calling all Herpes sufferers please

[mckenzie]

Have you found a link between your outbreaks and your monthly cycle? I used to take the pill continually (i.e. no breaks after three weeks worth of pills and no monthly bleed) and this seemed to keep the herpes in check. I did this for many years but a few years ago decided I didn't want to be taking the pill anymore and although I feel better for it, the herpes has returned, monthly, just before my period is due and it's hideous.
So, naturally, I'm thinking about going back on the pill but I just wondered if anyone else has seen his pattern and been able to control it by some other method other than the contraceptive pill.

TIA

[mckenzie]

bump.

[Dollydowser]

I have a friend who is a sufferer, and she isn't on the pill. Her outbreaks are related more to stress and diet, she avoids high arginine foods and takes Lysine when she feels it coming on. Nuts and chocolate are triggers for her.

[mckenzie]

thanks dollydowser. I take a lysine supplement and try to keep away from arginine but it's not helping .

[Dollydowser]

How are your stress levels? Stress will lower your immune system, and use up nutrients big time. How about taking high dose fit C for a week to give yourself a boost? 2 or 3g perhaps.

[mckenzie]

I take a good multi vit (Solgar VM prime for women) but I'll try anything. Can you take too much fit C though?
I shouldn't be stressed. DCs are at school, the only work i do outside the home is voluntary work and I really enjoy it. I exercise regularly. My diet probably isn't great as I'm not huge fan of cooking and when i have cooked for the family, I don't then want to eat it. I don't eat fast food - I just graze rather than eat.

[Idreamof]

Lemon essential oil. Pure. (to keep well out of children's reach as for all essential oils, as they are so concentrated, very dangerous if more than a few drops swallowed)
As soon as you notice the tingling, and 3/4 more time over a few hours just to make sure. Zaps the bugger like nothing else. If a bit more developed it hurts, quite a lot, but helps it heal so much faster.
(fingers crossed) over the years I had noticed links with almost everything under the sun, including the sun, (which helps the virus to flourish), but since I use LEO, they happen less and less.
We are talking facial herpes, right?

[Idreamof]

To be kept,well out of children's reach. My enthusiasm runneth over...

[weblette]

They can be, I find in winter I get one without fail just before my period starts. I reckon it's because my general immunity's lower then. Doesn't seem to happen in summer.

[mckenzie]

no, not facial herpes

[Dollydowser]

You can take too much Vit C, there is a threshold known as 'bowel tolerance' but that would be maybe 6g or so. There is no toxicity, just don't take if you are pregnant or due to have an operation. Its water soluble so any excess will be excreted. How about a change of multi? Higher Nature Wise Woman has a probiotic in it as well (its 3 a day though) and its a food state tablet, so easily absorbed, or try a probiotic alongside your Solgar multi.

[mckenzie]

Thanks very much - I'm just checking out those Higher nature vits. I have to take the VM Prime 3 times a day so that part of it doesn't bother me.

is this your professional field DD or do you just have a avid interest?

[Idreamof]

Ouch! So sorry.
I wonder, try? Only for the very very brave...keeping in mind the intense breathtaking pain will subside?

[almondfinger]

Idreamof, is it lemonbalm essential oil? That is the oil for herpes.

mckensie, you can also get a st johns wort oil (Vogels) that is excellent to put on the area as soon as you feel tingling and to help with speedy healing.

It sounds like you need to boost your immune system as the virus manages to attack each month.

Mine are stress related (and facial!!!!). I have Hypericum 30c homeopathic tincture (more st johns worth, you can order this online for Ainsworths or Helios). I take one drop a day everyday and when I get the starter headaches that signify a potential coldsore I up that to every 30mins- hour. It's amazing.

I also take high dose vit C during a breakout. At the first inkling of a coldsore I take about 7000g of Lysine.

Avoid all almonds, caffeine and chocolate for the period.

[Dollydowser]

Both!

