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Genital Wart outbreaks for 7 years
Hi,
I'm a male who has been suffering with genital warts outbreaks for over 6-7 years...
I have done a ton of research on the subject of HPV. I was first diagnosed with HPV genital warts back in 2006 when I was 23/24.
When I first went to my general practitioner doctor back in 2006 when I had 1 wart on my penis shaft, the idiot said to leave it and it would go away. After about 6 months it didn't and then I had a further outbreak of more at the base of my penis.
Anyway, over the years I've gone to the free clinic near where I live and I've had numerous Podophillin/Freezing treatments and they used to get rid of the warts for a while but then they come back eventually. The longest I've been without warts is roughly about a year.
The outbreaks I have had in the last 2/3 years seem to be a lot smaller, almost hardly noticable, I only know what to look for because I use a magnifying glass and I can see the tiny more clearly. They have been confirmed at the clinic each time so I'm not being paranoid.
I've tried the full 4 month course of Aldara recently after a recent outbreak but this had no affect whatsoever, I didn't even have any skin reaction or anything, I just felt a bit tired with flu like symptoms so I don't think I will take it again.
It seems here in the UK and across most western medicine practices, they just treat the visible signs of infection without addressing the underlying immunity (or lack of) cause. I believe my problem is my body's cell-mediated response, it seems it has never really shut down this virus.
Has anyone heard of using Tagamet to boost cell-mediated activity? I hear it has helped kids overcome normal and genital warts. I've ordered some and I'm self medicating at 600mg with a view to increasing for a maximum of 2-3 months. I've read about adults who have had success and this drug can help activate cell-mediated activity to clear the virus.
I rarely get ill or allergies but I think my cell-mediated activity is malfuncitoning and I need something to boost my immune system.
I also hear Dr Ian Frazer, creator of Gardasil is also working on a therapeutic form of the Gardasil vaccine, when this will be ready and approved for use though is anyone's guess. I guess I'll have to wait until I'm 40 or something.
All the docs tell me to just persist with the normal treatments of freezing but I feel these don't address the problem of immunity.
In addition no matter what anyone says, it's very hard to start a relationship with these warts around. Over the years I've had 10 sexual partners, some casual, some gf's, always when the warts aren't around and I've been clear for a long while. Is it more likely that I have caught another strain of the virus?
Anyway, I've decided to be celibate until I meet someone I want to have a long-term relationship with I don't want to pass anything on to anyone else and I don't want to catch any other strains of the HPV virus. I feel like until I can go 6 months without an outbreak there's really no point even dating someone. The whole experience has really made me scared now of going with anyone, obviously warts aren't that serious and I'm also afraid of all the other more serious things you can catch.
If any doctor or anyone with any useful advice is reading this I'd like your opinion on whether my immune system can fight the virus. Am I the 1-2% of the rare people who will get outbreaks for the rest of their life?
I'm a male who has been suffering with genital warts outbreaks for over 6-7 years...
I have done a ton of research on the subject of HPV. I was first diagnosed with HPV genital warts back in 2006 when I was 23/24.
When I first went to my general practitioner doctor back in 2006 when I had 1 wart on my penis shaft, the idiot said to leave it and it would go away. After about 6 months it didn't and then I had a further outbreak of more at the base of my penis.
Anyway, over the years I've gone to the free clinic near where I live and I've had numerous Podophillin/Freezing treatments and they used to get rid of the warts for a while but then they come back eventually. The longest I've been without warts is roughly about a year.
The outbreaks I have had in the last 2/3 years seem to be a lot smaller, almost hardly noticable, I only know what to look for because I use a magnifying glass and I can see the tiny more clearly. They have been confirmed at the clinic each time so I'm not being paranoid.
I've tried the full 4 month course of Aldara recently after a recent outbreak but this had no affect whatsoever, I didn't even have any skin reaction or anything, I just felt a bit tired with flu like symptoms so I don't think I will take it again.
It seems here in the UK and across most western medicine practices, they just treat the visible signs of infection without addressing the underlying immunity (or lack of) cause. I believe my problem is my body's cell-mediated response, it seems it has never really shut down this virus.
Has anyone heard of using Tagamet to boost cell-mediated activity? I hear it has helped kids overcome normal and genital warts. I've ordered some and I'm self medicating at 600mg with a view to increasing for a maximum of 2-3 months. I've read about adults who have had success and this drug can help activate cell-mediated activity to clear the virus.
