Possibly having a second herpes outbreak?

[desertlove]

Last night and today I have been itching down there. I am worried that it might be signs of an OB. I've only had one out break before, so I am still trying to figure out the signs. I hope it is not a yeast infection because that could trigger it as well. I have acyclovir incase of an OB. Should I take it now, or wait a day or two since I am not sure.

[2Legit2Quit]

you can take it now, but I will say, you can be itchy and not have an OB.... I have prodrom all the time with actual no physical ob. It's really up to you. You can wait it out and see what happens or you can take preemptive measures to be on the safe side and take the course of meds.

[Michelle_lovinglife]

I'm in the same boat. I believe I'm having my second outbreak as well. I'm also on the same medication. I think I'm going to start taking mine tonight and hopefully helps. Hope you get some relief!

[desertlove]

hmm I had never heard of prodrom before. @2legit2quit I'm glad you mentioned it! I might have experience those symptoms about 2 weeks ago then when I was starting my period.

[desertlove]

@michelle_lovinglife I think that is a wise choice. I will do the same:). Thank you!I hope you get some relief soon too!

[Michelle_lovinglife]

Also try soaking in Epsom salt. Has helped me tremendously with the itching!!

[2Legit2Quit]

It was a typo, should be prodrome... I comment mainly from my phone, sorry about that... Means sensations you my get like itching, tingling, sensitivity, etc periods can be triggers for people. Yip, Epsom salt bath was the only thing that relieved my itch.

[desertlove]

Awesome, I have so Epsom salt already:). Now when I feel an itch, I don't know if its just an itch or a sign of H lol. I'm sure over time I will get to tell them apart.

[2Legit2Quit]

Journal for 4-6 month's symptoms, sensatios, location and possible triggers daily to learn your body. I was itchy for some time after my primary and I was itchy off and on in the same spot for months and months.. Because it was always on the same spot and from recording it, I knew it wasn't a yeast infection and was H. Now it never itcjes there and hasn't in months. I'm big at journaling it, because I'm a very symptomatic carrier and my symptoms change over the course of a couple of months. Just when I think something is going to stay being a prodrome, it stops, never happens again and then I have some weird other shit... So yeah, journaling will help you to understand better.

[WCSDancer2010]

I suggest you keep a journal of what you are eating, activities, stressors, etc ... see if you can see a pattern for what makes it worse. I often say that Herpes is like a "first responder" to the health of your body ... although in the first few months, it's often just that your body needs time to figure out how to get it under control.

 

Second - attack it from the outside ... I'm going to put a bunch of links but generally Epsom Salts baths (drop a double handful of the salts between your legs so its concentrated there), followed by thorough drying (even using a hair drier to get it really dry), maybe going commando, and using Bactine (which helps to kill the virus AND numb it thanks to the lidocaine in it) ... or my favorite, Ammonium Alum ... but there's LOTS of suggestions in the links. I find if you attack it from the outside, the inside can do it's job better :)

 

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/

 

http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/genital-ulcers.htm#hsv

 

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

 

And some prodrome info :)

 

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-prodrome-symptoms

 

[desertlove]

Yes, I agree with you two. I should definitely start a journal. The itching seems to come and go randomly. I will look at all of these links. thank you:). Have these worked for you?

[WCSDancer2010]

My personal go-to has been ammonium alum externally and a double dose of anti-virals ... the epsom salts/commando/blow drier route gets a lot of great feedback .... the vast majority of items/ideas here have had more than one person say they have had success with it

[JJJ2015]

I don't know how ppl go commando! I've tried, thinking it would alleviate and it just makes the itching and uncomfortable feeling worse! So I've been sticking with cotton granny panties which I actually has to go out and buy BC all I owned was thongs! But the ones I bought seem to help make me more comfortable. Can you take Lysine and an anti-viral together?

[2Legit2Quit]

Yes you can take both together. I personally saw no difference taking lysine but some say they do. Not sure if it's a placebo effect or why, but you just have to figure out what works best for you.

[desertlove]

If I can't take Epsom salt baths, I wonder if dabbing it on would work also? Or squirting some on with a peri bottle?

