Help with Herpetic Whitlow

[snobunny1]

Last summer I had a string of tiny blisters, that itched like crazy, run up the side of my right hand ring finger. Those blisters became huge - I mean HUGE - puss blisters and were very painful - I ended up going to the hospital because my lymph nodes started to swell. The doc prescribed Acyclovir and Bactrum but didnt tell me that this was a form of herpes. So, 3 weeks ago I noticed the same tiny little itchy bumps on my hand - near the same spot on the same finger and when the bumps turned into huge blisters I started thinking....okay, this looks exactly like what I had last year!!! So, when things got bad I went to the hospital again, this time to find out what I have is herpetic whitlow. My blister was popped and I was given Acyclovir, Bactrum and Hydrocodone for the pain. My concern arises because this break out was apporximately three weeks ago and the scab from the blister just came off on Sunday - well if a breakout is only supposed to happen once a year then why did I wake up today with the tiny itchy bumps on that finger??? I am scared! How can I prevent herpetic whitlow from happening besides taking Acyclovir or Valtrex every single day? Is it something I am eating or not eating that is causing these breakouts? These blisters always get huge, are very painful and very ugly....I want to cry just thinking about the fact that I just got done with one breakout and now again - back to back like this??!!! Somebody, please help me.....

[gracefromHHP]

Nothing you can do to prevent herpes ob's as far as getting more sleep or watching what you eat. herpes has a mind of its own and tends to flare up without rhyme or reason most times :(

Get this confirmed - seems like they are throwing antivirals and antibiotics both at you hoping that one of them works instead of doing cultures.

grace

[snobunny1]

Is there anything that causes herpetic whitlow outbreaks or anything that one can do, eat or not eat/drink to prevent an outbreak? Are they brought on by stress or lack of sleep or too much sleep? Help!

[Matt_84]

i have something on my hand may be possible herpes whitlow. about month and a half ago got rash on both hands (first and second knuckles on back of hand). got slight skin breakages on both knuckles. became like raised bumps (never hurt) and both went down like 2-3 weeks ago but never fully healed.  then one on right knuckles went away with some rash still remaining to this day. one on left hand grew bigger again when other went away and got some skin breakage on it. started scabbin over like a week and a half ago but still is noticeable with some rash still surronding it. like i said these have never hurt, maybe some itching here and there but from what i've read herpes whitlow hurts and u know its there. could this be some bacterial or fungal thing? any advice would be awesome, thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

Have you had a culture of this rash done at all yet for herpes? if not then I recommend getting one if these bumps progress into blisters. A visual diagnosis in this day and age doesn't cut it.

grace