Outbreak with every menstrual cycle

[simoneSoAlone]

What can I do to lesson the amount of outbreaks.  A year of this and I'm about to kill myself.  Every single month since my diagnosis in may of 2016 I've had some sort of outbreak with my menstrual cycle.  Bad enough I was tricked by the person I slept with ( be took off the condom) now I'm being punished every month.  I've taken lysine, vitamin c, iron, olive leaf extract.  I don't want to take Valtrex.  But if I have yo, I will.  Any suggestions?

[Evaluate]

Hi @simoneSoAlone.  Sorry to hear about your situation.

Have you spoken to a medical professional about it?  I can't personally speak to the hormonal aspect of HSV, perhaps someone else can, but they might be able to give you some suggestions in that area.  As for avoiding antivirals, is there a reason you haven't taken any?  It might make you feel a lot better and lessen your suffering.  You don't necessarily need to take them everyday (suppressive therapy), but you can take them when you feel an outbreak coming on so it minimizes and perhaps prevents it.

Other factors that can increase outbreaks include stress, sleep deprivation and poor diet.  Have you any of those in your life right now?

[Hansje]

You might try anticonception pill and take them back to back (so no stopping weeks, no menstruation). This is what I do because I had the same as you.

 It is not harmfull to take the pill back to back. And I also decided to take Valtrex every day. It doesn't work a 100% but I get considerably less outbreaks and that feels like a blessing.

[oldgal]

I'm sorry to hear of your suffering.  I remember it well!  I was the same, every month an outbreak and trying to use tampons would almost make me cry.  In my case, then as now, stress is my major trigger for outbreaks.  Do you suffer from pms?  I was terrible, and now the menopausal time is the same.  So for me it seems to be very much a hormonal thing, with stress/depression at the forefront a lot of the time.  I am just wondering if in your case perhaps addressing the hormonal issue may help.  Personally I don't like to take drugs unless they are absolutely essential and prefer to try a more natural approach where I can, and have looked into/tried numerous things these last few years.  Anyway, the one that seems to come out on top for hormonals is maca.  Maybe it is worth a try?  I have also previously used acyclovir (presumably the same as Valtrex?) in the short term out of desperation for some relief, and it did work well for me.  Good luck, I hope you can find some relief soon.

[Sanguine108]

Is it worse towards the end of the cycle or beginning of period?   There's an idea that as one bleeds then less blood provides less of a medium for symptoms to be buffered out (generally speaking).   If the outbreak is at the beginning of the period then it could be blood stagnation causing the disruption.  In that case, is your menstrual blood darker than usual/brown/have some clots, does the blood get lighter as it goes on?  Is it consistent every cycle?

Outside of not fixing the problem by taking Rx antivirals and/or birth control, you could smoothen/move the blood in the case of stagnation or build blood in the case of deficiency.
While iron is important for blood/heme, taking an iron supplement does not improve blood production. Lysine, vitamin c, and olive leaf extract neither build nor move blood.  Bone broth is good for making blood.  ...blood comes from bone marrow so you brew some bone broth to get the nutrients needed to produce blood.   It's like people who need thyroid hormone that use Armour (it's pig thyroid gland prescription) that has all the co-factors and accessory compounds, whether known or not, to aid in real-life thyroid functioning rather than synthetic Synthroid, which is just one, purified, potent hormone.   

In Chinese medicine, the liver channel innervates w the genitalia.  So issues with herpetic outbreaks on the genitals are effectively treated with points on the liver channel.  Herbal medicine... Chinese herbs (and herbs in general) that clear pus and inflammation (in TCM this would be heat and dampness or toxin) from the liver channel would be used.    Herbs like Japanese knotweed and st. john's wort (there's a chinese species in the materia medica) just happen to clear damp-heat from the liver channel but do so in different ways.  

...I feel like there's no end to talking about this and it might be more confusing if anything.    If you can find a Chinese medicine practitioner who specializes in women's health issues then they would be the best suited to address your issues.  

[simoneSoAlone]

On Saturday, April 08, 2017 at 4:19 AM, oldgal said:

I'm sorry to hear of your suffering.  I remember it well!  I was the same, every month an outbreak and trying to use tampons would almost make me cry.  In my case, then as now, stress is my major trigger for outbreaks.  Do you suffer from pms?  I was terrible, and now the menopausal time is the same.  So for me it seems to be very much a hormonal thing, with stress/depression at the forefront a lot of the time.  I am just wondering if in your case perhaps addressing the hormonal issue may help.  Personally I don't like to take drugs unless they are absolutely essential and prefer to try a more natural approach where I can, and have looked into/tried numerous things these last few years.  Anyway, the one that seems to come out on top for hormonals is maca.  Maybe it is worth a try?  I have also previously used acyclovir (presumably the same as Valtrex?) in the short term out of desperation for some relief, and it did work well for me.  Good luck, I hope you can find some relief soon.

