Jayne00

Hi Ashley, It sucks big time doesn't it. So things I've found, done and yet to do - I use a small amount of sudocrem down there and I find it soothes fairly well. Does get bloody everywhere though. The zinc oxide in it helps heal. Don't go crazy with the topical zinc, despite some fairly weak studies that indicate regular use can reduce outbreaks. I've gone through using topical zinc sulfate rinses, zinc sulfate creams, and zinc oxide creams, and the zinc sulfate (because it causes a rapid absorption and therefore fast peak tissue concentrations of zinc) often can be very burning to the herpes blisters, causes almost deep ulcers and the eschars, and actually can make the outbreak worse. Also, as it absorbs so well, if you do this all the time and also take zinc supplements, you need to be aware of the risk of zinc toxicity. The zinc oxide is absorbed more slowly, and seems to be kinder to your skin. Hence why I will still use sudocrem. Don't use super hot shower water to bathe your private parts. It irritates your skin. Don't use harsh soaps, just very gentle baby soaps to get the sudocrem off each day. And only on the very front and outside, I don't wash with soap anywhere near the opening of your vulva. I don't eat chocolate or peanut butter now, and I don't drink coffee. I have tried to cut down on how many nuts I eat too. I take zinc, vit C, fish oil, coenzyme Q10 and magnesium. I would go get your basic bloods checked, like I did above. just to be sure there isn't anything blatantly obvious that is affecting your immune system or general health. When the prodromal tingling signs get too much, I take an antihistamine, 1000mg of paracetamol, CBD oil, and 400mg of ibuprofen. It seems to help a little. And to be fair, If its aching and inflamed all during a flare up, I continue the antihistamines and analgesics. I haven't been to the OBGYN about it yet. Its very hard to get any doctors appointments in the UK at the moment, so I'd have to pay for private and I don't have the money for that at the moment. I haven't developed any other signs though, so as far as concern re really serious underlying disease, I'm a little less concerned. At the moment it's been a week since my last flare up which luckily was just some inflammation, with horrendous tingling and aching groin, but no blisters. Fingers crossed this settled period lasts. Also, I've read on this forum, an old thread that had a lot of girls saying that they have experienced horrendous, continuous flare ups years down the line too... so it's almost like for us girls, we can go years being OK, then for some reason a few of us can get months (unfortunately maybe years?? One girl said she had two years of it) of continuous un-ending outbreaks... So who knows. I haven't found any research papers on this phenomenon. But it does seem anecdotally that it happens to a certain percentage of us. I don't think there were any answers as to what to do about it. One thing I'm clinging to is the fact that there are currently trials into a vaccine for HSV-2. Two companies are at the human trial stages. So maybe, they might be talking about its availability over the next few years?? As soon as they state they need volunteers, I am so up for it. I have no qualms being a guinea pig if it gives me the slightest chance of getting rid of this curse. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help. Just that you are not alone. This thing sucks balls big time.

Hi everyone. It seems I am in the same boat as everyone on this thread. Its been 20yrs since diagnosis, I'm not on antivirals (and I don't want to given the risk of resistance), i don't drunk coffee now, I cut out all alcohol, nuts, peanut butter, chocolate.. I don't smoke, I exercise a lot, I've had my b12, folate, iron, vitD, Mg, T4, TSH and white and red blood cells all checked. And they're all fine.. but the last 6 months have had continuous, unending flare ups. And feel like it's getting worse. Nerve pain all around thighs and buttocks, constant tingling, blisters coming and going, redness... Just wanted to see, has anyone in this thread had any improvement??? Please say yes as I feel I'm not going to be able to have a life or continue my marriage if this continues....

Hi @Kob456 Just wondering if you have an update on your health? As I am having continuous flare ups too , though mine are 20yrs post first diagnosis... Just wondering if you discovered any other health conditions (any underlying immune suppressive diseases), or the outbreaks have settled down?

Hi. I have had herpes for about 20 years, I'm not sure what variant. I had the typical original flare up, and then smaller, frequent very sensitive and easily damaged genital skin for probably a few years. Then nothing for years, Then moved country, for a few more small flare ups, then not really anything for years. I am not under stress at the moment and my relationship is very stable (been with the same person for 18 years now), When I was learning about herpes all those years ago, I immediately changed my diet. I'm coeliac so didn't eat gluten anyway, but even though I was still at uni, I cut out all alcohol (i was fun at parties🙄), and even though I loved it, I don't drink coffee anymore, and even though it was my favourite food, I don't eat peanut butter anymore either. Or many nuts in general. I have kept that regime since then, and I'm fit, I'm in pretty good shape and I have a very good diet (like, my main food is kale haha). But for the last 6 months, I've been having almost constant outbreaks. They will clear up, and I think I'll be OK, but then a few days to a week later, its tingling again, aching lymph nodes/groin, nerves down thighs and buttocks feeling raw and aching, blisters, pain, the whole shebang. At the start of these flare ups 6 months ago, I thought I felt fine, however for the last 4 months I've been feeling pretty run down and have had a few head colds/upper respiratory illnesses that are persisting. So for the last few months, Ive restarted some supplements and tried to focused on my health. I've been taking fish oil, I've been taking zinc and vitamin C, Also co-enzyne Q10. I requested bloods (as I get them every few years due to coeliac to make sure I'm not deficient in anything) I'm not iron deficient, my b12, folate, liver, renal, T4, TSH are all normal. My CBC is all fine, no anemia and no indication of lymphopenia or neutropenia... And I don't think I'm quite at the age for menopause (I'm 39). So by all intents and purposes I'm healthy... But I feel shit, and these constant continuous outbreaks are getting me worried. I really don't want to commit to anti-virals every day for the rest of my life, and my concern is for the risk of resistance. But this is ruining my life. My husband and I have only had sex twice in six months... And I'm so scared of passing it onto him (though given how long we've been together, he may already have been exposed...) that ANY touching down there is off the cards. So My question is - has anyone had this severity and persistency of flare ups so long after original diagnosis, that then turned out to be due to an underlying illness? Like , I'm thinking cancer and things... 😶 TLDR - anyone had continuous severe outbreaks, that led to a diagnosis of underlying cancer or an immune suppressive illness??? Sorry for long post.