Maddy

Hi Some people just get a few outbreaks and some like us keep getting them again and again. But the good news is that over a period of time they become less frequent. If your outbreaks are frequent then your doctor might suggest you to go on supression . Which means you have to keep taking the tablets over a period of time. You might also want to observe what you are eating . Foods high in arginine may trigger continious outbreaks . The hsv virus uses arginine (which is an amino acid) to multiply . So observe your diet. Besides, this hard time that you are experiencing will pass and you will learn to live with the virus. You are not alone. This community is very supportive ❤️ God bless

Hi @HelloFriends Sure thing . Simce I am new to this I am starting a food journal . It will help me keep track . Besides, I do keep lysine handy and increase my daily dose to 1500 mg whenever I feel over indulged. I did check with my doctor about the protein and he said I should be ok . Again it is my body and a journal is my best bet for now. Thankyou ❤

Besides, all skin types are different so would suggest if you can see a dermat and get prescribed the correct treatment.

Hi I checked with my dermat on th3 pigmentation . He didn't suggest laser as mine is quite faint . He prescribed me a serum that has vitamin C and has asked me to use it for three months on the pigmented area. This one gets absorbed in the skin quickly and doesnt leave me with a moist skin, previously using mederma cream undoubtedly aggravated my outbreaks. I don't know if I will be allowed to post a picture of the serum on this forum but it is vitamin C mostly

Also, to add to this a question always comes up that if you have higher antibodies do you have less/no outbreaks? Essentially, the body is developing a strong response by creating antibodies and that would be a god thing correct?

Hi @bubbles9991 Yes I have similar pigmentation in my genital area. I tried using Mederma creme however, that aggravated the outbreaks as HSV needs a warm and moist environment. I am going to check with my dermatologist if there is any way to help me lighten those marks and I will put it again on this feed. A serum that dries quickly can help but let me check with my dermatologist, I am meeting him next week.

Hi All, I am slowly starting my exercise regime and was wondering if anyone has faced this. I have started taking plant protein and since my doctor has put me on suppression I am having Acyclovir 400 per day . This Acyclovir 400 mg is a dispersal tablet and melts in water. So is it a good idea to take the antiviral along with my protein?

Yes the IGG numbers keep fluctuating all the time . I have had an IGG reading of 1.45, 1.33 , 1.26, 2.1 when I have tested monthly . The body will keep fluctuating the IGG levels

Thank you i needed this

So this is conclusive correct ?... HSV 1 & 2 IGG by Western blot is positive

on the thighs . The itching has stopped since I started the antivirals from 25th August . I noticed that the outbreaks on the thighs take a long time to heal in comparison to the ones in the genital area .

Hi Yes it is not hurting but yes tingling. I felt sick on 17th August and developed this . I showed it to my dermatologist. He has currently put me on acyclovir 400 3 times a day for 10 days . Post that he has put me on a month of supression with acyclovir 400 once a day. The outbreaks are just not stopping . It is getting very depressing. The doc has also asked me to do a HSV 1 and HSV 2 Western blot . I am awaiting the results. One thing that I do want to ask is supression safe and will it reduce outbreaks ? I just want to reduce my outbreaks.

Done that look like a herpes rash ....

Hi no the doc has not switched the meds . He has just asked me to stop it from some time. Besides, the doc asked me to do a DNA pcr urine and all the STI in it came back negative ...

I do not know if this has happened to anyone. I really can't tolerate Valacyclovir. The prescribed dose of 500Mg for a month I do not know how I will complete. I informed my doctor that I am not able to tolerate it. He has said to stop it for a while. I am used to antivirals Acyclovir 400 mg 3 times a day and I can pretty much tolerate this dose . I am not too sure why I am not able to tolerate just the 500mg of Valacyclovir. Does the body take time to get used to it? I am not sure

I am a bodybuilder myself and I have tossed aside all my supplement because I read about arginine . I love to lift . Are you on suppression while bodybuilding? I am just trying to reduce my outbreaks

Hi Visited the dermatologist today and he prescribed Valacyclovir for a month based on the IGG positive in my report. He also said that in the reports the IGG positive could be a false positive as I keep getting lesions at different spots on my genitals. A urine DNA PCR was also done which has not detected any HSV virus or other STI's . Usually, HSV2 happens in the same areas . In my case it is all over the place. The current outbreak is on the shaft of my penil muscle and it is in a straight line . My dermatologist says that there could be inflammation in my body and has prescribed some more tests. I do have follicilitus and my doc says that may be a reason that the HSV is flaring up if I have it. There are other conditions that look like HSV but aren't. A month is what he has asked me to wait to check how the meds work. But a false positive cant be 6 times . I have done this HSV detection report 6 times and all the time it turned out to be a positive IGG. Besides, acyclovir works and zaps my lesions so I really think that HSV is there however, other conditions like follicilitus may be just triggering it more as I am experiencing more OB's. Whenever I shave I do get an outbreak along with follicilitus.

