How long did it take for your body to adjust to this virus?

[PurpleandGray]

Hi guys. How long did it take for your body to adjust to having this virus. My biggest problem is thinking I may never feel better again. I have extreme malaise (feeling unwell), fevers, nerve pain, sore throat. When will I get feeling better? It's been 3 months of hell. How long did it take for you to start feeling like yourself again? 

Ps,: I all if a sudden got an extremely raspy voice. I'm not sick with a cold or anything. Is this a herpies symptom? 

Edited December 3, 2016 by PurpleandGray

[Beachguy]

Hi PurpleandGray

Its varies a lot on everyone's  experience. Some people say the worst symptoms are in the first 16 weeks when your immune system is under a lot of stress while some others think that the first year. Please talk to your doctor because most benefit greatly from antivirals. You may want to consider suppressive therapy if your symptoms are severe.

Your other symptoms like a raspy voice doesn't seem typical for H.

You may also consider to take better care of yourself to improve immunity like sleep, avoid stress and sun burns, etc.

 

 

 

[Seeker1960]

Hi  @PurpleandGray  I have had GHSV1 for almost a year now. About thevthird month I started getting a lot of autonomic dysfunction. I got dry eyes and mouth, brain fog, extreme fatigue, nerve pains in my legs and a whole lot more. I thought it would be permanent and that I might have to go on disability. Things got better after the 9th month but still not 100% I am about 90%-95% of normal. Still have some issues but not nearly as bad.

If you take care of your body you may bounce back quicker but dont expect to be back pre herpes . You will have some residual effects. The only hope is if Halfordd vaccine is brought to market in the next year or two. The your chances of feeling normal again will be much better.

[PurpleandGray]

Thank you so much guys I really appreciate your replies! I just started Valtrex as a suppressive therapy three days ago so I'm praying that helps. I take extremity good care of myself, I think that's why I'm having a hard time with this. I was an incredibly healthy person who let one mistake change her life for ever. This was my first time having casual sex and basically my first time being spontaneous. I can't go back and just have to keep pushing forward! I'm glad you guys are feeling better. Thank you for your help & let's pray for the vaccine! 

Ps: I'm 3 months in but my blood tests still came back negative. I'm going to get retested in another month so I'm hoping that my body will make more antibodies to help me feel better!

[bowiefan003]

Hey PurpleandGray,

I too just got it 3 months ago. I have been worried sick wondering if it will get better b/c so far for me its been practically chronic. Let me know how things go for you!

[PurpleandGray]

Hey bowiefan I'm still suffering most days. How are you doing? My biggest problem is burning  

[bowiefan003]

Yea I have symptoms most days as well. Some worse than others. it is mostly a burning like a rashy, sunburn feeling. I haven't had any classic outbreaks just mainly cuts down there. Oh, and an increase in discharge but its seems like normal discharge theres just more of it now. When it gets really bad, the only topical relief I get comes from lidocaine. I've been taking Valtrex and a load of supplements, ointments, and daily baths. I have said fuck it and a couple days ago I tried having sex again with my boyfriend when there wasn't any visible symptoms because he has it too. That was one thing that was really concerning me, that I might not be able to have sex again.. It wasn't any worse the day after so I'm glad about that. I just hope to God it gets better. Its really been limiting in terms of the clothes I can wear and even exercise. And I wont get started on the anxiety & depression its causing. I hope our immune systems buck up and that things get easier for us over time. That's the only thing keeping me positive right now. Please let me know if you hear from anyone else that has been in the same boat as us but got over it their first year or whatever. That would be a relief to hear. 

Edited January 4, 2017 by bowiefan003

[LilyMae]

Hi. It took about 2 years for my body to really get adjusted to fighting h. It kind of went in stages. The first six months were rough. Then it got a little better. About a year in I could tell there was another kind of break through and it was lots better. 

There are some supplements that might help your body fight h. Vitamin B12, St John's wort, lemon balm and Echinacea all helped me a lot. I've also had good luck with nervous system support supplements of various kinds. 

