Aa
The Pill and reduction in outbreaks?
hi all - I've been suffering from near constant outbreaks since the end of December... sometimes three times a month but I've been tracking them and it would appear that I get them around the time I ovulate and when I get my period... so needless to say, I go maybe a few days a month without *something* happening down there... I used to be on the Pill and I don't remember ever having any kinds of problems like this, except what I thought might have been yeast infections around the time I got my period (which I now think were probably OBs)... so I'm thinking that maybe going on the Pill, especially the kind that you take for 3 months at a clip, might keep this at bay... no period could potentially = no outbreak?
and yes, I've been on Valtrex (I swear it made it worse), switched to Famvir at the end of March, since then I've had three outbreaks... I'm desperate and at the end of my rope...
I've read that the Pill can make it worse but other studies said if you don't get your period and that's your trigger, it might help...
thoughts, comments?
and yes, I've been on Valtrex (I swear it made it worse), switched to Famvir at the end of March, since then I've had three outbreaks... I'm desperate and at the end of my rope...
I've read that the Pill can make it worse but other studies said if you don't get your period and that's your trigger, it might help...
thoughts, comments?
correct - the rates of recurrence for genital hsv1 that I quote here regularly have been confirmed numerous times in studies.
at this point I recommend you consider stopping suppressive therapy and being seen everytime you have a recurrence for a work up and culture to see if indeed it is herpes going on. Odds are there is far more going on than you suspect at this point.
grace
at this point I recommend you consider stopping suppressive therapy and being seen everytime you have a recurrence for a work up and culture to see if indeed it is herpes going on. Odds are there is far more going on than you suspect at this point.
grace
How were you diagnosed as having genital HSV1?
We have a saying here on the forum, that just because you have herpes, doesn't mean everything IS herpes. Only proper exams and testing can confirm the many different genital issues on can have - from yeast, to bacterial infections, to herpes.
The only way one can be diagnosed with genital HSV1 is by swab/culture. I in fact have genital HSV1, confirmed this way. It wasn't a shock; my then partner had oral herpes for years, and he performed oral sex on me often. We just never knew it could be transmitted this way. I had a primary doozy of a very painful outbreak - classic painful herpes lesions, confirmed with the culture. Since then, 2 1/2 year later, I've had the "stereotypical" re-occurance of one outbreak the first year and one since then.
That being said, I've also had other issues. 2 yeast infections (yes, the first one I thought was a herpes outbreak), and then I had a bugger of a dermatitis/sensitivity (burning/itching redness and even bumps) and had to work with a vulva specialist for a couple months to finally tame it. Again, thought it was my herpes but it wasn't.
So, unless you've specifically had positive HSV1 cultures with the "outbreaks" you've had, you can't hang your hat on it, as many other things can mimic herpes. Also, flu-like symptoms typically occur with the primary outbreak, not with subsequent ones.
Grace's statistics aren't something she just made up, either. I don't doubt it's based on studies. And I can vouch that I've fit into that average statistic.
We have a saying here on the forum, that just because you have herpes, doesn't mean everything IS herpes. Only proper exams and testing can confirm the many different genital issues on can have - from yeast, to bacterial infections, to herpes.
The only way one can be diagnosed with genital HSV1 is by swab/culture. I in fact have genital HSV1, confirmed this way. It wasn't a shock; my then partner had oral herpes for years, and he performed oral sex on me often. We just never knew it could be transmitted this way. I had a primary doozy of a very painful outbreak - classic painful herpes lesions, confirmed with the culture. Since then, 2 1/2 year later, I've had the "stereotypical" re-occurance of one outbreak the first year and one since then.
That being said, I've also had other issues. 2 yeast infections (yes, the first one I thought was a herpes outbreak), and then I had a bugger of a dermatitis/sensitivity (burning/itching redness and even bumps) and had to work with a vulva specialist for a couple months to finally tame it. Again, thought it was my herpes but it wasn't.
So, unless you've specifically had positive HSV1 cultures with the "outbreaks" you've had, you can't hang your hat on it, as many other things can mimic herpes. Also, flu-like symptoms typically occur with the primary outbreak, not with subsequent ones.
Grace's statistics aren't something she just made up, either. I don't doubt it's based on studies. And I can vouch that I've fit into that average statistic.
This is an old post, but I wanted to respond in case someone new, like me, stumbles on it. First off, forget whatever Grace said about HV1 almost never recurring. I'm not sure where that's coming from, but that's wrong. I've had genital HV1 for 13 years. It was always manageable without any meds until my mid-30s, when presumably my hormones started changing. I had what felt like non-stop outbreaks, the prevailing symptom of which was a flulike feeling and sore throat. When my doc told me it was my herpes, I was surprised, but it did make sense.
She put me on 1g daily of Valtrex, which changed my life for about 2 months until the effects wore off a bit. I'm still on 1g, sometimes 1.5 a day, and it's all that's keeping me from incapacitation.
