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February 25th, 2010
02:33 PM ET
When will we see a herpes cure?As a feature of CNNhealth.com, our team of expert doctors will answer readers' questions. Here's a question for Dr. Gupta. From Lloyd Bartley, Bowling Green, Kentucky “How close are scientists to developing a cure for herpes, figuratively speaking will we be seeing a break through in 10, 20, or even 30 years?” Answer: Well, Lloyd, there is good news and bad news on the herpes front. The good news: Researchers have made serious strides and now better understand the mechanism behind herpes outbreaks. The bad news: There is very little funding for that research. After receiving your question we reached out to a leading herpes expert, Bryan Cullen, the director at the Center for Virology at Duke University. Cullen is hopeful that a cure for herpes could come within 10 years, once funding hurdles are crossed. Nearly one in five people over age 12 in the U.S. is affected by herpes. It is caused by a virus - either the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both strains can cause genital herpes, but HSV-1 usually infects the mouth and produces cold sores. Despite funding challenges, Cullen and his team are inching closer to a cure. They conducted a study recently that identified the pathway herpes takes as it infects. They now know how herpes embeds itself into the cells and how it eludes treatment. Now that they have honed in on the physiology of the disease - and its triggers - researchers believe they are steps closer to creating drugs that could cure herpes. While we wait for a cure, there are drugs out there that can at least suppress herpes. Three antiviral drugs: acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are commonly recommended to quell outbreaks. A physician might recommend taking these drugs when an outbreak occurs to quiet symptoms; or taking them continuously to reduce the likelihood of an outbreak. And of course the best way to avoid spreading herpes is to abstain from sex, but if you are sexually active, engage in safe-sex practices such as using condoms. Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation. soundoff (8,772 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 Next »Leave a Reply to Pablo Dancoes |
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
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Donations are tax deductable and go straight to the research you intend it to, so just do it!
Plus i know that from many of them (i donate to U of F) send you a letter personally and reciept. Prof Bloom will have a cure in 10years provided he gets the funding and human trials dont have any serious side effects.
Follow research updates and get support with the Herpes Cure Coallition (HCC)!
Are there any studies currently being done on humans? I would like to participate in the study for the cure. This is the most aggravating thing because it just come when it wants to. Someone needs to help this is an epidemic that needs attention.
Here is a link where you can sign up for trials:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show?term=aicuris&rank=2
I wanted to sign up but am disqualified, because you can only participate in between the outbreaks – I have constant outbreaks without any breaks. Also, they don't have a location where I live.
I have had herpes ever since I was 14 years old. I was raped by this guy I was at a party with. When I was diagnosed I didn't know what to do, I was so scared, so I turned to someone who I thought was a close friend and told her about it in confidence. A couple of weeks later everyone in my peer group knew about it. I was completely ashamed, it sent me spiraling into a deep depression. I felt disgusting, I thought my life was over at that point. It's been four years and people will still make fun of me for it, call me names, laugh at me. I haven't dated anyone since because I'm scared to tell them, and if I did ever date someone and didn't tell them I would just feel terrible, like i'm living a lie. It's really not that bad for me though, the disease itsself. I've only had two outbreaks and they weren't very serious, but the mental and emotional pain it has caused me is tremendous. I'm terrified that I will never find someone who can accept that I have it, I feel like once I would tell them that they would run away. If they ever find a cure while I am alive, that will be the greatest day of my life.
That’s awful to hear…I'm 28 years old and I've had this disease for 6 years now, I'm convinced my boyfriend in college passed it onto me..After college I was in a relationship for 5 years with someone else and never gave it to him. We always used protection and if I had an outbreak we just didnt have sex. I'm fortunate enough though not to have many outbreaks, but when I do its usually from stress or even around that "time of the month". I'm single now, and just started dated someone, and I plan to have a discussion with him about my situation. While it is difficult to discuss this with someone you're dating, because it will make or break any chance of things progressing, it just has to be done. You have to give that person the opportunity to research this disease themself and decide if it's worth the risk. I've also realized that if something positive is going to come out of this, it's that I am way less promiscuous. It stops you from sleeping with someone too soon when you just started dating. I spend more time getting to know a guy and deciding if I want things to move forward rather than just jumping into bed with him. If I can give anyone advice about dating with this disease, its that you should take your time and obviously not have sex for a few months. This takes alot of will power but if the guy or girl you're seeing really likes you and things are moving in a positive direction, when you do have the "conversation" you'll already have grown closer and more comfortable with each other, and you're more likely to get a positive response from them. I've been rejected before and its an awful feeling, but I've learned this is the best way to have any chance of creating a meaningful relationship. Keep your head up girl!
Hi A.Morgan I'm so sorry to hear that, I feel the exact same way recently found out I have herpes and i don't know how or where i think it was from an ex boyfriend who cheated on me. I feel so alone and till this day I have told anyone because I feel embaressed and ashamed that someone would judge me. If you need someone to talk to you're more then welcome to email me take care.
i know how you feel I was also raped at your age and I am now 30 I finally found someone who loved me for who Iam and not what I have. you will find someone just give it time get to know the person. if he doesnt stick around its because hes nto worth it. I know its easier said than done and it hurts every time like it was the first time but it will pass. you will learn when to tell those jerks to F-off.
Here is the problem with funding:
Pharmeceutical companies love treatments but hate cures. There is far more money in suppressive treatments such as Valtrex rather than a cure. Why create a product you only sell once when you already have one that you can sell over and over again?
relax guys , I just want to let you know that there are at least 10 drug companies currently working on herpes vaccine .It will come pretty soon. they know very well if they dont come up with the vaccine then half of the US populattion will suffer with herpes disease,and the infection spreading all over the corner of this counrty .They will come up with vaccine exactly as they did with H1N1
What good is a vaccine for those of us who already have it?
