Acyclovir resistant?

[Sunshine5678]

I have HSV2, diagnosed by both IGG blood test and confirmed cultures.  I didn't have any OBs for 7 years, except my primary outbreak and then after the birth of my daughter I have had several relentless outbreaks.  I was started on suppressive therapy about 9 months ago but I still have at least 6 outbreaks a year!  I recently had 2 cultures taken (2 back to back outbreaks in 3 weeks) and both cultures were positive HSV2 so I am sure they were outbreaks.

I was on 500 mg valacyclovir, now on 1gram daily but why am I experiencing so many outbreaks?  Oh my gosh, the itch is completely unbearable - it leads me to tears A LOT.  It is not yeast or vaginitis.  I can't tell you how many times that's been ruled out.  

I am a healthy 36 yr old woman on birth control pills and am at my wit's end.  My gynecologist is even running a culture for acyclovir-resistance.  Could that be the case?

[regretnconfusion]

I tested positive with an IGG type 1 of 1.48 and an IGG type 2 of 5.38 after an initial genital outbreak a year and a half ago.  I have been on valtrex once daily ever since.  I retested 4 weeks ago and everything was negative (undetected antibodies).  I stopped valtrex and retested 2 weeks later.  Test still came back negative.  I'm confused.  Do I have herpes or not?  I only had that initial outbreak.

[Sunshine5678]

Thanks for your help.  I got a phone call from my gynecologist yesterday and my second HSV2 culture was again positive, though I already knew it would be.  I am scheduled for a follow up next week to do a blood test to check for acyclovir resistance.  I guess the blood test has to be sent to Texas so we'll see how that goes.  

I always take my Valtrex at exactly the same time everyday so that couldn't be the problem.  Has anyone ever heard of this happening to someone?  I mean this many outbreaks and the medication appears completely ineffective.  I also wonder if I wasn't taking it how bad the outbreaks would get.  I have had so many cultures for yeast/bacteria that it isn't funny.  They are always negative so nothing else is going on down there.  I have angry herpes, lol

I will continue to update once my blood test results come back and hopefully I am not that 'rare' case :(

[gracefromHHP]

your provider can send off a swab of an active lesion for resistance testing. that's the best way to see if that is the issue from a herpes stand point.

you also should consult with a dermatologist who has an interest in vulvovaginal disease too to see if something besides your herpes is going on down yonder. If the dermatologist you already saw didn't specialize in this, perhaps one who does will be able to help more.

you can also try switching to famvir to see if that makes a difference though it basically works the same way as acyclovir/valtrex does but some folks do do better on one over the other.

best of luck getting to the bottom of all of this!!

[Sunshine5678]

Bump

[Sunshine5678]

I don't have any immune issues, I get regular physicals, my stress is exactly the same because my job is the same, nothing different there.  

I've been taking vitamin B complex and even tried Lysine at recommended doses, and my outbreaks just keep getting stronger and lasting longer.  I am not a weak minded person, and usually have a very positive attitude.  However, with the pattern of outbreaks I am suffering, my moods are also being affected because it is affecting my quality of life.  I can't even make plans anymore because I don't know when I'll be outbreak free.  

Does this happen to anyone else?  I'm not perimenopausal so my hormones are still within normal limits, even my gynecologists are stumped.  Should I try an infectious disease doctor if I don't get improvement?  I've already been to a dermatologist, my regular gynecologist, I'm even going to one of the nation's top ob/gyn's who is a specialist in vulvodynia and she is a board certified pathologist as well.  I am just so frustrated.

Any help is truly appreciated, thanks!

[Fleetwood20]

It is not usual to be resistant to acyclovir, it doesn't attack the virus directly, but removes the building blocks of the virus.

It may be that you have another immune issue. People with thyroid issues for example can experience ongoing outbreaks.

Is your diet healthy? Are stress levels up?

I'm not a fan of supplements as I don't believe they substitute or add to the positive properties of a good diet. In this circumstance though, perhaps you could try a comprehensive vitamin B supplement (with B12) and a strong zinc, such as zinc picolineate.