hsv 1 second outbreak help!

[merie88]

I got diagnosed with genital hsv1 two years ago, had a little ob (I honestly don't even remember how bad it was), got tested and that's how I knew what it was. The doctor didn't give me any meds or cream and told me if I got another ob to go back for some antivirals, since then never got another one until now.

I got a second outbreak about 2 days ago , I was itching about a week before but having another ob didn't even cross my mind because I only had one,  2 years prior, just thought I was irritated from shaving. Yesterday it got substantially worse, fever, swollen glands, itching and burning terribly and more blisters/ulcers (I have about 10 down there now, but theyre really tiny, not red, just small little pimple like bumps). Today is a little better, sores are almost scabbing up.

I've been obsessed with keeping the area clean and dry, taking Lysine, and advil/painkillers and just ordered some h-balm, zinc & echinacea. I don't have health insurance anymore and buying rx antivirals online is so pricey. Any advice as to over the counter or home remedies to help heal faster/easier (the itching is driving me CRAZY and I have to go back to work tomorrow)?

Anything will help : ) Thanks!

[merie88]

thanks grace, i guess there is no up-side to hsv! I started taking acyclovir yesterday and already feel alot better, so i guess youre right- the meds are the way to go if you dont want to torture yourself!

[gracefromHHP]

actually the average number of ob's is 1 every other year - no matter what you do.   no reason to think that you'll have more frequent ob's.  we typically don't recommend daily suppressive therapy for genital hsv1 since it reoccurs infrequently and doesn't shed much. just not enough bang for your buck to be worth the cost and effort.

as I said, recurrences are based more on genetics as well as some chronic inflammatory responses in the body than what you eat, sleep or supplement with.  the virus is active about the same amount of time no matter how many recurrences you have.  

[merie88]

I believe in the same things you do.  If Valtrex can't even 'cure' an outbreak, I would much rather be taking herbal supplements and vitamins to get a hold of my immune system and use as suppressive therapy.  Like I said, this is only my 2nd outbreak of genital hsv1 in two years and recently I've been hit with a ton of stress, started a new job, and was sick with a cold with all of that and not taking any vitamins or nutrients I seem to believe that is the reason this outbreak happened.  Now, I'm going to take much better care of myself and hopefully this won't happen for another 2 years.  (because its TERRIBLE!!)

[gracefromHHP]

actually the immune system  has little to do with if you'll have frequent obvious lesions or not. research has shown that it's more to do with your genetics than your immune system.   boosting your immune system with supposedly immune boosting supplements doesn't seem to have any effect on how many ob's you'll have.

eating your veggies is always the best idea :)

[Mistakeguy789]

There is no proof that your eating habits play a role in your outbreaks.  No proof that the herbs either are helping keep it under control.  

Given its HSV-1 as well it doesn't reoccur that often.  

[merie88]

Yes they did, they originally just saw me said they thought it was herpes, but did a lesion culture for type to be sure and I found out a week or so later that it was type 1 when the ob was gone, which was why i didn't get any perscription.  

I hope it's not a yeast or bv (i dont think it is ) but if it's not drastically better in a few days i'll be sure to have an exam and i'm definitely getting the spray.  Thanks grace! I really do appreciate it.  

[gracefromHHP]

did they do a lesion culture of your symptoms originally to diagnose you as having hsv1 genitally?

lysine doesn't speed the healing of herpes lesions. neither does zinc or echinacea. You are spending money on things that you aren't getting any help from :(

If the itching doesn't get better in a few days, be seen for a proper exam and testing to make sure you don't have a yeast or bacterial vaginitis going on. Bv especially is known to present with just itching and no obvious odor or discharge. Bv is also known to trigger genital herpes to reoccur too.

If you have a prescription for acyclovir, it's only $4 to treat an ob if you fill it at walmart or a similar store. not pricey at all and all it takes is for your doc to phone you in a prescription if you don't have one already.

You might want to try dermoplast spray ( the blue can for the genital area, not the red can ). It's under $10 usually at most drug stores and it's a spray on anesthetic to help with pain and itching. it doesn't help to speed healing of herpes but it does help with the itching.

grace