A vaccine is still good for those of us infected because when we have "the talk", it will be far less of a problem.
I know a vaccine will be discovered soon. But how about the last generation of Herpes sufferers like us?? I seriously didn't know what it was until I found out I caught it from someone I had a 4-year relationship with. The experience has been detrimental. I will not want anyone to get it, even my worst enemies.
I am just so angry and shocked that in the past 30 years there has not been even the smallest medical advancement in killing this Herpes virus. Valtrex is only used for suppression. Now I do start to believe the conspiracy theory (no cure so Valtrex is cash cow).
I was attending a healthcare conference last week. The president said that just a few years ago Leukemia's survival rate was 10%. Now it is 90% with modern science. Even HIV was fatal a decade ago. Now people with HIV can live up to 70 and be as healthy as they can. Good example will be Magic Johnson and Greg Louganis.
I wonder why THERE IS NOT CURE FOR HERPES. Government and health organizations have totally ignored the urgent need of the Herpes cure. Just because it is an illness with social stigma and we are silent suffers, it should not be ignored. In the U.S., 1 in 5 women has GH. 49% of black women have GH. About 50 percent to 80 percent of the adult population has oral herpes, with as many as 90% having the virus by age 50
I saw that the U of Florida and the team led by Dr. Bloom are discovering a sound cure. They just need $40,000 to complete the pre-clinical trial. You would think that it shouldn’t be a problem. They should have their money by now to start the trial. NO. They are still struggling to raise that $40,000. Dr. Cullen’s research is also struggling with funding. THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS!! Sometimes I wish some celebrities, rich people, or politicians to get this disease so they can easily drop the donation and the prospective research can kick off their pre-clinical trial and head their way to a CURE.
i would pay what ever it takes for true cure, even my on life
I'd pay $10,000 for a cure.
I hear that. I couldn't pay $10K right now, but if there was a $1k cure pill, I'd strip the account today.
They say its not fatal but as you age and your body's defenses become weaker I can't believe that it doesn't effect your immunity and possibily allow other diseases to appear that may have been fought off with a healthier immunity system.
I have an auto-immune disorder from my parents & doctors putting me on so many medications as a kid (medications I didn't need even.) I got genital herpes from someone I loved & trusted, which is bad enough. But now my immune system is so messed up that I've had outbreak after outbreak for 5 years straight. I"ve tried everything & nothing works for me. Taking anything to boost my immune system makes the problem worst. If any one has outbreak after outbreak do not take anything for your immune system like I did for 3 years, if you have an auto-immune disorder it could make your constant outbreaks a lot worst! Do not take prescriptions either as they can cause immune problems. If it was a prescription that cured this disease than that would be another story! But no the drug reps run this country & they want their money. I got to the point where I almost killed myself after 2 years of this painful disease & a broken heart. I wonder how many suicides there are because of this disease? And my immune system is so much worst now from constant outbreaks that cause other constant illnesses as outbreaks weaken your immune system even more. I can't remember the last time I didn't have a cold, the flu, or some other illness. I get about 20 or more sores at at time some times & they are in a spot that I can't even get to very easily to put anything on it to take some of the pain away. I have trouble going up a flight of stairs or brushing my hair. I luckily have a great friend who is helping me out otherwise I'd be an the streets, I'm too sick & weak to work. My body doesn't have the energy any more to do anything. So yes I think this disease could definitely cause death for some people. And even though I didn't kill myself like I almost did in the past & still wish I was dead. I just can't do that to the people that care about me (though it's a very small number of people.)
I'm so sorry Myname. Your tale tugs at the heartstrings most of all. I recall when I was first diagnosed, my PCP nearly scared me into going onto what was a $5/pill once-a-day at that time, citing a recent patient that he'd had where an outbreak had stripped off the top layer of epidermis on her front pelvic region (lower waist to upper thighs). He was so irresponsible with the way he disseminated information that I immediately moved on to future doctors, none of whom have ever mentioned such a horrifying story.
It once made me wonder if she'd had an auto-immune disorder, or if he was just trying to support drug company fatcats with every poor sufferer that came to him for him for hope and information. I looked it up once and never heard of that happening to anyone anywhere.
I have genital herpes and also get herpes on my nose its so sad to hear all of your stories here and the way we are suffering with this, we have to ALL be strong!!! I spoke with my dad and three brothers and told them of my condition it has taken me 8 years to tell them I'm sure they were wondering why I am not married or don't have children but it has really helped me to talk to them because your family and friends love you and will support you!! Things could be alot worse!!!!
Some things that help me if you get coldsores i,e, mouth or nose go to a companies website dynamiclear they do excellent lysine with boiflavinoids and vitimain C in the lysine tablet I had ob's on my nose every three months now every 10months I take 2 x a day!!! lots of Lysine is out there but they are rubbish because they are made in factories!!! Also lemon balm or a german cream called lomabrit is fantastic, we can only try and supress this virus
I hold hope for a cure just like all of us!!! They have great HIV and cancer charity campaigns.....Why do we never hear of them for Herpes ?? have we ever cured a virus before???
I'm 27, two kids, I've been with only one man and cause of his infertility i just got diagnosed with herpes type 2! I'm more supseptable to HIV now and no man is gonna want to date me! As hard as it was for me i kicked him out and now I'm gonna be alone the rest of my life cause there's no cure! I planned on having more children when I got done with nursing school in Dec. and now my whole life is crushed! I couldn't stop crying for days! I feel so alone!
email me if you need anyone to talk to. you are not alone. evelyn_matta@yahoo.com
It's ridiculous how fast they came up with the H1N1 vaccine and so many years later we are still waiting for a Herpes cure!
