How do you know when the outbreak is over? Can you get a new outbreak immediately after the first?

[r-l]

I just had my first outbreak and after finishing up the 10-day antivirals my doctor gave me everything has seemed to clear up. The only thing though is a day or so later I noticed that my vagina was feeling a little sore and the skin inside is kinda red. Now I may have overdid it a bit with the washing down there but I also know that pain and itching and tingling can be precursor symptoms. Could this be a secondary outbreak immediately after my first outbreak? Is this a bad sign for future outbreaks? I should also mention that next week I'm supposed to start my period week. I'm having a little difficulty wrapping my head around the "could always be shedding" thing. It's making me feel like I might possibly need to wash my hands every single time I touch my vagina on the off chance that I might spread it to my mouth or eye area. Am I being a little paranoid or is this a real concern? Sorry for the long post, I'm just trying to wrap my brain around all this. It's been hard.

[WCSDancer2010]

@r-l

 

Hello and Welcome!

 

So... yes, it's not uncommon to have back-to-back OB's early on. Right now your body doesn't have any antibodies to fight the virus ... now, most people never have one symptom, while a small number have outbreaks each year, and fewer still have ongoing OB's for some time. And there's no one thing that will tell us why any one person gets one experience or another.

 

*Usually* it will settle down within a few months ... and yes, periods don't help. I used to get OB's during almost every period early on. Over the years, they got fewer and fewer. Went through a couple years more recently with almost nothing. Now I'm getting some oral sores every month or so (I have both) but I'm under a lot of stress trying to get my elderly father's house sold in Fla and get him moved up to NY with me... so I'm not surprised....stress is a BIG trigger for H.

 

Also, for some, certain foods or whatever are triggers. So you may want to keep a journal to see where you spot patterns. And attack it from the outside,,,, that helps a lot! Suggestions below to help you to find what works for you :)

 

As for the future, odds are things will settle down over time. Do you know if it's HSV1 or 2?

 

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

https://herpeslife.com/herpes-forum/discussion/7595/bactine-wipes-and-some-motivational-quotes

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-treatment/#more-2122

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-forum/discussion/1802/going-the-natural-route

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-forum/discussion/1624/herpes-medication-genital-hsv-1-how-to-keep-herpes-outbreaks-clean-dry#Item_22 My discussion amonium Alum)

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-forum/discussion/1496/bathroom-time-

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://bit.ly/Calendula_Salve

http://tinyurl.com/bactine

http://amzn.to/1oUDY2n Chaga Mushroom

http://tinyurl.com/Oragelsgldose

http://tinyurl.com/DMSO4HSV

 

[r-l]

Thanks for your advice! I really appreciate it! It's HSV-1. Does that make a difference? My first outbreak wasn't really that bad, I'm hoping that bodes well for the future...