Some of the regulars may remember my flurry of panicked
posts in early January, when I got nailed with HSV2 after
sleeping with someone who discovered the next day that she recently
contracted it from someone else.  First, let me thank
all the people who responded to my posts with useful information
and comforting words.  It meant a lot to me, because this is not
information I wish to share with people close to me, except my
girlfriend.

Like most people, I was wondering whether my initial outbreak
would ever disappear.  It did, after about 1 month.  For two
weeks I had noticeable sores -- somewhat painful -- and about two
weeks later most of the redness disappeared.  During this first
month, I took 2000mg of Valtrex just once, about a week after the
outbreak (so the Valtrex was probably ineffective).  I also took
care to eat healthier, making a specific effort to eat foods rich
in lysine (cheese, chicken, eggs, most vegetables, etc).  Even
before the recognition of HSV2 I had been a regular vitamin taker,
but I became more diligent than ever, making sure to take my daily
dose of C, E, a multi-vitamin, and Lysine supplements. This vitamin
cocktail is pretty much random.  I simply chose some of the biggest
and baddest letters of the vitamin world.  I figured that plenty of
C would be good for the immune system.  

After the initial OB disappeared, I had just one flare-up thereafter,
one small, itchy spot on my penis that was alarming only because I
feared it would lead to something worse.  It didn't.  I quickly took
my 2000mg of Valtrex (over a 24-hour period, as recommended by my
doctor), and voila...the inflammation disappeared within a few days.
That was about 45 days ago.  Since then, I've had an active sex life
(always with condoms, of course), have continued to drink copious amounts
of coffee as is my habit, have had the usual nontrivial work-related
stresses, and have had experienced not a hint of a new outbreak.

I have no idea if I've just been lucky, and more outbreaks are imminent,
or if I happen to have a strong immune system, or what.  If I went back
to a poorer diet, would I suffer an OB soon after?  Who knows?  What if
I stopped taking the Lysine?  Who knows?  I only take 500mg a day anyway,
and a perusal of recent posts suggests this is an ineffectual dosage.

All I can say is this:  it *is* possible to return to a normal life soon
after being diagnosed with HSV.  My girlfriend hasn't abandoned me (and
has in fact been very supportive and undaunted).  I still drink alcohol
and smoke cigarettes when I feel like it.  I haven't changed my laundry
detergent.  I still have sex on a regular basis.  And, I continue a frenetic
work life that involves a fair share of stress.  All that has changed is
that I eat better, am more diligent with my vitamins, and I get a bit more
sleep.  So far <knock on wood>, the HSV has proved to be a minor irritance
in my life.  I hope it remains only that....

I guess I was compelled to write this for two reasons:

(1) It's an opportunity to thank the regular posters on this newsgroup, and
(2) To state that life with HSV can quickly return to normal after the initial,
   horrific shock that one has a venerial disease invading his body...and
   *believe* me, I was shocked and frightened to the core of my soul.

J