Initial test combined it together, Later test distinguished it and I just did a test on 9th August 2022. The results showed that HSV 1 IGG & IGM negative ; HSV 2 IGG is 2.9 and HSV 2 IGM is 0.29. I spoke to a consulting Doctor and that Doctor advised me that may be my medications are incorrect. I am using Acyclovir to treat these outbreaks and she advised that I need to use Valacyclolvir since I have HSV 2 infection. Will be seeing a dermatologist tomorrow (Will update what he says) . I have lesions on my groin so let them make a physical examination. About suppressive therapy, they will advise me once the physical examination is done . They say that they will have to examine my lipid profile to see if a suppressive therapy can be tolerated by me. Besides, Thanks so much for all the kind words, I am just trying to come to terms with the number of OB's that I am seeing here. I just want them to stop that is why, I used desperate in my title.

Hi Everyone, In March 2021, I meet a friend and he introduced me to someone, I was ailing from a broken relationship and grieving my father's death at the same time. Seems like an emotional roller coaster at that time. I gave into the temptation of getting physical with someone who's status I didn't know. A few days later I developed fever and bad sore throat for which I visited my GP and got treatment, It was so bad that I had to see an ENT and get my throat in order (I do not know why I am saying this but I need to get it off). The ENT got the meds going for me and I started feeling better however, I noticed that I had bumps on my groin and my chin. I usually have bumps as I have hair follicles issue and I am used to seeing fluid filled bumps. In this case It was horrible, So I had to see a dermatologist. I did an online consult and the dermatologist saw what I had and prescribed me antibiotics. The blisters didn’t fade so I had to go for an in person visit. This new doc just gave me acyclovir for 7 days and the blisters went away. I was so happy. What he didn’t tell me was to get tested. So with my improved condition I was happy. I took the Covid 19 shot in May 2021 followed by another Shot in August 2021. I was not experiencing any outbreaks during this time so I was happy. In September I had something on my Chin and I started research google (Which is scary!) and found that I may have Herpes. So with my own judgment I went to a Pathology lab in October 2021 and got my testing done. I finally got the result and there it was HSV 1 & 2 IGG positive IGM Negative. The number was more than 8 which is a sign that my body has made antibodies. I was scared like hell so contacted sexologist and they confirmed that this is positive however, they said that it is past infection. I was continuing to get outbreaks however, I never took medications. The outbreaks would subside in a 2 -3days. Fast forward to Jan 2022 and I was preparing from my test and I saw that I am getting an OB and then I started Acyclovir as my previous Dermatologist had prescribed 400 mg three time a day for 7 days. With this the OB just disappeared, however it started coming back within a few days. Jan 2022 –OB (Took acyclovir) Feb 2022- OB (Took acyclovir) Mar 2022- OB (Took acyclovir) May 2022 2nd Week - OB (Took acyclovir) May 2022 4th Week - OB (Took acyclovir) June 2022 2nd Week - OB (Took acyclovir) June 2022 4th Week- OB (Took acyclovir for 10 days based on a recommendation of a sexologist) Coming to July 2022, I had none, Then in August 2022. I saw a small bump on my lip which went away in 2 days and then today on my groin in the penis region I can see very small blisters formed and broken as well. Now the point of telling you all this is that I have started seeing regular outbreaks since Jan 2022. I was assuming that the OB’s decrease over time however, I my case they seem to have increased since my first OB in March 2021. I am going to see a dermatologist soon. However the scary part is that the OB have increased They don’t seem to be severe but yes the number has increased. I am scared and really. I am married and I just feel that my live is over. I don’t know if I ever will be physical with my wife ever. I know I have to disclose, however since my Infection in March 2021, I have never been physical with her at all. I do not even allow anyone to touch me because I fear I may pass on the virus to them. I just want to become a recluse and this is mentally affecting me. I don’t know what I am asking here from the community or where do I want to go with this. Feeling very down don’t know what to do from here. Here is my test results Since October 2021 1. 9th October 2021 IGG Antibody to HSV I &II - 8.98, IGM Antibody to HSV I &II-0.54 2. 3rd March 2022 Herpes Simplex (1 & 2) IGG -3.7, Herpes Simplex (1 & 2) IGM- 0.71 3. 5th May 2022 Herpes Simplex Virus II IGG- 1.63 , Herpes Simplex Virus II IGM- 0.16 4. 20th June 2022 Herpes Simplex Virus II IGG -1.26, Herpes Simplex Virus II IGM-0.75, Herpes Simplex Virus I IGG - 0.20, Herpes Simplex Virus I IGM - 0.07 5. 22nd June 2022 Herpes Simplex Virus II IGG-1.45, Herpes Simplex Virus II IGM- 0.21, Herpes Simplex Virus I IGG -1.33, Herpes Simplex Virus I IGM- 0.28 (Reference : Negative:< 0.9, Borderline: 0.9-1.1, Positive: >1.1 )