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Do your HSV-2 outbreaks stay to one side, or recur in the same area as before?
As someone having oral HSV-1 mine usually recurred on the same side and close to the same spot and would not cross over. I've only found one source saying that HSV-2 outbreaks stay to one side when occurring (or general area), and many non-definitive sources that say HSV-2 recurrence appears/reappears in the same general area as before.
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A lot of people get outbreaks in the same spot every time, but others, it varies and can be on either side, or in totally different locations.
Is there a reason you ask?
Is there a reason you ask?
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Just curious about similarities or differences becuase there doesn't seem to be much literature on this. I have the same question regarding sporadic or scattered presentation in both. From my oral HSV 1 experience this isn't something that happens, yet I've talked to a few where they report it around a nostril and on their lip (scattered and bilateral), which I find interesting. Just wondering if this holds true for genital HSV2? I think there might be something to how HSV in general presents especially in recurrence, especially in combating it. Just a thread I'm pulling on.
Yes, it can be scattered and bilateral for ghsv2, and ghsv1. This is something that varies from person to person. Beyond my primary, which included lots of sores bilaterally, most of mine have been on one side. I've had a few recurrences on the other. Some get them randomly on either side every time.
I appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback, and firsthand at that. As I have tried to treat my oral HSV-1 I have found it to be a game of "wack-a-mole" where a particular treatment would help one time, another outbreak would occur but not in the same spot, then another subsequent outbreak it would be right back where it was before. I have tried so many different things in the past 10 years, and I think the varying degree to treatments might have had something to do with the locations of recurrence. I find it interesting that in my instance, over the past 5 years, all recurrent outbreaks happened in the same general spot. It's silly, but it sort of feels like I have corralled it in. At any rate, thank you for the feedback!
Herpes infects nerve groups. Oral herpes infects the trigeminal nerve, which means that you can get outbreaks anywhere that nerve affects - the mouth, nose, possibly eyes.
Anything you're doing to try to "combat" that is kinda futile since it is living in the nerve and can reactivate anywhere. It does seem that yours now has a location preference but that could change, and it won't be because of anything you did or didn't do.
How many outbreaks are you getting? Have you considered taking a suppressive medication, like valtrex or acyclovir?
Anything you're doing to try to "combat" that is kinda futile since it is living in the nerve and can reactivate anywhere. It does seem that yours now has a location preference but that could change, and it won't be because of anything you did or didn't do.
How many outbreaks are you getting? Have you considered taking a suppressive medication, like valtrex or acyclovir?
I have not taken suppressive medication for it. It has come in waves since I was first diagnosed in 2007. From 2013-2016 was probably the worst period and I would get 4-6 OBs a year. Almost every outbreak is a minimum 2 week ordeal, and sometimes a full 3. It was never really subtle either (full-on OB, very ugly). Google the list of "natural treatments" and I bet I have tried it, to include a long list of supplements and diet changes. Some helped, most hardly had an effect, a few made things worse. I can laugh about it now and thank my lucky stars I didn't do more harm than good. It wasn't an issue from 2007-2010 so I never did any research, but since then I've been trying to find a way to get consistent management. I have a friend of a friend who takes Acyclovir for her G-HSV2 and says it isn't really that effective. I don't mind vaccines at all, and I like supplements, but something about daily prescription medication is a turn-off to me. I'm betting that someday it's going to come back, a possible vaccine is always "in another 10 years", so in the meantime I want to be ready when it does.
A vaccine is possible within the next 10 years, according to some experts, at least for hsv2, not sure about hsv1.
If acyclovir isn't effective for your friend, she should try valtrex or see her doc to make sure she doesn't have an underlying infection, like yeast or bacterial vaginosis, which very commonly keeps hsv2 active.
If you don't want to take valtrex daily, which is fair, and don't want a full 2-3 week ordeal with outbreaks, you can take valtrex episodically. One of my good friends just got a big sore because of the covid vaccine (very common result of the vaccine if you have either type), and for the first time, she took valtrex. It was over in 7 days, as opposed to 20-21. (I didn't know or pressure her or have anything to do with it lol.)
Taking antivirals shouldn't have any effect on a vaccine, as we know so far. If it comes out that it does, I'm willing to stop them for a time, but until then, personally, I'm not waiting for it and suffering for another 10 years while I wait.
No right or wrong - everything is a personal choice. I am sorry you've struggled with it so much, though. :(
If acyclovir isn't effective for your friend, she should try valtrex or see her doc to make sure she doesn't have an underlying infection, like yeast or bacterial vaginosis, which very commonly keeps hsv2 active.
If you don't want to take valtrex daily, which is fair, and don't want a full 2-3 week ordeal with outbreaks, you can take valtrex episodically. One of my good friends just got a big sore because of the covid vaccine (very common result of the vaccine if you have either type), and for the first time, she took valtrex. It was over in 7 days, as opposed to 20-21. (I didn't know or pressure her or have anything to do with it lol.)
Taking antivirals shouldn't have any effect on a vaccine, as we know so far. If it comes out that it does, I'm willing to stop them for a time, but until then, personally, I'm not waiting for it and suffering for another 10 years while I wait.
No right or wrong - everything is a personal choice. I am sorry you've struggled with it so much, though. :(
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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.
