Hi everyone

[uk girl]

I have been diagnosed for 2 weeks now, and am still really upset by it, i have HSV1 genital.My husband of 4 years passed it on to me whilst we went away for a romantic weekend,!!!!! he suffers with cold sores, but didnt have any symptoms,I am trying so hard not to blame him, but cant help but be angry with him. Have decided im coming back as a nun in my next life!!

[Caliope]

uk girl sounds like you've got a man who loves you that is one great big positive. It's crappy that you have hsv now, but my wish for you would be that the two of you can overcome this and be a strong couple.

many of us worry about being accepted by others now that we have herpes and as you may have read in other posts it's pretty scary to think about meeting the right person and then having "that talk" and then being rejected or ridiculed or having the secret told to the world.

And what fun would it be to be a nun?

[uk girl]

I know on the grand scale of things i am lucky. it just seems so bloody unfair, i was watching my husband who is a picture of health while i was having a wee, with tears streaming down my face as the pain was so bad, so i cant help but think negative thoughts, Feel fine some of the time then from nowhere it hits me,feel so dirty and isolated cant tell anyone everything i touch am going around with anti bacterial spray as would hate to pass it on. Its all so new and feel at the age of nearly 40 i should be sitting watching the soaps with my cup of tea than dealing with a bloody std!! Sorry to rant just going through every emotion at the moment. and at least a nun cud have a wee with a serene smile on her face, I look like the bloody Hulk about to change.

My doctor has given me a tip which seems to be working , after you go to the loo if you put a bit of vaseline on some toilet paper and then put some over the sores, the next time you wee it doesnt sting!! This seems to work but still am thinking horrid thoughts at the time

take care everyone this site is a lifeline to me at the moment!!!!

[hopingseeking]

Sigh, I'm sorry.. it really does seem like women have worse OBs than men do. I've read that pouring a bottled water while peeing will make it sting less.

[Caliope]

uk girl,

When I have had ob's I found the following to be helpful.

I took several baths, at least one a day, with epsom salts. I sometimes also took baths with Aveeno active naturals bath powder for the treatment of poison oak - it was soothing. I bath alot when there are ob's.

I used the hair dryer to dry off my tender areas afterwards instead of toweling off.

I found an antiseptic spray with Pramoxine hcl 1% that helped with the pain and I doesn't require me to touch the sores. Mine was from Monistat called Soothing Care Itch Relief Spray. It may have stung a little initially but then helped immensly.

I started using l-lysine which is an amino acid you can get at health food stores in the vitamin section. I actually take many vitamins now daily to keep ob's at bay and to build my immune system. Also avoid certain foods that contain high amounts of arginine.

Wear loose fitting clothing so they don't rub or chafe or trap moisture in.

Do they prescribe antiviral meds in the UK? I found that the antiviral pills such as Valtrex or Acyclovir help me but they were hard on me the first several days.

I hope you get to feeling better. I'm sorry you're going through this.

[uk girl]

Hi thanks for all your tips the doctor precribed some antiviral pills but i didnt think they worked or maybe they did and it would of been worse, i dont know as it was my first outbreak???

Have started taking l-lysine,Can someone please explain to me the foods to avoid??

I have been on so many sites to try and get info, can someone please confirm that if my husband gave me hsv1 from a coldsore to genitals can i now pass it back to him on his genitals??One of the sites i went on told me i couldnt pass it back to him in a different area as he already has hsv1, and i am getting really confused.

Also if i have hsv1 which is a coldsore on the genital area, why cant i use zovirax coldsore ointment on my genitals??

Sorry i am asking what are probably really stupid questions but i dont feel i can ask my doctor as all i have ever gone to her with is a cough and cold and my childrens ailments, it is a small practice and i think i have shocked the surgery!!!! I am so embarassed, it wasnt so long back she was testing me for an early menopause!!!!

I have to laugh though at the wierdness of the situation

thanks

[Caliope]

for starters I went to the FDA website and I didn't like what I read about the zovirax cream sounds like it sometimes makes stuff worse and my dr would not give it to me because he insisted it was not effective.

I found the antivirals worked for me within about 2 weeks. I use the daily suppressive therapy right now. In the beginning it was hell but then subsided. (nausia, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, emotions)

I think that yes you absolutely can give this to your husband genitally. It may be less difficult but it is certainly something that can happen just as you can get coldsores orally too.

Hormone changes can really rock the ob's btw. Many women have worse ob's when pregnant or when they have their period or right before. I always get extra itching the week before my period.

foods high in arginine can be trigger foods. peanuts, almonds, walnuts (nuts in general). corn, oats, baked goods. artificial sweeteners, chocolate, sugary foods, soda, caffeine. (if you avoid them and keep a diary you may be able to figure out which ones bother you the most.)

Drink lots of water. I am serious. Not gallons at a time of course but over the course of the day. I drink 5-6 16 oz. bottles daily of fresh clean water in addition to other liquids.

[uk girl]

Thankyou so much for your advice, have learnt more from this site than any other.

Went out the other day and bought what i call my "herpes pants" two sizes bigger,cotton and so so comfortable!!!

take care

[gutted.]

its not been given the green light to use down thier, but i use zorirax on the sores when i get an outbreak and it works a treat!!

my doctor told me "off the record" that its fine to use.

[uk girl]

is that Zovirax?? i did wonder about that as if i have GHSV1 from my husbands coldsore, then did think if i could use that.

Was prescibed Aciclovir tablets but didnt think they worked , but as it was my first OB maybe they did and it would of been really really bad, i suppose in time i will find triggers and things that work.

Take care

[gutted.]

ive got the aciciloyoir tablets but havent started em yet, im abit worried, as i dont get that many outbreaks, and im not sure if i should be messing with my immune system in that way....

zovirax yes, white tube with a green stripe i think

i always used it, clears my obs up in days....