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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?
We are new at this but have had success in 4 of 4 people so far with warts that had been significantly bothersome for long periods of time, The immune system is the key, we are using homemade tea from Wild Chaga and reishi mushrooms. The mushroom tablets that u are using may not be very effective compared to a hot water extract from fresh wild harvested mushrooms, we haven't had anyone with genital warts try it yet so if this works for you please let us know. ***@****
I found your post online, I also have been battling warts for the past 6-7 years, honestly I did not see a Dr. until 2009. That was the first time I had them treated by a professional. Before that I would burn them off on my own. They always came back. Anyways I just wanted to follow up to see if you had any updates on you condition. Thanks.
I found your post online, I also have been battling warts for the past 6-7 years, honestly I did not see a Dr. until 2009. That was the first time I had them treated by a professional. Before that I would burn them off on my own. They always came back. Anyways I just wanted to follow up to see if you had any updates on you condition. Thanks.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I do beleive there are rare cases like ours where our bodies just aren't very good at cleaning up the virus even though we may be healthy everywhere else. I beleive there is a genetic predisposition to how the immune system deals with the virus in some people.
It was never mentioned when I was in high school and collage (university) either. I didn't even know this existed. It's so common though, good to hear that at least you're still having sexual partners. It's the same for me, as far as I'm aware none of my sexual partners have had genital warts. I pray to God I haven't passed this to anyone, I've always tried to wear protection at least.
You're right, it does make you more careful about who you have sex with and makes relationships mean more than they did. It can be nerve-wracking that first time you tell one, I still get nervous about going on dates and having to have the conversation but we've got to be brave, we are the ones who know what this is. Most people I've told family and friends alike are usually grateful for the knowledge and they accept that it's so common it's a lottery which strain you're gonna get.
If it's any hope I read this today, they are looking into developing vaccines to treat existing infections, this looks promising - http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/headway/headway_summer_2013/a_new_therapeutic_vaccine_for_rrp_
I think within the next 5 years there maybe a really good therapy which can force the immune system to identify and target infected cells effectively killing the virus that causes visible strains of HPV including types 6 and 11.
Keep the faith, we've got to live our lives depsite this, it could always be a lot lot worse!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I do beleive there are rare cases like ours where our bodies just aren't very good at cleaning up the virus even though we may be healthy everywhere else. I beleive there is a genetic predisposition to how the immune system deals with the virus in some people.
It was never mentioned when I was in high school and collage (university) either. I didn't even know this existed. It's so common though, good to hear that at least you're still having sexual partners. It's the same for me, as far as I'm aware none of my sexual partners have had genital warts. I pray to God I haven't passed this to anyone, I've always tried to wear protection at least.
You're right, it does make you more careful about who you have sex with and makes relationships mean more than they did. It can be nerve-wracking that first time you tell one, I still get nervous about going on dates and having to have the conversation but we've got to be brave, we are the ones who know what this is. Most people I've told family and friends alike are usually grateful for the knowledge and they accept that it's so common it's a lottery which strain you're gonna get.
If it's any hope I read this today, they are looking into developing vaccines to treat existing infections, this looks promising - http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/headway/headway_summer_2013/a_new_therapeutic_vaccine_for_rrp_
I think within the next 5 years there maybe a really good therapy which can force the immune system to identify and target infected cells effectively killing the virus that causes visible strains of HPV including types 6 and 11.
Keep the faith, we've got to live our lives depsite this, it could always be a lot lot worse!
I've had HPV for over 10 years. I've had warts under my nails, warts, on my hands, on my feet, in my genital area in my anus. It can most certainly make you feel down...especially when others notice them and make a face about how ugly they are. I'm a woman. I've had abnormal Pap smears. I've had abnormal cells removed from cervix. I had the Gardisille vaccine as well. I am still struggling to get rid of these warts. It's refreshing to hear I'm not alone. I sympathize greatly with anyone who is infected. I wish my warts would just go away. I took Tagamet for 4 months and it did absolutely nothing. I had Candida injections and it did nothing. Candida is supposed to rid the virus and boost your immune system. After 10 years of going through this, I feel like I've been to hell and back. The sexual partners I've had I told and they never got symptoms of any kind. But they could. I never thought that when I was having sex this was even an option to contract. When I was in high school it was never mentioned. But I think the most positive things that has come from it, is that you are naturally more careful, you can teach others, and you take your sexual/love life way more seriously. I wish everyone luck. I pray for a cure.
Hi test_dummy,
Thank for your post. It's interesting you mention Salycilic acid. I only ever had 1 wart on a finger when I was 19 once, long before I had genital warts. The salycilic acid worked very well with the normal wart. It is something I have considered too if Wartaming/Tagamet combination doesn't work. Like you say it might be more painful but worth a try if all else fails.
I'll check out the Naltrexone and Celebrex too, I've not heard of those before but I'm open to trying anything that will help my immune system recognise this virus and wipe it out.
On a positive note, I have applied Wartamine and this has got rid of the visible signs. I'm trying to continue with Tagamet (1 month in so far) as well as taking my vitamin supps and exercising as much as possible to give my immune system the best chance of finding and clearing this virus.
I'll let you know if any updates, thanks for your advice.
Thank for your post. It's interesting you mention Salycilic acid. I only ever had 1 wart on a finger when I was 19 once, long before I had genital warts. The salycilic acid worked very well with the normal wart. It is something I have considered too if Wartaming/Tagamet combination doesn't work. Like you say it might be more painful but worth a try if all else fails.
I'll check out the Naltrexone and Celebrex too, I've not heard of those before but I'm open to trying anything that will help my immune system recognise this virus and wipe it out.
On a positive note, I have applied Wartamine and this has got rid of the visible signs. I'm trying to continue with Tagamet (1 month in so far) as well as taking my vitamin supps and exercising as much as possible to give my immune system the best chance of finding and clearing this virus.
I'll let you know if any updates, thanks for your advice.
You are reading content posted in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community
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