Can someone, preferably Dr. Gupta shine some light on this for me? The article mentions that in order not to spread the disease, we must abstain from intimacy. Are we supposed to never have an intimate relationship for the remainder of our lives? I have read this from so many articles. Can someone speak to this please? There is no safe way of having intimacy whether it be suppressive drugs and/or condoms. We are always shedding.
Again I ask, are we expected never to have an sexually intimate relationship again (have sex and/or kiss)?
If so, that truly doesn't make any sense to me.
Relax everyone.... go to Webmd.com and look up dating with herpes. There is no need to isolate yourself. A cure will come and it's ok to have sex, even kissing and cuddling are ok as long as you don't touch or let a soar be touched. Even during an outbreak you can have as long as you are safe and use protection. Read about it and feel better. It could have been cancer or a brain tumor or something much worse. You'll all be ok. Remember there are children starving all over the world and people much worse off than you. God Bless All.
I'm not a doctor, but it's my understanding that you cannot worsen GH by sleeping with another GH sufferer. Feel free to research that in case I'm talking out of my rear. With so many millions affected, I'm sure there must be something akin to a dating site where the only concern you should have is an agreed upon STD test battery (for both of you) before intimacy, taking into account that HIV is usually untestable for 6 weeks.
I realize that sounds like medical segregation, which is oppressive. But it's really more a matter of practicality if you can get past the stigma that such a service would hold. Being able to be up front about your herpes and understandably justified in your request for testing would eliminate a lot of hurdles.
Wowee!... I'm from London and I have genital herpes. I thought I got depressed at having the virus, especially as for 5 years I have had had an outbreak at LEAST once a month.... but bloody hell, alot of you sound like death is at your door and you have the weight of the world on your shoulders!!! I'm 25 and caught the virus when I was 20, from my long term partner, the second guy I slept with (out of 3!), he clearly knew he had GH but chose not to tell me, since he never got symptoms and so could pretend that he wasn't aware of it.... To make matters worse, he cheated on me and gave me GENITAL WARTS towards the end of the realtionship! We've since broken up and I spent a year alone. I dated a guy I worked with but didn't like, and hoped to scare him off by telling him that I had GH, however after being a little suprised, he said he STILL wanted a relationship, but I didn't like him enough to go through with it. I dated someone else for four months- we didn't sleep together, just kissed, but he complained that he always got coldsores after kissing me- apparently he had never had a coldsore before. I thought this was quite weird since I don't get coldsores anywhere else apart from the genital area and we were not engaging in oral sex or anything other than kissing... but again just accepted that this must have been a strange feature of the virus. In the end we broke up, I think because of his frustration that despite sharing a bed, nothing had happened after four months. I could never bring myself to tell him I had GH, mainly because I don't think EVERYBODY has the right to know about your sexual health status- just as long as you are not putting them at risk. I'm actually glad I didn't tell him because he turned out to be quite unpleasant after we broke up. I am now in a loving relationship of 6 months, with someone that DOESN'T have herpes or genital warts. It was VERY hard to bring myself to tell him, because I was worried that I would lose him, but I did after knowing him for 4 months and two days after we decided to become 'an item'. He was very loving and understanding and told me that it didn't change the way he looked at me... that was quite possibly the happiest day of my life... Apart from giving birth to my son (from my first marriage when I was 19) :-). I'm not going to lie and say the road hasn't been a little bumpy in places, especially as for the first time in five years- and incidentally just before the start of our relationship- the virus disappeared for 8 MONTHS!!!... The longest period ever since becoming infected!!.. However, I then got a very bad outbreak during a really stressful situation and it bought home the reality of the situation for both of us. I could see that he was more than a little worried, so I decided to call off the realtionship for both our sakes. He was very angry with me for taking the choice out of his hands and said that it was his decision to make, even if it turned out to be something he later regretted. So we are now back together and continue to use condoms, even though he knows there is still a chance he may contract it. I have a friend who also has it and who sleeps around- unprotected- without telling people. I urged her to tell someone she began dating, and she did. He was fine with it. Admittedly, there is a lot of social stigma attached to herpes 1 and 2, but for some people, it really is not THAT much of a big deal. If the person really loves you and thinks you're worth it, they will accept you. I know I would. Failing that, if you are REALLY that uncomfortable... why not go to a dating website where people with specific uncurable sexual diseases, such as herpes, can date.. that way you don't have to worry about the rejection, everything is out in the open. My advice is to go to the clinic with them, STILL get tested and STILL protect yourself... you may expose youreself to a more virulent strain of the virus or worse. And like someone has already said, it's so common you may meet someone else with the virus.
Having herpes is NOT the end of the world.. seriously, you could have ALOT worse... ...So smile...there's no point getting depressed about it, it lowers your immunity even more. There's no way to turn the clock back and no cure at present... so just make the best of bad-BUT-could-be-worse situation.... I think I got quite a lucky escape.
p.s my ex-husband (my first sexual partner) also gave me Chlamydia and gonorrhea, so I figure I am just VERY unlucky!!!
I know some of you really dreaming for a cure.
As the Story said the very number one problem is
"There is very little funding for that research."
Because their donation website is not really expose in the internet.
We decided to help These organizations like Duke University by setting up the website –> herpescureresearch.org
Please don't believe these people that saying it cannot be cured.
We at herpescureresearch.org believe that this is very very curable.
Again only the funding is making the research very very very slow.
