This is embarrasing, but. . . . .

L

lwseymour

Cathlete
I'm so distraught that I don't even care at this point about being embarrassed. When I married my husband 12 years ago he told me that he had genital herpes. I thought, no big deal, he gets a sore on occasion and it goes away very soon. I had no idea on earth what I was in for. Now 12 years later I have a primary genital herpes infection. It's all internal, nothing external. Perhaps I've had it for years now and it's just been dormant, and now the virus is really pissed off. I'm in my 6th week of it now, obviously I certainly haven't worked out in 6 weeks and don't even care too while I'm worried about this virus. It all started with what I thought was a urinary tract infection, then my cervix became inflamed, and now my main problem is a lot of abdominal pressure that isn't intense just constant and is driving me crazy. I feel like I should always be near the bathroom. I have lost several pounds from worrying about this virus, worrying that it will never go away and worrying about the recurrences I will have to face in the future.

I've been on the antivirals now for 4 weeks. I am very distraught. I have a son that's 7 with mild autism and I desperately need to feel physically able to run after him and keep him safe. Please somebody tell me that this primary infection will go away. Please share any experiences with this if you can. Here's my email, as I know nobody wants to discuss this in front of everybody. I'm just so desperate and need to talk with someone. A lot of people have the external outbreaks, but I can't find anyone to talk to that has internal outbreaks. My email is [email protected]

I have never been sick for 6 straight weeks before and I hope it is my mind playing games with me that I will never feel "normal" again.

Lisa (embarrased and desperate to talk with someone who has been through this).
 
Lisa,

Please don't be embarrassed. I'm fairly sure that at least half of all people in the US have herpes, and many of them don't know it because there are often no symptoms or outbreaks. I'm not sure what the typical time span is, so I can't help you there. Can you call your doctor for some advice.

Don't lose hope. This can't last forever, and you will get better.

Gina
 
Yes, Gina I have been to the doctor 3 times now. Once for diagnosis, and twice more for pelvic exams. I go next Wednesday for a sonogram, so perhaps that will tell me if it is just herpes causing this or perhaps I have something else going on. I am very afraid for some reason, everybody else I know just has an occasional sore on the outside.

Thanks Gina for the encouragement.

Lisa
 
Lisa, I know people who have this and I never heard of it attacking internally this way. I know you can have an outbreak of Shingles from the herpes virus, but nothing like this.

Haven't you been having these same symptoms for months now? Maybe I'm confusing you with a different forum member but I remember somewhen suffering from UTI symptoms that just would not go away.

Anyway, I'm thinking you may want to contact 'autumn' listed in the profiles via her email. I believe she's a GYN. She has given the forum much information on GYN issues in the past and maybe she could help you. Click on profiles and you'll see her under 'a'. Send her an email and I bet she wouldn't mind helping if she can.

You sound desperate and I don't blame you!!!!
 
Hi Lisa! I'm sorry you are dealing with this. I wish I could help you more. Keep us posted after your doctor visit next Wednesday. I hope it is easily treated and you find relief soon. Are you still not able to workout? I can sooo relate with the thoughts of feeling like you'll never be "normal" again after dealing with an injury for the past 5 months. Hang in there and don't be embarrassed. I hope someone here can help you with your questions. Thinking of you!!!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
Yes Candi. It all started with a UTI that an antibiotic couldn't clear up. Then it went into the inflammed cervix, etc. It's been 6 weeks today. Thanks for the info, I will try to contact autumn.

Thanks DebbieH for the well-wishes. No I have not worked out in 6 weeks and not even considering it yet. I so can't wait to feel "normal" again.

Lisa
 
I wonder why they can't give you steroids to reduce the inflammation? You must be absolutely miserable.

Hang in there!
 
Hey Lisa-

Hang in there...Havent been through this...but I think almost every female can relate to having the female area issues that scare the begibees out of ya. The whole area seems sometimes to be a mystery and after having two large babies...never seems to be the same...

Hang in there!!! and keep at your doctors for a resolve...keep pushing till you have your answers. I know sometimes doctors can get confused, but then they need to refer you to someone who knows...I am sure there is a doctor that has dealt with this many times over...Just dont except that this is something you have to live with...be a brat/b**tch whatever it takes for them to resolve it...

Good luck and my thoughts are with you
Samantha
 
Lisa,

I can't add anything useful to your info about herpes, but I wanted to send you a gigantic ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))))))))))))

Please don't feel embarrassed with us. This is a safe haven for all of us, and I know that every single member here ONLY cares about you getting proper medical care and feeling better. We don't give a hoot about the name of your ailment, we just want it to go away and leave you alone. :) Please let us know what the doctor says, and in the meantime you do anything you want to do that feels comforting and soothing.

One more for ya.((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))))))))))))


http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/spezial/spudniks/spudniklifter.gif
 
Kathy, you are absolutely right, no need to be embarrassed here!

