As it seems our healthcare system/government are clearly doing a poor job of educating the people on this highly intrusive and insidious virus, I've taken into my own hands educating myself as much as I possibly can (as I believe I have the virus and now await my results).

During my research and from what I've heard from those on this site and others, one of the biggest and most dangerous of triggers for a herpes outbreak (initial or otherwise) is stress. Is this true?

If you've answered "YES" to the above, my next question to ponder is this....IF one should have the virus and are completely unaware they do and they go into the hospital for major surgery where they've now lost alot of blood to the point of blood pressure and blood counts being so severly low that the hospital is on the verge of performing a transfusion but then there's a glimpse of improvement and then a slight turn around...enough that you're sent home 2 days later under the care of your parents and on prescribed iron pills 3 times a day for 30 days....during high stress and trauma to the body such as this (where the immune is also highly compromised due to these events) how likely at this point or during recovery from this suregery would it have been for an outbreak to occur (most especially, an initial outbreak)????

Please, any and all responses would be MUCH appreciated!

Thank you kindly....this forum has been a great vice for me....and though I don't have confirmation of having the virus as yet, at this point I now understand and am much better educated on the virus and feel so much for those of you who do know you have the virus....my thoughts and prayers are with you......

hi me again...i did read somewhere that surgery and large amopunts of stress do incourage outbreaks...i dont know but its maybe probable this would have occured then if you had it...?

Hello all ~ Stress can be a contributing factor, to start an ob/flare-up. But, keep in mind "triggers" aren't the same for everyone, this virus can vary in it's symptons. I believe there are different strengths of herpes. Now, as far as your ? goes, I would imagine that scenario could trigger an ob. But, it may not either - due to the amount of rest is involved (hospital stay). So, long story short....stress and lack of rest/sleep can also cause ob's. That's why "learning your body and your triggers" are key in order to live with this virus. Also, accepting the virus and not fighting it (mentally) has really helped me keep it under control.....Just another opinion, -shinyOrn

CloudySkies,
Shinyornament hit it right on the nose...

A person need to learn what trigger's an outbreak for them. This virus acts differently for everyone. I know of one person who can always count on a cold sore (oral hsv1) after having orange juice or raw tomatoes in a salad, but cook tomatoes are fine.

Paranoia of having this common virus has been know to cause symptoms that resembles this virus. :D

And of course if someone does have the virus, they begin to think every twitch, itch, tingle is the sign of an outbreak, when it's really just a twitch, itch, or tingle.

Two things you'll learn right away:
1) This virus acts differently for everyone.
2) This virus messes with your mind more than your body.

can i ask how long you've had it and how long it took you to come to terms with it all? you seem so calm and you know so much... i have only had it for about 3 weeks and its true...every 'normal' tingle i would normally never think anything of is driving me crazy, i've become obsessed by it, i'm so scared of having another o/b yet i know stress may trigger it so i just try and keep myseelf busy until the next trip to the toilet! do i sound mad?!

have any of you ever met any stigma towards this? has it ever hindered a relationship? or even ruined one? I am single but worrying already about the future...sorry

Perfectly Broken ~
Not sure if you were addressing this to me, but I thought I would answer. My first ob (genitally) was almost 4 yrs. ago, this November. I had monthly ob's (right before my period) for approx. 8-10 months after the initial. I started boosting my immune system with vitamins, L-lysine and extra vitamin c and garlic oil tabs about 6-7 months after my 1st. ob. (didn't want to go the prescripition route and make the drug companies richer, another story) all of these can be found at walmart, target or local drug store chains.The idea is strengthing your immune system to keep the virus in hibernation. So, in a sense this virus makes you take better care of yourself. (good thing, imagine that!) As I've said before, learning your body and it's triggers are key - to living a normal life with HSV. Also, keep in mind - the begining is an emotional rollercoaster and it can treat everyone differently. What works for me, may not work for you and vise versa. Now, as far as making peace with the virus, that took awhile (kind of stubborn) probably about 1 - 1 1/2yrs. I'm one of those people that "think" I can fix anything & everything, which I found to be untrue. So, I'd get ob symptoms (that time of mo.) get upset/stressed that I have the dreaded virus and sure enough an outbreak would show up. I had to break this vicious cycle, by not checking down below all the time and just going on with my life. You can't let the virus control you - you're the same person, that you were before the virus and you always will be. You can't let it take over! Lastly, I am still with the person, that shared this virus with me. So, I've never really had the experience of telling anyone who's new. I remember reading in older posts, that someone actually used the virus as a "weeding tool", by starting the new relationship and getting to know the person awhile (without sexual contact - of course) and then approaching the subject. Statistics show that every 1 in 4 people has the herpes virus, but they may not know it. I don't believe ignorance is bliss, it wouldn't be fair to yourself or to the other person....Just an opinion, -shinyOrn