Thank you so much for your advice.  Perhaps it is hormonal.  Where can I find Maca?

[simoneSoAlone]

22 hours ago, Sanguine108 said:

Is it worse towards the end of the cycle or beginning of period?   There's an idea that as one bleeds then less blood provides less of a medium for symptoms to be buffered out (generally speaking).   If the outbreak is at the beginning of the period then it could be blood stagnation causing the disruption.  In that case, is your menstrual blood darker than usual/brown/have some clots, does the blood get lighter as it goes on?  Is it consistent every cycle?

Outside of not fixing the problem by taking Rx antivirals and/or birth control, you could smoothen/move the blood in the case of stagnation or build blood in the case of deficiency.
While iron is important for blood/heme, taking an iron supplement does not improve blood production. Lysine, vitamin c, and olive leaf extract neither build nor move blood.  Bone broth is good for making blood.  ...blood comes from bone marrow so you brew some bone broth to get the nutrients needed to produce blood.   It's like people who need thyroid hormone that use Armour (it's pig thyroid gland prescription) that has all the co-factors and accessory compounds, whether known or not, to aid in real-life thyroid functioning rather than synthetic Synthroid, which is just one, purified, potent hormone.   

In Chinese medicine, the liver channel innervates w the genitalia.  So issues with herpetic outbreaks on the genitals are effectively treated with points on the liver channel.  Herbal medicine... Chinese herbs (and herbs in general) that clear pus and inflammation (in TCM this would be heat and dampness or toxin) from the liver channel would be used.    Herbs like Japanese knotweed and st. john's wort (there's a chinese species in the materia medica) just happen to clear damp-heat from the liver channel but do so in different ways.  

...I feel like there's no end to talking about this and it might be more confusing if anything.    If you can find a Chinese medicine practitioner who specializes in women's health issues then they would be the best suited to address your issues.  

Thank you so much!  It varies as to which part if the menstrual cycle.  Mainly in the beginning.  I will try the bone broth.  And I'm leaning towards trying the At Johns wart as well.

[oldgal]

21 minutes ago, simoneSoAlone said:

Thank you so much for your advice.  Perhaps it is hormonal.  Where can I find Maca?

If you look it up online you will see loads of suppliers and can find a good deal.  I think it's full name is Peruvian Maca.  Good luck with it 

[Sanguine108]

3 hours ago, simoneSoAlone said:

It varies as to which part if the menstrual cycle.  Mainly in the beginning.

Ok, let's go on it being a blood stagnation issue.  I think SJW would be a good thing to try as it dredges and detoxifies the liver/blood.  SJW is also known as a blood purifier since it dredges the liver.  Do you get cramps at the beginning of your period?  You could take SJW at the first sign of cramps or several days leading up to the beginning of menstruation.

Google/youtube "Making bone broth" if ya don't already know how.  And if you do then make sure you add some vinegar (apple cider vinegar (ACR) or white vinegar, whichever but ACR tastes better).  Vinegar helps leach out the minerals from the bone into the solution.   Instead of having a stock pot sitting in the fridge to be eaten before it goes old or freezing it in inconvenient batches, you can pour the broth into ice cube trays and put them in the freezer.   So you could make a soup and use/melt 2-3 frozen, bone broth ice cubes at a time into some water along with vegetables, beans, chicken, a fried egg, rice, or whatever.  Like bone broth bouillon.   It makes the lifestyle change a bit more sustainable when it's practical to do.   Also, I'd incorporate garlic into your regular cooking.  Don't have to go crazy adding so many cloves.  Little and often make much.  1-2 cloves of garlic should be enough.   If you want, you could try the garlic/allium supplement route then there's deodorized garlic supplements you can take daily.   Garlic helps move/thin the blood, aids the immune system and, just like SJW, garlic is considered to be a blood purifier.