Science Research is expensive (cost millions of dollars) and take time.
But millions of dollars come from small donations accumulated together. So your small donation is a BIG help.
God Bless us.
Thank you.
hcr9
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herpescureresearch.org staff
Here's a word of encouragement from all of you who say your love life is dead. You are experiencing distorted thinking. Who can blame you? The media loves to use herpes as a punchline in jokes. Mean girls use it to destroy reputations. The religious and moralistic underpinning of our country uses it to scare the young folks from promiscuous behavior. Even in some of your posts you say some "cheater" gave it to you as if their bad behavior victimized you. Here's my story. Many years ago I was told I had a shingles outbreak on my back. I told my boyfriend and during our four year relationship we never had protected sex. When I was with my next boyfriend I had a funny tingling sensation on my labia and looked up the symptoms online and diagnosed myself with herpes. I went to the doctor for confirmation and she examined me and said I didn't have herpes since there was no lesions. Still I insisted she swab, and it was positive. It turns out I never had shingles, I always had herpes but never got blisters genitally. Instead I sometimes, only when really stressed out, get a quarter size cluster of blisters on my low back. Neither of my exes, nor my current boyfriend have ever had symptoms or tested positive for it. I have had to tell three men that I have herpes and each one of them still wanted me. My current boyfriend and I have been together for three years and he wants to get married and have babies. I'm telling you this story because I once despaired that my life was over and I was going to be rejected. That hasn't been the case. Since then I have earned a second bachelor's degree and am almost finished with my masters. If you are a good person, who will respect someone enough to be honest with them, and you have something to offer another human being you will find someone wonderful. If you tell someone and they freak out, you don't want to be with that person. That is a sign of their immaturity. What if you had to tell them you have cancer some day. Something life threatening. Would they be able to handle it? Probably not. If you're feeling so depressed that you are thinking of suicide, please seek therapy. Herpes is a simple skin condition that can be treated. Don't let the immaturity of our modern media steal your precious life. You only have one to live.
This is the first normal comment I read...
umm i honestly hate herpes i mean ive only had it for a lil bit but its hard to eat and my whole throat and mouth hurt i didnt notice it tell like 5 days ago and i found out yesterday that i got it from this grl that ate off my plat and used my spoon but what i dont understand is why are all the bumps in the very back of my throught... but ne way she cam by yesterday cuss she didnt know she had it till like 3 days after the party but i think if were gonna cure something try curring something that has a good posibility of finding a cure like herpes.. ppl say u get herpes cus u mess around an i use to think that but now i know how easy it is u dont even have to do anything wrong an it slaps u in the face 🙁 i dont know what im going to do i havnt seen a doctor yet cus work but im going to see one and prolly try this weed trick tooi mean if it works more power to me i just hope it dont make it worse
Don't forget people
CURE for research is,
http://www.herpescureresearch.org
Thank you,
hcr9
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herpescureresearch.org staff
IMMUNO BIOVEX IS CURRENTLY PERFORMING CLINICAL HUMAN TRIALS IN LONDON FOR GENITAL HERPES, AND THEY ARE IN PHASE I. IF EVERYTHINHG GOES WELL THEY WILL START PHASE II NEXT YEAR, AND IF THAT GOES WELL TOO, WE CAN HAVE A VACCINE IN 5 YEARS AT MOST, SO PRAY FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS. HOPE IS WHAT WE CAN HAVE AND NOT LOSE IT.
Will u post a URL about the results of the trail?
By vaccine you mean a vaccination? So if you've already got it it won't help? Could you elaborate or clarify? People are desperate. Thank you for the info!
To Kris, who believes that herpes is "probably not pleasant to have":
Unpleasant doesn't begin to describe it. During my first outbreak I cried every time I had to urinate. Running was not an option unless I wanted to scream in pain, while walking, sitting, and even laying down were painful. Does that seem "normal" or "healthy" to you? As with most ailments, you cannot know unless you've experienced it, so please do not try to tell people to suck it up in order to redirect herpes research funding toward other research.
A disease is a disease, and curing any disease is better than curing none. Considering that herpes is a virus, just like many other diseases that are more life threatening, discovering how to cure herpes could very likely lead to discovering cures for these other diseases, like HIV, not to mention improving the quality of life for the 1 in 5 people who are affected by it.
Although treatment can be considered a "cash cow," I choose to believe that there are still doctors out there who are trying to cure diseases like this one.
I agree with the multitude of people who have said that you cannot let herpes negatively affect your life more than it has already. Go on living and having relationships, just be open and honest with whoever you begin a relationship with, and like Savannah said, if they are not accepting, they are probably not the right person for you.
I won't lie, my herpes diagnosis has been a hard thing for me to accept. The person who gave it to me lied when we discussed our STD testing statuses, and while if he had told me he had it I would still have dated him, I also would have been much more careful in avoiding transmission. As of right now, there is not a cure, and I will probably have to live with the painful outbreaks for the rest of my life, which has been a hard concept to wrap my head around. But even though this will affect me for the rest of my life, every day I have a choice: be happy, or be upset. I choose happiness.
@ Webster
I agree with you about a disease being a cash cow. This is how big drug companies make money by not put money in research for the cure of herpes. This disease has been around more than a century and still no cure has been found yet. We have H1N1 flu for few years and already they established a vaccine.
We need more funds to the research for cure. Uncle Sam needs to stop wasting our tax money for unwanted Wars and put that to more important things like research for cancer, HIV, Herpes and other incurable disease.
