Herpes Verterans (so to speak)-I Need Help!

[thinkerwishful]

I would really appreciate feedback from people who've had H for a while and are really familiar with their OB's, what sets them off, etc. But I would welcome thoughts from anyones. I have several ?s:

1) Most of the research I've done seems to say that after about 10 years or so, many people stop having OB's or have them very infrequently, yet on this site it seems that there are people who've had it for over 20 years and still get symptoms. Does anyone who's had it for a long time notice that their symptoms decreaed over time? Also Does it then become less contagious?

2) For foods to eat/not to eat, i know there are many foods to stay away from, but does this mean not to eat them EVER? or just in small quantities (for example I had a piece of chocolate cake tonight and am freaking becuase chocolate is on the no-no list).

3) I am just interested in any things that anyone has tried and if they help or not; so far I've read what seems to be the norm: valtrex, Lysine, garlic pills, vitamins, even purrell...anybodyhave comments on this or things they have found have worked?

Any feeback would be GREATLY appreciated- thanks a bunch!

[znob]

Well I have had it for a couple of years, and I am about to start valtrex on my next outbreak. I have been keeping track of my outbreaks since I found out that I had Herpes. But I haven't been able to pin down the cause. I cant pin it to anything... I have had drinking benders, lack of sleep, high stress times, chocolate, etc... and haven't had outbreaks... I also have did these same things and had outbreaks... so I really cant pin an outbreak to doing any one thing or combination of things. I guess all people are a little unique to what triggers an outbreak. Saying which, I tried taking BHT and got outbreak after outbreak, so maybe for me I found something that did definitely trigger an OB.

[thinkerwishful]

what's BHT? (sorry if that' s a dumb question)

[znob]

Check out this link....

http://www.delano.com/Articles/BHT-antiviral.html

for what ever the reason, I had OB after OB for the month that I tried it. I also took St. Johns Wort with it sometimes, so one of these was definitely causing the OB's, and I really do not want to experiment with either to find out exactly which one...

[MattPhilly]

my triggers

Hey everyone,

My first post here! Pretty nice forum.

Well, it's Thanksgiving week, and my outbreak started. The weird thing is that for the past 3 years, the only time I ever get an outbreak is during the 2 weeks leading up to Thanksgiving! What do ya know? 3 days ago it started!!

Went to the Doc yesterday and he thinks something that I eat this time of year triggers the OB. The only different things that I eat is Pumpkin pie and Pomegranites, could be one, I don't know.

I get it bad inside the mouth, to the point I can't even swallow. Last year I wound up in the ER because of it !!!! And I can never eat Thanksgiving dinner. I can't eat, talk, or swallow my saliva, gotta spit.

As soon as the OB started, I started doing 8 grams of Vitamin C a day along with Valtrex and that seems to be taking the edge off, Thank God.

Anyone else have any food or seasonal triggers?