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• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• January 15, 2010 4:32 p.m.

  As a lifelong sufferer, I have for the most part come to terms with this virus that while not the worst affliction in the world is at times emotionally and socially debilitating. Profit-driven drug companies have little motive to cure herpes and the researchers who are trying are woefully under-funded. Honesty and education are necessary, but unfortunately a positive attitude and marginally to non-effective prescription and home remedies do little to relieve the grief of the minority who suffer outbreaks. If you want to do something about herpes: fund and support research for a cure, and let the ignorant masses know that there is a good chance they have herpes as well. If more people understand they have herpes, or can get it at any time from almost anyone, interest in a cure will increase.

  - reality check

• January 7, 2010 9:26 a.m.

  KaKaren, I agree fully with Dea311. Please take your friend to a dentist or throat specialist, usually referred to as a ENT provider. There are cancers of this area and that needs to be ruled out. If it is not a cancer, the providers I listed may be more successful in treating the sores so she can be more comfortable.

  - Lois McGuire

• December 24, 2009 10:41 a.m.

  KaKaren!!! Have your elderly friend go to a dentist IMMEDIATELY. Nodules that are on the tongue that do not resolve can be very serious. If the areas are sore/tender/hard/etc they need to be checked out ASAP! Herpes is not commonly found on the tongue, it can present there but not often. Any non-healing issue on the tongue should NOT be taken lightly, especially on the sides of the tongue towards the back where it meets the floor of the mouth. Dentists are usually better at diagnosing oral lesions....let a specialist be specific.

  - Dea311

• November 14, 2009 10:55 a.m.

  What news do you have about the availability of generic valacyclovir? What percentage of users find relief with the generic vs. Valtrex?

  - Julia

• November 12, 2009 11:10 a.m.

  Dear Harold, Remember that neither Abreva or any other over the counter medications prevent you from spreading the virus. It may give symptom relief (although studies don't support that it does) but it doesn't protect your partner. Unless your partner is infected too, it is your responsibility to protect your partner from the virus.

  - Lois McGuire

• November 9, 2009 10:34 a.m.

  I am rather surprised that I haven't seen anyone mention docosanol (marketed as Abreva) as a treatment for oral herpes. For me, the drug is a miracle... it stops an oral outbreak right in its tracks. If you catch the swelling early enough, the sore will never even erupt and ooze. I'm telling you, I swear by this drug. And yet, when I look up treatments for oral herpes, all I ever see are the DNA suppressing antivirals. While I have not used any of those, I can tell you that my experience with docosanol works as good or better than people report the antivirals do, at least for relatively minor, periodic outbreaks like mine. It's about $20 a tube at Walgreens, but to me it's worth every penny. Anybody else have any experience with this drug?

  - Harold

• November 6, 2009 10:13 a.m.

  Wow! I feel very lucky. I do have the disease, from a liar. But, I went on to have a great sex life with my partner and neither of us has ever had any outbreaks. I am on Valtrex everyday and it really must be doing it's job. My insurance pays for most of it. If anyone is considering daily suppression therapy I say, do it. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain.

  - Rose

• November 4, 2009 2:03 a.m.

  My husband and I found out we are both positive for genital herpes, we found out a few weeks before our wedding which was in September. I've only been with 2 people, my husband and an ex-boyfriend. My husband has only ever been with me, therefore it was me that had it (however I should mention that I have never had a outbreak). My ex got tested for a lot of things before we got together since he knew I was a virgin, however this didn't help as he must have cheated on me. Since we both have it the P.A. that we see said unless we have a lot of breakouts it doesn't pay for us to be on the medication. I was wondering if anyone on here has tried the Red Marine Algae??? I have heard in some cases it helps with all the symptoms, there is supposedly no known side effects, and is a lot cheaper than the medication the doctors prescribe. Has anyone tried this??? What is your opinion of it???

  - Sydney

• October 21, 2009 11:00 p.m.

  I'm curious as to how there is a chicken pox vaccine, but no herpes vaccine? Aren't they in the same family of viruses? I caught herpes off my unfaithful partner over ten years ago. I was devastated at first, but have learned to accept this non-deadly, but yes-highly annoying disease. I'm fortunate that I rarely experience outbreaks ( maybe one or two a year) and when I do, they're very mild. I feel that there is no one typical herpes case. I know people who have to remain on suppressive therapy because of frequent outbreaks, and others, like myself, who forget they even have it because it's so mild. As for sex lives, I don't get why people feel it's so horrible. It doesn't kill you, and with safe sex, it isn't nearly as contagious as it's made out to be. And hey, one in five people have it, so your next partner might be struggling with it too! So don't beat yourself up over having it. It's not deadly, and it is treatable. My ex lover was very understanding when he discovered I had it. I think most good people won't judge if you are honest, upbeat and realistic about herpes. There are much worse diseases to have.