I rarely get ill or allergies but I think my cell-mediated activity is malfuncitoning and I need something to boost my immune system.
I also hear Dr Ian Frazer, creator of Gardasil is also working on a therapeutic form of the Gardasil vaccine, when this will be ready and approved for use though is anyone's guess. I guess I'll have to wait until I'm 40 or something.
All the docs tell me to just persist with the normal treatments of freezing but I feel these don't address the problem of immunity.
In addition no matter what anyone says, it's very hard to start a relationship with these warts around. Over the years I've had 10 sexual partners, some casual, some gf's, always when the warts aren't around and I've been clear for a long while. Is it more likely that I have caught another strain of the virus?
Anyway, I've decided to be celibate until I meet someone I want to have a long-term relationship with I don't want to pass anything on to anyone else and I don't want to catch any other strains of the HPV virus. I feel like until I can go 6 months without an outbreak there's really no point even dating someone. The whole experience has really made me scared now of going with anyone, obviously warts aren't that serious and I'm also afraid of all the other more serious things you can catch.
If any doctor or anyone with any useful advice is reading this I'd like your opinion on whether my immune system can fight the virus. Am I the 1-2% of the rare people who will get outbreaks for the rest of their life?
I'm taking nearly all of the vitamins and supplements you're taking. I used to take the L-lyceine too but stopped as I replaced it with some Elderberry pills for the Winter to ward off colds. I have not had a wart in 10 months and feel like I beat it. I agree that it is the immune system which will defeat this thing. If I had one wish, I would wish for an accurate test for men. It sucks not knowing one's HPV health. This is supposed to be a man's world yet only women can get tested. WTF?
Veryworried420, I'm also surprised there isn't a test for men. They say its because the risk for men is so small and limited and rarely know they're carriers, but men being aware of having something they don't have symptoms for could help prevent spreading it to women who are in greater risk of cancer from it. A lot of what is being done with HPV doesn't make sense to me.
There is no test for men because there is no way to reliably test in men. Blood or urine doesn't work. What strain you have on one thigh could be different on the other thigh. DNA samples would have to be taken everywhere there is gential skin. Men are most likely carriers. HPV is the most common STD in the world and also considered to be a nuisance to some doctors. Drug companies could make billions if they provided accurate tests for men or vaccines to make the infected not infectious. Women's cancer health is the greater risk but this doesn't mean men do not have a cancer risk too. This is all very crazy.
Out of curiosity, are your outbreaks too small to biopsy? I understand they are being visually confirmed by your doctor(s), but people are fallible. If it were me after this long, I'd insist on a biopsy to rule out hyper-inspection hypochondriac reactions. Not saying that's what you're doing, but to be one of the super few who suffer from prolonged outbreaks, I'd be trying to rule everything out. Good luck. It sucks I know.
Hey Vandy,
I agree with you, they often treat men like it's nothing. What they don't realise is the emotional turmoil it can cause to any individual and to those who are in relationships. I totally agree, there must be hundreds of thousands of people out there who are struggling because of misinformation and misdiagnosis, they could make so much money.
I will ask for a biopsy next time I go to the free clinic. Unfortunately here in the UK free doctors see warts as almost a trivial thing so it's doubtful they'll take a biopsy but I may as well ask.
In my case I'm trying not to be hyperchondriac at all, but I'm pretty sure the recurrences I get are still warts, their just tiny, it's like the virus is weakened but not quite gone. Everyone is different I suppose.
The problem is most people get a few recurrences and usually clear within 2 years, for people like me it's almost like they don't know what to suggest other than the usual freeze/podophilin methods but this only treats the visible signs. I often feel like I know more about the virus, immunity and treatment options than any doctor I've met.
Here the health care is free but that often means that you're treated like a box on a conveyor belt, it's the old 'Ship em in, ship em out' quick mentality. They don't even explain the virus to people, no wonder the virus gets spread about so much, people don't even know they are still contageous.
I'd pay a hansome price for a vaccine that treats existing carriers and helps the immune system to clear it. I'm sure most people who can afford it would pay too. I hope that they might find a general cure within the next 10 years so no one has to deal with this anymore.
Anyway, I'll keep fighting this thing. At least I'm 29 so my immune system might miraculously get off it's arse and lock it down one day, lol.
I agree with you, they often treat men like it's nothing. What they don't realise is the emotional turmoil it can cause to any individual and to those who are in relationships. I totally agree, there must be hundreds of thousands of people out there who are struggling because of misinformation and misdiagnosis, they could make so much money.
