I'm posting this under an alias to protect those close to me. A relative is very sick and has been diagnosed with herpes of the throat. The virus was transmitted through DATY with a civvie and he will be hospitalized for 7-10 days. There is no treatment according to the doctors so only IV fluids are being given for hydration. He has been sick for more than a week prior to being admitted yesterday and has been vomiting profusely during that time. His entire esophogeal tract is infected and the virus must run its course before he will be released from the hospital.
Although this hasn't been much of a problem on TER, please remember that those of you also having civvie sex may be exposing each of us to STDs. I can't stress enough how dangerous this practice is to everyone in the hobby. Others have suggested STD testing for both hobbyists and providers so if you're crossing into both worlds, you might want to consider periodic testing.
I'm freakin' amazed at how fast bad health habits are creeping back into this hobby...
Ten years ago people were afraid of the consequences, now they don't seem to notice.
Here's the real scary skinny on this gig: there are thousands of poor girls coming out of the third world economies bringing third world diseases or third world versions of common diseases (which we have much less resistance for)...
My clinic does a multi infectious agent screen... not just HIV...
BTW.... for whatever it is worth, the Herpes Virus "family" is now being expanded to maybe a dozen distinct viral diseases, some common, some rare.... some respond to Valtrex, some don't...
Be clean, Be careful, Be tested.... or be sick.
-- Modified on 2/13/2008 6:47:16 AM
I note that guys go out of there way here to wear their raincoats - but a large majority are doing DATY.
How does anyone feel like they wouldn't catch something from doing that??
And what about the girls who do CIM, or swallow? If you're going to swallow, you may as well be getting screwed without a raincoat on.
I posted this question a few days ago and I thought the concensus was pretty clear. BBBJ were safe. Does anyone have a different opinion?
A good source for the STD risk you for BBBJ, DATY, & DFK is http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/sfcityclinic/stdbasics/stdchart.asp. Using a cover will reduce you risk anywhere from 50-95% depending on the STD. IMO as participants in this hobby we are at some higher risk for an STD infection by the various routes because we have multiple sexual partners; sexual partners who have multiple partners who may participate in high-risk sexual activities in and out of the hobby. You need to assess your own tolerance to risk and take the appropriate (BBBJ versus CBJ) action you think necessary.
See the post by a prominent Vegas provider regarding her opinion of BBBJ. I've seen a lot of posts about the low risk of transmitting STDs via oral sex and yet it obviously happens. Cold sores were most likely the means of infection in my relative's case. His esophogeal tract has open wounds which are aggravated by stomach acids and any fluid or food intake. Consequently, he hasn't been able to eat or drink in nearly two weeks and must be nourished by IV.
We all like BBBJ and DATY but we should really consider the risks of both activities. I for one don't know how to tell if DATY is safe with a given provider so if anyone has insight on this, please share.
“I for one don't know how to tell if DATY is safe with a given provider so if anyone has insight on this, please share.”
By and large you may have to depend on the Provider honesty and knowledge for mild outbreaks. Sometimes herpes lesions may be confused or pass off as insect bites, razor burns, or ingrown hair follicles. If it does not look right and you are concern don’t participate!
and be alone with a strong right (or left) hand.
A friend of mine actually died from an impact with a SUV a couple of weeks ago. There is no cure for that. So consider public transportation on your way to your next appointment.
We can never eliminate risk but we can mitigate or increase it. Speeding, driving drunk like unprotected sex will increase your risk. There are many gradations in the mitigation of risk of death in auto accident and public transportation is just one. Wearing seat belts like covering up during sex is another.
Are you referring to genital herpes which has a 20 % prevalence rate in the population and is incurable? An additional 60% of us have oral herpes that most familiar manifestation itself as cold sores. So if you do much hobbying you are most certainly will come in contact with herpes infected client or provider. What can be done? Condoms and dental dams during oral sex, can be very effective protection ONLY IF ALL contact is limited to the covered area (IMO, not likely). Refraining from sex during outbreaks can reduce risk of genital herpes transmission by 80 to 90%. That said herpes esophagitis like your relative now has is relative rare. I suggest regular STD testing for both hobbyist and providers REGARDLESS of whether or not they are crossing both worlds.
-- Modified on 2/13/2008 3:37:44 PM
I call BS on this posting, or we're not getting the entire story.
1. Herpes esophagitis is VERY rare in people who are not already immuno-compromised. Does your relative have HIV, Lupus, etc - some chronic disease that lowers normal immunity?
2. Cases of Herpes Esophagitis in the medical literature are not as severe as you describe. Usually a total of 3-5 days to run its course, and no hospitalization.
3. That must be some close relative, to tell you he got sick because of DATY.
To the first question, yes, he had been previously diagnosed with Lupus. To your second comment, the doctor is keeping him for 7 days although he's better at this point. And to your third comment, I was present when the doctor told him that "he was dining at the wrong place and had caught an STD". Needless to say, he was horrified.
"There is no treatment according to the doctors so only IV fluids are being given for hydration"
If it really is a herpes infection he should be getting antivirals like acyclovir or valacyclovir (Zovirax or Valtrex). They won't get rid of the virus, but they help shorten the healing process by altering the cell wall of the uninfected cells preventing the virus from infiltrating it and causing new blisters to erupt. He should be put on a daily dose even after leaving the hospital. Someone should talk to him about mentioning this to his doctor if this isn't in the plans already. It is pretty standard proceedure (at least the active treatment phase) for an outbreak of this severity.
(I work in a hospital, so I know)
Bella
-- Modified on 2/14/2008 1:33:05 PM