Sexual Health Buzz

Hi! I came across your website looking up the proper information for my boyfriend on herpes since I have it and he doesn’t.

I wanted to let you know I think what you are doing is great! I also wanted to let you know in reference to oral sex women can buy dental dams (they are latex or latex free sheets that almost act like a condom so a man can “go down” on you without having to worry about contracting your herpes!) I buy mind on the website undercovercondoms.com and they come flavored and unflavored!

I am finally in a relationship where I’m being 100% honest with my partner about everything and we are protecting him! In the past the men I have told haven’t really taken it seriously and have decided to not protect themselves. And it took me a long time to tell people, I was scared of the judgment I would receive and the wrong person knowing and telling everyone! So I didn’t tell some people either and now look back on it and feel soooooo bad about it! I will make sure not to make that mistake again!

But….. I just wanted to say from a woman who has had herpes for 11 years I appreciate all that you are doing! I know how it feels to be lost and scared and “not beautiful” because of this disease and I hope they do perfect that vaccine!!

All the best!

~Anonymous

More Inspirational Stories

I sent this note to everybody in my address book so 1.) I can say hello and 2.) I can see who’s e-mail addresses still work. I’m also posting it on my blog so those that are following it can stop by and say hello. I’d love to hear from you and find out where you are reading this blog from. Is it helpful to you?

I know I haven’t been around much lately. I’ve been pretty busy getting the 17 year old off to college, the 5 year old off to kindergarten, and the 3 year old still stays home w/me. We are super busy these days between swimming lessons, bible study, awana, working out at the gym, and still trying to keep up w/everything — it’s any wonder I make it through all the e-mails OR all the projects that need tackling on a daily basis. But … that’s life. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. You just take things one day at a time, one moment at a time, one hour at a time, and you do what you can when you can get it done. Right?

I have a confession to make. I have been playing that scrabble game on Facebook called Lexulous. It’s pretty fun. What’s neat about that game is you don’t have to sit and finish out the game. You can log on, make your move, and then go about your business. You can also have more than one game going so that you can make your move on several games and then go about your business. It’s just been nice to take a break from the usual and have some fun. Even if that fun is just for five minutes in between everything else going on.

Ok … so I have been behind on getting my site updates out and for that I do apologize. Two days ago I did manage to get a few things tackled. Here’s what I completed:

1.) People have had some really cool things to say about me and the site which is nice. It’s nice to get encouragement, ya know? So thank you for that! :-)

2.) Do me a favor and make sure I’ve got your social group listed, k? There are a few newbies on the page and some national events to check out. Let me know if you’d like me to add one of your social outings. I’m happy to do that for you.

3.) Would you believe the last time I posted something on the blog was September 1st? And before that August 28th? I promise I am not slipping. I was able to get a couple of new posts up tonight. I think you’ll be able to appreciate them.. at least I hope so.

The Bathroom And Herpes
You Are Beautiful Inside And Out
Personal herpes questions asked & answered

4.) Are you guys ready for the fall? I love this time of the year. The only thing I could really do w/out is the high pollen count. Oh yeah.. one more thing. Picking Up the Pieces will be celebrating it’s 11th birthday. I hope you will stop by and say hi. We are 11 years old on October 1st. That’s just around the corner.

Ok… I’ll be checking the rest of my e-mail tomorrow and will get the rest of the stuff added here and there soon. I’ll probably send out another update when I finish just like this one.

Happy Fall Y’all,

Angela ;-)

Twitter: @Yoshi2me
Herpes Help
Message Board

Feel free to share this note with friends that share in our common bond. [[hugs!]]

When we aren’t on Picking Up the Pieces you can find us here:
— We have a pretty cool VIP room going. So far 30+ people have shared their photos. It’s been wonderful being able to put a face with a name. What’s nice about this forum is the only way to get in is to share your photo. Once your photo is posted, you get added to the VIP room. If you decide to take your photos down at any time, we remove the photos upon request, and then we take you off the VIP list. Pretty Cool, eh? Let me know what you think! :]

WOW – I guess I had a lot to say. ;-)

Seeing many people out there suffering & staying positive, it inspired me to write my tragic story so that others who are the victim may get inspired too. I say tragic because the emotional pain I went through is much more painful than the virus.

I got married 6 yrs ago. I noticed blisters type in the private part during my pregnancy. Doc said it is herpes without any testing. I refused to believe and lived in denial for a year.

