Actually I am taking suppressive medication... I have been taking it since
Zovirax first came onto the market here in Australia. That,s one of the
things I am concerned about, the long term effects of taking Aciclovir for
many many years. The documetation that seems to be available suggests that
it is reasonably safe for 5 years, but what about the effects of taking
this stuff for 20 or more years. If I remember my dates correctly I have
already been taking it for nearly 15 years!

The overactive immune system has a couple of causes in my case, one of which
is the herpes, another is that I am host to the Toxoplasmosis virus. This
also attacks my left eye, but in the form of a growth a bit like a
cauliflower on my retina, right next to the optic nerve. The outbreaks I
have had from that virus have had a much more dramatic effect on my sight
than the herpes scars on my cornea, these scars only cause a little
blurring of my vision. The damage to the retina has left me with a blind
spot, as well as a weakened retina. The retina has torn on a number of
occasions requiring laser surgery to prevent the tears travelling and the
retina peeling off. If this were to happen I would loose the sight in that
eye. All that is not a topic for this NG as it is a totally different
virus.

As for triggers for the herpes OB's, I have found that emotional stress is
the one that can cause an OB the quickest. If I get really upset about
something, I break out the very next day. Getting something like the flu or
a really bad cold will usually cause me to have the eye headache for a few
days, and if I take 1 x 200mg Aciclovir tablet about every 2 hours or so, I
can manage to get through without developing any blisters that actually
break.

Like I mentioned in my original post, I have had all sorts of pokeing and
prodding from medical type people to try and figure out the reason for the
elevated T cell count in my body. I have changed my diet quite a lot in the
last year or so, eating much less meat, more vegetables and grains etc. I
feel much better for these changes, and have only had 3 or 4 very mild OB's
in the last 12 months..... much less than in the past!

I guess with the diet thing it is a matter of long term experimentation, and
comparing notes with others who also play host to this little organism! I
have noticed that some people have made comments about avioding foods with
high arginine levels..... What sort of foods is this arginine stuff found
in??? What is it?  If I knew that I may be able to figure out if I am
eating some things that I should try giving up.

Thanks for the words of support Grant.