Everyone has had something seemingly strange happen to them, but you will always find support here, regardless of your situation.

I hope that your ultrasound goes well, and I also hope your doctor can determine why you are still experiencing so much discomfort. IMHO, discomfort can be just as bad as, if not worse than, pain, especially when it is so constant.

It may be a good idea to get a second opinion or simply consult another doctor over the phone to see if there is something your doctor might be missing. We all take great care in choosing doctors that we trust, but sometimes a "fresh" perspective helps.

Feel better!

Gina
 
Lisa,
Don't be embarrased. As a nurse I see people all the time who have physical problems that no one would guess. We are all humans and have human physical ailments. You are definitely not alone in this problem, but many people are too afraid to reach out and ask for help, comfort, etc. We support you and only wish and pray the best for you. That's one of the great things about this site.

My prayers and thoughts are with you. Please let us know how you are doing, and what's happening with this virus and your life. We care!
Lynn
 
I know what its like to have something "internal" that just won't go away. My peeing has been constant for the past 5 months, without a break. I know its very depressing. Sigh...my prayers and thoughts are with you. Let us know how everything is, please...

Wayne.
xxxxxxx
 
{{{Lisa}}} If it's any consolation, your first outbreak is going to be your worst. Most likely, the next one (if you even get another one -- you might not) will be much milder. I've had 2 outbreaks of shingles on my eyelid. Relatively mild, but still no picnic. I can hardly *imagine* what you must be going through. :(
 
Lisa...

I sent you an email, so please let me know if it doesn't arrive. Oh, and a big hug is accomapnying it. Don't you dare be embarrassed or feel you have to apologize. Take care!

Autumn
 
Lisa,

I sent you an email. You need to take lysine. 2 pills 3 times a day helped me. You can get it from wal mart or gnc. Don't eat chocolate or nuts during an outbreak.

When your arginine intake exceeds your lysine intake the herpes will come out. Also stress can bring them out lowering your immune system, along with chocolate or nuts due to the high arginine count.

You can also use tea tree oil for the sores they heal very quickly but tea tree can burn a little you may want to dilute it. This is also a wal-mart or gnc item. The shortest time spam for herpes to run is 5 days according to the medical books but with lysine and tea tree you can knock it down to 1 day and if you learn when you can just feel them coming on you can catch it before it comes.

If you eat fish or beans it will also help but not as much as the lysine supplement.

There is life after this. On the average they say 80% of the population has herpes but only 20% will ever know. Gynecologists and doctors don't seem to know alot about this. There should be more research but there isn't.

Do your research on the computer about lysine and tea tree oil.

Learn to take care of yourself.

I was as bad as you and thought the world had ended. How was i ever going to live in this kind of shape. I was miserable for a very long time. Depressed. Desperate.

The doctors say that an outbreak is only 20 days long. Wrong!!!!! As we both know. I mentioned to my gynecologist about lysine supplement after being on medication for this and the medication wasn't working. My gynecologist thought it was silly.

Well i gave up the medication and went my own way. I am doing great now and you will be too.

Good luck.
 
Hey Lisa.......been there done that for about 3 years now. The initial outbreak is alway the WORST and it sometimes takes your body awhile to help you fight off the virus. I take valtrex once a day, maybe for the rest of my life, along with lysine and I have not an outbreak in over a year. Sometimes it feel like one is starting, but the feeling goes away in a couple of days. Nothing to be embarrassed about....we just have that dumb stigma to fight. When I first got diagnosed I thought the world was ending....but in time you come to feel it is just one of those things, like any other physical problem. I wish I had read your post earlier even though I seldom think about it any more I know the emotional pain is just as bad as all the physical discomfort. If you ever need anything, or just need to vent feel free to email me [email protected].
 
Misty, you are correct about the Lysine. I have a really good artilce on it that I give my patients on this very subject. And yes, some doctors will disregard this treatment, but it is like any other treatment... it works for some and not for others. On a much smaller scale and for what it is worth, my hubby and I use it for oral breakouts with great success. Hey, if you have some good websites that you have found helpful would you email them to me so I can share them with my clients. I would appreciate it very much.

I also have some information on various essential oils that are helpful that I will be sure to send Lisa and anyone else that is interested.


Dpiglet, the stigma associated with STDs/STIs is based on ignorance. It is a difficult subject to approach sometimes with my patients and when I am lecturing. I want people to utilize safer sex precautions, but we all know (or should) that these infections are not limited to promsicuous, reckless people.
 
Hi Autumn,

I would be very interested in receiving the information you have about those essential oils as well as the article on the lysine. I have oral herpes and ever since my father passed away almost 2 years ago by outbreaks have gone from once or twice a year to more than a dozen in a year. I know that stress is a great inducer of outbreaks, but I believe by now, my body should be coping better and it's just not.

Thanks for all of your help.
 
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