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Self-diagnosed with genital herpes. I've started taking acyclovir 400mg. Just need some advice!

Posted , 4 users are following.

dragon1995
dragon1995

Hi,

About 6 days ago, I became very itchy around the genital region, including my bottom and on the sides. I was very concerned about what this could be and have been too scared to visit the doctors. At the same time, I had a fever and swollen glands (throat), I've been feeling very nauseous and have completely lost my appetite which doesn't help. I checked online, and the symptoms would always refer me to genital herpes. This initially frightened me and I didn't want to think that it was the reason I was feeling this way. 

However, I started to notice it burned a lot when I went to pee and noticed quite a few sores/shallow ulcer looking things around that area. I applied powder which cooled it down and prevented itching. I also tried applying sudocrem but this made me feel irritated. I then noticed more smaller white bumps/pimple looking spots forming around my bottom area, recently these have burst, secreting yellow/green pus. And leaving sore red open skin behind. Some of which have grouped together to form an ulcer.

Luckily, I managed to find an online health prescription service for my condition and I received my acyclovir tablets (400mg) today. I have been advised to take them three times a day for a course of 5 days. I've only just started the course. But I just want some honest opinions or advice on how effective these are? I already have multiple ulcers which are bothering me a lot, as it stings when I pee and I have been finding it uncomfortable to walk as my skin rubs. Will this course of acyclovir clear the ulcers within the five days? When should I see results?

As this is my first outbreak, I understand it will last 10-20 days, does taking acyclovir shorten this? I can say I'm around 5-6 days into the outbreak and I've only just started taking the medicine. Would it still help me?

Thank you for taking the time to read this

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • feelbroken
    feelbroken dragon1995

    Posted

    It will help w preventing it from going any longer. You really need to go see a doc.
  • carla_11791
    carla_11791 dragon1995

    Posted

    You definitely need to go to the doctor so they can do a swap of the ulcers to determine if it's hsv 1 or hsv2 , also get a blood test this will tell you if it's a new or old infection only bloods will tell you this not a swab so if you have a sti doctors clinic where you are I strongly advise you go there rather then a gp who really have no idea what they are talking about

    Hsv 2 igm positive is new Infection

    HSV 2 Igg Negative Old infection

    • sophie873
      sophie873 carla_11791

      Posted

      Hi carla

      I did not know until i read your reply that you can test for an old or new infection

      me and my partner have been searching for answers as to how/when we got HSV1 in the genitals as we both never had any signs in our previous long term relationships but when we got together we both got it at the same time

      so when you say old and new infection what kind of time frame are you talking about?

      and can this only be tested if you have HSV2?

      thank you!

    • carla_11791
      carla_11791 sophie873

      Posted

      Well my doctor said you start seeing symptoms from around 2/14 days from the start of the Infection if you have never came in contact with it before.

      The blood test for both hsv1 and hsv2

      and will tell you if it's an old or new infection

      Have you both had swabs taken to determine if it's hsv1 or hsv2?

      It's very common for males to be the carrier and not have any symptoms at all or very tiny that they just don't think anything about it and lucky for us women we have a higher chance of catching it.

    • feelbroken
      feelbroken sophie873

      Posted

      Don't rely on that to determine your timeline, as it is not as cut and dry as you think.

      Many assume that if a test discovers IgM, they have recently acquired herpes. However, research shows that IgM can reappear in blood tests in up to a third of people during recurrences, while it will be negative in up to half of persons who recently acquired herpes but have culture-document first episodes. Therefore, IgM tests can lead to deceptive test results, as well as false assumptions about how and when a person actually acquired HSV. For this reason, we do not recommend using blood tests as a way to determine how long a person has had herpes. Unfortunately, most people who are diagnosed will not be able to determine how long they have had the infection.

      Thatvwaa from the american sexual health association website.

      Don't either one of you have herpes in the mouth? That's probably how you got it and then passed it.

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