  - Janice

• October 14, 2009 3:04 p.m.

  Sam, I have the same outbreaks. My D.O. told me this is because herpes effects the nerve endings & this is one area where nerves end. Some time ago I was tested (by a blood test) to see which type I have (1 or 2). This helps the Dr to detemine how to treat it. I take a supplement called L-lysine (recommended by my D.O. - the M.D. I saw previously never even suggested it as an option! He just wanted to treat it with prescription meds & had an "oh well" attitude. couldn't even explain why I got it in this area only). If taken consistently, it keeps me from having any outbreaks at all. If I skip doses, sure enough, I will have an outbreak. I take Acyclovir to treat these episodes. It works very quickly, usually in the first dose & only have to take it for 2-3 days.

  - Lory

• October 2, 2009 5:58 p.m.

  Sam, I have the same symptoms. Sores on my back, at the top of my buttocks. But only on the left side. My first outbreak was 10 years ago - at age 50! My husband has never had a sore and we've been married 35 years! I have NEVER had a relationship with anyone since well before we married. When I feel a sore coming on we avoid body contact. I'm as confused as you.

  - Linda

• October 2, 2009 4:20 a.m.

  Perhaps someone can enlighten me.... I have had herpes for 20 years. I take the meds on a twice weekly basis to be consistant, otherwise, I feel as though I'm just waiting for "it" to happen. My doctor says that the virus weakens as time passes. My outbreaks occur ONLY on the top of my buttocks at the base of my back. Never on my genitals. Obviously I wouldn't have sex during any outbreak, but since my outbreaks are distant from my genital area, could I possibly infect someone genitally? Clearly, if my partner came in contact with a sore on my backside, they might get the virus, but I have never had a sore on my genitals. Would someone kindly fill me in on my vulnerability of infecting someone. Further, my doc refers to my outbreaks as cold sores, only on my back. Yet, he prescribes Valtrex. Anyone??

  - Sam

• September 5, 2009 5:06 a.m.

  WHAT TO DO IN BREAST FEEDING MOTHERS , WILL MEDICATION AFFECT THE BABY?

  - MARIA

• September 3, 2009 7:50 a.m.

  Herpes has been around for a long, long time. Seems as if we would be winning this battle. To date we have no cure or resolve.....hmmmm. Do the drug companies really want one. First, they would have us take a regimen of the drugs during the period of an outbreak. But NOW, they would have us take it on an addivctive continuos basis (suppressive therapy)...hmmmm. THERE IS NO BENEFIT FOR A CURE or resolve for the drug companies, now that we have to take this med for life - the addict. And for those of you who claim you can pinpoint who and where you contracted herpes, guess again. The herpes virus can remain dormant in your body for years and you not know it. So yes, look back at all your relationships and take a guess!!

  - Maryland

• August 26, 2009 11:43 a.m.

  I am on Valtrex since diagnosis (jan 2009) because breakouts are so frequent, looking forward to a generic. Someone asked about shaving, which is indeed how mine first showed up. Long Story, I'll spare you. Breaks in skin, even tiny ones, are going to enable the viruses that are camping out on the nerves just beneath the skin to come out and ulcerate. I am told that over time breakouts reduce in number and intensity. Someone asked why test if no effective cure? Ethically sound question. Knowledge can help you make choices: condom or not? Tell partner or not? What kind of relationship? Medicine or beer? How can this experience make you a better person? For me, I have readjusted some priorities and am not able to/going to have the meaningless sex i've had in the past. I get to focus on helping others out, on learning how to care better for my patients. I've had cancer before, and privileged to have healed. Herpes is harder for me than cancer was.

  - Herpes Nurse

• June 20, 2009 3:25 p.m.

  I have a friend who is 84 years old. She has had a sore tongue for a year now. One doctor she went to said it is oral herpes (OTOL) whatever that means. That doctor has not prescribed anything for her. She has suffered for a year now. One of my daughters and my husband get the cold sores that are herpes so I am familiar with it in that context. But this lady has little red nodules on her tongue and I just don't know anything about it and have checked web sites to no avail. I wish she could take somethilng to make her feel better. Please respond. Thank you, Karen

  - KaKaren

• June 1, 2009 12:28 a.m.

