HELP - Genital HSV1 first recurrence

[abbywain]

Hi all,

Two months ago I had a primary episode of genital HSV1. I believe it came from oral sex with my boyfriend, when he had a small cut on his lip we thought from rugby but in hindsight, I believe this now was a coldsore and that neither of us recognised it as that. Total naievity and I should have been more cautious, but what's done is done now.

Anyway, the primary was horrendous. I couldn't walk for the pain and not understanding what wa shappening was terrifying. Also, four doctors diagnosed folliculitis, but the swabs proved HSV1 so I was totally shocked when I got the results. Anyway, I have come to understand that this isn't really a big deal in the grand sche,e of things - 80% of us have a type of HSV and my doctor - who has been amazing - just keep saying 'You've had a cold sore, that's all, it's nothing to worry about.'

I went out of my mind researching on the internet about recurrences and how I could try and prevent an outbreak (I was eventually prescribed Aciclovir for the primary but things had already started to heal) and have been making an effort to take better care of myself, but things at work have been very stressful, I've not been sleeping, and I've been deeply worried about how my boyfriend feels (he's the strong bu silent type!) about all of this, and basically, two months on, I am now having my first recurrence.

I can't believe it. I really believed that I could somehow stop it from happening - naive once again. Anyway, the good thing is that it's very mild, just small patch of itchy skin. I'm on Aciclovir again (I went straight to my GP when I felt the tingle) and so hopefully this will start to subside soon.

But, I guess I'm trying to understand if stress has brought this on again so soon? Or is it just luck of the draw? I know no one can give me an answer, but - aside from my slient-type boyfriend - I don't have anyone to talk to about this and all these thoughts are going round in my head and I know I just need to relax but I can't stop thinking about how I've brought this on myself etc. I've been taking Lysine, eating well, etc.......but it's back.

Also, do recurrences get less and less severe? I.e. will the next occurence be less severe that this one or does it not work like that?

The doctor said that, as it has come back so quickly, by body didn't really fight it out properly the last time, and that, as I'm newly infected, I still don't have many antibodies that would have helped stop bring it back so I'm hopeful that that's true and my little immune system is still battling away against it!

I guess I just want to hear other people's experiences of recurrence with genital HSV1. I know no two cases are the same but I just need to talk.

Thanks in advance for your help

Abby xxx

[gracefromHHP]

You need to be following up on all this with your provider.  Call monday and make an appointment to be seen and get some better answers so you can have some peace of mind. While there, ask to be tested for yeast and bacterial vaginal infections too.

grace

[abbywain]

Thank you both for your comments. You have both been very helpful. My main recurrence has subsided but a small secondary patch appeared 2/3 days ago which has almost also gone. However, there is something else worrying me.....

When I had my primary outbreak a few months ago, I obviously started to pay a lot more attention to what was going out down there in terms of skin appearance etc. Anyway, during that outbreak (well, immediately after) I noticed I have a pea sized lump beneath the skin of my left labia majoria, just below being in line with my clitoris, so too high I suspect to be a bartholin cyst etc. Anyway, the lump did not disappear with the primary outbreak a few months ago outbreak, and seems harmless enough and isn't painful. It's the size of a pea, though it doesn't feel like it moves around, and is beneath the skin so not visible to the eye, but if that area rubs on my underwear etc the skin becomes a little red and irritated, and the bump starts to 'appear' through the skin etc, but it soon becomes 'invisible' again and is only apparent to the touch.

I'm thinking that tihs might have been there a while and I've never noticed as I've never paid that much attention to the lumps and bumps that apparently exist in that region! But I'm just a little niggled that it might be something else.... does this sound like a regular sebaceous cyst etc?

[gracefromHHP]

Getting a recurrence within a few months of the 1st is pretty common - even with hsv1 genitally. No reason to suspect that you'll be one of the small percent who get them frequently. This is absolutely, positively nothing you did and nothing you could prevent - it's your body responding to hsv infection and is normal.  su cks but it's normal.

lysine doesn't really do much to prevent ob's and most of us get more than enough of it in our diets anyways.

My only suggestion is, if you continue to be itchy or get another ob within a month, see your provider for an examination of your vaginal secretions for yeast and bacterial infections. Both are very common and can trigger recurrences as well as mimick them.

grace

[Ophelia23]

Recurrences DO get less severe as time goes on. Also, genital HSV-1 usually ends up being fairly mild - recurrences come a lot less often than with HSV-2, and they are usually less severe. So, good news!

I'm afraid this is not my personal experience - I have only oral herpes (to the best of my knowledge...). But I've done a lot of research on this, and you may want to, also. There is a LOT of info out there on this.