There's a reflex point for liver blood stagnation.  It's ~2inches down and 2inches to the left of the umbilicus/belly button.  Give it a firm pressing (you can get broad in area you're pressing) and if it's positive/painful then liver blood stagnation is implied.   This is a reflex point used in several diagnostic systems but the most ancient is the Japanese, who call it Oketsu.  Oketsu literally means "dirty blood" and is a more 'poetic' term for blood stagnation.  In regards to liver blood stagnation and why this is important (if I didn't already emphasize it), when menstruating, the blood that supplies and replenishes the uterus(and the body) comes from the liver.  If the pathways are obscured at the source then it affects things downstream.  SJW, while it has its effects on the nervous system, places a considerable influence on the liver, which is why it has a broad range of effects such as:
-eliminating many drugs/substances from the body faster
-being called a blood purifier
-regulating hormonal imbalances
-being indicated to relieve menstrual cramps
...All these deal with the liver moving smoothly and more efficiently.  While we're at it, SJW does affect neurotransmitter production and if you're taking any brain/anti-depressant Rx drug then do not take SJW and consult your physician about this.   For instance, SJW promotes the entire physiological process from neurotransmitter production and recycling/re-uptake.  So, if there's depression because of a neurotransmitter imbalance or deficiency then SJW hastens the homeostasis process.   If you take an SSRI anti-depressant (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) while taking SJW then too much serotonin will accumulate in the synapse and, unable to be removed bc of SSRI, can cause serotonin syndrome.  Also, when taking SJW be aware that it can cause you to be more sensitive to UV light thereby burning more easily.   So either take it later in the afternoon if you're in the sun a lot or be mindful of it and wear appropriate protection.  It's not like you're going to take SJW every day for the rest of your life; take only at certain times, when needed.

[Corilou]

On 4/7/2017 at 7:58 PM, simoneSoAlone said:

What can I do to lesson the amount of outbreaks.  A year of this and I'm about to kill myself.  Every single month since my diagnosis in may of 2016 I've had some sort of outbreak with my menstrual cycle.  Bad enough I was tricked by the person I slept with ( be took off the condom) now I'm being punished every month.  I've taken lysine, vitamin c, iron, olive leaf extract.  I don't want to take Valtrex.  But if I have yo, I will.  Any suggestions?

I had the same issue, every month for years, I took valcyclovir at every OB.. I bought this salve off Amazon, good Lord, the name is ridiculous - Herp-B-gone.. But it had good reviews. I've been using it for months now, and it's awesome. I used to have the "feeling" every month before my cycle and a full on OB every couple of cycles, now, they never get past that first achey tingle. 

I know you feel hopeless right now, but it really will pass, and your life will fall back into normal. My biggest concern now, after having this for 7 years, is relationship drama

Lean on your friends sis <3

[simoneSoAlone]

Thank you.  I can't tell my friends though.  I'm so glad for this group.  Herp B gone?  Will try it

[Whyyyyy]

6 minutes ago, simoneSoAlone said:

Thank you.  I can't tell my friends though.  I'm so glad for this group.  Herp B gone?  Will try it

Yes, it has some good reviews on amazon and is made with all natural products!

[Lisajd]

On Monday, April 10, 2017 at 1:57 PM, simoneSoAlone said:

Thank you so much for your advice.  Perhaps it is hormonal.  Where can I find Maca?

Quite a few women have said that it is related to their periods and you could try St John's Wort or lemon balm as well

[Hsv2505]

I myself have the same thing. But for every menstrual cycle I will have a severe outbreak. I have seen the doctor they did do the blood test and of course some positive HSV  one and two.   My outbreaks drive me insane. Last month it actually wasn't that bad I think I had just tingles of it starting to happen and then it stopped but right now I'm having an outbreak and I'm actually nearing the end of it it was horrifying! I take all those herbal things as well I actually take lysine 3x a day along with echinacea 3x a day and vitamin c the same all of them at 2000 mg a day.  This last outbreak I went and bought lysine cream and desitin.  The zinc oxide in the desitin is what kills the pain.  That actually worked for me!  Now my only issue is how I'm I going to suppress this without having to take my anti-viral medication. I think the one thing why I have not taken my antivirals is because I don't like side effects and I don't like taking medications at all. I am getting to a point where I will probably have to break down and I'm going to try it. I would love to surprise them and not have outbreaks at all or very little ones here and there at least. Last Month I thought yaaasssssss! And now I was in tears.  My trigger is definitely stressed as I had a very stressful emotional blow up last week and then Boom this hit me! So I do know these are stress and hormone related outbreaks.  If anyone has any type of suppression success naturally that would be great! Please share