I found out 3 years ago that I was positive for HSV2 from a blood test. I asked to be tested for "everything" when it came to light that my husband of 16 years had cheated on me several times. I had no symptoms of anything but thought it was the safe thing to do. Not expecting anything to become of the tests, I was devasted to learn that I was positive for HSV 2. Never in my life have I ever had symptoms of any kind and to this day I still don't.
I virtually shut down for two years. I divorced my husband, but was scared to death to date. I cried all the time and just exactly how do you face the permanent loss of physical intimacy with another human being? A year ago, I finally met a man that I thought was worth taking a chance. I dodged the issue of sex as long as I could because I knew I had to tell. He finally asked me if there was a reason I didn't want to have sex and I had no choice but to tell him. He was kind and understanding and told me it didn't matter. He held me as I cried my eyes out because I was so humiliated. I felt like I had hope again. We had protected sex (condoms and I had been taking acylivor for about a month) several days later and I didn't hear from him for a week. I finally called and he told me he didn't want to see me anymore because he couldn't handle it and actually said the words to me "I can't believe I did that." It was the most humiliating moment of my life. He eventually chose a woman identical to my looks, personality and life situation except I have herpes and she doesn't. Some days I can't even get out of bed. The stigma of herpes affects my job, being a mom, and took away my self-worth. I feel dirty and worthless. I don't date. Hell, I'm afraid to even talk to a man. I long for a relationship with another human being who won't be sickened to touch me or treat me like a pariah. My life is over. I am begging pharmacutical companies on behalf of myself and other herpes victims not to ignore research for a cure in lieu of treatments for profit. A cure would be a miracle for me and would give me my life back. Without a cure I will spend the rest of my life alone.
Kim,
I just want to say that I believe, contrary to what is said, that unless you are having an outbreak, or the symptoms of itching, burning , or pains in your back or legs, that you are NOT contagious. I have a friend who was diagnosed years ago. she had one outbreak, and never one again. She got married, had 3 kids, never another outbreak and her husband never got it! i have had a bad case of GH myself and felt like you. I stayed with the man who gave me it, much too long, for fear of never being in another relationship. We finally divorced. I only take acylovir when I feel an outbreak coming..and I have been doing the Jorge Cruise, low sugar diet, which has significantly reduced my outbreaks. I met a man who just was not at all concerned with it. He had outbreaks on his mouth only. We have been together over 10 years, had 2 healthy kids and neither of us, has contracted the other form, from the other! My X-husband chose not to tell his now current wife. He also takes acylovir when he feels one coming on. He has been with her for about 8 years, 2 kids later, and SHE also never contracted it. I do not advocate not telling the partner, but maybe wait a bit if you can. My ObGyn said that when taking Acylovir, you are not contagious..not even during childbirth. She was very up on this and had many pregnant patients with it. She gave it to me 3x a day at the end of my pregnancy...I never had an outbreak and she said it some research points to this being a better safeguard than a c-sect . ALSO>>> You may not even really have it! I would re-do the test..esp if you NEVER had an outbreak. EIther way, You will find the right person..all will be well and you will stop thinking about it..and be grateful you never have outbreaks..and probably never will! I had them 2x a month or more at times...blessings.
Same here. I was dating a guy for a few years on and off. In the meantime, I never cheated on him or dated other people. He played around and came back with Herpes and got me infected. When I found out I got Herpes, I was already dating someone new but without any physical relationship yet. When I told the guy, at first the guy was very supportive and told me he still loved me and wanted to be with me. I thought how lucky I was. However, after five months, he stopped calling. This has never happened to me before when I was herpes free. I realized that he probably got scared of the virus. I have been feeling very depressed and hopeless. Now my dream of finding a man and having children is almost gone to the wind.
Just like Kim said, I hope and BEG pharmacutical companies not to ignore research for Herpes cure for sake of making profits because millions of us are suffering for LIFE. Not only do we suffer the physical pain and social stigma, but also we have to endure a lifetime of loneless and abandonment due to this sick virus. PLEASE HELP US FIND CURE!! LET"S ALL PRAY FOR A MIRACLE SOON. May GOD be with us in this journey of miracle!! May a scientific breakthrough can help us remove this illness from mankind.
I'm 71 years old and I can't ever remember not having cold sores. I'm not sure just when I graduated to genital herpes but diagnostic tests confirmed it nearly 30 years ago. I tried some of the non-traditional treatments like blue/red/green algea and my o/b's went from several a year to one every two to three years. Probably the greatest reason they have decreased is because I've learned to live with the disease. If I've learned anything over this long period of time it would be this – you are not alone. Find a group on-line, make some contacts. Don't let this thing destroy you. Yahoo has some groups; classed by state, age, singles, etc. Do some research on these funding schemes, people will go to any length to get your money. If you find a legitimate channel for your donation, share it with your group. Believe me, there are millions out there with this condition and they all would give a buck or two to see it end – then the pharmcorps can infect themselves the same way we did. Above all, don't give up hope. Even I may live to see and end to this scourge.
There were alot of comments that say that herpes isn't life threatning well it can be for a woman that is pregnant and has herpes she could be having an outbreak at the time of delivery and pass this on to her baby and that is almost always deadly to the child. They don't have std testing for herpes unless you ask for it specifically and they don't test for herpes when you are pregnant. I was under the impression that they did test when pregnant and for std's but when I had my first genital outbreak 7 months ago my OBGYN said that they never test for it. I was stunned and don't know how long I've had this. I had two c-sections thankfully so I'm just hoping that my children don't have this.
Yes Pat, I too have it only in the vacinity of my tail bone. Only 2 outbreaks ever, it explained the burning and stinging thoughout my body (esp. ankles) that I've been experiencing for years along with the hip bone and knee pain. Shooting pain in arms and shoulders. Thought I was developing arthritis. New to this diagnosis, still in a bit shock but happy to have answers and proper treatment of my medical problems.
