Sil88

I was super tired for about two months after initial OB. Feel like I've got most of my energy back now. (3 months) Unless it was caused by the valaciclovir.

Thanks guys, I'll put it down to extra tension and a bad mattress. It seemed to start around the same time as the cough as my last OB, but ill look out for a pattern. A dull ache doesn't shout out herpes though I guess. You mention pain in the ass - It did feel like I'd done 7 leg days this week at the gym. Comforting to know it's typical.

3 months into my diagnosis and I've been having back ache a lot, as well as around my left elbow and knee. It's not too painful, but enough to notice and feels a bit sickening. I never had anything like this before, but the doc says he's never heard of that relating to H, and it's more likely to be caused by anxiety/depression. Yet quite a few websites list back and joint pains as a symptom of H. I've had a cough for a while now, so my immune system is probably distracted. Can anyone shed any light? Is it a myth, or have others experienced this?

So is everyone supposed to hold out for that supermodel with a PhD? No, because sometimes love can happen.

@wcsdancer2010 thanks dancer - to be honest that's all I needed to hear, rather not worry myself by reading about every condition under the sun. It's been stressing me out to a point where the doctor says I'm imagining (or my mind is causing) symptoms! Thanks

Pretty sure your blood is as pure as it was before, you can still donate. We all have those sad days - even though 5 months is still early, I guess the hardest part is over.

@inka ah thanks, had a second look at the nhs definition. Can be easily misunderstood.

@WCSDancer2010 doesn't HSV belong to the HPV family, so still applies? I've been wondering the same thing about old age and compounding health issues. I know it's best not to think about it, but is there anything I can take comfort from? I stupidly read that Alzheimer's risk is doubled.. But 90% have some form of HS - are genital cases supposed to be more accountable?

@Snyperx , I had the same as you with my finger.. the genital symptoms appeared about a week later I would say (whilst the finger was mid-healing process). I guess there's no way to identify which specific regions are infected without an OB, so just be cautious and keep an eye out for redness, tingling or burning. Curious to know how your hand responds though... I've not had any blisters yet, but some strange tingles and occasional pains in my wrist.

Haha it is a bugger right? Glad to see another Brit here - enjoyed the read :)

@willow Thanks, so no flu-like ones? Forgot to mention shaking/shivering. Like you say though, it's different for everyone - will just wait and see where it leads.

Ya me neither.. I think the cluster is typical of herpes, so I will try to judge the necessity of meds by how my body feels, not how many spots appear. That's the part I want, to feel healthy and lively regardless of any spots down there.

6 weeks OB free isn't bad going. I think my second was about the same delay, with some kind of 3-day spotless fever in between. I was given valaciclovir, which I took each time I felt or saw something, but stopped after 2 or 3 days since I had a suspicion it might be causing side affects. Next time I might try not using it at all.

I can't offer much, but what I can say is that my second OB is just healing and it covered a larger area than my first (size of a quarter increased from size of a dime) I don't know if it's necessary, but I tend to soap the rest of the area first before focusing on the 'danger zone'. (since we're making a big deal of it!) @willow I'm curious how your 5 OBs varied in symptoms? I'm noticing a lack of pain, general constant tiredness and weakness, lack of appetite, sparking nerve endings in other body parts. Quite paranoid I might have another condition too, possibly/hopefully effects of feeling a bit depressed.

@adventurelovelife yup

I used a condom 4/5 times during the week that I caught it, but my newfound outbreak location is in the pubic area. So chances are, 5/5 wouldn't have made a difference, but I'm no doctor.

@ithappebedtome I think everyone here can relate to the way you're feeling.. At least everything you described sounds familiar to me. Be thankful that you have a close friend and this community to share with - I'm the type that can't keep secrets so it feels such a relief to unload sometimes, even make fun of myself to those in the know. As you already know, there's plenty of nice people in the same boat as you, and plenty of nice people who can overlook a relatively mild condition - with recent events, you could appreciate that it's not Ebola! I also had/have doubts about the person who passed it to me, I'm still not sure if I can ever overlook it (10 weeks on btw). My natural logic says it's probably equally as bad to innocently transfer it than to receive it... I might have to think about that one actually. Anyway, as with your username typo we will surely learn to live with it - welcome to the club.

Ah yea, I remember now.. looked like tiny air pockets under the skin, but gradually expanded and changed colour. Now my hand is tingling without any anti virals, so that answers that one. Hope it clears for you soon.

@WCSDancer2010 Thanks, Google Translate is missing a trick there!

@YogaJ12 , same story as you (minus vagina, plus flu-like symptoms). Went through similar panic and stupid passing thoughts. Anyway I'm 6 weeks ahead of you, and things don't seem so bad. Keep up the yoga and see the whole thing as motivation to boost your immune system. I've been getting 10 of my 5-a-day lately!

I'm also a non-believer, but the last two months have shaken me a bit. I came out of a long-term relationship with a Christian girl around the start of the year. Reasons to do with distance, religion, family and others. I was persuaded several times to attend church, given a bible, asked to say grace etc but I was generally quite stubborn. A few months later and at the first opportunity, I caught H from someone who was unaware of it. No going back now, but the thought has passed my mind that it was deserved somehow or even prayed upon me! Daft, I know - but I've always been guilty of over thinking things..

My first sign was whitlow. Only had one visible outbreak there so far - in fact there were no bumps, just the blackish coldsore looking thing on my torn cuticle (is that what you mean?). It disappeared in about 10 days as expected, but since then I had feverish symptoms accompanied by single quick burning tingles in my fingers. Could be the anti-virals, not sure yet. Also not sure if the whitlow is what spread downwards or if the two cases were unique.. still lots of answers to find. Anyway, I didn't really do anything.. just waited, covered sometimes with a plaster. Before I knew what it was, I even tried Dettol and a scalpel but that was really pointless and unnecessary.. Just leave it!

Hi, newcomer here - diagnosed two months ago but was happy to just read until now. Thanks to everyone that shared their experiences and made this bubble seem a bit bigger! Still a little uneasy about the situation, but the more questions answered, the better I feel. I'm a 26 year old guy in Lancs, UK and happy to chat.