Herpes Simplex

[eswiig]

Herpes, one of the few "taboo" subjects, most people have heard about it, but few talks about it. For some reason chlamydia, gonorrhea and even HIV are easier subjects to talk about. But there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding Herpes.

 

As a friend of mine (no, not me) was diagnosed with this a few days ago I decided to do a bit of research on the subject (I suffer from OCD) and found some interesting information I want to share in order to try and demystify some of the social stigma attached to it as he is going through hell right now.

 

I advice you check out http://herpesisnormal.com , one of the few websites backed up by doctors and medical research.

 

50-90% of adults carry one form of the Herpes virus, but only 1/10 will have any symptoms.

Out of 50 people in a room, about 9 of them will not have any form of Herpes.

 

http://herpesisnormal.com/?page_id=18

 

Herpes Simplex, or Herpes as most of us know it as can be divided into two types.

 

HSV1 & HSV2, HSV1 usually prefers oral and HSV2 usually prefers genital area.

 

However, both viruses can be transferred to the opposite area. Herpes is transmitted via skin to skin contact, saliva or secretions from the genitals. That means kissing someone with HSV1 can infect you. (If near the infected area). If someone with HSV1 performs oral sex on you, you can get the virus on your genitals. The virus DOES NOT need to be active in order to infect someone. It can lay dormant

and before it will blossom it will go through a phase called "Viral Shedding". Meaning there might be NO symptoms at all. "Transmission of the virus is more likely to occur when sores are present, although viral shedding, and therefore transmission, does occur in the absence of visible sores." Yes, even a hand job can transfer the virus. (Soap and water kills the virus though).

 

HSV1 is what we know as "cold sore" on the mouth, If you ever had a cold-sore on the mouth, YOU HAVE HERPES for life (or until they find a cure).

HSV2 is the "genital STD" Herpes. (Also for life).

 

Yes, HSV1 or cold-sores Herpes virus can transmit to genitals.

 

Here's a FAQ on the virus, http://herpesisnormal.com/?page_id=258

 

The fight to find a cure for the virus is being worked on by several factions,

http://herpesisnormal.com/?page_id=20

 

Now to the important part, If you are thinking of getting a diagnosis on if you have Herpes.

 

There are several types of tests,

 

One is the standard IgM test, many experts believe this is almost worthless due to a lot of fake positives or negatives.

The better one is IgG test, which tests for type specific virus. Both these test for the Anti-bodies. Western Blot IgG test is recommended unless you opt for the more expensive PCR test.

I think a IgG test runs for about 150$ in the states.

 

Then there is the PCR test which looks for the actual virus. If PCR finds something it cannot be questioned due to its accuracy.

PCR test is more expensive as it's a way more complex test to perform. (I did this test via Bangkok Pattaya Hospital and it cost me 2,000 Baht, yes I know BPH is more expensive than other hospitals).

 

Here's what being said about the various tests, (Do note, normal 'full package' STD tests does NOT include Herpes Simplex test)

 

"A single PCR swab when you are not having symptoms may not reveal much, try to have it redone when you are having symptoms.

If you are not having symptoms better to get an IgG blood test. If you are having symptoms have it swabbed by PCR"

 

Not to frighten anyone, but in reality Herpes is a more normal and spread virus than one would think. And I guess some people didn't know that a cold-sore on the lip meant Herpes Simplex HSV1.

 

A few more sources of good information:

http://www.herpes-coldsores.com

http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/messageforum

Edited October 25, 2009 by eswiig

[eswiig]

Survey added,

 

Regarding the second question, if your parents have had cold-sore and kissed you when you were little, there is a chance they can have transmitted HSV1 to you.

Edited October 25, 2009 by eswiig

[eswiig]

Almost 500 views and 2 votes? *tsk tsk*

 

Don't be shy! It's an innocent anonymous question

Edited October 25, 2009 by eswiig

[yokoono]

People who monger are typically in denial about this.

[Me2995]

Thanks for posting.

 

I was tested in Pattaya International (soi 4) in December '08 after I went there with a pomplem halfway down. After about 15 min (they took some fluid and urine) I was confirmed to be infected with Herpes.

 

Also doing some research on the web, I couldn't find any of the symptomes on myself, but I hade some fluid coming out and it hurt a little to pee. Anyway, got some medecines and started taking them, 3 days later I was home and straight to my doc.

 

A couple of urine and blood test later (spread over months), not a trace of Herpes. My doc said that the test used in the Pattaya International was very unreliable and only correct 50% of the time. Not what I expected in STD city.

 

Anyway, got of with an extra warning ,so extra careful since.

[Hampi]

But if you really not have anything, then this is a good news, after you already though of having Herbes...

I think you were very happy, when your doctor back home told you that you not infected...

 

Maybe beause of this your learned something

[chinaski]

I hade some fluid coming out and it hurt a little to pee.

 

Sounds more like you had gonnorhea

[Me2995]

But if you really not have anything, then this is a good news, after you already though of having Herbes...

I think you were very happy, when your doctor back home told you that you not infected...

 

Maybe beause of this your learned something

 

You bet I learned something, it was a great relief, I can assure you! And not only for Herpes, but even worse things can get you, when you do stupid things being drunk.

[Me2995]

Sounds more like you had gonnorhea

 

Yes probably, but I'm still confused that they didn't diagnose it correctly. One would think that all hospitals in Pattaya are experts in these kind of things, not?

 

Or maybe it was Herpes and because I went to the doc at first signs, medication did it's work? No idea if this is possible in case of Herpes or not? I'm not a doctor.