I stopped eating oats and peanuts and that seems to help me even now years later.

You'll almost certainly begin to get better in the next few months. One of the paradoxes of h is that stress makes it worse. So if you can find a way to ease your worrying about it it actually will help with the symptoms.

Please feel free to private message me if you need an ear. Hugs.

[hopeful Rylee]

I have it for about 10 months and my biggest problem besides depression and anxiety is the constant burning sensation. I don't know what to do about that. I did have BV and my gyno thought the burning was from that. That has cleared and I also began a probiotic for vaginal health. It still doesn't help with burnin . I have also been on valtrex for about 5 months.  

[SnowAngel]

Hi girls. I'm having the same exact problem with the extreme burning. The ONLY thing that helps me is kolonopin. It seems to relax your body enough to calm down some of the burning. I'm praying we all feel better in the near furture.

Any additional info would be great! 

[bowiefan003]

Lydocaine Hydrocordisone 2% has been the only topical ointment that has helped with the burning. I use it on really bad days when the burning is unbearable. This masks the burn really well and allows me to function throughout the day. I received mine from the doctor. You can also buy it over the counter but it might not be as high of percentage/strength. Also, baths with epsom salt seems to help me for a little while. 

[bowiefan003]

Thank you LilyMae for the hope! Question: did you have more or less chronic symptoms your first 6 months? I have been very depressed lately worrying about how this will effect my future. I will do my best not to stress. 

 

Edited January 7, 2017 by bowiefan003

[bowiefan003]

What really cheered me up today was hearing about the vaccine that could be on the market in Mexico (Theravax) within a year. There are televised news sources reporting on this now surprisingly. If that went through, for those of us who are chronic sufferers, this could be life changing. Unfortunately for me, I like to keep a healthy dose of skepticism as well...  

Edited January 7, 2017 by bowiefan003

[SnowAngel]

The Vax is the only thing keeping me going! I've been having weekly outbreaks lately. If it becomes amiable in Mexico will US citizens be able to travel there to get it? 

Edited January 8, 2017 by SnowAngel

[Evaluate]

56 minutes ago, SnowAngel said:

The Vax is the only thing keeping me going! I've been having weekly outbreaks lately. If it becomes amiable in Mexico will US citizens be able to travel there to get it? 

Come over to the cure board, there are some individuals who are in the know over there and there are a lot of posts about it.  There are new antivirals in the works, multiple vaccines and even gene editing (that could be potential cure).  Stay positive and productive until new treatments arise

[LilyMae]

On 1/7/2017 at 3:33 AM, bowiefan003 said:

Thank you LilyMae for the hope! Question: did you have more or less chronic symptoms your first 6 months? I have been very depressed lately worrying about how this will effect my future. I will do my best not to stress. 

 

I had a lot of breakouts the first two years. It coincided with a particularly stressful period in my life and I am sure that made it worse. But as time went on and my body and I got adjusted to the new circumstances things got gradually better. 

I got it in 1995 and there wasn't much information or support available. You pretty much got a short pamphlet on hsv from the clinic, a prescription for a few valtrex pills and a "good luck, loser". Then you had to go out and just kind of figure stuff out. I didn't even know about the dietary stuff for like 10 years.

Giving up nuts and oats was really good for me. But everybody seems to have their own experience with that. Also, finding real peace with it helps. When I got to the point where I wasn't scared of the outbreaks or miserable during them my body kind of took a deep breath and relaxed about the whole thing. 

Six months in probably feels like decades right now. But it's early days and I really think over the next year you will start to feel better. Lemon balm, B 12, Echinacea and St John's wort might help your nervous system calm down a little. Also meditation is great. I like the guided relaxation meditations you can find on Youtube. Please feel free to private message me if you need anything. Hugs.

Edited January 8, 2017 by LilyMae

[SnowAngel]

Thank you Evaluate that's amazing to hear!!! 

ps: LilyMae you're super cute girl! 

