HPV Support Group
Human papillomavirus is a diverse group of DNA-based viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes of humans. More than 100 different human papillomavirus (HPV) types have been characterized. Some HPV types cause benign skin warts, or papillomas, for which the virus family is named. HPVs associated with the development of such "common warts" are transmitted...
I wanted to share my story of living with genital warts, which I was diagnosed with last fall. I caught them from an ex who moved. I know I was clean and very up to date on STD testing before him.
At first, I thought it was some type of irritation or zit, and having health insurance, I went for a round of STD tests. I was horrified when my doctor diagnosed me and told me there were more than I thought.
I proceeded to go a few different female doctors on a regular basis (every couple weeks) and would treat me with acid, liquid nitrogen, and condylox at home a couple times for treatment.
The doctors always had different reactions - some were sympathetic, some were straight forward, some were overly concerned and fairly judgmental. That was fun. The doctors would treat different numbers of genital warts - I'd investigate on my own and try to point out the ones I knew were there. It's this annoying process of taking off from work and co-pays and waiting rooms. You know the drill.
Eventually, without substantial improvement, a nurse recommended I schedule with a male doctor who did spot on liquid nitrogen treatments. I went to him for months, bi-weekly, and there was much improvement, but not everything. After several rounds, he was impressed and recommended I wait it out, and if it doesn't clear up on its own, to try Aldara.
This was 2-3 months ago, and there are still a few, albeit small, that have *never gone away*.
I tried apple cider vinegar a few times, and did not notice any difference.
The prescription for Aldara should be arriving tomorrow.
Any tips? similar stories?
I spent the past year spending a lot of time alone, not dating, gaining weight, and not telling my friends. In recent months, I've been socializing, working out like crazy, and thinking about dating again, but I don't want to open up this can of worms or of course, have sex if I still have genital warts.
At first, I thought it was some type of irritation or zit, and having health insurance, I went for a round of STD tests. I was horrified when my doctor diagnosed me and told me there were more than I thought.
I proceeded to go a few different female doctors on a regular basis (every couple weeks) and would treat me with acid, liquid nitrogen, and condylox at home a couple times for treatment.
The doctors always had different reactions - some were sympathetic, some were straight forward, some were overly concerned and fairly judgmental. That was fun. The doctors would treat different numbers of genital warts - I'd investigate on my own and try to point out the ones I knew were there. It's this annoying process of taking off from work and co-pays and waiting rooms. You know the drill.
Eventually, without substantial improvement, a nurse recommended I schedule with a male doctor who did spot on liquid nitrogen treatments. I went to him for months, bi-weekly, and there was much improvement, but not everything. After several rounds, he was impressed and recommended I wait it out, and if it doesn't clear up on its own, to try Aldara.
This was 2-3 months ago, and there are still a few, albeit small, that have *never gone away*.
I tried apple cider vinegar a few times, and did not notice any difference.
The prescription for Aldara should be arriving tomorrow.
Any tips? similar stories?
I spent the past year spending a lot of time alone, not dating, gaining weight, and not telling my friends. In recent months, I've been socializing, working out like crazy, and thinking about dating again, but I don't want to open up this can of worms or of course, have sex if I still have genital warts.
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
:)
It's so good to finally talk to someone besides medical staff about this. I just didn't want it leaked in my real life.
The Aldara arrived yesterday, and I only have a few very small warts left, and it felt odd, but didn't burn, so relief! I used one small packet. Would you guys recommend using more? I noticed the price vs. my copay, and holy shit.
My doctor has never mentioned if I was high or low risk, and I was going regularly for a year...hmm
it's trial and error when it comes to treatments really. Some treatments work better than others.
apple cider vinegar was the only thing that worked for me..and i did everything...laser, cryo, aldara..you name it.
take care
Thanks to this site, I've decided to start taking the algae supplements as well.
I'll try apple cider vinegar again after the Aldara, if needed. Just in case I don't have insurance in the future, I plan on renewing my prescription, too, since they're good for a year.
Red marine algae is fantastic. Good luck to you.
I'll be starting my 3rd application of Aldara tonight. the first night, I just squeezed some onto the 2-3 spots obviously remaining. Last night, I used a q-tip. I'll keep doing the same.
On the lookout for Red Marine Algae next....
do you think they are warts or is possible they could just be part of your normal tissue? i'm surprised they aren't going away. have you tried putting vinegar on them to make sure?
how many times did you try apple cider vinegar? i would be interested to know how often and for how long one has to use it to see results.
Trust me, I think the same things some times! There were a couple areas that cleared up, and I swore I felt bumps, and my doctor (the latest, most reliable one) told me it was just my skin.
There are 2-3 small irregularities that I recognize as small warts. They're not anywhere as bad as they once were, but I know they're not normal skin. There's one or two curious other spots that I also think are just skin.
I tried apple cider vinegar a few times, but only dabbed with a q-tip before bed. If this aldara does not work, then I'll switch to serious apple cider vinegar use.
How do you keep it in place overnight?
Just using a qtip and dabbing it won't do that much. You have soak it and keep it soaked.
I have used this method many things and it always does the job.
Good luck.
I did day 3 of Aldara last night. I can tell, at the least, that the area I'm applying it is getting slightly irritated/noticing it. No pain at this time. To my understand of the directions, it says to take 3 days in a row a week. Anyone recommend differently? Just curious.