About hormones. Doctors don't know much about the herpes-hormones connection because it's dealing with two things the medical community maligns: women and STDs. You know your body. From reading many (but not enough) forums on this topic, it seems that some women's outbreaks markedly decrease when they go on oral contraceptives, and others skyrocket. I too get my OBs in the two weeks leading up to my period. I haven't tried the pill, but am going to put myself on Ortho Cycline if my stomach can stand it. I don't have much to lose here.
I'm 38 and I think this is all caused by a drop in estrogen that has sent my HV1 into a tailspin. Good luck people.
She put me on 1g daily of Valtrex, which changed my life for about 2 months until the effects wore off a bit. I'm still on 1g, sometimes 1.5 a day, and it's all that's keeping me from incapacitation.
About hormones. Doctors don't know much about the herpes-hormones connection because it's dealing with two things the medical community maligns: women and STDs. You know your body. From reading many (but not enough) forums on this topic, it seems that some women's outbreaks markedly decrease when they go on oral contraceptives, and others skyrocket. I too get my OBs in the two weeks leading up to my period. I haven't tried the pill, but am going to put myself on Ortho Cycline if my stomach can stand it. I don't have much to lose here.
I'm 38 and I think this is all caused by a drop in estrogen that has sent my HV1 into a tailspin. Good luck people.
An increase in discharge doesn't always occur with vaginitis. When you do see your provider ask if they can examine your discharge under the microscope and do some basic testing on it. You can't tell just by looking at things what's going on even though some providers seem to think you can. Most folks with bv consider themselves asymptomatic until testing is done.
Many things can cause papercut lesions - even thining genital skin from being on the pill can cause them. soaps and detergents can too. Same with an allergy - depending on the cause of it you won't always be all red all the time. For instance say the toilet paper at work is the culprit. You don't use it all the time so it might only cause obvious cuts here and there since you use the tp at home more often. Or perhaps it's one scent of soap that you don't use everyday ( I know I"m not the only one who keeps 10 different shower gels in the shower at all times...he he he ). Sometimes narrowing down the cause can take a lot of time unfortunately.
As for pain - sometimes it's actually a back problem causing pain in that area. Othertimes it's constipation. Still others it's an internal inflammed hemorrhoid putting pressure on the nerves and causing referred pain.
sometimes it just sucks to be female :(
grace
if it's BV, trich or a yeast infection, wouldn't I have a lot of discharge? I'm definitely not experiencing anything like that at all... occasional itch, but mostly just sore and the feeling like my nerves are acting up...
I'm at the point where I want to ask to be put on an antifungal for a week or two to see if that clears things up (can you take antifungals for that long?) honestly, most of my pain is in the pubic bone area, like where the hair grows, not really internally, although I certainly get a few "zingers" in there when the nerves are firing... and sometimes I'll feel pain in my lower back and legs - again, more nerve type of a thing and soreness...
but it just seems awfully coincidental that literally two times a month, I get papercut type lesions on my labia - with my period and when I ovulate...could BV and/or yeast cause that and only at the same two times every month?
and if it were an allergic reaction, same thing - wouldn't I be having symptoms all the time? right now, I don't have any lesions, just the nerve pain...
I'm at the point where I want to ask to be put on an antifungal for a week or two to see if that clears things up (can you take antifungals for that long?) honestly, most of my pain is in the pubic bone area, like where the hair grows, not really internally, although I certainly get a few "zingers" in there when the nerves are firing... and sometimes I'll feel pain in my lower back and legs - again, more nerve type of a thing and soreness...
but it just seems awfully coincidental that literally two times a month, I get papercut type lesions on my labia - with my period and when I ovulate...could BV and/or yeast cause that and only at the same two times every month?
and if it were an allergic reaction, same thing - wouldn't I be having symptoms all the time? right now, I don't have any lesions, just the nerve pain...
to finish my thought - to confirm that it's all herpes going on or something else. I'm betting heavily on something else.
I know you've been posting on a few different boards but just beware - lots of folks will SWEAR they have the herpes ob's from hell because they aren't seeing good doctors and getting full work ups. Most of them once they find the right practioner who listens and does a full work up find out it had absolutely nothing to do with herpes. Just don't allow yourself to fall into the trap that if it's between your legs it's all herpes. It just doesn't work that way.
Keep me posted :)
grace
I know you've been posting on a few different boards but just beware - lots of folks will SWEAR they have the herpes ob's from hell because they aren't seeing good doctors and getting full work ups. Most of them once they find the right practioner who listens and does a full work up find out it had absolutely nothing to do with herpes. Just don't allow yourself to fall into the trap that if it's between your legs it's all herpes. It just doesn't work that way.