My mind was extremely messed to begin with, and has only gotten even more eff'd now that I've contracted it.

shinyornament....

thank you for your kind and encouraging words...i guess i do have to chill out and get on with things and if an ob happens, deal with it then and hope its the only one! luckily my mum, friends and even my dr have been great so it should help loads

thank you

take care

I have to say ditto to Shiny's comments. This virus sure does treat everybody individually. For my personally, i find that if i'm run down with bad quality sleep, stressed, worried etc then my chances are far higher of getting an outbreak. Other times i've had regular o/b's for no reason at all.

Like Shiny, my herpes anniversary is in November and it will be 2 yrs for me that i've had this. Again like Shiny, i too was given this from a partner who i'm still with, so i have not had to give the "introduction to herpes" speech to a prospective partner.

If you are found to have herpes, no matter whether you get frequent or infrequent o/b's you have to go on living your life as best as you can. Like someone else said, you can't allow this virus to control your life. The best you can do is learn better manage the o/b's when they do occur and how to shorten their stay.

I was diagnosed with H in May 2003. Like you, the first few months I drove myself crazy trying to find out everything I could about H and constantly thinking about it. That eventually goes away.

I have told and had a negative reaction. However that just meant he wasn't the guy for me. My currently bf I have been with for six months. I told him on our second date. His reaction, "I'm not going anywhere". :D I knew then he was a keeper and it's only gotten better. Your life's not over and neither is your sex life. Good luck.

As it seems our healthcare system/government are clearly doing a poor job of educating the people on this highly intrusive and insidious virus, I've taken into my own hands educating myself as much as I possibly can (as I believe I have the virus and now await my results).

During my research and from what I've heard from those on this site and others, one of the biggest and most dangerous of triggers for a herpes outbreak (initial or otherwise) is stress. Is this true?

If you've answered "YES" to the above, my next question to ponder is this....IF one should have the virus and are completely unaware they do and they go into the hospital for major surgery where they've now lost alot of blood to the point of blood pressure and blood counts being so severly low that the hospital is on the verge of performing a transfusion but then there's a glimpse of improvement and then a slight turn around...enough that you're sent home 2 days later under the care of your parents and on prescribed iron pills 3 times a day for 30 days....during high stress and trauma to the body such as this (where the immune is also highly compromised due to these events) how likely at this point or during recovery from this suregery would it have been for an outbreak to occur (most especially, an initial outbreak)????

Please, any and all responses would be MUCH appreciated!

Thank you kindly....this forum has been a great vice for me....and though I don't have confirmation of having the virus as yet, at this point I now understand and am much better educated on the virus and feel so much for those of you who do know you have the virus....my thoughts and prayers are with you......
Hi-I've just been diagnosed recently with HSV as well and am doing my own research too. And asking my MD a lot of questions. I just had surgery last month and my immune system is run way down from that and I have been under a lot of stress from various things since the surgery. Plus I already have an immunodeficiency illness. So there are 3 strikes against me. My MD says these are the reasons I had my initial OB. So yes, to your question about the surgery and trauma and recovery and stress. They all can trigger an ob especially an initial ob. My MD and I have discussed my case in depth and we are speculating that I probably contracted HSV from my ex- we've been broken up for almost 3 years now, but we were together for 7 yrs. He messed around on me multiple times. I never once had any symptoms. But in all that time, I've never been run down quite this bad. Hope this helps.
Angry-