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herpes pain
I just found out yesterday that I have genital Herpes. I have a couple of sores right now, and they are quite painful. I know that there are oral painkillers that *could* help, but they all make me so drowsy. I was wondering if there are any topical, over the counter creams that could help with the pain, like something for a diaper rash etc. Anyone know of anything?
You are a wonder! I was just doing some research on Tucks to see if I could use them, and you pop up! You are great. Thank you for volunteering your time and expertise with everyone. I am sure I would not make it through this excruciatingly painful and stressful time had I not found this site. Wonderful!!
money isnt really an issue, cuz of the navy medical. At least it wont be once my medical comes through Jan 1. I will prolly stay on the therapy just because this was obnoxious and I dont want to deal with ob's any more than I absolutely have to! And they did a urinalysis to determine the bladder infection. God the last two days have been awesome - I can actually move and function without hurting (I'm a little sore this morning, but not because of the lesions ;) if you know what I mean). The urination pain is also a little better - taking half a tablet of vicodin seems to be helping too. The migraines are gone too!!!! knock on wood.
Hey - come on over to the herpes forum now here on medhelp!!! It's all herpes - all the time there :)
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/195
You can buy otc urinary pain relief tablets in most drugstores to help with the uti pain. They turn your urine bright orange too which gives you something to talk about each time you go to the bathroom ;) Did they do a urine test that said uti or just say you had one based on symptoms?
If we assume that both you and your hubby have genital herpes now - there's really no need for him to go on suppressive therapy ( kinda putting the cart before the horse as they say ). Suppressive therapy helps to reduce ob's and to help reduce the chances of transmitting to a partner. If his ob's are rather mild and don't bother him - no reason to treat them unless he wants to.
Same goes with you - recurrences won't be as severe as the first one thankfully! If you prefer to take the wait and see approach feel free to do so. As far as I'm concerned - no herpes ob heals fast enough so I stay on suppressive therapy myself but that's just me :)
Also if money is an issue - consider acyclovir instead of valtrex - it's way cheaper :)
grace
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/195
You can buy otc urinary pain relief tablets in most drugstores to help with the uti pain. They turn your urine bright orange too which gives you something to talk about each time you go to the bathroom ;) Did they do a urine test that said uti or just say you had one based on symptoms?
If we assume that both you and your hubby have genital herpes now - there's really no need for him to go on suppressive therapy ( kinda putting the cart before the horse as they say ). Suppressive therapy helps to reduce ob's and to help reduce the chances of transmitting to a partner. If his ob's are rather mild and don't bother him - no reason to treat them unless he wants to.
Same goes with you - recurrences won't be as severe as the first one thankfully! If you prefer to take the wait and see approach feel free to do so. As far as I'm concerned - no herpes ob heals fast enough so I stay on suppressive therapy myself but that's just me :)
Also if money is an issue - consider acyclovir instead of valtrex - it's way cheaper :)
grace
Wanted to say thank you again very much - the sores are pretty much gone today, and I can walk, move, and sit without pain. Urination is still a bit painful, due to the bladder infection (lol - I felt sooo stupid when I went to the er!) Im at the point now where I don't need the dermoplast spray OR the tucks! And as soon as my medical comes through, I will get a test and then get on Valtrex - and also encourage my husband to get on it (he's dragging his feet on it).
Told my mom about having it, and she didnt really freak. I asked her not to tell anyone, even my dad, and so far she hasnt. It has made her a lot more understanding of why I was so crabby for a while, and why I didnt want to move around alot. She asked a lot of questions, cuz she didnt know much about HSV, but other than that hasnt mentioned anything.
Thanks again for all the advice, I really appreciate it!!!!
Told my mom about having it, and she didnt really freak. I asked her not to tell anyone, even my dad, and so far she hasnt. It has made her a lot more understanding of why I was so crabby for a while, and why I didnt want to move around alot. She asked a lot of questions, cuz she didnt know much about HSV, but other than that hasnt mentioned anything.
Thanks again for all the advice, I really appreciate it!!!!
yeah, got it from the hubby. we had been fairly careful, but the last time he got an ob, we didnt notice it til too late. had no symptoms, didnt know it was coming, just noticed the next morning that oh, theres kinda dryish looking flaky skin there. Hm. OOPS. lol A couple three days later, i started getting a couple sore spots. At first I just figured they were ingrown hairs, but hubby looked at them and said, not unless you have a LOT of hairs ingrown, and in an area that doesnt normally have hair, if you know what i mean. Havent actually been diagnosed yet, but we're pretty sure.
yeah, got it from the hubby. we had been fairly careful, but the last time he got an ob, we didnt notice it til too late. had no symptoms, didnt know it was coming, just noticed the next morning that oh, theres kinda dryish looking flaky skin there. Hm. OOPS. lol A couple three days later, i started getting a couple sore spots. At first I just figured they were ingrown hairs, but hubby looked at them and said, not unless you have a LOT of hairs ingrown, and in an area that doesnt normally have hair, if you know what i mean. Havent actually been diagnosed yet, but we're pretty sure.