[mckenzie]

thanks for the replies everyone.
I shall try the lemon essential oil - I don't main short sharp pain. It's this itchiness, soreness and back ache and generally feeling lousy i can't take any more.
I shall also get some Hypericum 30c homeopathic tincture and do a little test using one on one outbreak and one on another (oh yes, i get more than one at a time. I have about 4 lesions at the moment )

Dollydowser - would you then have an opinion on this? If i decide these other changes aren't helping and to go back to taking either the pill constantly or a daily dose of acyclivor to just keep the thing at bay, which would be the lesser of the two evils do you think?

TIA

[Dollydowser]

Re the homeopathy, I would get a hypericum/calendula mother tincture, (the hypericum for the pain and the calendula to help with the healing).
High dose Vit C, and a change in your multi vit or add a probiotic.

A more balanced diet would help, if you are snacking you may not be eating enough protein, and possibly too much sugar? Sugar will not help trying to reduce inflammation. Up your veg so you are naturally increasing your vit C and other nutrients. If you don't like cooking, how about juicing (including veg not just fruit)? Garlic would be another one of nature's healers you could benefit from. If you don't want to cook with it, chop up a raw clove and swallow it with some water every evening.

How much/how often are you taking Lysine (and which brand)?

[Dollydowser]

Oats in the bath is a great way to relieve itching, put some in the end of an old pair of tights or a sock and hang on the taps when you run a bath.

[Idreamof]

almond I don't know lemon-balm, but I use lemon, tea tree, even lavender is better than nothing, anything with strong cleansing properties seem to do the trick (on face). Is lemon-balm more appropriate in OP's case? I have been told it is in fact a different virus.

mcenzie if you try essential oil for the 1st time, perhaps not when the bugger is at its worst and you are feeling very low. With four lesions you must be feeling rotten, poor you. I am concerned that lemon oil at this stage, even if the pain does go away, might be umbearable. I find the pain really intense, heart beating fast, cold sweat, feeling faint, when applying lemon oil too late, e.i. on a well developped pustule, and it's only at the corner of my mouth, or on my top lip fGs.Try to catch it when it just rears its ugly head, shall I say, or when it has started to heal a little bit. Oh good luck !

[lessemin]

Have you tried zovirax tablets?

[4lbsOfShiteInA2lbBag]

1000mg of Ester-c daily keeps my coldsores at bay. I never had any success with L-Lysine despite taking high doses for a couple of years. Ester-c is a high strength version of Vit C but is gentler on the digestive system.

[mckenzie]

well, I've ordered the lemon oil, the tincture, the big dose fit c and the Wise Woman. Wish me luck

lessemin - Ive tried those, I was on suppression therapy for years taking three a day and stopped when trying to get pregnant. I found them a constant reminder of the herpes.

dollydowser - my lysine is made by Solgar. My diet is not bad but I do have one latte most days and often some chocolate (not much but still some). I don't eat enough veg and will make a real concerted effort now to cut out all chocolate, coffee and nuts (I like to eat nuts for their other benefits at my age) and up my veg intake. It will be easier in the summer as I love salad with veg.
I know that if I go back on the contraceptive pill continually I can get it under control but I really don't want to do that. Apart from anything else, DH had the snip last year and would be gutted to know he needn't have bothered

[Tawnyhairedandgoldenlimbed]

OP, I had that problem for years - used to get an outbreak on my leg just before period every month. Then I discovered Valtrex. Took one a day for a while and bingo. Seemed to break the monthly cycle and only get prodome maybe two/three times a year now. Feel the tingle, take a Valtrex - all sorted. That drug literally changed my life. GP's quite reluctant to prescribe - it's not cheap - but it is amazing for me.

[mckenzie]

are you in the UK Tawnyhaired?

[Dollydowser]

May be worth trying a different Lysine. Lamberts is a good make.

Yes I agree re nuts, but worth having a break from them and chocolate, just to see if you can make a difference. One coffee a day isn't going to be a deal breaker. I hope you start to feel better soon.

[CuttedUpPear]

Heck I'm so glad to see this thread. Thank you OP.
Where does one buy the lemon or lemon balm oil (in the UK) and is it ok for genital herpes?