It got worse and at the same time my marriage breaking up due to so many silly reasons. Naive as I am, I initially thought that it was just a kind of irritation that women get especially during period. But when my loving hubby who promised me moon before the marriage stopped sleeping with me, I realized it is something serious and I got it tested but from wrong doctors again (gyn).

After several visits to doctors & testings, I could got it right. Like any other infected person, I got shocked, ashamed and even angry at myself. The worse part is that I dont know how I got it & when exactly. I started my medication & by taking care of myself, the outbreaks became lessor except for small irritation once in a while which do not worry me much. I’m basically a woman who dont get frighten easily by anything.

What I want to point out here is that my hubby started fighting with me for all wrong reasons and even stopped sleeping with me. To make it worse he throw accusation on my face every time we argue that he got it from me. But what I dont understand is that he is the first one who showed me the red spot on his penis.

I honestly dont know who contracted whom but I dont care even if I got it from him. I only want a cure if there is any and if there is no cure than remedies.

I would still love him even if I got from him but unfortunately he seems to stopped loving me. He has even started cheating on me. We have not sleep together for the past five years and he even refuse to talk to me. Now we are like a total strangers even at home. No one can imagine the emotional turmoil and mental harassment I gone through, in these past five years. The only beautiful thing that happened to me in these hard period of my life is my beautiful son. He brightens my life and keep me going. I feel suicidal at times not because of herpes virus because my hubby refuse to even touch me because of the disease (as though he is not having).

I am a christian and as a strong believer I ask God to make me strong and give me energy & also tolerance to bear it all.

His rudeness, his accusations, his unfaithfulness & my mental tension due to the virus is driving me crazy. But God is great! He gives me strength to bear and motivates me too.

Today my marriage on the verge of break up & I have even told my husband to leave me if he so scared of the disease because I know without making love, there will be hardly any compassion or care for each other. I also know he will cheat me again if we keep going like this which I cannot tolerate any more.

As for me, I want to live life as any normal person and not bogged down by getting guilty because of disease nor do I like any one reminding me. yeah! He let me feel guilty by not sleeping with me and making me feel dirty at my self. But in reality I feel it is not something you have to worry so much about.

I would rather say am happy because it is not AIDS/HIV or cancer. I am also happy because through this emotional & physical pain I have become closer to God and today I can proudly say that God is with me and he inspires me in everything I do. If its God’s will he will even heal me one day for good.

Lastly I would like to thank all of you out there for inspiring me with your stories.

God bless.

Love rose

Sometimes when people read my Herpes Biography they have more questions to ask about what’s going on with me today after all these years. I don’t mind answering these type of questions at all. In fact, I am compiling a list of Frequently Asked Personal Questions about my life and what’s it been like having herpes all these years.

1.) When you took Valtrex for two years and after had that one little outbreak did you or do you have anymore outbreaks?

Let’s see … I’ve had herpes 14 years now. I would say that I probably get an outbreak maybe once a year … if that?

2.) Did you shower when you had an outbreak like it didn’t exist?

The only thing I don’t do if I’m having an outbreak is scrub too hard in the shower. You know … you kinda have to take it easy when you are cleaning sensitive areas down there. I tend to use a wash rag pretty regularly so if I’m having an outbreak, I might choose to wash and soak in the bathtub instead.

To be honest, my outbreaks don’t last that long because I can usually tell when I’m about to have one. I pop a Valtrex as soon as possible and only have to take them for about 3 days.

I think you can pretty much bath however you want to with or without an outbreak. Obviously you’re going to want to take it easy on yourself so as not to irritate an already sensitive area. I hope that makes sense.

3.) Did you ever take a bath with your babies? And of course when you had no outbreaks?

Yep! I always took baths with my girls when they were babies. They are still small enough that sometimes they think it’s fun to bathe together. Sometimes we shower together too.

When I’m having an outbreak I don’t take a bath at the same time but even if I did and didn’t know I was having an outbreak … my kiddos would not contract herpes from me that way. Herpes is spread through skin to skin contact through sex, oral sex, anal sex, kissing … some form of sexual contact AND only when the virus is present and active on the surface of the skin.

You are not going to contract herpes from a bathtub, toilet seat, or shower stall. That’s just not how it works AND the virus can not survive on surfaces for too long anyway. And you’re not going to contract herpes from a swimming pool either. It’s all good.

4.) When you had an outbreak and after you showered did you dry it with your towel and used it the next day?