Just wondering, how you guot it. Did your husband give it to you? Not to be nosey but what the heck, we are all friends here, eh? EB
i couldnt go to the dr yet - my medical hasnt come through from the navy yet. I only get emergency care. yay! lol I can get regular medical starting Jan 1. Went in to the hospital last night - my neck started hurting so my mom wanted me to make sure I didnt have spinal meningitis. Turns out I have a bladder infection which was causing the fever. they gave me an antibiotic and vicodin :D I think I will be ok for a while lol.
They didn't give you any valtrex or acyclovir or famvir to help speed the healing of your lesions??????
grace
grace
havent gotten any valtrex yet, so it must just be the infection. Migraines arent helping much here either lol. the lesions are still there, but getting a lot better. Thanks for all the advice!!!
The valtrex doses for the first ob are high and often trigger nausea and a general feeling of unwellness ( as does the herpes infection - both can contribute to it ). You'll be feeling better soon I'm sure :)
The dermoplast helps with the itching too. If the lesions appear to be gone and you are still having a lot of itching - don't hesitate to return to your doctor to get tested for yeast and bacterial vaginal infections . Both are common unfortunately with the first herpes ob from it upsetting the delicate balance of flora down yonder in us gals :(
Glad you are starting to feel a little better though :)
grace
The dermoplast helps with the itching too. If the lesions appear to be gone and you are still having a lot of itching - don't hesitate to return to your doctor to get tested for yeast and bacterial vaginal infections . Both are common unfortunately with the first herpes ob from it upsetting the delicate balance of flora down yonder in us gals :(
Glad you are starting to feel a little better though :)
grace
Wanted to let you know that the ob seems to be going away - now the blisters are really itchy, and not nearly as sore. Do the obs tend to induce any fever/nausea? cuz the last couple days ive been feeling kinda sick, and dont know why.
May I suggest what my doctor gave me... 2% lidocaine. It's an oral suspension medicine, but I was directed to used it on my infected area. It was a little better, but burned like HHHEEEELLLLL when I used the potty... I was THEN instructed to get some syringes (NOT THE NEEDLE...LOL just the plastic part) and squeeze it on the open lesions... (mainly inside labia minora)...THAT was the BESTTT ever... warm baths helped too, but that darn 2% lidocaine was almost like MAGIC... Be sure to of course throw the syringes away after each use. AND I had to apply it before every time I tinkled... only took about 20-30 seconds before it 'kicked' in...
I'm almost sure if you ask your doctor about that, and get it, you'll LOVE IT... and it's pretty inexpensive... I KNOW less than 20.00 a bottle...
I'm almost sure if you ask your doctor about that, and get it, you'll LOVE IT... and it's pretty inexpensive... I KNOW less than 20.00 a bottle...
Yep I've used tucks before too. You can buy the individually wrapped ones to take to work too.
I wouldn't bother adding the calamine spray to everything else you are doing. I'm sure it's fine for the genital area but everything else you are using is working enough. If you throw something else into the mix and then have a reaction - then you have no idea what caused the reaction :( The valtrex will kick in real soon for you too.
You can also always take the safer way out of talking about this with your mom and say girlie problems and pretend it's a killer uti from too much action :D That way you get her support without having to stress her out. You know how she is - use your own judgement if you feel you need to tell her something. I told my mom about 4 years after I contracted hsv2. Neither she nor dad ever brought it up again - I think it was actually probably one of those TMI type situations that they would've prefered not knowing about....lol.
grace
I wouldn't bother adding the calamine spray to everything else you are doing. I'm sure it's fine for the genital area but everything else you are using is working enough. If you throw something else into the mix and then have a reaction - then you have no idea what caused the reaction :( The valtrex will kick in real soon for you too.
You can also always take the safer way out of talking about this with your mom and say girlie problems and pretend it's a killer uti from too much action :D That way you get her support without having to stress her out. You know how she is - use your own judgement if you feel you need to tell her something. I told my mom about 4 years after I contracted hsv2. Neither she nor dad ever brought it up again - I think it was actually probably one of those TMI type situations that they would've prefered not knowing about....lol.
grace
If I had some wine, it would be gone by now (probably the reason I don't have any, right :D) I did take a bath this morning (or rather, I tried. The tub here at our apartment isn't the best when it comes to holding water), and it did help. I noticed that there was some sloughing afterwards - dead cells?
