Long lasting outbreaks

[bella702]

I've been suffering form genital herpes for a year and a half.  This has absolutely been the worst time of my life!!  The outbreaks are lasting 4-6 months.  I've cut out all chocolate, caffeine, wheat and sugar from my diet...but seeing ZERO changes in the length of the outbreak.  I don't know what else I can do. Can someone please help me!!!!!

[gracefromHHP]

can you call monday and get the results of the blood test to post here - e.g. hsv1 igg 3.3 and hsv2 igg 2.9 or whatever they are?

[bella702]

no other testing done besides blood test.  

[gracefromHHP]

thanks for catching that guys- not sure why I thought there was a + lesion culture.

ok so did they do other testing too while you were there bella or just the herpes blood testing?

[petal130]

Correct, there was no swab culture done according to this thread. No blood test would come back that quickly except the biokit which is in office.

[bobrope45]

Grace, I believe she never had a positive culture. Did I get it wrong? I guess she never showed her symptoms to her OB.

[gracefromHHP]

a blood test for herpes isn't very helpful at this point since you've previously had a culture to know that you do have genital herpes. At this point you need lesion cultures and testing like swabs for bacterial skin infections as well as tested for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally to see what else is going on. herpes ob's will not last this long without healing so it's something else going on in addition to hsv2.

If your gyn can't figure out what all is going on, a dermatologist might be more helpful. If you can find one near you that has an interest in vulvular disorders, even more helpful.

grace

[franklinandbash]

^^^ unless you had a biokit done

[franklinandbash]

A herpes blood test, even when requested stat would not come back the next day.  You need to call and figure out what blood test it was.

[bobrope45]

So you had a blood test while at her office and you got the results right away? That'd odd. It would be best to get a copy of your results and get the numbers of it.
Did they poke your finger to collect the blood, or did they collect it the usual way?

[bella702]

I have experienced a multitude of symptoms, one being lower back pain, right calf pain as well as a pain in the right buttock.  

[tracey2222]

Did you test for herpes before ?
Do you have a hip pain (Buttock down to legs ) nerve pain ?
Thank you.

[tracey2222]

Do you have a hip pain (Buttock down to legs ) nerve pain ?

Thank you.

[bella702]

I was given a blood test & she requested it to come back stat. @gracefromhhp: This was the only reason for my ob visit, although I do have yearly paps

[gracefromHHP]

what testing did they do while you were there for other things too?

[petal130]

How were you diagnosed? Testing would take longer than a day.

[bella702]

saw my ob yesterday and I do have HSV 2 :(

[petal130]

Herpes outbreaks do not last 4-6 months. As I said (and Grace will concur), most likely this is something else going on. You are making huge assumptions here and have not been properly examined or tested. Check back with us once seen, and be sure she does a swab/culture for yeast and bacteria as well.

[bella702]

Hi Grace, just wanted to give you an update..my ob is out until Monday, so that's when I'll be able to get an appt with her.  I've read your posts' on other forums in regards to HSV, you seem very knowledgable and I'm thankful for all of your insight. However I've seen many posts on this website and other HSV websites from people experiencing the same continuous outbreaks.  I've also read that in some cases the anti virals are not effective.  So I'm just really confused. Even when I go online and look through HSV informational websites, it describes symptoms just like the ones I'm describing and having.  

[gracefromHHP]

stop back and let us know what really was going on :)

grace

[bella702]

Thank you guys....for the great advice!!!  

I will be making an appt with my provider...hoping for the best.

[petal130]

** this should say:  "I have genital herpes and nothing about it makes me different or any less than the next person who doesn't have it, aside from me having a pesky skin condition that rarely impacts my life. "

[petal130]

Good grief - you cannot self-diagnose yourself! And your symptoms sound more bacterial or fungal. Herpes does not behave this way at all. I know, I have it and am educated about it's symptoms.

As to feeling ashamed, why??? You're playing right into the herpes stigma. I have genital herpes and nothing about it makes me different or than the next person who doesn't have it, aside from me having a pesky skin condition that rarely impacts my life.

Be seen by your medical provider and they can test for bacterial, fungal and herpes.

[bobrope45]

If you never had an actual test, you shouldn`t be assuming you have herpes. Tiny sores in labia can be a number of things. Besides, symptoms such as tingling, burning, back pain, etc., are not typical for herpes outbreaks. Sure, they can happen as prodome, but they would not persist for 4-6 months.

I think the first thing you know should is get a blood test. There are websites that offer anonymous testing, but I really don`t think you should be ashamed and embarrassed - 1 in every 4 people has it, so it shouldn`t be a big deal.

I meant that while in medication people usually do not get symptoms, basically because medication interrupts the viral replication. So your symptoms are probably not herpetic.

[bella702]

I was never actually tested....but every single symptom I have has hsv written all over it.  I have only seen 2 very tiny sores on my labia, however the majority of the symptoms are inflammation, tingling, burning, headache, gland pain, calf pain, back pain, and these seem to never fully go away.

I have not seen the dr....I'm very embarrassed and ashamed!!  

What do you mean against a herpes outbreak?