[2Legit2Quit]

Squirt bottle sounds like a good idea . also try Bactine.

[WCSDancer2010]

Yes - you can soak a cotton ball or washcloth ...maybe put a towel on your seat/bed and just let the epsom salt solution sit there for awhile... then dry well...

 

And the bactine is a good option too.... esp for dabbing on at work/when traveling/etc :)

[desertlove]

Just thought I'd let you guys know, It was a yeast infection after all. Hopefully I will not have my second outbreak any time soon! :) will be prepared for it tho if it comes.

[NothingGoodGetsAway]

@desertlove can I ask how you were diagnosed with yeast?

 

I'm going through something VERY similar - constant itching (all over), discharge and some tearing when I'm itching. Waiting on results from my gyno, who actually said that Epsom Salt baths were VERY bad for the yeast, since I was experiencing some bad dryness and tearing (which, if it were herpes we'd want to dry it out, but if I'm tearing due to dryness/yeast, we want to keep it moist!)

 

So hard to pinpoint, but just a reminder that we need to make sure that we're treating the root cause (rather than doubling up on Valtrex or taking unnecessary antibiotics like Diflucan).

[2Legit2Quit]

Umm... Losts of moisture can cause yeast.. Not too sure I agree w your docs theory there. :-)

[desertlove]

@nothingGoodGetsAway Hello! Well, my doctor took a swab of my discharge and looked under a microscope to look for organisms that cause vaginal yeast infections. I came back positive, however this way of checking isn't always accurate because it may give a false negative. Up to 50% of the time it comes back negative. She also took a culture swab for future testing if I keep having yeast infections. I did take a Fluconazole pill, but I am eating healthier to make sure I get this yeast infection out of me once in for all! lol

 

Don't scratch! I know it is hard not to, but it may make it worse. If anything just lightly pat. Yes, from my understanding moisture can cause yeast. I think, as long as you are only doing epsom salt baths when you are having an OB you should be okay, but not for a yeast infection.

[2Legit2Quit]

Did you start taking a probiotic BTW? Also, make sure you're logging where it itches, frequency and the days of the weak. Many suspect yeast infections, when it's actually an H itch. I'd imagine that Epsom salt could possibly irritate it, but really all Epsom salt is once mixed w water, is a saline solution and acts as a cleaner.

[2Legit2Quit]

Weird, I did a quick search and it comes up from a site of a GYNO, to yeast infection. Org site, among others, that it's actually recommended. Hmm...

[NothingGoodGetsAway]

@desertlove that's what my gyno said! She mentioned that it might come back negative but that means nothing.

 

@2legit2quit definitely have been paying close attention to that. At the worst parts, it was itching EVERYWHERE. This might be TMI, but I'd wipe, then walk around for a little bit and suddenly have a SEVERE burning/itching in a pretty large area (2-3 inches). I'd look in the bathroom, and sure enough it was the discharge coating right in that spot. Once I'd wiped it away, the spot wouldn't be irritated anymore.

 

I think in my case, because I was tearing due to dryness and irritation, to not take the epsom salt bath. Especially since she was treating me with antibiotics and a topical solution, she recommended just a normal bath so I don't get dried up more.

 

Am also taking a probiotic, as all the antibiotic use this summer had me scared at a point that I had C Diff :/

 

So frustrating, because I know the symptoms can be similar between H and yeast, but there is really no way that this is *only* H causing my symptoms. Not to say H isn't hiding somewhere around me - and I'm not engaging in anything sexual until this clears, and washing my hands as if I'm having an OB. It's just so important to figure out what is the real problem, so we're taking the right things to treat it!!

 

I have been on antibiotics all summer due to tonsillitis, and then I just came off of my last round following a tonsillectomy. Sure enough, the next day, yeastie has reared it's ugly head!! So the timing (antibiotics) and symptoms (thick discharge, burning, overall itching - not in one place specifically) make both me and my gyno highly suspicious of yeast.

 

I've taken round of flucanozole and cream, and it seems to be helping but not getting rid of it completely. So here's hoping the next round fixes me right up!!

[2Legit2Quit]

Yeah taki g a probiotic will take time to build in your system and start to modulate your pH balance that is thrown off from the meds.