In hind-sight it appears that I tipped the scales with high arginine foods, stress, travel, extreme exercise, & annual sexual encounters with my long distance lover of 4 years. My (2) outbreaks clear within a week, virtually painless but the stinging, burning, and hip pain last for months. Olive Oil leaf extract and lysine do help, but I may be taking them in too high dosages to relieve my discomfort.
I found out on the morning of my last day of work after being downsized thagt i have herpes. The guy who gave it to me was in my bedroom at the time. they told me he probably doesn't know he has it, because women are so lucky to experience outbreaks, men less so. The thing is, my doctor told me a week prior that it was a staph infection, so i figured i was good, just got the test to be safe. I was clean in January, so developed it this spring sometime.
I haven't always been a prude, my bf of years was cheating, and i left him and had a little fun. i did use condoms, but even if i hadn't, why does everyone on here seem to think that you deserve this awful affliction?
My depression, which was already quite high from all of th life changes like moving from my home, losing my job in the worst state economy in the nation, and already having an immune system issue, has skyrocketed. I can't imagine telling someone i have this, or knowingly infecting, so i guess i will be alone for ever. i could nt even tell the guy, he doesn't know why i wont return his calls.
I'm not so ashamed, but work in the public eye, and i cant handle the stigma igf he gets upset and tells everyone that i gave it to him, which he may say...
it's just awful, i really do wish there was a cure, or that we could at least prevent transmission...
The pharmaceutical companies will still make money off of a cure. For instance chlamydia, ghonerea, and syphilis are all curable but still ubiquitous and GSK's patent for valtrex has ended allowing cheaper low cost versions to steal market share from them.
The market for a cure is huge and presents a prisoners dillemia. Which means every company has to agree not to offer a cure. If every OPEC member cannot agree to stick to their oil quotas how will all these companies trust each other to agree not to seek a cure under patent protection. Finding a cure is like founding amazon or paypal.
And as more years go by using acyclovir based drugs the more mutated strains of acyclovir resistant HSV that are created thereby making it less profitable. Duke university has the most logical simple frame work for creating a cure since all they have to do is find a way to deliver a drug that antagonizes the viral microRNAs. I'm sure if an airborne wild type(lethal) strain of herpes were unleased they could certainly rush a cure through in less than a year. 3 years at least.
The best way to fund a cure is to have the money go into a fund that invests in companies that pay out a dividend or royalty which goes towards research/cure. Donations grow the fund and the distributions fund research so your money isn't a single one off donation, it continues to fund research. In todays climate $10 Million can be invested properly to pay out 1 million dollars a year, probably more once the economy recovers. Anyway... food for thought... hmm.
Please find a cure, no one wants to make another suffer. Companies that have funding please fund the research. People should always want to help one another no matter the challenge.
HERPES CURE PLEASE HELP!!! The University of Florida HSV research team has decided to take part in the Pepsi Refresh Everything Project and submitted an application for a $50,000 grant! THEY ONLY NEED $40,000 FOR A CURE!!! If you are a US resident, please check out the following link take 2 minutes every day to vote for the idea! Your vote DOES count! NOTE: Please do not use proxies or establish dummy accounts as this could disqualify the idea from the competition. Only US residents can take part in voting.
http://www.refresheverything.com/herpestreatment
I checked out that website – they won the grant two months ago. However, it looks like it's not the cure for HSV they are working on, but just an alternative treatment of recurring outbreaks. An alternative to acyclovir. That's still better than nothing I guess.
We are currently on the 36th place in the Pepsi Refresh Everything project voting. Please all of you vote and support this cause!! If we can get to the top 10 spot, we will accomplish a huge MILESTONE in Herpes Cure history. It also means that we are one step closer to funding this Herpes cure and ending the herpes suffering in mankind.
For ourselves and future generations, let's whole-heartedly support Dr. Bloom's research by our actions – voting for Dr. Bloom's research in the Pepsi Refresh Everything project and donate to his research or Dr. Cullen's research. Every little action or money counts!!
hey guys we all know this sucks, but instead of being down take some action. start a fundraiser, vote on http://www.refresheverything.com/herpestreatment (you can vote everyday), and donate at http://www.herpescureresearch.org/. instead of hating life realize this is the only one you have so love your life and live it to the fullest. take, if we can spread the world and get people to donate we can beat this. look i was diagnosed with cold sores at the age of 6, because a family member kissed me. i didn't even have a choice, i was dealt a bad car, but whatever it hasn't stopped me from being who i am and my friends dont even realize i have it because i take care of myself. everything will be alright just take action and we can come up with something.
You can donate for a cure here.
http://www.herpescureresearch.org/
I have this sickness for 25 years know .Had a date for the first time in 6 years and told my date, its over . Im alone agin. i feel like hell.Help.
The other thing that makes this disease so horrible is you are so revolted by it that even though you have it you aren't even attracted to someone else who has it! I think if everyone who got this disease stops eating proccessed food, maybe the poisonous food companies will cure it. Please don't support the suppression drug companies or a cure will never come. I am going to donate for a cure, please end this horrible illness. There is a lot more to life than sex, and you just have to abandon your animal tendencies and start living your life inside your mind.
okay the pepsi resfresh thing, we are at rank 21 right now i really hope it goes to the top ten. im 15 im not sexually active and i got it somehow. its on my right middle finger. when i got my physical the person giving it to me looked at it and suspected it was herpes. i was ready to kill myself. but in the comments there was pain but i have no pain on my finger. i didnt get diagnosed yet by a dermatologist. im so depressed right now.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show?term=aicuris&rank=2
Check this out.... they are getting there.... don't give up...