Keep me posted :)
grace
Lots of things can be going on down yonder in us gals. Sometimes it takes a long time unfortunately to figure it out all out. I actually went to my gyn every month for over a year until we were able to figure out what was going on with me and then I still had to go back every few months for a year or so. The first step is a full work up and confirmation that it's all herpes going on.
grace
grace
I'm going back to see my doctor next week... I'll ask about the at home kit for swabbing - I've connected with a lot of other women who seem to be going through the same thing - and all their tests for yeast, bacteria, allergies come back negative as well... maybe it IS possible that this is all herpes related? I've been to two doctors and all the tests come back negative... I'm really not sure what else I can do? I think I'm going to give the Pill a chance to work to see if it does make a difference with my period related OBs, continue to track my OBs/related symptoms and see if I can get the home swabbing kits... I probably shouldn't waste my time with Famvir since it obviously doesn't work suppressively...
grrrr...
grrrr...
The reduction in ob's should be within a week or two.
You need a further work up to figure out what is going on. This is probably more than just hsv1 genitally. If your regular provider isn't able to figure out what is going on - consult a different one. You can even ask for the supplies to have at home to do home pcr swabbing so that when you get symptoms - swab them immediately for herpes, drop them off at the clinic/lab and see if any herpes is detected. No herpes detected - no antiviral in the world is going to help.
Your body doesn't really "adjust" to herpes either. You've had it long enough now that you are as "adjusted" as it's going to get.
You also posted this on the asha board right? That's me over there too - I post as betsy there. I'll continue to answer you here since this is where we started.
grace
You need a further work up to figure out what is going on. This is probably more than just hsv1 genitally. If your regular provider isn't able to figure out what is going on - consult a different one. You can even ask for the supplies to have at home to do home pcr swabbing so that when you get symptoms - swab them immediately for herpes, drop them off at the clinic/lab and see if any herpes is detected. No herpes detected - no antiviral in the world is going to help.
Your body doesn't really "adjust" to herpes either. You've had it long enough now that you are as "adjusted" as it's going to get.
You also posted this on the asha board right? That's me over there too - I post as betsy there. I'll continue to answer you here since this is where we started.
grace
hi grace - I've been tested - twice in three months - for everything under the sun: each time it comes back as negative for yeast or bacterial infections... I really think I may be one of the unfortunate few that HSV1 wrecks havoc for... but I'm hoping to get it under control as my body adjusts...
question for you though - I switched from Valtrex to Famvir - been just about a month and the outbreaks continue... the doctor suggested I give it a bit more time to work - what's your experience - how long do I need to stay on this suppressively before I can expect to see *some* improvement? I've read for some people it was almost immediate, others it took a bit of time... if I stay on it three months with no significant change, is it safe to assume that the Famvir isn't really helping?
question for you though - I switched from Valtrex to Famvir - been just about a month and the outbreaks continue... the doctor suggested I give it a bit more time to work - what's your experience - how long do I need to stay on this suppressively before I can expect to see *some* improvement? I've read for some people it was almost immediate, others it took a bit of time... if I stay on it three months with no significant change, is it safe to assume that the Famvir isn't really helping?
yeast and bacterial infections can cause those sorts of symptoms. So can allergic reactions. So can dry genital skin.
Hsv1 genitally for the most part hardly ever reoccurs for the vast majority of folks who have it. Going off the pill probably has nothing to do with what's going on. You already have a history of something else going on that you presume has been yeast infections in the past. No reason to suspect that they were due to hsv1 or that your symptoms going on now are due to hsv1.
grace
Hsv1 genitally for the most part hardly ever reoccurs for the vast majority of folks who have it. Going off the pill probably has nothing to do with what's going on. You already have a history of something else going on that you presume has been yeast infections in the past. No reason to suspect that they were due to hsv1 or that your symptoms going on now are due to hsv1.
grace
hi - spoke to my GYN this morning and will be going back in early next week for yet another full work up... he has had another patient, mid-30s who also went off the Pill and found that her OBs were out of control for the better part of a year (which he attributes to hormone changes)... it just seems too coincidental that this happens when I ovulate and get my period...
I have some sort of rash going on now near the bikini line which I think is non-H related... but what else could cause papercut type lesions in the same 2-3 places 2x per month in my lower labia?
I have some sort of rash going on now near the bikini line which I think is non-H related... but what else could cause papercut type lesions in the same 2-3 places 2x per month in my lower labia?
I'm totally with Jess - you need a further work up to figure out what is going on. The chances that you are having hsv1 genital recurrences 3x in a month are rather slim. Go get a full exam and find out what is really going on down yonder. All the herpes antivirals in the world aren't going to make a difference if it's not herpes going on. Don't ever get stuck in the mindset that it's all herpes related just because it's below the belt.
grace
grace
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh and you should also get checked for bacterial vaginosis and yeast. That could be triggering this mess, too.
AJ
AJ
COMMUNITY LEADER
If you are getting obs with your cycle, by all means go on birth control and not get the period. :)
AJ
AJ
You are a rare case of a bad HSV1 infection!! HSV1 usually isn't this prevelent. To be honest, I would go get retested and get an IGG Test to make sure you don't have HSV2 also. The severity and frequency of these outbreaks really don't sound like HSV1. It very well may be but it's very atypical...
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
