sudden constant outbreaks on Valtrex??

[Dan10160]

I'm suddenly getting very frequent outbreaks of my HSV2 (I have had it orally and genitally for about 3 years now) despite taking vitC,VitB, Valtrex, BHT, and St. Johns Wort daily. I am even experiencing a small oral outbreak which I very rarely (even without the valtrex) ever experience! I don't know what's going on. I'm in a tough graduate program but my symptoms have never been this bad before.

Here's the backstory:

In the beginning of December I began taking Valtrex 500 mg daily because I had just started a new relationship with a non-H guy and wanted to protect him. Before that I was getting fairly frequent but mild symptoms - usually 1 or 2 bumps somewhere along the crease between my butt and thigh, or on the lower cheek. Very mild symptoms, but I don't want any if I don't want to pass it along!

When I started the Valtrex, it didn't make things go away that fully really but maybe I just wasn't giving it enough time idk. About a week or two into the Valtrex I started taking BHT 250 mg daily along with Valtrex and St. John's Wort. It seemed to be working! I went my entire winter break without any symptoms or anything (which had been rare for me up until that point).

Then, on the 11th I tried protein shakes and ate a ton of butternut squash which I learned was a very bad idea. So I stopped drinking those after about 3 days of having 1 shake a day. It triggered a small outbreak (one sore) on that first day, and maybe two more the following few days? Anyway, by the end of the week they were basically gone and I had sex with the guy I was seeing. (my sores generally go away overnight but obviously I was still worried and I told him but he didn't really seem to care - and he hasn't complained of an outbreak yet). The next day I had more spots than I had ever had before! It wasnt very many, and they weren't blisters - just raised red spots that I'm assuming are symptoms because they hurt a little to touch and I was/still am getting some nerve pain in the area.

Anyways, for pretty much the last two weeks now, as soon as one or two spots go away, one or two more pop up somewhere else on my butt! None of them are there for very long, but I just don't understand how my symptoms are even worse now - and for two weeks! We have had sex a few times during this period, but we have had sex before this without giving me these symptoms so I don't know what's going on!

Is it the arginine overload from last week still taking its toll on my body? Am I suddenly immunocompromised? Or maybe having sex regularly is triggering my OBs? I ordered some hypoallergenic lube off amazon but like my outbreaks are on my butt so idk what that will do.

Has anyone else ever experienced this before?

I just want to cry I eat healthily I work out I take my meds daily now and I've had this for THREE YEARS!!  I guess I should see a herpes specialist at this point but I just don't have time (crying emoji)

 

[SheIsBlue]

Unfortunately, there is no one answer.  This virus affects everyone differently. I eat healthy and exercise and get constant outbreaks.  I think mine are due to stress and emotional distress, which I am in constantly.  Triggers could be food related, medicine related or even sex related.  Start by eliminating all the stuff you are eating and taking and then add them back in one at a time and see if you can discover something.  Hope this helps.

[SureWhyNot]

I have the same problem. Dealt very well with HSV2 for almost 35yrs then 2 yrs ago I started getting Sacral Outbreaks. I went through a long time of stress and upheaval, ignored my health care, drank too much beer, gained too much weight, lost my mind but now realize it was a symptom (including the desire for beer). After 4 years of this self abuse went back to my Naturopath who was having difficulty understanding every single aspect of this because there isn't just one! 

I now react to food!!!! Not just arginine foods but gluten, fodmap and too much of a good thing. Perfect example of this... Nutritional yeast is very good for HSV and fodmap. I added too much to make a sauce and within hours "assbreak"!  I mentioned it to him, he used applied kinesiology to test it on my body, started with a tiny amount and added until I reacted weakly. He showed me the amount I was good with, less than an 1/8th of a tsp, I used over 2 tbls, !!!! Too much of a good thing!

He is tracing it back to gut imbalance. This can happen from stress, pharmaceuticals, hormonal changes and our "new food"! We are working on my microbiome!

ShelsBlue offered the perfect direction, to eliminate then reintroduce till you find your triggers. You mentioned you do not have time to seek help. Ask your body! Look up "dowsing for health. "You will be amazed at the info it will give you! I do not eat anything I have not "asked" about and I have gone from constant "assbreaks", that felt like I was being branded over and over in the same place, to eating only what my body needs. Yes it is boring but pain is a great motivator! I do know by doing this I will get myself balanced again and back to my fighting state. 

Hope some of this overlong mememe tale will give you direction or understanding to help yourself when answers are hard to find.

[Sanguine108]

I'd say goto a acupuncture/chinese medicine doctor who has an herbal medicine practice and has been practicing for at least 10 years.

It's hard to tell just reading your post.   The body has cycles. Yes, you've been taking these supplements but maybe the overall energetic book-keeping is leaning more towards a deficit, without adequately recharging itself.

I question the different brands of St. John's Wort out there.  In herbal medicine, a lot of cheap companies (like one's you'd find at Walmart, CVS...) have poor quality herbs and/or adulterants in their herbs.   I mean, this is a whole other topic that I don't think is the major problem here but it's good to be aware of.

But anyway, everyone has gut problems.  The gut is tied with the immune system.   The gut/stomach is the center and if one's center is weak then they can't absorb nutrients to fight/suppress pathogens.   None of the products you're taking do anything for the gut.   If you find a legit herbalist, who makes custom formulas, they can put together something that has a mild ginseng (the herb isn't really a ginseng) and some other herbs to heal the digestion and improve your overall situation.

...The digestion is in charge of digesting food and nutrients for the body, digesting/assimilating knowledge/information, and digesting/destroying pathogens.  I'm leaving a lot out but there's so much to say about this.

[Dan10160]

Thanks so much for all of your replies!!!  It's so nice to have this site I don't know what I would do about it - really. 

I'm thinking that maybe it had something to do with the new frequency of sex. Also maybe hormones? I just got my period (sorry if TMI) and things seem to be calming down a bit. I've also just been eating clean this week. I'm also in a good mood since the guy I'm seeing is so understanding about all of this and like hasn't run away yet so maybe I'm just happy haha. Could be any number of things I suppose lol

@Sanguine108 I've been looking into gut health a lot lately actually! I'm trying to find a good brand of probiotics for women and/or humans in general lol. Do you know of any?

I'm also looking into finding a good naturopath. It seems like a lot of people here have had success after seeing one.

 

These are all great ideas though. Thank you all for your input!!