  Ok, I need to get something off of my chest. Not sure if I have it, but I do have symptoms (no outbreak) so I've been doing research. Firstly, I wish people would be upfront about how much it sucks to have herpes. Statements like "educate yourself, don't let it control you" are such an oxymoron. If you truly educate yourself (unlike the girl who I think gave it to me) you would realize that it DOES control your life. How great would this world be if you could only transmit during an outbreak...that way I'd buy into all the Valtrex crap. Spend more days between outbreaks, have more sex...hooray!! Instead, were told don't have sex during an outbreak (duh), BUT you might want to tap the break during non outbreak days because you can shed. Oh and guess what, we (the medical community) STILL can't even tell you when you're shedding. Oh and btw, condoms won't really help because you could (and probably) be shedding somewhere other than the penis. So what has all this education done fore me?? Made me so paranoid that,honestly, there is no safe sex with herpes. Yeah, yeah you can find a lifelong, committed partner who wants to play Russian Roulette every time you sleep together...but if a single, casual lifestyle is your choice...forget about it! Imagine if herpes was life threatening like AIDS. Do you think the advice would be 'educate yourself, don't let this control you?' Hell no, they would say wrap it up and pack it away...you can transmit ANY time you h

  - Herpes, the (casual) sexual death penalty...

• May 8, 2009 2:13 a.m.

  If you are a guy you can get herpes with a rubber, my little brother got infected in the groin area. AND yea, Why DO you not make any mention of it??? emw? Oh Joe...you're so wise!

  - cathy

• April 27, 2009 10:34 a.m.

  Dear RI, No medication is 100% protective to prevent herpetic sores. During stressful times, it is common to develop a sore, even if you are taking suppressive medications. It is important to remember to take the medication twice a day with Acyclovir. The advantage of Valtrex is that it is a once a day dosing regimen. If you have difficulty remembering to take the medication twice a day, it may be in your best interest to use the once a day medication. A generic of the once a day medication should be available soon.

  - Lois McGuire

• April 22, 2009 4:39 a.m.

  I have had genital herpes (Im a woman) about 14 yrs - after a 1 nite stand. My outbreaks thankfully, arent that bad compared to what Ive heard it can be like. I usually only have 1-2 a year, without any meds, & you can barely see any sores. I can just feel that tingly burning feeling, especially when I pee. It usually takes about 4-5 days a least, on Acyclovir, to get it cleared up. I am now in a current sexual relationship that is new, & began taking the Acyclovir daily. Dont you know, I just had 2 very stressful life events, AND its the week before my period, & I have an outbreak. The meds dont seem to be helping at all. Is Acyclovir AS effective as the other options? I only take that as opposed to the other meds, for cost reasons. But if it helps cut down on the risk of my partner contracting it, I will MOST certainly pay for the more expensive Valtrex. Also, what can I take or put on the area, if anything, to speed healing? Thanks

  - RI

• April 21, 2009 10:13 a.m.

  I have herpes of the mouth but nothing in my genital region, yet the break outs I get are not your typical cold sore, in fact they are quite severe and have caused severe scarring. I treat it suppressively and in fact have noticed when I grow a mustache me outbreaks are slim to none. Any connection with shaving and breakouts?

  - confused

• April 19, 2009 1:43 p.m.

  When will the generic Valtrex be available? the cost of this medicene is outragous considering that 1 in 5 Americans have this...SmithKline has had the funds to develope this a very long time ago!

  - Sandy

• April 8, 2009 1:05 a.m.

  I had gentile herpes for under a year now.. I been taking Valtrex and its been about 2 months and it remains very sensitive and the affected area is darker. Why wont this pass?

  - Mark

• April 2, 2009 8:35 p.m.

  I have had herpes for years with only 2 outbreaks. Now I guess it has been 10 years plus, and randomly I get pain in my legs, vaginal area, like I just fell on the cross bar of a bycycle that was to big. and pain in my butt, and upper legs. what is this? I assume it is the virus. Is there anything for this?

  - just sore

• March 27, 2009 11:03 p.m.

  Ft. Lauderdale, Sounds like you should try suppressive therapy if you've had 4 outbreaks in that period of time. ALWAYS tell any potential sex partner about your herpes before you start a sexual relationship. The woman who possibly gave you herpes may not even know she has it. Don't be ashamed, become informed about herpes and take control of it--don't let it control you. Maybe one night stands aren't the way to conduct your love life--just be glad that it's herpes and not HIV. Good luck.

  - Deb