I will ask for a biopsy next time I go to the free clinic. Unfortunately here in the UK free doctors see warts as almost a trivial thing so it's doubtful they'll take a biopsy but I may as well ask.
In my case I'm trying not to be hyperchondriac at all, but I'm pretty sure the recurrences I get are still warts, their just tiny, it's like the virus is weakened but not quite gone. Everyone is different I suppose.
The problem is most people get a few recurrences and usually clear within 2 years, for people like me it's almost like they don't know what to suggest other than the usual freeze/podophilin methods but this only treats the visible signs. I often feel like I know more about the virus, immunity and treatment options than any doctor I've met.
Here the health care is free but that often means that you're treated like a box on a conveyor belt, it's the old 'Ship em in, ship em out' quick mentality. They don't even explain the virus to people, no wonder the virus gets spread about so much, people don't even know they are still contageous.
I'd pay a hansome price for a vaccine that treats existing carriers and helps the immune system to clear it. I'm sure most people who can afford it would pay too. I hope that they might find a general cure within the next 10 years so no one has to deal with this anymore.
Anyway, I'll keep fighting this thing. At least I'm 29 so my immune system might miraculously get off it's arse and lock it down one day, lol.
Hey man, if you've been 10 months without an outbreak then that's a good sign. What treatment did you use?
I also think instead of just a test for the virus itself, they should do an immunity test, that way if someone has lower number of T-Cells etc. they can advise them on diet/exercise the right medication to increase immune function at the early stages.
When I first had an outbreak, I used to smoke on weekends, drink and didn't treat my health as well as I do now. I also didn't have any advice for years on nutrition and supplementation to help my immune system.
I feel western doctors address the visible signs without addressing the underlying causes to why immunity is low etc.
Well thankfully we have the internet and forums like these where we can share knowledge.
I'm trying Tagamet at the moment as I read it has helped younger children, teens and adults with treatment of normal and genital warts. Tagamet is a anti-heartburn drug but a side affect is meant to be that it improves cell-mediated immune response be stopping T Suppressor cells, this is the immune response you want so that the TCells go 'on the hunt' for antigens and viruses.
At the same time, I'm trying one of these topical treatments too on the visible warts, it's called Wartcide, Anyway never tried this approach before but I figure what the hell, something else I haven't tried.
I'll let you guys know if I have any success with this treatment.
I also think instead of just a test for the virus itself, they should do an immunity test, that way if someone has lower number of T-Cells etc. they can advise them on diet/exercise the right medication to increase immune function at the early stages.
When I first had an outbreak, I used to smoke on weekends, drink and didn't treat my health as well as I do now. I also didn't have any advice for years on nutrition and supplementation to help my immune system.
I feel western doctors address the visible signs without addressing the underlying causes to why immunity is low etc.
Well thankfully we have the internet and forums like these where we can share knowledge.
I'm trying Tagamet at the moment as I read it has helped younger children, teens and adults with treatment of normal and genital warts. Tagamet is a anti-heartburn drug but a side affect is meant to be that it improves cell-mediated immune response be stopping T Suppressor cells, this is the immune response you want so that the TCells go 'on the hunt' for antigens and viruses.
At the same time, I'm trying one of these topical treatments too on the visible warts, it's called Wartcide, Anyway never tried this approach before but I figure what the hell, something else I haven't tried.
I'll let you guys know if I have any success with this treatment.
2 Comments
Hi. how are you now? are you still have the outbreak? I've get tested that i have genital warts around my anus. its just showed there about a 2 months ago. i had appointment in clinic and the Dr said that it was genital warts and caused by HPV! i really shocked and don't know what to do. The Dr make another appointment for me to cut the warts and will be giving me 3 doses of vaccine within 1 year. Is that any changes happen after taking those vaccine and possible warts cant come again? can i planning for married a woman? my future wife will affected too? if yes, i cant married until my death?
Hi. how are you now? are you still have the outbreak? I've get tested that i have genital warts around my anus. its just showed there about a 2 months ago. i had appointment in clinic and the Dr said that it was genital warts and caused by HPV! i really shocked and don't know what to do. The Dr make another appointment for me to cut the warts and will be giving me 3 doses of vaccine within 1 year. Is that any changes happen after taking those vaccine and possible warts cant come again? can i planning for married a woman? my future wife will affected too? if yes, i cant married until my death?
You are reading content posted in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
