Persistent herpes outbreaks

As89 · December 26, 2015

I've been having back to back out breaks since October.. I've been trying to be more healthy and I've been back working out.. Taking Epsom salt baths.. I've tried about every home remedy. Does anyone have anything else to offer? I've tried bactine, some

Home remedy mixture, the only thing that's been helping a little bit is baking soda. It usually starts around my anus and then spreads to my labia. I've also tried zinc cream too. I'm on a gram a day of valtrex. Someone anyone please help

2Legit2Quit · December 26, 2015

Are you drinking coffee and alcohol? How long have you had this? I just had a problem with having back to back obs for like 5 months and I cut out coffee and then it stopped after a month no coffee. Then I was two weeks free and then got redness in my groin crease the day after I has very emotinally distraught. I found that taking 2 grams a day didn't even stop my obs. Went down to 500, nothing.. Went down to 250 a montha ago, because no purpose in taking much, if it's not stopping it and sometimes, I feel it can help to make your body step up more/shake things up a little maybe. Why don't you slowly cut back and see what happens?

As89 · December 26, 2015

I drink alcohol a lot less than I was maybe once a week.. And I never drink coffee (I hate it) I do drink soda.. Maybe you're right and I need to cut back on valtrex. I'll try that and see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion. I just kept taking more because I didn't know what else to do.

2Legit2Quit · December 26, 2015

Drinking sugary drinks is a trigger for some, so I'd cut that out. What kind of alcohol do you drink, because I can drink beer and red wine with no issue, but liquor and moscato are triggers for me.

As89 · December 26, 2015

Either a cider beer or vodka.. I guess the cider is too sugary.. And vodka is too strong? I don't like wine or other beers :/

2Legit2Quit · December 26, 2015

If I drank vodka and cranberry, ob..... If i drank diet coke and rum, ob.....I think you should start journaling everything daily, stressors, possible triggers, symptoms and locations.. Thats how I was able to figure out what my triggers were.

As89 · December 26, 2015

Ok I'll start doing that. It's so hard because I'm a bartender and people buy us shots every now and then.. It's just a part of my job kind of :(

2Legit2Quit · December 26, 2015

Yep I hear ya, but just tell them you're taking a break for now. Listen, I used to despise red wine. It was disgusting, but I made myself get used to it. I still have a hard time of i go a month w out drinking it. It really helps to start off w pinot noir and eventually I went to cab. Now I feel pinot noir is too light and a watered down version and sweeter version than cab. Sometimes just putting a single IceCube in can help, till you get an acquired taste for it. Trust, once you get a buzz off two classes, it goes down smoother. I think the types of sugar and process liquor goes through and preservatives, is the cause if the trigger in liquor for me. Just tell them to get you a glass of pinot. Mark wrst pinto noir is pretty light and easy to adjust to. You gotta cut that soda out too. I started drinking the Starbucks very berry refresher in replace of my coffee for my caffeine.

As89 · December 26, 2015

I'm definitely going to try that. I don't mind Lambrusco but bloat places don't carry it. Thanks for much for the insight

2Legit2Quit · December 26, 2015

Lambrusco is no different really, than moscato.. Too much processed sugar. Just do the mark wrst pino noir and you get used to it.

As89 · December 26, 2015

Ok I'll try it

WCSDancer2010 · December 27, 2015

Definitely start the journal - all foods AND activities AND moods/stress factors that might contribute to an OB.... if that doesn't work, get your hormones checked - they can be a contributor especially in women Women often get an OB a couple days before OR after their period...

As89 · December 28, 2015

Ok... How do I get them checked? I've read that women get them around their period.. Which that could be possibly mine situation but they last so long like 2 to 3 weeks sometimes longer.

2Legit2Quit · December 28, 2015

You go to the GYNO

As89 · December 28, 2015

Ok thanks you. I'm on a low dose of birth control..

shellshell · December 28, 2015

why does coffee, sugar or having a drink of alcohol cause outbreaks??

2Legit2Quit · December 28, 2015

Alcohol lowers the immune system. Processed sugars cause internal inflammation, making it harder for some to control H, who already have it. Everyone's chemical makeup is different, there's no one answer that fits, because we're all so different. Coffee causes a lot of inflammation as well and has argenine or however it's spelled. It's not like this for everyone, just some.

WCSDancer2010 · December 29, 2015

Also Chocolate and Nuts are triggers for some because of their high levels of Argenine... which seems to allow the virus to replicate faster...

There's TONS of triggers - each person is different - which is why the diary is so important for people who have frequent OB's...

As89 · January 19, 2016

2Legit2Quit wanted to update you.. Finally caught a break from OBs thanks to you! Cut down to 500 mg of valtrex and that helped a ton. Started eating a little bit better and back to my workout routine. I didn't stop drinking what I usually drink because I decided that I'm not going to let this run my life and stop me from enjoying the things I enjoy! Also, baking soda is the only thing that helps dry up my sores. I put baking soda right on them and it dries them up within a couple days! Thanks again for all the tips! Really appreciate it!

2Legit2Quit · January 19, 2016

Great news to hear! So glad things are getting better. Just prepare yourself for another OB in the future and don't let that set you back emotionally. As the saying goes: prepare for war, in time of peace. Hugs!

As89 · January 19, 2016

Spoke too soon! Woke up this morning with an outbreak..YAY! A lot smaller than the previous ones. Oh well hopefully it will pass soon.

2Legit2Quit · January 19, 2016

Don't feel bad girl, I got red bumps on my buttcheeks again this week and my cheeks are pretty itchy. I feel your pain!

As89 · January 19, 2016

That's where I get mine! So annoying!

I just want have sex lol

2Legit2Quit · January 20, 2016

Lol. Yeah... It is annoying

WCSDancer2010 · January 20, 2016

Catching up here... going to give you links to a lot of other ideas to help you with knocking the OB's down quickly.... we each have to find what works for us... my go to is Alum (see link) ... but you will get lots of ideas in here :)

Sounds like you are slowly getting it under control.... keep working on reducing stress though. I went years w/o OB's until recently ... dealing with my 87 yr old father.... and guess who woke up with a cold sore this AM? Attacking it with Alum and Valtrex and trying to slow down a bit (I'm prepping his home for sale so I can move him up with me)... AND ... I know I may have a few OB's as part of the deal as I have to get things moving ASAP... *sigh *

This is what I tell everybody :)

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