Recently diagnosed

[Gc09]

Hi, after finding out recently that i have herpes I have felt a whirlwind of emotions. Sometimes I feel like it will be okay, other times i just feel conpletely hopeless. I am still having physical syptoms which are extremely painful, and when I feel physically in pain it makes me feel very emotional that i will always feel like this and unable to do the things I love like hiking, biking etc when at this point I can't even walk.

I started taking Valtrex yesterday and have had sores for about three days now, which have become increasingly painful. I was hoping to get some information from those who have been through the first episode and when you started to feel relief.

I also am lost on how much this will impact me in the future. How many breakouts can I expect in a year? Is it possible to go years without breakouts? Just feeling so overwhelmed right now, I don't even know where to begin.

[joeer120]

Yes, it's possible to go years without breakouts... Unless u have requested a IGg blood test before, you wouldn't know when u were exposed... Did the doctor do a blood test to find out the type? If he did and he/she did not find antibodies, then it is a recent infection...

[joeer120]

Yes, it's possible to go years without breakouts... Unless u have requested a IGg blood test before, you wouldn't know when u were exposed... Did the doctor do a blood test to find out the type? If he did and he/she did not find antibodies, then it is a recent infection...

I do not know when I got it, but for sure it's been 5+ years since my current boyfriend of 5 years is negative.... If I did get an outbreak, it was minor... Since I already had hsv-1, got my first cold sore at 16...

[australiangirl]

Hi Gc09

I can really relate to your post. I know how you feel totally and utterly with the despair and hopelessness when you have an outbreak.

My first outbreak was not bad, the subsequent ones were much worse. I just try and wear loose clothing. Pawpaw ointment is something that has really helped me majorly. It seems to heal the sores quicker. I also try and stay away from junk food, sweets, etc and drink lots of water.

Recently I went to Europe with my husband and had a very painful outbreak that lasted a month. It was just awful and I didn't want to walk anywhere. All my nice clothes I packed - dresses, jeans etc were discarded and I had to lumber around in his trackies due to being so uncomfortable.

Sometimes I try and think positive. It could be worse. This is not the end of the world. At least I have my health in other ways etc. Try to get things into perspective can be difficult.

[StonerPixie79]

I just got over my second OB. What helped me was 800 mg of Ibuprofen three times a day, soaking in warm water and a cup of Epsom salt a few times a day, propolis ointment to the lesions four times a day, keeping the sores clean and getting plenty of rest. I am on Valtrex suppressive therapy now as well as taking 1000 mg of L-lysine supplements and 50 mg of Zinc Gluconate each day on top of the Valtrex. I am very new to this as well, but it all helped clear up this second OB in a matter of days.