GHSV1

Ok, thanks so much. I tend to think that everything I get is related. I just touched one of the bumps on my face accidently and it burned when I did. Thanks again.

Abreva

I saw that today! Wasn't sure if it worked or not. Thanks!

No problem. It only works for hsv1 not 2 for anyone that has wondering imaginations or thinks it's a miracle for down there, it's not.

Can you put it down there for hsv1?

Down there is for hsv2. There are different kinds. Hsv1 is cold sores around mouth and hsv2 is herpes vagina and anus.

HSV1 can also infect the genitals, just as HSV2 can (less commonly) infect the mouth. Any medication that can help treat HSV1 can also help treat HSV2, and vice versa. I don't use Abreva, but I (and many others) do use acyclovir cream marketed for cold sores on genital lesions (whichever HSV type) and it helps.

See my reply to Anonymous below.

My doctor did not offer me any cream at my first outbreak back in January. Would that acyclovir cream be available in the US?

I have GHSV1. But I kinda feel like I've had outbreaks in my mouth, on my face and in my fingers as well. Just a hunch, no diagnosis on those places.

*on my fingers

The oral meds are preferred over the cream, which is why you weren't prescribed it. Few people are. But the cream does help if you are not on any oral meds, and you should be able to buy it over the counter, as it's just a simple cream for cold sores. I doubt your other issues are herpes. If you need confirmation for peace of mind, get the other areas swabbed.

Yes all meds and cream are available in the us

Ok thanks, the facial bumps have just about disappeared today. Yes, I do take daily suppressives, I cannot deal with another genital outbreak like my first.

Okay thank you

You probably wouldn't ever get another outbreak anywhere near that bad, and may get recurrences rarely, if at all. gHSV1 can cause nasty first outbreaks, but for most people, that's about it. Recurrences might be once a year, if that, and very mild. The daily meds aren't normally prescribed for gHSV1 as a result, unless the person is one of the unlucky few who gets frequent outbreaks. It's normally for gHSV2 or bad recurring cases of oral HSV1.

I'm not sure why she gave it to me, it was offered and I accepted. I'm older (late 50's), so maybe that's why?

Could be that, or sometimes there's a tendency to overmedicate. You might want to come off the daily meds at some point to see how your body naturally handles things, and might be surprised that you don't need to take anything. Long-term daily usage, when stopped, however, can cause an outbreak in some people. Just fyi.

Maybe would help to wean off, like maybe every other day, then every third day, etc?

I've not heard of people weaning themselves off the meds, but that might help. Not sure. What I said tends to only happen with really long term daily usage. If just for a month or two, it probably won't cause an outbreak.

I've been on the meds six months.