Sexual Health Buzz

The purpose of this post is to bring the public in the NEW ENGLAND area in the United States to AWARENESS of the emergence and possible outbreak of a sexually transmitted disease that is not normally found in the US.

I am a heterosexual female in my 20s and I am from a small town in New England. I have just been recently diagnosed with an STD that is not commonly known in the United States and is very rarely found in industrialized countries. This disease is know as lymphogranuloma venereum or LGV.

LGV is supposed to be relatively rare in the United States and most industrialized countries, and is more prevalent in Southeast Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. There has recently been increase in reported cases in Europe and Canada. It is also mostly homosexual men that have been reported to contract this disease.

So what I am trying to say is that right now I am a statistical anomaly, meaning that the chances of me getting this disease BECAUSE I AM A HETEROSEXUAL FEMALE AND I LIVE IN A SMALL NEW ENGLAND TOWN IN THE US are SUPPOSED to be slim to none. But NOT ANYMORE.

The person that gave this horrible disease to me is now spreading this around a particular state that I live in (held confidential) and those people he has slept with are now possibly having unprotected sex with other people who are sleeping with more people, who are sleeping with more people.

FIFTY PERCENT of those who contract this disease are ASYMPTOMATIC. But I was anything but asymptomatic. And I am warning and informing everyone who lives in this area in the United States of the dangers.

I would now like to reveal the nightmare that I went through. I almost died from this disease because the doctors and I’m sure the person carrying it had never even heard of it. I was hospitalized four times, misdiagnosed 6 times, put on 5 different courses of antibiotics that failed miserably.

This went on for four months and the pain was so bad I could not move for days, and I lost an alarming amount of weight. I developed another severe medical condition as a result of this, which I am reluctant to disclose, Pelvic inflammatory disease, AND REITER syndrome, which is active arthritis in my hips, knees and ankles.

It was the WORST pain I have ever felt in my whole life. It felt like my whole body was on FIRE. Initially, the symptoms were vaginal and there was a pinching and burning sensation in my pelvic area. The pain was primarily on my RIGHT SIDE. THIS DISEASE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO ATTACK AND CAUSE SYMPTOMS TO PRESENT IN ONE SIDE OF THE BODY. Then the inflammation spread to other organs, and my lymph system, and finally, at the very height of my symptoms, I felt burning and shooting pains up and down the inside of my arms, down my legs, up and down my chest and my spine, burning and throbbing pain in the back of my head, and the most horrible nightmarish pinching burning stabbing pain in my abdomen and lower back.

It was even more painful to pass stool or urine. I was finally diagnosed, through a SPECIFIC BLOOD TEST and am on antibiotics for treatment and am on my way to recovery. I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THIS STRAIN OF CHLAMYDIA IS EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE AND WILL VARY RARELY SHOW UP IN A CULTURE AND NORMAL SCREENING FOR CHLAMYDIA. THE ONLY WAY TO DIAGNOSE THIS DISEASE IS THROUGH A SPECIFIC BLOOD TEST ORDERED BY YOUR DOCTOR.

If you live in the New England area and if you have any of these symptoms and you have been struggling to find answers, tell your gyno about this disease and when they tell you that it’s too rare for you to get, THEY ARE WRONG…..because that’s what they told me and…..I GOT IT! and other people WILL get it.

IT HAS HIT THE UNITED STATES HARD THIS TIME AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOW SPREADING RAPIDLY. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO CONTRACT THIS DISEASE THROUGH ORAL SEX.

Here is some more information on Lymphogranuloma.

LGV is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or infection involving the lymph glands in the genital area. It is caused by a specific strain of chlamydia known as chlamydia trachomatis. The incidence is highest among sexually active people living in tropical or subtropical climates. It has also occurred in some areas of the southern United States.

The first symptom may be a small, painless pimple or lesion occurring on the penis or vagina. It is often unnoticed. The infection then spreads to the lymph nodes in the groin area and from there to the surrounding tissue. Complications may include inflamed and swollen lymph glands which may drain and bleed-the draining and bleeding happens in only 30% of cases. The onset of symptoms varies widely. The initial lesion may appear from three to 30 days after exposure.

If left untreated, it can cause serious tissue damage, scarring, rectal or intestinal blockages, and extreme swelling of the genitals (elephantiasis). In severe cases, it attacks the central nervous system (brain swelling).
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS WEAR A CONDOM-MAKE YOUR PARTNER WEAR A CONDOM-DO NOT HAVE UNPROTECTED ORAL SEX!!!!GET TESTED!!!

Here’s the original posting about this STD

If you have this OR you are a healthcare professional that can shed some light for those that are participating in that exact thread I would appreciate it if you would chime in.