I got it from a man that i suspect he know he have it. I feel like someone hurt me with the intention to do it. I can not forgive myself to let myself go only once in 6 years. I can not forgive myself to lake of judgment. It was a relation with condom but it didn't prevent from the virus. I am a quiet woman who are now stigmatised. I am experiencing an outbreak every month, with strange sensation every day that doctors cannot identify. No cure for the virus, and no treatment for those neurological sensation. I am about the get crazy. I am experiencing a deep depression. I life is completely destroyed. I spend all my free time crying until i got sick. The only thing who make me feel better, is to think that at lest, i still can use my arms to finish my life. I saw 14 doctors. Any of them was really listening to me, just told me that there is nothing to do. At lest, it won't kill me. They don't know what is it to feel sick everyday, to feel this strange sensation, nerve, who remind you every minute of your life that you are sick because someone wanted you to be sick and that nobody will love you anymore, including yourself. Really, I did't though that one day, kill myself will be the only way to save me from souffering. suffering from a virus, in 2010, north America, only because compagny wants to make money. I will not live just to financialy support those terrible people. I prefer to die a lot more. I am a 33 years old woman, with a career, who was perfectly healty 1 year ago, who lives in industrial society and this society will let me die on the name of money. They call this evolution.
I feel exactly the same in every way. I feel nerve sensations all the time. My life is damaged in every way. I've become a shadow of my former self in so many ways. I can't eat, sleep. I've been told not to take suppressives, no one listens. I'm angry, so angry at being given this. I feel it was done knowingly. Just want to end it all.
To Lara
Please don't hurt yourself.
There are millions already infected by this virus,
younger than you are and even innocent children are infected by this virus. Please begin love yourself.
We need people like you to help spread the website herpescureresearch.org in the internet. And if you are in the USA you can vote to UF.
Regards,
hcr9
-------------–
herpescureresearch.org staff
I GOT FROM BF(MY KIDS DAD) I HAD FOR 16 YEARS AND IT HAS DESTROYED ME LIFE RECENTLY MY SISTER TOLD SOME HER F G SHE FOUND MY VALTREX, IT BEEN HELL EVERY SINCE. SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT I GO THUR, SHE MADE MY LIFE A LIVING HELL. AND YES U CAN GIVE TO UR KIDS MY DAUGHTER 8 AND HAD HER FIRST OUT BREAK LAST WEEK.I FEEL SO BAD I EVEN HAD THOUGHTS OF KILLING BOTH OF US SO SHE WANT HAD TO GO THUR LIFE WITH DISEASE. BUT INSTEAD I JUST PRAY THAT GOD WILL PROTECT HER..............I HAD I WROST OUT BREAKS ON MY ASS ANY ONE ESLE GOING THUR THIS
Lara,
I know your pain because I am in the same shoes like you. I got infected from this guy who probably knew he has it. This virus doesn't impact men that much but in women we suffer the worst. I was athletic and perfectly healthy just 1.5 years ago. I also regret every second and minute about my decision to be with the man who infected me.
But I want you to be hopeful. I talked to two famous psychics who are adamant that a cure will be coming out within three to five years. In addition, I talked to two ladies who have had herpes for 20 years and plus. They all told me that the frequency and severity of the virus will become less as time goes. Now they barely even think about it. The beginning after getting the virus is the hardest!
Also, have you read the story from yoshi2me. It is a real story written by this lady Angela Johnson. She suffered outbreak every week since she got infected. And then she was put on daily Valtrex for three years, her symptoms completely disappeared. Even after she stopped taking Valtrex after three years, she didn't seem to have outbreak again. So there is hope for better life. Don't give up.
Think about if you give up and then after a few years Dr. Bloom's or Dr. Cullen's research becomes a real CURE, what a waste for you because you could have waited for the cure and give your life one more chance. Go and find Herpes support group and talk to those who suffer like you so that you will know how to lower your chance of outbreak. God bless!
http://yoshi2me.com/herpes-telling.html
Firstly I want to say thank you so much to the herpescurereasearch.org people for all the nice comments you have left on this page, EVERYONE PLEASE log on and register to
http://www.refresheverything.com/herpestreatment
This organisation are the closest to finding a cure and June 30th is the last date the top 10 gets the funding they require, we were ranked 50th at one point and are now 16th, voting ends 30th June you can vote as much as you want, just register, vote click out and sign back in this company are the closest to fing the cure please vote at least 20 times a day and we can give them the very much needed 50k to find the cure.
Guys we are currently in 13th place in the pepsi refresh everything contest!!! This has the potential to be the funding we are all so desperately waiting for!! GO VOTE!!!!!!!! and have the people you have confided in go vote as well.. They know what this means to you and Im sure would vote everyday!! My friends have all agreed to!! 🙂 Only 7 days left to vote!!!
http://www.refresheverything.com/herpestreatment
Guys, I have the worst case of the disease and hate to say this but this is NOT CURE – it's just a treatment. They are very sneaky in their wording to mislead us, but if you read carefully the explanation of their plan, it's clear that's not cure and just an alternative therapy of recurring outbreaks. It's better than nothing though, since acyclovir doesn't work for everyone – for example for me...
When was the last time a "cure" for something was discovered? I have a weird feeling pharmaceutical companies are keeping all the good stuff hidden. Hey why sell one pill when you can sell a treatment or a vaccine that requires annual boosters. Are we seriously supposed to believe that medical advances do not progress at the same rate the rest of our technology does?
