I acquired genital herpes sometime in my 20s - did not know at the time what it was and was too embarrassed to ask a doctor. It was finally diagnosed in my late 30s because I used cortisone to treat the itching which caused huge welts, and finally saw a doctor. I took valacyclovir at the time but then stopped after the initial treatment for that one episode, and tried to treat outbreaks with lysine (which didn't work). In 2007, at age 54, I developed Ménière's disease, diagnosed by a very well known ENT. He asked if I had ever been diagnosed with Herpes, because he believed the virus causes or perhaps triggers Ménière's disease. He prescribed 1g/day of valacyclovir basically for the rest of my life. My hearing has been fairly well preserved; I stopped having episodes of vertigo after about 6-12 months of treatment with valacyclovir which could occur anywhere, any time (I still feel woozy at heights but nothing spins); I do have constant tinnitus but I've trained myself to pretty much ignore it. I've never had another herpes outbreak - I'm now 71. I wonder if you've heard of this potential connection between the herpes virus and Ménière's disease?
I got them from my husband. He gets cold sores, I get genital herpes. *sigh* Knock on wood, only 2 outbreaks in 25 years. Acyclovir was my best friend the end of pregnancy, times 5. It's no fun but it's not the end of the world :)
It was such a relief to find the book "The Good News About the Bad News" by Terri Warren when I contracted HSV-2 many years ago. Grateful for those like you who do their part to shed light on this subject now as well.
A good read, the stigma can be really difficult to deal with that is for certain! One thing you didn't discuss is that Herpes is not tested for on routine STI panels- is that true? I remember thinking I was always careful and would go to a clinic to get "tested for STIs" regularly in my twenties. I was never into paying attention to specific results at that time in my life, I was just always told that everything was negative! If this is true, I think it's an important reminder to those who may be struggling with the stigma. Even if you thought you were carful, this particular virus can slip through the cracks pretty easily 💔
I taught a course many years ago at the university which provided several details about STI's. I was astounded that so many students had no information about how they were contracted and the visible signs. I had a few students who could not look at the visuals which was very sad. Neglecting sexual health information at every level of eductation should nto be happening.
Interesting anecdote from my years of practice: I had a teenaged pt. (who was a piece of work, eventually grew up & straightened out) whose initial outbreak was on her cervix, picked up (this was a needle in the haystack event) on Pap smear. Soon after she became pregnant & went to the local Ob. clinic for care and returned to tell me very obstinately that her Pap was fine & I was wrong. My explanation of the transient nature of the infection fell on deaf ears. Years later (she'd come back to us after the pregnancy) she had the 1st of many external outbreaks, eventually went on suppressive therapy (she had a problem swallowing pills so was on liquid Zovirax). One day she asked me - "Do you remember when you told me I had herpes & I didn't believe you?" Yes, I sure did. As noted above, she was one of my 'more colorful' pts, about whom I have many memories...
I acquired genital herpes sometime in my 20s - did not know at the time what it was and was too embarrassed to ask a doctor. It was finally diagnosed in my late 30s because I used cortisone to treat the itching which caused huge welts, and finally saw a doctor. I took valacyclovir at the time but then stopped after the initial treatment for that one episode, and tried to treat outbreaks with lysine (which didn't work). In 2007, at age 54, I developed Ménière's disease, diagnosed by a very well known ENT. He asked if I had ever been diagnosed with Herpes, because he believed the virus causes or perhaps triggers Ménière's disease. He prescribed 1g/day of valacyclovir basically for the rest of my life. My hearing has been fairly well preserved; I stopped having episodes of vertigo after about 6-12 months of treatment with valacyclovir which could occur anywhere, any time (I still feel woozy at heights but nothing spins); I do have constant tinnitus but I've trained myself to pretty much ignore it. I've never had another herpes outbreak - I'm now 71. I wonder if you've heard of this potential connection between the herpes virus and Ménière's disease?
I don't know of a connection per se, but I would think if there were it would be with oral herpes.
I got them from my husband. He gets cold sores, I get genital herpes. *sigh* Knock on wood, only 2 outbreaks in 25 years. Acyclovir was my best friend the end of pregnancy, times 5. It's no fun but it's not the end of the world :)
It was such a relief to find the book "The Good News About the Bad News" by Terri Warren when I contracted HSV-2 many years ago. Grateful for those like you who do their part to shed light on this subject now as well.
A good read, the stigma can be really difficult to deal with that is for certain! One thing you didn't discuss is that Herpes is not tested for on routine STI panels- is that true? I remember thinking I was always careful and would go to a clinic to get "tested for STIs" regularly in my twenties. I was never into paying attention to specific results at that time in my life, I was just always told that everything was negative! If this is true, I think it's an important reminder to those who may be struggling with the stigma. Even if you thought you were carful, this particular virus can slip through the cracks pretty easily 💔
I taught a course many years ago at the university which provided several details about STI's. I was astounded that so many students had no information about how they were contracted and the visible signs. I had a few students who could not look at the visuals which was very sad. Neglecting sexual health information at every level of eductation should nto be happening.
Interesting anecdote from my years of practice: I had a teenaged pt. (who was a piece of work, eventually grew up & straightened out) whose initial outbreak was on her cervix, picked up (this was a needle in the haystack event) on Pap smear. Soon after she became pregnant & went to the local Ob. clinic for care and returned to tell me very obstinately that her Pap was fine & I was wrong. My explanation of the transient nature of the infection fell on deaf ears. Years later (she'd come back to us after the pregnancy) she had the 1st of many external outbreaks, eventually went on suppressive therapy (she had a problem swallowing pills so was on liquid Zovirax). One day she asked me - "Do you remember when you told me I had herpes & I didn't believe you?" Yes, I sure did. As noted above, she was one of my 'more colorful' pts, about whom I have many memories...