I already had herpes for a few years before I got pregnant with my daughter, and had outbreaks when I was pregnant. Now that my body has antibodies and my baby received those, what is the likelihood that she will get herpes simplex 1 (the type I have) later in life? What are the chances that she will get type 2? Are her chances less? – Anon

Here’s what I know from my own personal experience along with all the materials that I have read.

Yes, we do share our antibodies with our babies when we are pregnant and when we are breast feeding.

Once you give birth to your baby you no longer share your antibodies. The only time you would still share antibodies is if you chose to breast feed.

Once you stop breast feeding OR even after quite a bit of time breast feeding, I don’t think you continue to share antibodies.

What you could do is give your baby’s pediatrician a phone call and ask about this. I’d be interested in knowing more about what your doctor tells you.

Talk about herpes when you’re pregnant

I have herpes simplex 1 in the genital area, and have had it for seven years now. I was pregnant with my little girl and had a few outbreaks. My doctor said she wouldn’t take the chance on taking medication if she was me and gave me some topical ointment (that didn’t work) and I tried to use that while I was pregnant.

I had an outbreak around my due date and so I opted for a c-section, since I had not been on any suppressive medication. My daughter was happy and healthy at 7 lbs exactly and she’s never had any problems from the herpes. – Danielle

When you are pregnant and have herpes

Send me your herpes when you’re pregnant story

Talk about stds when you’re pregnant

If you want to join Checkup Today now is your HOT chance!

You don’t have to have a health blog if you don’t want to.

All you have to have is a blog, consistency, and some Shoez Newz bling.

If you’re interested just let me know!

I have had HSV-1 for just over two years. I do not get full blown outbreaks anymore, but there seems to be an ever present “tingling sensation” which make me always wary that I am beginning an outbreak. This makes me abstain for fear of an increased risk of transmission, but I have this slight tingling all the time, and abstaining for an entire relationship is not realistic. I have been in a relationship for 6 months now with no sex. Do you have any advise, or could you direct me to someone who can tell me if I really am shedding virus all this time and what I can do? – Anon

No, we are not always asymptomatically shedding the herpes virus at all time nor are we contagious 100% of the time either.

The only time we are contagious is when the virus is active and present on the surface of the skin.

Sometimes we can see and feel that activity in the form of an outbreaks and sometimes we can’t.

As for the constant tingling, you might want to check with your doctor on that one.

Remember, not everything going on down there is always going to be due in part to herpes.

Do you know your partner’s std status? If not, I highly recommend that the two of you make a date to go and get tested so you will be in the know together.

Talk about herpes

Talk about stds before you have sex

I have herpes simplex 1 in the genital area. My son’s father passed it to me through oral sex, with no cold sore present or signs. I am in a relationship with a man now that doesn’t have herpes at all, how safe is it to receive oral sex from him, for him? Can he get my herpes genitally and then give it to me, when I perform oral sex? Or would I already have an antibody and can’t get herpes simplex 1 in two locations? I need help!!! – Anon

How do you know that this new guy doesn’t have herpes? Was he recently tested specifically for herpes? Did he tell you that he doesn’t have herpes because as far as I know herpes isn’t included in the routine STD testing process.

My suggestion to you would be to make a date with your new man to go in and get tested together for everything. Make a list of what you expect the clinic to test you for and then ask them what their plans are.

So many people assume when they get STD testing that they are being tested for everything and that is just NOT the case.

I have always heard that contracting Oral Herpes Type-1 from somebody that has Genital Herpes Type-1 via oral sex is not all that likely to happen. I’ve also heard that having both genital herpes type-1 and oral herpes type-1 is not all that common even though it is possible.

I think what it’s going to boil down to is deciding together as a couple how you wish to proceed in the bedroom. It’s clearly a personal choice but first it’s important to rule out what your STD status is together as a couple.

As far as passing herpes back and forth, it’s just not going to happen. Once you contract HSV-1, HSV-2 or both – you can’t contract it again. So that wouldn’t be passing it back and forth.

