Length between recurrences?

[shrinkingviolet]

Okay, so the symptoms that started a week ago (but then stopped after a few days) were, apparently, signs of my first recurrence. This sucks because it's so hard when I've had no prior experience to figure out what is what.

Did anyone else here get signs of the first recurrence only TWO weeks after the first outbreak and the actual recurrence happening three weeks after?

Also, how long for most of you between the time that you feel the signs of one and the actual recurrence?

Thanks in advance.

[Colleen]

My first OB lasted over 6 weeks and had not completely went away when a new OB started (new bumps...more swelling). I'm about a week into the second round now.

I started Valtrex suppressive about 3 weeks ago.

Colleen

[shrinkingviolet]

Thanks... my bf was trying to convince me when I felt the symptoms last week that "average have 4 recurrences in a year, there's no way you have symptoms of another one just a few days after you got off the meds." Yeah, okay... 4 days off and symptoms... a week later, outbreak.

I guess you can't tell how long between symptoms and outbreaks then, huh? I feel badly for you - this is killing me as it is!

Take care and thanks for replying.

[ouch]

Sheesh girl, I never use to get recurring ob's...then after I got preggo last year, I started having them all the time. Now, I have them ALL the time! It seems to correlate to a few things:

1) Right around my period. Why before I never had OBS at my period I do not know, but it does now. So as soon as I get OVER an OB...here comes my period and VOILA!!! new outbreak. My sex life is nonexistent right now to say the least. BUT I am wondering if being on the pill HELPED me from having an OB. (less pms=less stress...something in the hormones? I don't know)

2) I stopped taking the vitamin Lysine when I was preggo. I use to take it religiously. So perhaps this too has added to my problems. I need to add it back to my diet.

3) I use to do an ultra lo-carb diet...and YES I ATE NUTS (apparently nuts are suppose to be bad, buy hey, I ate them all the time, no outbreak.) I lived on lean meats, cheese, veggies and fruits. And then when I got preggo....I had no desire for anything BUT carbs (still do) and have gained weight (stresses me out) and now I have OB's all the time.

People have found that through diet, excercise and taking vitamins like Lysine and Bcomplex help alleviate reoccuring symptoms of HSV1/2. It will be interesting to see if once I start doing my old "routine" again if my outbreaks lessen. Maybe try something similar and see if it helps you.

Good luck!

[Colleen]

1) Right around my period. Why before I never had OBS at my period I do not know, but it does now. So as soon as I get OVER an OB...here comes my period and VOILA!!! new outbreak. My sex life is nonexistent right now to say the least. BUT I am wondering if being on the pill HELPED me from having an OB. (less pms=less stress...something in the hormones? I don't know)

I'm guessing your hormonal balance changed a bit with the pregnacy...have you noticed worse PMS since having the baby? PMS=BIGTIME stress....I think when you stress it compromises the immune system, leaving H a gateway to act up.

Also, with your weight gain, you are probably feeling low self-esteem, which is very stressful, especially for us ladies Excercise is VERY good for the immune system and would probably make you feel better about yourself...lowered stress.

Good luck...Colleen

[shrinkingviolet]

1) Right around my period. Why before I never had OBS at my period I do not know, but it does now. So as soon as I get OVER an OB...here comes my period and VOILA!!! new outbreak. My sex life is nonexistent right now to say the least. BUT I am wondering if being on the pill HELPED me from having an OB. (less pms=less stress...something in the hormones? I don't know)

2) I stopped taking the vitamin Lysine

I have a feeling I'm going to need all the luck I can get.

I noticed the first OB and this new, second are both the week before my period - I am, however, on the pill, so I skipped over it the first time. There was NO WAY IN HELL I was going to add that to the living hell of my first OB. So the pill isn't helping me except for the fact that I'm skipping my period.

I also started taking the L-Lysine... and I've been taking B complex vitamins and other supplements for my immune system (it's NEVER been very good to begin with). This was all before the second outbreak.

I'm not stressed and I've been eating the best I can (vegetarian, so the high lysine meats are out).

It's just so bloody frustrating.

[ouch]

Do you eat alot of Tofu, legumes (like beans) and such? Those should also have high amounts of lysine/protein? (you should eat these things anyways to prevent anemia, but I am sure you know this.)

I think in my case it is SEVERAL of the above things mentioned affecting me. I think before I had just found my right "niche" and it worked. Hopefully you will find yours. I am just sick of having an outbreak every month. I usually have a week where I don't then poof! Back in action. It can get quite demoralizing. I won't let it, but it does. I feel that once I get back on top of it, then the outbreaks will lessen. ..but for now...ugh.

I hope things get better for you. Keep us posted and let us all know how you do. Perhaps you will find what works for you and it can help someone else here, ya know?