Two week outbreak/unusual?

[elwoodsf]

I was diagnosed with genital herpes 30 years ago (wow, time flies!). Four years ago and just three weeks ago I have had the worse outbreaks ever. I know the first one is considered the worse per the medical field but that was too long ago for me to remember. Right now I have approx. 7 lesions that I can see and they are taking forever to heal. I am on week two of the breaking open point and still in pain. Sweatpants are my friends. My "usual" outbreaks consist of one lesion approx. every three months or so and I am able to perform my daily activities. I am unable to that with this type of outbreak. My first question is: has anyone else experienced a herpes outbreak with a duration like this? My second question: my doctor wants to check for shingles. Is it possible to have shingles in and outside of your genitals? Heat is what brings my outbreaks on. I cannot use the heated seats in my car. This outbreak was brought on by using a heating pad for my aching lower back. I wasn't thinking. Any comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Jade59]

Hey Sherry,

Oh man, do I ever feel for you.  I too, have had herpes for over 30yrs.  I remember my first outbreak at sixteen.  Tons of lesions and pain like I couldn't believe.  For some reason though, for the last 15yrs, the outbreaks have only appeared on my right hand.  On the palm, in the creases.  It's SO painful and would probably last for weeks if I didn't start taking the Valtrex as soon as I feel it starting.  

Like you, I take other meds every day and don't want to add another daily med, so I just take the Valtrex 3xday for...oh maybe 3 days at the most.  The Valtrex helps with the pain almost immediatly.  

Your post here is quite a few days old so I hope by today, you're feeling all better : )  

[gracefromHHP]

Glad you had a good appointment and things seem to be healing :)

grace

[elwoodsf]

Hi Grace,

The doc looked me over today and I'm right where I should be. He gave me a script for Valtrex. I don't want to take a daily med and he told me this one will help me heal up faster than the script I'm on now. I am feeling so much better. Finally. What a pain these outbreaks are. One thing I can count on, they will be back. Usually it is stress, accidents or heat that bring mine on. My husband and I used to go to church camp in Idaho during the month of July in 90 degree heat. We were on the water all day with our boat, pulling kids around. We only did this two years because I would end up sick with an outbreak Wednesday night. It was like clockwork. The headache, nausea, body aches. I had to stop going. The older I get the wiser I get, I think LOL.

Only two more lesions to heal up. Better than the seven or more I had. Man, I was in pain!!!!!

Thank you for your support Grace ~ Sherry

[elwoodsf]

When I first signed on to medhelp someone said the same thing. I never related the two until then. That is why sometimes you will see my signing off as El, as in El Woods.

Mark has been checked by his doctor but I think his doctor is a quack. When I have yeast inf. he gets a rash, goes to the doc and he tells my husband he's fine. I just give him some of my stuff and he heals. I need to revisit that subject with him.

I enjoy your sense of humor. Laughing makes my day lighter. I will let you know what the doc finds tomorrow.

Thanks Grace ~ Sherry

[gracefromHHP]

everytime I read your posts I think of the legally blonde movies from your nickname...he he he

grace

[gracefromHHP]

Get rechecked for yeast and bacteria while you are at your providers too.

Has your hubby ever been tested or just no symptoms means no infection for the two of you?

Oh and trust me - I gave up trying to figure out dreams a long time ago.  According to my dreams - I think I need heavily sedated on a regular basis or something....he he he  


grace

[elwoodsf]

Thank you Grace. I go into my doctors tomorrow because I need a note for work. I have been home with all the symptoms for which I know you are aware of. I will talk to him about suppressive therapy. I used to take acyclovir. He might agree that I need to go back on them. Like I stated, the last outbreak I had like this was four years ago. It's a pain one never forgets, huh?

I have been with my husband 27 years and he does not have herpes. I had c-sections with both of my kids because I demanded it. With number two it would not have been an option. My lack of knowledge should not have to be spread around.

What's funny is that when I have an outbreak I dream about "the guy" in my dreams and I'm always yelling at him. Is that strange or what? It's been 30 years.

Thank you Grace ~ Sherry

[gracefromHHP]

Lysine doesn't really do much at all as far as reducing ob's. it doesn't do anything as far as speeding the healing of ob's.  It's also a total pain to take 3x/day.

You can go on suppressive therapy with acyclovir for under $20/month even without insurance. it's quite cheap and quite effective!

My humdinger of an ob lasted a month while on suppressive therapy. I had had a whopper of a bv infection going on at the same time and a few other issues going on.  It totally sucked :(  

grace

[elwoodsf]

Never had I heard herpes and vaginal infections in the same sentence. This is intriguing to me as I was fighting a yeast infection for weeks in January. Hmmm. I've never connected the two. It is amazing how we become so aware of our bodies once the ob's come. I was wondering if I am still battling the yeast infection. I do go into the doctors Thursday. I have not tried suppressive therapy because I take so many daily meds for depression/bipolar and my outbreaks are usually very mild. More annoying than anything else. I ran out of L-Lysine a few months back and need to get some more of that.

Have you ever had an ob last two or so weeks? I usually have them for a few days, not a few weeks. My doctor put me on pain meds because of the amount of pain I am in. Urg....

Thanks for your input. Very good info for me.

[gracefromHHP]

I had my 2nd worse ob ever 16 years into having hsv2 while on suppressive therapy. It happens sometimes.  Evidently not all of our herpes have remembered to read the book and know how to act ;)

Since you are female I encourage youto go and be seen and get checked for yeast and bacterial vaginal infections. They are a common trigger of humdinger of recurrences in us gals.  

It could be shingles but it's more likely to be your herpes.  

anyparticular reason why you haven't given suppressive therapy a try since you still have ob's every couple of months?

grace