking the time to write to Dr. Sue Johannsen Kerry. I always hope that she'll respond with a 'not so negative' come back. She always does that little "ewwwwwww" that she does and I really wish she'd stop. She's only helping to keep up the negative stigma on issues which I don't feel warrant such negativity. They're viruses and as long as people aren't afraid to 'tell' a mate, and if the mate is willing to take the risk, then what difference does it make!! Oh, the ignorance in our society simply baffles me sometimes.

Dr. Phil is FINALLY talking about STD's on his message boards.

Coping with STD's (is the topic name) and from what I've been reading on the message boards, it seems as though our pesky little virus has been getting the most attention in the world of STD's. Please feel free to spread the word so that Dr. Phil will hear all of us and realize how big of an issue this is for anyone living with herpes, be it HSV-1 or HSV2. If we all join together, I believe with the help of Dr. Phil, we can all make a difference in helping to stop the stigma.

In my opinion, this would be a great opportunity, if you are interested, to share your experiences with Dr. Phil. My main desire is to help spread Herpes Awareness and to get more and more people talking about, to not be ashamed or afraid to admit that they have herpes. I would love to see Dr. Phil do a show to address this topic and the more of us who post on his board, the better chances we all have of being understood and helping to take away the negative social stigma.

Here is the link for anyone interested in posting their two cents. You will need to create a user name in order to post. Wouldn't it be awesome if Dr. Phil and Oprah would do a combined show? Maybe if the two of them got in on this, they could really send some loud messages to people in general. Society needs to realize just how common having herpes is and that it's really a non-issue for the majority of people living with it, but that it can be emotionally devasting to most people living with HSV.