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My Experimentation - stop using prescibed meds and see what happens.


hopefuleinSD

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Pharmaceutical Meds - how do they affect the immunity process?

I found out around Thanksgiving that I had H with my first outbreak. I took Acyclovir as it was prescribed, but was given the medicine over a week after I noticed symptoms. Based on what my symptoms looked like, I am pretty sure I was already in the healing process.

I just noticed a second outbreak today and have been taking Lysine, using Tea Tree Oil and using Lysine cream to alleviate any discomfort. I do not want to be dependent on pharmaceuticals in any way, shape or form if I can help it. I have read other people's stories and talked to people in groups - and it appears that the body will heal itself without taking the meds - and the body is building up an immunity at the same time.

Wouldn't it be better to let the body fight the virus on it's own? If building immunity is key - it seems the medicine might actually hinder that process. And - if someone has had it for awhile, their symptoms seem to be less and less severe over time. How does medicine help or hinder that process?

Can anyone shed any light on this? I know there are forums out there for holistic medicine vs modern medicine - but I'm more concerned about if I can let my body fight this on it's own and the advantages/disadvantages of doing that vs taking medicine - and which path will build immunity quicker.

Note - I talked to one girl that has been on meds for 5 years daily, and if she stops, her outbreaks start right away. I wonder if she let her body deal with it on it's own if that would be the case ......

Thanks! Happy New Year!!!!

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hi hopefuleinSD

In my case I wasn't put onto Valtrex until I was into the 3rd week & it was because I was still in agony, getting sicker, had also got a cold, obviously my body wasn't coping at all & had got very very run down. I think I've been on them for roughly 4 - 5 months now. I doubled my dose recently when I had my 2nd OB & honestly I can't say that doing that helped? The OB lasted at least 6 weeks, in fact, I got to a point where I just went back to my 1 daily single dose. What I had been trying to do was take a double dose pre-period, but kinda thought oh not this time!! and bingo!!

I'm not keen on taking prescribed meds either, I'm thinking at the 6 month mark of being on Valtrex, I might quit my daily dose, and just take it pre-period cos that seems to be my trigger. I still feel so exhausted and wonder if I'd be feeling better off the Valtrex? Who knows!!

Happy new year to you too!!

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I think, it's really hard to say..

Ppl usually take hsv pharmaceuticals not because they have a choice but mainly they are forced to take them as kitty describes.

I find that both hsv & drug tolerance on the body, may manifest differently in different life stages. mainly this may be perhaps reflective of aging process which may in turn, affect one's immunne system.

personally, from I read and experienced so far, both v & acyclovir, their action isn't that perfect and may give you toxicity over time (as in many other pharmaceutical drugs are). If one of those drugs did work, ppl on this site aren't desperately wanting a hsv vaccine.

This world is swamped with imperfect drugs that people suffer from even more, as well as the original diseases those drugs are originally prescribed for. (hence more and more ppl are turning to look for more holistic ways of dealing with the problem?)

If you are also unlucky enough to have a potent strain of hsv and are getting recurrent issues or ongoing health problems from the virus, you may find v or acyclivir won't be a definitive solution in a long run.

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Thank you both for your feedback.

I think my experience with H is not that bad compared to what others are going through. I had a blister in my butt crack - and now I have something that looks like chaffing in the same location. It doesn't hurt but it is a little annoying. I think I am going to just deal with it. I can recall the first outbreak healing in about 1 week on it's own.

If medicine is only going to speed up my healing process by a day or two - it just doesn't seem worth it. I can see that others have outbreaks that are much worse and medicine is the best alternative for them. I just hope in my case that this is the worst it gets.

Take care!

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Thank you both for your feedback.

I think my experience with H is not that bad compared to what others are going through. I had a blister in my butt crack - and now I have something that looks like chaffing in the same location. It doesn't hurt but it is a little annoying. I think I am going to just deal with it. I can recall the first outbreak healing in about 1 week on it's own.