[Mellisuga]

For me, I think it took about 7 months for my body to get used to it. The weirdest stuff happened in the first 4 months (my symptoms weren't too bad, just a bit more persistent than what they became later on). I had a post on here asking about "weird skin" - I felt really weird for the first 6 months, with flakey skin and constant itchiness and weird vagina-ness. This all calmed down after month 7.

By the time a year had passed, I started to get a hint as to what would trigger my outbreaks - by the 20 month mark, I knew what to expect with herpes. It follows my menstrual cycle a bit. Knowing the pattern made me feel a little more "in control" of the virus. It helped me relax a bit. So - the first 5-7 months they were pretty much monthly, after that they became less frequent. At a year, I felt "normal" again.

Today - I can say that my privates feel completely normal. YAY!!  They actually look normal. At the beginning, I felt like my privates were very alien and different from what they used to be. This might be a bit more of a mental thing than a physical thing, but rest assured - this feeling goes away over time.

NOTE - I have HSV2, not that this matters tooo much, but it is the more virulent version on the privates.

Edited January 9, 2017 by Mellisuga

[bowiefan003]

LilyMae,

Thanks again for the support. I'm glad you got through the roughest of times and you've found peace and a sense of more control. I am a big fan of meditation and have taken care to try to reduce stress which overall is a positive and something I need to learn anyway (One benefit to lots more baths hah!).

Edited January 9, 2017 by bowiefan003

[bowiefan003]

Mellisuga,

That is great news! Very happy for you and hopeful it will be the same in my own situation. I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you have alien privates (including the random twinges and stuff). Very glad to hear you have gone back to normal Thanks for sharing

 

Edited January 9, 2017 by bowiefan003

[bowiefan003]

Thanks Evaluate for directing us to the Cure forum. I am going to keep beter posted on this stuff from here on out. I would so be down for a trip to Mexico

[Evaluate]

3 hours ago, bowiefan003 said:

Thanks Evaluate for directing us to the Cure forum. I am going to keep beter posted on this stuff from here on out. I would so be down for a trip to Mexico

There could be worse places to have a trial.  It's a good board to keep an eye on, there is a lot going on with HSV research right now and more to come.

[bowiefan003]

On 1/8/2017 at 6:08 PM, Mellisuga said:

For me, I think it took about 7 months for my body to get used to it. The weirdest stuff happened in the first 4 months (my symptoms weren't too bad, just a bit more persistent than what they became later on). I had a post on here asking about "weird skin" - I felt really weird for the first 6 months, with flakey skin and constant itchiness and weird vagina-ness. This all calmed down after month 7.

By the time a year had passed, I started to get a hint as to what would trigger my outbreaks - by the 20 month mark, I knew what to expect with herpes. It follows my menstrual cycle a bit. Knowing the pattern made me feel a little more "in control" of the virus. It helped me relax a bit. So - the first 5-7 months they were pretty much monthly, after that they became less frequent. At a year, I felt "normal" again.

Today - I can say that my privates feel completely normal. YAY!!  They actually look normal. At the beginning, I felt like my privates were very alien and different from what they used to be. This might be a bit more of a mental thing than a physical thing, but rest assured - this feeling goes away over time.

NOTE - I have HSV2, not that this matters tooo much, but it is the more virulent version on the privates.

Good news! 

I had a period where my vag felt "normal" for a period. I was able to forget all about it! I no longer have the irritation like i did before and other sensations are minimal. I'm feeling much more optimistic now. I did not truly believe it would get better like this!

Edited January 27, 2017 by bowiefan003

[SnowAngel]

Bowie fan I'm so happy for you! How long de it take you to get to this point and have you done anything different that you think might have helped you? 

[Adrienne]

I was diagnosed last 2012. As far as I can remember, I felt like a walking dead for 1 year. My lips was rotten. I'm telling ya, when a sore heals, another one appears so I was never herpes free during those times. Only then I can tell that my body prolly adjusted because then, I've never had an OB since. I still keep a bottle of l-lysine just in case sh*t hits the fan.