Oral sex when you have herpes

I LOVED YOUR WEBSITE. IT GAVE ME HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. I THOUGHT BEING DIAGNOSED WITH HERPES WAS THE END OF THE WORLD BUT NOW I FEEL I CAN STILL HAVE A NORMAL LIFE. THANKS AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

SINCERELY,

TRACY

i’ve been looking around your site for the past couple days now because i’ve been waiting the results of my herpes test from my doctor. well i got them back today and they’re positive.

i am completely devastated and i don’t know right now how i’m going to move on with my life. but your site has helped me with a lot of questions i’ve had and it’s really helping me to understand what i have a little bit more.

i dont know when it will be when i’ll be able to accept that i have this. but reading true stories from other people has helped me to know that i am not alone, and that there are people who are going through the same thing i’m going through.

my biggest concern right now is telling the person i think i got it from because i don’t think he’s going to take it very well (i dont think he knows he has it because he’s never said anything to me about it) how do you tell someone that they might have herpes?

any ways i’m glad that there is a site like this out there for people like me because without something like this i think i would still just be laying in my bed under the covers pretending the world didnt exist and that i didn’t have this virus(which is what i’ve been doin for the past 3 days).

i just wanted to thank you for making a site like this and to tell you that its really helped me.

+*+ ~ +*+ ~ +*+ ~ +*+ ~ +*+ ~ +*+ ~ +*+ ~ +*+ ~ +*+ ~

Thank you for writing to me and letting me know that my site has been helpful to you. I’m sorry that you have herpes but I think in time and with lots of research you are going to wind up ok.

Now you have to tell your partner that you were recently diagnosed with herpes. Just be straightforward and honest about it. Maybe it’s time that your partner got tested. After all, he may have had herpes all along and just didn’t know it.

If you have any more questions feel free to contact me. I like to post the questions on my blog so that others can get the help that they are looking for.

Here is our herpes telling story

Last night, I told the guy I have been seeing for almost three weeks that I have herpes from HSV-1. I had been making myself sick with the idea of telling him, even though I know he is a really decent and wonderful guy and I couldn’t imagine him reacting badly. Well, he blew me away. You would have thought I hadn’t even told him. We were holding hands and he said that I looked a bit preoccupied so I went straight into it and told him that I was finding it difficult to keep my hands off him but before we moved further, I wanted to share something with him personal. I said it was serious but not really a big deal either.

He looked a bit nervous…I asked him if he has ever had a cold sore and then went on to tell him that you can have them passed on through oral sex and then sex, and that that was what happened with me and my ex-boyfriend when I was a teenager.

I was a bit worried to begin with that he didn’t understand what I was saying – he was hardly reacting at all. I had pulled away and taken my hand out of his because of the talk but he reached for me and pulled me back to him and kissed me. I explained everything I knew about HSV-1, that most people have the virus by the time they are adults but he might not and I wanted him to know that there are risks it will be passed on, even if they are not very big risks. That he was an adult and should be able to make his own decision, to ask me anything…He was surprised to know that it didn’t move from one part on the body to another, said that he knew what herpes was and he had never thought it was a very big deal.

And that was it. – Anne

Read more telling stories here

Talk about herpes here

I’ve been busy this morning:

So we didn’t go to the gym yesterday OR today. I’m sure my trainer is highly frustrated right now but that’s how the cookie crumbles when your kids aren’t feeling well. I can’t very well put them in daycare at the gym when they’ve got the sniffles you can see and hear, right? I’ve got two more sessions with her and then I’m done. I probably won’t sign up again. It’s not fair to me when they charge my account for not being there and it’s not fair to her if they don’t charge my account.

Ok, so I have some questions for you news reader gurus out there. I use FeedDemon as my blog news reader. Sometimes I can add the blogs to it and other times I can not. I suppose that would be in part to how other blog owners and authors have their settings. Maybe they allow it and maybe they don’t. Not really sure how that works.

I do go through all of my blogs this morning and do a clean sweep of everybody that is involved in networking with me in some way, shape OR form. I like FireFox as my browser because I can just right click and open up the site in a new window and scroll from there to see if I’m getting the link love back. Sometimes I get it and sometimes I don’t.

This morning I added everybody that was linking to me in my news reader. Those that weren’t linking to me I removed from my blogrolls and didn’t add to my news reader. It’s getting a little old trying to stay on top of it so from here on out I’m not going to contact you to ask what’s up. I’m just gonna delete you and go from there. Frankly, I don’t have time to play these blogroll games any more.

I’m sure a lot of people have legitimate reasons as to why they don’t link to me any more. That’s fine. It’s kinda like this morning when I had a legitimate reason for not going to the gym. It is what it is.

So now on to my question:

I noticed that when I was adding your blogs to my news reader that some of them would prompt me and ask if I wanted the RSS-1, RSS-2, or ATOM feed?

Can anybody tell me which one I should be subscribing with and why? Or does it really matter which one I’m subscribing to? Is one better than the other?

If you are interested in sharing the link love with me:

Let me know and I will return the favor. I LOVE to network with new blogs. Keep in mind that we don’t have to share the same viewpoint. For the love of blogging is good enough so long as your blog doesn’t have anything that resembles crime or gambling. I think that’s fair, don’t you?