I think what the answer to this question boils down to is whether or not you share towels with your friends and/or family members. That’s not a very good practice in terms of cleanliness. Each person should have and use their own towel, not because of herpes, but just because sharing towels just like sharing drinks is not a very good idea.

5.) When you had an outbreak did you clean your toilet and bathroom sink everyday?

No Way! lol :] You don’t have to clean your toilet seat and/or bathroom sink every single day because of herpes. That’s just not how transmission works so go easy on yourself with all that cleaning.

Here are more questions that I’ve answered over the years.

Dear Angela,

Just shy because of this condition, Herpes Type 2. I leave your herpes biography on my computer everyday for when I come home I can read it again because it makes me feel so much more of a person.

I spent hours on the computer wanting to know more about this condition and everything I’ve seen couldn’t stop my tears but YOU! There’s nothing like it, having the support from people more so YOU! with the same problem.

Angela, lately I have been having trouble with myself as in thinking of harming myself but I came across you and I want to thank you so so so much there for not feeling so alone.

Sadly there are no groups here in my city for us to talk to face to face with people with similar conditions but I’m trying. For now Angela I need you and I have questions, simple questions to ask you if you dont mind?

Thanks again for you time… you have no idea what an impact you are to me….

~ Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

I will do my best to answer any questions that you might have so feel free to write me any time day or night.

Before I get to your questions I just wanted to let you know that I have a listing of Support Groups, Social Groups, and even Social Events that are planned for the year over on my main site: Yoshi2me.com aka: Herpes Help – I hope that is going to be helpful for you.

Here’s more information About Herpes too. :]

There are also two online support groups you might want to check out: Picking Up the Pieces as well as our Shut Up and Post! STD Message Board. I’m almost positive you will feel better about everything once you’ve created an alias with which to post and start communicating with other people.

Be sure and pick an alias and e-mail address that nobody knows about so that you can have some sort of anonymity. Whatever you do, it’s better not to use a work e-mail addresses as sometimes those are monitored.

Ok… so I will do my best to answer your questions and if any of you out there have questions for me you are welcome to write to me too from here. I will post your question here on my blog and answer your question within the same post. Don’t worry, I will tweak your questions and make sure to take out any personal identifiable information. Everything that gets posted does so anonymously and this way we can kill two birds with one stone and help others find the answers that they are looking for without giving away who you are.

Lastly, you are the wonderful human being that God created. Having herpes doesn’t define who you are. You are beautiful inside and out and life is always worth living – ALWAYS. You are never alone and only an e-mail or posting away. [[[hugs]]]

I’d be interested in hearing from some healthcare professionals out there and what their take is on H1N1.

Last year our entire family got flu shots. It turns out that even though we had flu shots, they missed the mark on the type of flu that was going around. So we wound up getting flu shots for nothing.

Now people are all a buzz about the H1N1 flu that is on it’s way to our schools, day cares, work places, and anything in a public setting. Everybody is running-a-muck on what to do should this pandemic hit us and what to do with our families.

First of all, I’m not so sure I want to get the flu shots OR the H1N1 vaccine this year. I’m not so sure it’s going to be the right thing. Watch the video and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Ok, now I want to hear from you. Are you planning on getting the flu shots, the H1N1 vaccine or both? Why or why not? Thanks!

These are the posts that you guys were most interested in last month.

Dear Seeking Asian Man – SeekingAsianMan wrote in with a subject line that stated the following: Trying to find an Asian or Native American male with H is hard.

Can you get HIV if you have Herpes? – That was the question sent to me a few days ago. Usually when people ask this question they are meaning to ask if the Herpes Virus can turn into HIV? The answer to that question is no, the Herpes Virus does not magically turn into the HIV virus.

Planned Parenthood forever challenging Pro-Life Laws – An Alaska school teacher and Planned Parenthood have filed suit seeking to block a ballot initiative that would mandate parental involvement with teens seeking abortions.

Your site gave me Courage – Your site gave me courage to tell the guy I was dating about my ’situation’. Despite it still haunting me (I’ve had it for less than a year), I like to think that I have mostly come to terms with it. I had feared telling him, had cried a lot over it, but he was accepting when I told him. So, in short, I would like to thank you. Thank you for your informative and real site. It has helped me a lot.

HT: Checkup Today: Govt Healthcare by Mike Rogers

Feel free to copy it and send it around to your other representatives. Or in this case repost it on your blog if you have one. If you are on Facebook you can repost it as a Facebook note and then tag all of your Facebook Friends.