If medicine is only going to speed up my healing process by a day or two - it just doesn't seem worth it. I can see that others have outbreaks that are much worse and medicine is the best alternative for them. I just hope in my case that this is the worst it gets.

Take care!

Geez I wish my OBs were that quick!! No wonder you're not interested in anti-viral meds, I wouldn't be either.

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I can honestly say that I have a lot of the same thoughts regarding the anti-virals, and their effect(s) on our immune system's natural ability to fight H.

I have never taken anything for more than a weekly dose, and even then it has been months since I've done that. I have decided I'd love to try fighting this as naturally as possible.

I take L-Lysine, Echinacea with Vitamin C, and Omega 3-6-9 daily. I also apply a Zinc based baby bottom lotion to the area daily. I have not had any major issues in months!!

I haven't worked out in a few weeks, and have been eating anything and everything I want due to the holidays... Still nada! Don't get me wrong, I do completely attribute fighting ob's by living as healthy as possible, and plan on resuming my normal workout schedule asap!!

Anyways, just thought I would share.... For me, it works :)

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I took 500mg of Valtrex for 2 years and recently stopped taking it about 6 months ago...after about a month I had an outbreak and pretty much have had an OB every month after that. Not sure if I'm jus gonna stick it out. My OBs last for about a week and usually are only painful a couple days of that week. I don't eat healthy or work out as much as i used to...I may jus say forget it and get back on the meds so I don't have to worry about OBs cuz I didn't have one the whole 2 years I was on valtrex. I almost didn't believe I had herpes sometimes cuz the meds were workin so good. So Idk if i'm dependent on the meds to stay clear but I def want to start takin them again.

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Well - the first one was about a week but the overall healing - because the skin broke, actually took longer. This time, I'm trying Epsom Salt baths, Lysine cream and of course I have taken the Lysine pills daily.

As this is so new, it is really hard to tell what will work and won't work. I'm very healthy and in super good shape - working out has been a lifestyle for me since I was a teenager and am now in my 40s. I don't smoke, drink socially and believe in moderation. With the help of everyone here - I am learning to not stress about H as much. So far, so good. I'll see how long this OB lasts and go from there - it really just looks like a rash at this point.

I went to a local H meeting here in SD and they said this may have all been avoided with soap and water immediately after sex - as it kills the virus. Who would have known!?!

Thanks everyone for feedback - will keep posting things here, but it seems like this virus is not cookie cutter in any way, shape or form.

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Chilla - that sounds similar to another girl in the group I went to. Did you start taking the pills immediately after you found out you had it? Am just curious....

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I just found this on this site comparing the 3 different drugs: If this is the case - then people that don't catch the symptoms in time could be taking the drug without it working? HMMMMM....

***This drug is not proven to work if taken more than 24 hours after the onset (beginning) of symptoms.***

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  • 2 weeks later...

I just discovered my second outbreak, and I am having the same thoughts as you. My idea is that I will only take the meds if I have an OB. But if it doesn't work unless you start taking them at the first symptoms, there's no point. So now I've decided to take them for two days. If it keeps getting worse after that, I'll just let it run its course. As I remember it, it's not gonna cause any permanent damage.

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Some people take daily suppressive therapy because they are in relationships with people who do not have H and the meds can lower the chances of transmission to your partner. Just a week ago I decided to start taking Valacyclovir for that reason because I do someday want to have sex again. My last OB was over a year ago however I do get very itchy, dry spots, and what looks like ingrown hairs a few times monthly. I would like for that to stop completely so hopefully the meds will start to work for me soon.

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  • 6 months later...
Chilla - that sounds similar to another girl in the group I went to. Did you start taking the pills immediately after you found out you had it? Am just curious....

I started taking the pills maybe day 2 or 3 of my 1st outbreak...And continued to take them until a year ago. Sorry I didn't respond sooner :-)

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