Feeling desperate how long will this last

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi, I'm 46 and just discovered I have genital herpes. Discovered I have this after having a hemorroid removed and going through stress/trauma I'm the recovery.

Ive taken Zovirax 200mg 5x a day now for 12 days an I still can't see any improvement. I don't have any other symptoms like headache or flu. Although last night I felt like my upper thighs were burning.

can anyone please advise how long this will last and what I can do to speed up recovery. I feel desperate after so long. I feel the lesion are not ulcerative and crusting over but just staying there.

thanks.

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23 Replies

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  • Posted

    Taking a warm bath with Epsom salt will help you a lot! Also, call your doctor taking pills 5 times a day for 12 days without any improvement is not good on your liver. Are your blisters messing with your day to day schedule?
    • Posted

      Thanks, I'll try and get some Epsom salts today. I have red patches and then some small pimples which are yellow. I have a general uncomfortable feeling but nothing else really. I do feel like there is more today than yesterday. I can't get to the doctors until pay day now which is another week 😟 I thought then medicine would help but it doesn't seem to have changed anything at all.

    • Posted

      Yeah then go to your local drug store and get the store brand for Epsom salt and soak in it for even an hour if you'd like with warm water daily. Try to keep the area dry at all times so after the bath use a blow dryer - i prefer on cold - until dry... and goes for just washing it with warm soapy water. I'll use baby wipes to clean sometimes instead but I get a calming one (cucumber and green tea) works well for me... also ice packs. I sit on the couch in the mornings with my underwear on and my shorts and an Ice pack between the two. I do that until I feel the ice start to melt. All good home remedies if you can't get to the doctor

    • Posted

      Thanks, I'll try today, how long will this last? I feel like I'm getting worse not better 😟

    • Posted

      With first outbreaks, the meds appear to offer only limited relief. A lot depends on how soon you started taking the meds in relation to first symptoms. In any case, a first outbreak can last anywhere between 2-4 weeks, often with a second crop of lesions after the first week, but with symptoms generally improving during that time, especially after the first couple of weeks. Thankfully, recurrences are *much* milder and nothing like the first outbreak. Do you have HSV-1 or 2?
    • Posted

      Hi, yes it seems as though I have a second crop come up after a week or so 😟. I haven't had a formal diagnosis yet. This all came about after the hemorroid surgery 17 days ago. It's the spots and now the itching/tingling I have. Spots are either red or some yellow and also on my thighs and vulva. The spots look like classic early stages. I can't get to a doctor for a week or so until pay day sadly so I have been trying to self treat. With no success. I don't have pain when I urninate or any problems there. I don't know if it's a first outbreak or a latent infection. I never had noticed this before. I have had cervicitus on Pap smears years ago and reading on here I hear herpes causes that so I just assumed they are connected.

    • Posted

      You should really get the lesions swabbed and typed asap, as now is the best time to determine what it is. Go to an emergency ward or borrow money, if need be. The IgG test for herpes requires a wait of up to 3 months and can be confusing unless a high positive, plus it doesn't confirm location.

    • Posted

      Thank you I will see what I can do but maybe couple of days. Is the treatment different depending on the type? Any suggestions to help with symptoms in the meantime would be much appreciated as they are just not changing from red or small spot/yellow in a couple of weeks. Many thanks
    • Posted

      Initial treatment is the same, but what you can expect in terms of recurrences, risk factors, infectiousness, etc., differs by type. Since you weren't officially diagnosed, there's always a chance that it's not even herpes, in which case herpes treatments may not help or could even make it worse. If it is herpes, however, usually the meds are only taken for up to 10 days, so I would stop and just soak the area in an Epsom salt bath, maybe try applying diluted tea tree oil, and generally keep the area clean and dry. Topical lidocaine for local pain relief and acetaminophen or ibuprofen for general pain relief.

    • Posted

      Thanks. Im wondering if I should take one more course because I've just read about lysine and arginine and interestingly enough every morning I eat a plain yoghurt adding fruit, a tablespoon of chia and flax seeds plus a handful or nuts (almonds cashews macadamia walnuts). I just discovered these can fuel the virus. I will stop now (sadly) and see if this helps too?

    • Posted

      It's not clinically proven, in fact, so I would not necessarily change your diet, other than keeping it healthy, maybe popping a daily vitamin C supplement, etc. I never cut things from my diet since contracting herpes a year ago, and I've been fine, but of course each individual has their own triggers.

    • Posted

      Interesting to hear thanks. Strangely enough I only just added the flax seed and chia to help with my fiber load after my operation and 3-4 days before this outbreak. In addition I added stool softeners too. I wonder if taking lysine will help? Thank you so much for replying as it's helping my stress levels.

    • Posted

      The physical trauma of the procedure you had done is more likely the trigger than the change in your diet. That is, assuming it's even herpes. If the meds aren't having much impact, lysine supplements are unlikely to as well (all clinically unproven, not just aspects of diet, although there are many advocates regardless). And no problem, happy to help!

    • Posted

      Yes I think he trauma had an impact. I just hope after two weeks to start seeing some improvements. It's getting me down. I will stop the tablets and see if any difference. Thanks 

  • Posted

    Cutting sugar out of your diet will for sure help. I'm a diabetic so my doctors have told me this. The sores thrive off of that. Also, try not to stress and get as much sleep as possible. I see the other person mentioned diluted tea tree oil... it's a great idea - however when I tried it, I put it on cotton squares and didn't dilute it, left the cotton squares on over night and I think some of my uninfected skin has burned off

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