I went to the store before I took my bath - needed some other stuff if you know what I mean - and the lady in the pharmacy suggested Tucks as well. THEY HELP A LOT. Between the tucks and the dermoplast spray, I'm feeling a bit better.
I also have some Calamine spray, its supposed to dry out weepy rashes from things like poison ivy - and since these blisters seem to have a bit of a discharge, I wondered what your thoughts were about adding some of that in, alternating it with the dermoplast maybe?
Thank you sooo much! Now, how to tell my mom. She knows somethings going on that I won't talk about.......lol it should be fun, thats for sure! ~stephanie
I went to the store before I took my bath - needed some other stuff if you know what I mean - and the lady in the pharmacy suggested Tucks as well. THEY HELP A LOT. Between the tucks and the dermoplast spray, I'm feeling a bit better.
I also have some Calamine spray, its supposed to dry out weepy rashes from things like poison ivy - and since these blisters seem to have a bit of a discharge, I wondered what your thoughts were about adding some of that in, alternating it with the dermoplast maybe?
Thank you sooo much! Now, how to tell my mom. She knows somethings going on that I won't talk about.......lol it should be fun, thats for sure! ~stephanie
Oh and I've found that drinking a glass of wine while soaking - makes the bath work even better ;)
grace
grace
I'm sure the dermoplast from last year is still fine to use. I've never looked at my own can of it to see if there is an expiration date on it or anything actually.
Warm baths help because it brings the "good" cells in your body closer to the surface to help fight off the infection. It also is usually fairly comforting. If it's a doozy of an ob throw in a packet of aveeno bath ( colloidal oatmeal ) or some epsom salts or even some plain ole corn starch or baking soda to help soothe the skin even more.
Washing your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or touching your genital area is all you need to do to protect yourself. The virus is easily killed with soap and water. You aren't likely to transmit the virus to your eyes from your genital area as long as you are using the same basic hygiene mom taught us when we were a wee babe :)
grace
Warm baths help because it brings the "good" cells in your body closer to the surface to help fight off the infection. It also is usually fairly comforting. If it's a doozy of an ob throw in a packet of aveeno bath ( colloidal oatmeal ) or some epsom salts or even some plain ole corn starch or baking soda to help soothe the skin even more.
Washing your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or touching your genital area is all you need to do to protect yourself. The virus is easily killed with soap and water. You aren't likely to transmit the virus to your eyes from your genital area as long as you are using the same basic hygiene mom taught us when we were a wee babe :)
grace
I have some blue dermoplast spray left over from when I had my daughter last year, is that still ok to use? And yeah, urinating is a tad on the painful side (add in starting my period last night, and I'm having a great time).
I also heard that warm baths help. Is that for the pain, or does it actually help heal the lesions? And what is the risk of accidently spreading the virus to other mucous membranes ie mouth/eyes?
I also heard that warm baths help. Is that for the pain, or does it actually help heal the lesions? And what is the risk of accidently spreading the virus to other mucous membranes ie mouth/eyes?
Dermoplast spray ( the blue can, not the red can for the genital area ). It's a topical anesthetic you can spray on the lesions several times a day for pain control. There are also many other topical anesthetic creams out there - just don't use one that has steroids in it.
Unless you have a medical reason not to - alternate tylenol with ibuprofen - ie 1000mg tylenol at 6am, 600mg ibuprofen at 9am, tylenol at noon, advil at 3pm etc. It provides pain relief comparable to some narcotics without the drowsiness side effect ( though why not be a little loopy when you are waiting for a herpes ob to heal....he he he ).
If the issue is urine flowing over open lesions - put your hand in a baggie and physically cover the lesions while urinating. also drinks plenty of extra water to keep the ph of your urine less acidic so it burns less.
Hope you are feeling better soon :)
grace
Unless you have a medical reason not to - alternate tylenol with ibuprofen - ie 1000mg tylenol at 6am, 600mg ibuprofen at 9am, tylenol at noon, advil at 3pm etc. It provides pain relief comparable to some narcotics without the drowsiness side effect ( though why not be a little loopy when you are waiting for a herpes ob to heal....he he he ).
If the issue is urine flowing over open lesions - put your hand in a baggie and physically cover the lesions while urinating. also drinks plenty of extra water to keep the ph of your urine less acidic so it burns less.
Hope you are feeling better soon :)
grace
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You are reading content posted in the STDs / STIs Community
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.
