Trouble Healing from Herpes Outbreak

[DazedNewbi]

I apologize if this is considered graphic for anyone. I used the search bar and while i've seen tips to dry the area and a few ointments I'd like a little more. Thanks!

 

I have a lesion (it was likely a sore before I scratched it with my unknowingly sharp nail and tore it open) that simply isn't healing. And now despite all but one sore and the lesion having disappeared the itching is back! I don't know what to do. As far as I know this is my first OB. Type 1 genitally. I've had the lesion for about 15 days and while I know its in a more moist area of my vaginal region I do my best to keep it clean and dry...... Yet it persists in bleeding and just wont heal. It is adding a layer of stress to this whole situation that I'm finding hard to handle. And the itching!!! Why is it back? Does this mean I should expect another round of blister/sore/dot thingies? The Dr who diagnosed me (Swab of lesion last sunday) didn't prescribe me anything for this OB because it was already so underway but if the itching is back should I get anti-virals? Frankly I want to be put on them fulltime. I keep seeing how HSV thrives on stress. Guess what? I'm currently a little stressed! lol Stressed about the lesion, the diagnoses, future outbreaks, having to leave behind or face losing my job, job hunting and ever facing a work environment again knowing that any day I could have an OB and be bedridden and unable to do my job.

 

Is it normal for my lesion to be taking this long? How will I know when its healed and no longer shedding? When it becomes a scar? (its undoubtedly going to scar. I did a number on it before I knew it wasn't simply an itch from a yeast infection). How long do OB "usually" last and a "normal" lesion take to heal? Anybody ever have a significant cut and how did you handle the healing process, please and thank you.

help.

 

Thanks.

 

Hope you are having a good day!! :)

[StillMeButWiser]

Oh my, first of all take a deep breath. Normal to have so many questions surrounding a first outbreak. You will get through this. It's good you were able to get the sore cultured. Step in the right direction. Try to be patient for the results. As I read your words, sounded like it wasn't a herpes lession. We can get clogged ducts that causes a boil type of sores. Try Benadryl for the itching. People say lemon balm works too. My first outbreak seem like forever. Been 6 months and I still have redness and inflammation. Believe me, I had all the same emotions you are having with this other sore. Really try to lower your stress and have faith in your body in healing itself. Plus you have taken steps in the right direction to heal. Takes time.

[DazedNewbi]

@StillMeButWiser Right, breathing haha I actually needed that reminder. I've begun to develop a habit of clenching my throat and jaw and not allowing in enough air when I become overwhelmed. Thank you for the Benadryl tip. I hadn't thought of that!

I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[StillMeButWiser]

@dazednewbi as you take a deep breath thru your nose, close eyes and bring shoulders up to your ears, hold. Then slowly release breath thru mouth as shoulders move down. Followed by lots of positive self pep talk. You got this girl.

 

Best wishes

[WCSDancer2010]

@DazedNewbi

 

Hello and Welcome!

 

First, nothing is off limits here except judgement :)

 

And yes, first OB's can take awhile to settle down ... so *try* to be patient. I will post links to a bunch of discussions about what you can try to help to get it under control (surprised you haven't come across a post with it as I post this a LOT!)

 

Epsom Salts baths (dump the salt right between your legs) followed by a towel dry then blow dry the area on low and go commando when possible. Some use Tea Tree Oil. Some like Bactine (it's the same stuff as the very expensive Oragel Single Dose that is used on oral herpes). Some like Hydrogen Peroxide. L-Lysine pills seem to help many, but not everyone. Lots of great info in the links :)

 

Try all this before you rush onto anti-virals... unless you are wanting to protect a partner ... but HSV1 genitally *usually* settles down more quickly (relative to HSV2) so with luck yours should start to get better soon.

 

(((HUGS)))

 

Treatments/medications

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-forum/discussion/6024/dealing-with-outbreaks#latest includes links below

http://supporttruthanddialog.com/easy-simple-self-help-tips-for-relief-from-herpes-outbreaks/

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-forum/discussion/4810/bactine-for-oral-and-even-genital-herpes

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-treatment/

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-medication/

 

Links to some of the items suggested in the links

http://amzn.to/1CHUzZE Link to Alum

http://tinyurl.com/Aloecream

http://amzn.to/1F10r3V Fractionated Coconut Oil

http://bit.ly/zincsoap Zinc Soap with coconut oil

http://bit.ly/Zinccream

http://tinyurl.com/bactine

http://tinyurl.com/Oragelsgldose

http://tinyurl.com/DMSO4HSV

 

[DazedNewbi]

@WCSDancer2010 Thanks for the info! I do have to worry about protecting a partner which has been a large part in my consideration of anti-virals. I am not really a medicine taker. I even try to avoid Tylenol. But between the stress of the unknown and trying to keep him safe I am seriously considering the daily anti-viral. I don't have a family GP and my OBGYN retired so I'm left without medical care besides the local walk-in and they were ruefully unable to communicate my options at the time of diagnosis.