Stephen Fraser, M.D.
July 23, 2009

Senator Bayh,

As a practicing physician I have major concerns with the healthcare bill before Congress. I actually have read the bill and am shocked by the brazenness of the government’s proposed involvement in the patient physician relationship. The very idea that the government will dictate and ration patient care is dangerous and certainly not helpful in designing a healthcare system that works for all. Every physician I work with agrees that we need to fix our healthcare system, but the proposed bills currently making their way through congress will be a disaster if passed.

I ask you respectfully and as a patriotic American to look at the following troubling lines that I have read in the bill. You cannot possibly believe that these proposals are in the best interests of the country and our fellow citizens.

Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self insure!!

Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill: THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!

Page 42 of HC Bill: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!

Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances and a National ID Health card will be issued!

Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to you, your banks accounts for elective funds transfer.

Page 65 Sec 164: is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions and community organizations: (ACORN).

Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange.

Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!

Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example – Translation: illegal aliens.

Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.

Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans. AARP members – your Health care WILL be rationed.

Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

Page 124 Lines 24-25 HC: No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.

Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: Doctors / American Medical Association – The Govt will tell YOU what you can make! (salary)

Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE!

Page 126 Lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

Page 149 Lines 16-24: ANY Employer with payroll 401k and above who does not provide public option pays 2-6% tax on all payroll.

Page 150 Lines 9-13: Business’s with payroll btw 251k and 401k who doesn’t provide public option pays 2-6% on all payroll.

Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)

Page 195 HC Bill: Officers and employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans finances / personal records.

Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” Yes, it says that!

Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid Seniors, low income and poor are affected.

Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same!

Page 253 Line 10-18: Govt sets value of Doctor’s time, profession, judgment, etc. Literally value of humans.

Page 265 Sec 1131: Govt mandates and controls productivity for private HC industries.

Page 268 Sec 1141: Federal Govt regulates rental and purchases of power driven wheelchairs.

Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS – Cancer patients – welcome to rationing!

Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever Govt deems preventable re-admissions.

Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission – Govt will penalize you.

Page 317 Lines 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Doctors what/how much they can own!

Page 317-318 Lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion – Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.

Page 321 Lines 2-13: Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. Can you say ACORN?!!

Page 335 Lines 16-25 Pg 336-339: Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing.

Page 341 Lines 3-9: Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan.

Page 354 Sec 1177: Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! Unbelievable!

Page 379 Sec 1191: Govt creates more bureaucracy – Tele-health Advisory Committee. Can you say HC by phone?

Page 425 Lines 4-12: Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life patients.

Page 425 Lines 17-19: Govt will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!

Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3; Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death. (assisted suicide)

Page 427 Lines 15-24: Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends.

Page 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced care planning consultant” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.

Page 429 Line 10-12: “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOVT!

Page 449 Lines 13-25: The Govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life!

Page 469: Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit organizations. Hello, ACORN Medical Services here!!?

Page 472 Lines 14-17: PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORIGINATION. One monthly payment to a community-based organization. Like ACORN?

Page 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover Marriage and Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage.

Page 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.

Senator, I guarantee that I personally will do everything possible to inform patients and my fellow physicians about the dangers of the proposed bills you and your colleagues are debating.

Furthermore, If you vote for a bill that enforces socialized medicine on the country and destroys the doctor/patient relationship, I will do everything in my power to make sure you lose your job in the next election.

Respectfully,

Stephen E Fraser MD

Dr. John Batter from Canada spoke at our rally against Socialized Medicine

Attention House Blue Dog Democrats and Senate Gang of Six

Attention NE Senators and Congressman

HT: Domestic Divapalooza: Here’s a letter to Senator Bayh about the Healthcare Bill

I haven’t been here for a while but today I decided to check in and I was amazed at how many people had read my post. I just wanted to update and say that my daughter is doing fine. She is so out going. My husband and I are actually looking forward to having a second child!

I just wanted everyone out there to know that having herpes doesn’t mean you can’t have a family. It is absolutely possible! Being the worried mother that i was, I asked my doctor about this at every visit. He reminds me all the time that the chances of a baby contracting herpes while pregnant are very low and that I should not have to worry much about herpes.

Which brings me to another thing, please find a supportive doctor because they make all the difference. I wish all those who are expecting the best! ~ D

Pregnancy Stories
Herpes and Pregnancy
Pregnant, or think you might be Pregnant?