[Devil Plaything]

Yes probably, but I'm still confused that they didn't diagnose it correctly. One would think that all hospitals in Pattaya are experts in these kind of things, not?

 

Or maybe it was Herpes and because I went to the doc at first signs, medication did it's work? No idea if this is possible in case of Herpes or not? I'm not a doctor.

 

Nope, once you get Herpes it's there for life. Sounds like you had Chalmydia, and they gave you antibiotics (useless for Herpes). Probably more important that they give you the right meds than the right name, but not very inspiring!

[eswiig]

Thanks for posting.

 

I was tested in Pattaya International (soi 4) in December '08 after I went there with a pomplem halfway down. After about 15 min (they took some fluid and urine) I was confirmed to be infected with Herpes.

 

Also doing some research on the web, I couldn't find any of the symptomes on myself, but I hade some fluid coming out and it hurt a little to pee. Anyway, got some medecines and started taking them, 3 days later I was home and straight to my doc.

 

A couple of urine and blood test later (spread over months), not a trace of Herpes. My doc said that the test used in the Pattaya International was very unreliable and only correct 50% of the time. Not what I expected in STD city.

 

Anyway, got of with an extra warning ,so extra careful since.

 

Having a discharge and hurting when peeing isn't typical Herpes symptoms as others have mentioned.

 

However depending on the type of test your doctor took in your home country, it may not show anything at all.

Unless it's a type specific anti-gen test, it won't show a reliable result if you take the test without an active outbreak.

 

Also, while the virus is in your body for life, a lot of people don't notice anything at all. While the virus goes latent and sleeps

normal Herpes tests will come back as negative.

[eswiig]

While medication can suppress the virus when it's active and stop the outbreak, it cannot cure you from it.

 

Herpes is the Gift that keeps giving, and unlike love, Herpes is forever.

[Harry Brown]

Mankind has not found a cure for any virus yet.

[The Mentalist]

Yeah and when you get older it will break out on youyr body or legs,

then they call it shingles and bloody painful.

[TheDuke]

Can you buy medication in Thailand for herpes ? If so, how much.... caught the dreaded herp last trip..

Edited November 15, 2009 by TheDuke

[jack daniels esq]

Self medication & diagnosis is an incredibly dangerous vocation.

Even medicine today is classed as more art than science.

We all carry every virus under the sun, 24/7 - hence its name.

 

It is the individuals body's ability to protect one from a full onslaught that is the difference

between total debilitation/death and excellent health.

Some of us are blessed with eternal health, whereas others always appear to be at death's door.

 

Keeping oneself in excellent health, eating a balanced diet of live foods, fresh protein and supplements is the finest preventative approach ever - it is what honed us into this world class fighting machine.

Any drug, is normally too late anyway.

 

If ya going to war, be prepared for the consequences - so pack a large piece - remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I make it a habit of getting shots before and after any new country visit - JIC!

Jack

[marshallman69]

Herpes is a lot more problematic than the other common but curable things like NSU etc....so ignore at your peril - I picked it up from Patts a few years back and consider myself lucky that i only get blisters at the top of my backside. It would be seriously painful if they were on more sensitive parts. I get an outbreak 2-3 times a year and best case is resolution within 7 days. Outbreaks are triggred by stress and being run down or having a shock to the system and my last 2 trips to Pattaya have given me just such a shock to the system i.e. tons of extra booze, lack of sleep, partying hard etc..... So beware...it's not really want you want on your holiday or hope you are one of the lucky symptom-less people.

[darwinian]

Some babies are born with it.

Soon everyone will have herpes.

[Temujin]

I get tested for all STD's after every trip and then again 3 months after.

 

A LOT of STD's can be transmitted orally and I love lickin pussy.

 

So far so good...

[The Laird o' Crichie]

Yeah and when you get older it will break out on youyr body or legs,

then they call it shingles and bloody painful.

That would be the herpes zoster and if you ever had chickenpox as a kid, you are a candidate for shingles. My poor old dad celebrated his 84th birthday a few weeks back as best he could as he is in the 3rd week of a very painful shingles outbreak. Didn't get that from mongering now did he!

 

Now, as his mongering son, I can expect a 50% chance of getting shingles before I get to his age. At least I will know what it is when it kicks in.

[The Laird o' Crichie]

I get tested for all STD's after every trip and then again 3 months after.

 

A LOT of STD's can be transmitted orally and I love lickin pussy.

 

So far so good...

Then you will be a likely candidate for catching and transmitting oral warts, oral thrush and spreading yeast infections between the ladies you dine on.

 

Nice guy huh?

[David Brent]

I got cold sores on my freckle, what does that tell you - ass-licker

 

jeez you follow all this dreary advice you will just stay in bed for ever.

 

so everyone is a walking viral disaster - stop fucking about then

 

pattay bgs starve to death.

[plahgat]

I got a Herpes Zoster outbreak a few years ago whilst on Koh Samui, it hit half my face and upper body!

Had to eat Acyclovir for 10 days and also a few other meds including penicillin to prevent infection to my eye!

Although the medicin doesn't kill the virus it prevents it from wandering via the nerves up to the skin surface and hence slows down the outbreak of blisters.

Good thing is that you can only get it once in the same place.

It's a very painful condition like having your skin on fire!

During almost 2 weeks I was more or less confined to my bungalow, because I couldn't stay out in the sun.

Even today a few years afterward although the scars are almost gone I still feel a little numb in my face because of damaged nerves!

 

Plahgat

[dingoh]

Questions to you blokes who have picked it up? Was safe sex practiced ?

[fostraswift]

Questions to you blokes who have picked it up? Was safe sex practiced ?

 

A condom will not protect you from herpes...