[2Legit2Quit]

@DazedNewbi I know many here will not agree w me, but your situation is a perfect example why I don't believe in the drying out method to make it heal and go away. No matter how dry you keep a sore, if the virus is present on the skin, the sore is going to stay. Personally from experience and advising others, it just made it more painful drying it out, vs putting a glob of Vaseline over it to protect from friction from movements and wiping.

 

I think many of us that had horrific primary obs have this fear it is going to be like this all the time and our lives will never be the same. Well being someone who has yet to meet anyone who had an OB w neuropathy as severe as mine, I'm here to tell you, that's just not the case. None of my recurrents, held me back from going about my daily lifelife.

 

I think we all just find what works best for them and drying out didn't work for me. Give spraying bactine on the infected area, followed by a glob of Vaseline for protection and nightly lavender Epsom salt baths a try one day and she how you fair. Hang in there, it gets better!

[WCSDancer2010]

@ DazedNewbi

 

I'm not a medicine taker either, but I take them episodically because I can knock it right out with perhaps 2-4 doses and I take it as a suppressive when in a new relationship until I know we are solid and my partner is comfortable with the risks... so I have been on and off of it a couple times, and it hasn't bothered me negatively in any way.

 

@2Legit2Quit

 

As you said towards the end, you have to find what works for YOU ... but the Bactine actually does "dry it out" as in, it kills it at skin level, and that is the purpose of drying the area out .. because when it's open it's also more likely to have at least *some* bacterial infection to complicate things too. Alum dries it out completely but in *my* experience I never had any issues of it then being painful from drying out .. but if I did, once it was dried out, that would mean it's dead, in which case using some kind of balm or whatever to keep the area soft certainly makes sense too.

 

Glad that the Bactine is working for you.... I would love to hear more stories with it because it makes total sense to me that it should be more widely used as it's the same thing as Oragel Single Dose which is horrendously expensive but works VERY well (its useful to keep that in the purse/wallet for oral OB's and likely genital ones too when you discover it when you are away from home... but it IS pricey :p )

[2Legit2Quit]

Bactine is an antiseptic for bacteria. I only use the bactine for the numbing agent, to provide relief. However, I apply Vaseline over it for further protection for when I oee or workout. So as to prevent friction.

 

Yes, it's great to carry w you in your purse and spray yourself in a public restroom when at work or out and about.

 

For oral herpes if that causes anyone pain, using natural clove oil takes all the pain away, but must dikute it some if on the outside of the mouth. I just can't believe how far behind we are in having something between to treat herpes.. Really gets on my nerves.

[whitedaisies]

So I think I get mine on the inside lower vaginal opening.

 

I have had this one for almost two weeks. Keeping that area from being dry and moist is impossible. It doesn't hurt sometimes it's irritated but rare.

 

I am almost tempted to go to doc to have him take the fluid out.

 

How do you dry out stuff on the inside areas that are constantly moist. Going commando will not help. Already tried a million baths with Epsom salt and lavender oil. It's still there.

 

Suggestions?

[WCSDancer2010]

@2Legit2Quit

 

Actually Bactine is the EXACT same thing as Oragel Single Dose ( ) ... same ingredients and same percentages of active ingredients, so it's actually anti-viral too (and thus will help to kill/"dry" the OB out) which is why I suggest people try it here:

 

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-forum/discussion/4810/bactine-for-oral-and-even-genital-herpes

 

And what I meant by carrying it in the purse is the Oragel ...but again, it's REALLY expensive ... but if it stops an OB dead in it's tracks, perhaps it's worth it :)

 

http://tinyurl.com/Oragelsgldose

 

 

@whitedaisies

 

If there is fluid in your current lesion go to the Dr and get it swabbed ... but ask them to swab for ANYTHING that it could be....

 

Perhaps try the bactine ... put it on a cotton square and or spray it up in there ... "drying out" in this case is doing what you can to kill the virus, and keeping bacteria out of the area so that it can't make things worse... yes it's hard to get rid of all moisture, but you can still work on finding what kills off any OB quickly for YOU ...

[whitedaisies]

It's been 2.5 weeks that it's been there. I am passed the 48 hour window.

 

I think I just want him to pop it and be done with it.

 

I am gonna try oragel next time though

[WCSDancer2010]

Try bactine first ... same thing and one hell of a lot cheaper :)