Somewhere I had read the suggestion to keep yourself hydrated to reduce outbreaks. I tried that, drinking plenty of water throughout the day (a big glass every 2 hours), and found that my outbreaks reduced probably 90% in both frequency and severity. Sometimes, if I fall off the routine for a few days, or if I have been having alcohol (which dehydrates) without drinking extra water, I start to see small blisters appear. But going back to the routine tends to make them go away. Hope this helps someone, it's definitely been beneficial for me.
I am glad to hear it works for you. Unfortunately it does nothing for me. Neither does anything else. I've had HSV for 6 years now and was diagnosed only a year ago when the outbreaks got very severe. Before, for 4.5 years, I just had minor itching in the area about once a year. But a year and a half ago the itching got so frequent and so severe (I scratch to bleeding), that I went to the doctor. Acyclovir does nothing for me. In this past year and a half the outbreaks got more and more frequent to the point that now I have it constantly – the outbreak hasn't stopped for 7 months now. Every day, all day, all night, 24/7 – for 7 months non-stop. Such scenario is extremely rare. I don't know why I am so unlucky: I've had a very healthy life style for the past 3-4 years. I exersize, eat very healthy, drink prenty of water, never drink alcohol or smoke. My immune system seems to be strong against everything else but HSV. The only sexual partner I had is my ex-husband. I was never sexually active before or after marriage because I am very religious and because I always feared all those STD's. How ironic that I yet got the worst STD out there. How unfortunate that I got the worst, the rarerest scenario of it – constant, non-stop outbreak. That's very unfair. How am I ever to find a partner of the same religion as mine, who is very religous as me and who would accept a herpes partner with constant OB?
I forgot to mention that, maybe it's just a coincidence, but every time I take L-Lysine my OB gets even worse. I tried coconut oil supplement – no results. Acyclovir, as I already said, doesn't work for me either. So, now I wanna request prescription for valacyclovir (generic for Valtrex) – maybe that will help, because they say for different people different drugs work better. But for now I apply anti-itch gels and creams like Benadryl (generic ones work just as good) – it gives me some relief (not 100% relief though), but I have to use it all the time – 5-6 applications a day.
Men are more forgiving when dating a woman who eventually says "I have herpes". Woman run like antelopes out of control if the man they are dating tells her "I have herpes, that is why I've been avoiding sex with you"
Have anyone had any experience with oxygen treatments? Found some info on hsv-free.com.. A company called Nova Natural Therapies. Sounds like a possible alternative but Im not sure if it just another waste of money. Hope anyone can comment on that!
My boyfriend broke up with me last night and I still can't stop crying. And I can't help thinking that a big part of it was because I have GH and he doesn't. He seemed to take it well when I told him that I have it, but we never had sex.
We have known each other for a long time but were officially dating for 3 months. The thought of dating again and having to tell someone new that I have H makes my stomach sick. When is there a cure? Why is H destroying me and my life? Even HIV is not deadly after twenty years of research. Why isn't there any medical breakthrough on Herpes virus? Why do all we get after 30 years of research is Valtrex?? God pl help us find a cure..please please please
i am 17 and have genital herpes my gf gave it to me a few months ago she was honest and told me she had it but i continued to have sex with her. i love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her. i told her the way i see it is if we both have it then its like neither of us have it at all
PAUL.....all these websites are scams my friend trust me!!! they play on your feelings and take your money and put bogus people stating they are cured!!! trust me dude there is no cure
MISSY.....Dont stress ok, you will find people who accept and some who dont, his loss!!! the GOOD NEWS is that DR BLOOM the guy who is closest to the herpes cure has now received 50k from Pepsi they have supported him and he can test a ribozyme that will block any outbreaks....he will then receive funding from the american government that will cure us 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
how long is that going to take?
I am having one of the worste outbreak of oral herpes since the first time I ever broke out. NOTHING is working, finished a round of virals, vitamin C, zinc, lysine, lemon balm you name it. I got some of the trimmings from my last harvest (Im a medical cannabis patient) and made some tea with the trimmings. Put the leaves on my lips and MY GOD it feels soooo good. I have only been doing this for a few hours, but the swelling has gone down completely! And talk about relief, I lay the top side of the leaf face down on my lips, on leaf at a time. They stick, and create a barrier. I cant stand to have the leaves off!! I pray for the day that cancer researchers and virologists can get their hands on cannabis in the search for a cure. If us "laymen" with little knowlege can figure out SO MUCH about the most versatile plant in the world, imagine what they can do! Its incrdibly unfortunate. We will allow chemotherapy (talk about a poison). But got forbid we use cannabis.
If you have herpes find someone who will give you the trimmings! I am telling you it is amazing.
I would like to add that you get no high from doing this. So I am not trippin.
Go to webmd.com and look up dating with herpes. You will all be ok, You can still be intimate but must be safe. You can even have certain kinds of sex with an outbreak. Better to wait but no need to panic. The cure will come and just play it safe if you feel like you are getting or have an outbreak. The rest of the time you should be safe too but you can still kiss someone. Otherwise the whole country would have it ! God Bless.
Even oral sex is ok if you have a genital outbreak. Just no sores in your mouth. Just be smart and safe about it and don't infect another person and you can live a normal life.
I too feel that any intimate relationships are forever over for me. I got the disease from my now ex-husband. He had a rash and would not go to the doctor. This is not fair! U should b able to trust the person u vowed to spend ur life with. He has ruined my life. To those who think it is no big deal, it is, believe me. U would feel differently if u were infected.
Your life is not ruined and Jesus Christ loves you. This is not your fault and I care.
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