Herpes tips please

[scabbyfanny]

No judgement please but I'm currently suffering from my first attack of genital herpes and in absolute agony.
6 days in and I started anti virals yesterday,I have some numbing cream and I'm smothering my poor battered vagina in vaseline in an attempt to barrier my wee from the skin ,I've tried peeing in the bath but even thats agony!

I do have GUM appointment on monday but would really appreciate any tips on how I can get through the next few days ...
TIA

Sorry, I can't help you. If you don't get any ideas on here, it might be worth phoning 111 to see if they can help/making any suggestions.

Thanks for the idea....I hadn't thought of that !

See general measures for over the counter painkillers etc, try co-codamol (maximum 8 tablets in 24 hours) and take lactulose to prevent constipation associated with codeine
https://patient.info/sexual-health/sexually-transmitted-infections-leaflet/genital-herpes#genital-herpes-treatment

Pour warm water from a jug over your genital area while sitting on the toilet to pass urine

Place a couple of unopened food/soup tins in the freezer, when wrapped in a dry (clean) tea towel etc., these can be used as vulval ice packs (applied for 10–15 minutes every 2–3 hours)

Info here about support services that open in weekdays
Page 2 is before page 1
https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/resources/hsv_pil_print_2015.pdf

The BASHH patient information leaflet link didn't copy in full

The Herpes Viruses Association (HVA)
The HVA is a patient support group which for many years
has helped and advised people with herpes infection.

HVA Helpline 0845 123 2305 (weekdays only)
HVA e-mail [email protected]
HVA Website www.herpes.org.uk

If its any comfort, the avs kick in pretty quick and the first attack is generally the worst. I almost passed out from the pain several times.

Take 1000mg lysine
And Zinc

Alongside the antivirals
Avoid cirus

Thank you - will definitely try the tins in the freezer tip ...got prescription codeine for another condition but the pain is still bringing me to tears !
The worst thing is its not exactly something I can discuss with friends due to the stigma ...I'm well into my 50's and slept with a man on holiday who gleefully announced he had a cold sore coming ! I'm so angry with myself ....

Can you take antiinflammatories?

You can buy naproxen over the counter as Feminax Ultra gastro-resistant tablets, and take this with your prescription codeine. 111 will prescribe it but I imagine there's likely a long wait to speak with a clinician

Take 750 mg (3*250mg tablets) for 1 dose, then 250 mg every 8 hours, with it after food
or
Initially 500 mg for 1 dose, then 250 mg every 6–8 hours as required, with it after food

Also, buy over the counter omeprazole and take 20 mg once a day if no reason why not, to protect your stomach while taking naproxen

Thank you so much for that ,it hadn't occurred to me to take anti inflammatories- i'm not great with them so usually try and avoid unless an emergency situation but I think I have some prescription naproxen somewhere .

I've had one attack and it was the worst thing I've experienced. That was 5 years ago with no repeat. Ice lollies, still in the packets obvs) down your knickers. Try not to move much but that's not easy!!

& add paracetamol (max 8 tablets in 24 hours) if taking only (prescription) codeine and not a codeine-paracetamol combination 💐🍫

The first one is the worst by far. I barely notice them now but that first one was hell on earth.

Just keep thinking it will be over soon and will never be that bad again. You have my sympathy! I caught mine from a cheating ex.

A lukewarm bath with sea salt. Doesn't hurt but helps with healing. I had this once years ago and it was agony. Sympathies.

That made me lol ...I do have some solareo's in the freezer!

Thank you all so much ...its not something you can discuss with your work mates at break time (I work in healthcare so no topic is usually taboo)
There's such a stigma around sti's when the reality is it could happen to any one of us ..I'm a professional, educated woman in her 50's who had a bit of a holiday romance and if his version is true It was transmitted via oral sex as he claims to have never knowingly ever had a sti ....to be fair he does appear mortified and very apologetic so he's getting the benefit of the doubt until I've been to the gum clinic on monday .
If the GUM clinic is able to confirm its HSV 1 then I suppose he's off the hook and it was just an unfortunate occurrence .

You can have hsv1 on genitals, and hsv2 on oral. It’s not exclusively one or the other… it’s just named after the area they are most commonly located.

Yes, it could happen to any if us, I hear you about the healthcare coffee room chat/gossip

Genital herpes can be transmitted from an oral cold sore, and viral shedding can occur even when people with a history of oral herpes are asymptomatic. Also, both viruses can cause infection on the face and genitals.

The STI team are great and will hopefully provide some comfort and reassurance

Useful information here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5RPr1GVbLnH5HP3DMlRv70p/herpes-how-to-break-the-stigma-of-having-a-sexually-transmitted-infection

You might want to share this information with the man in question
www.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/

Ooofff I feel for you op.

It’ll sting like a bitch at first but Luke warm salt water will help. Pour it on just as you’re getting in the bath and then soak for a while. Also Zovirax cream from the chemist. Paracetamol is your friend!

If you get another flare up in the future, it won’t be as bad as this first one.

@BeautifulSongsofLove I will definitely share with him . He did say that he usually takes anti virals before he goes away as the sun is a trigger- the cold sore tingling started 12 hours after we had sex so the timing is probably spot on...
I don't suppose I'd have been so mortified if I'd caught a cold sore from him !

@bushproblems love the username .The sting really is a bitch ..I did think of zovirax but everything online says not to use it for genital herpes as it can make it worse but might have to give it a go as its bring tears to my eyes.

Please don't be angry with yourself Fanny. It's just one of those things.

If you have a good friend I would definitely confide. I had a few to drink one night and told my friends I had genital herpes (mine's HSV1) . Turned out that out of the five of us three of us had it.

I've only ever had one episode and that was ten years ago.
Look after yourself.

I have literally just recovered from my first outbreak and have never experienced pain like it. Relentless excuruciating agony. Some things that helped me were Epsom salt baths they would really ease the pain for a few hours I was having 3/4 a day and started adding in Himalayan salts for the last few days too.
lysine and monolaurin supplements which I’m now going to take daily as a prevention method but they advise 1 tablet a day as preventing and up to 3 during an outbreak to help clear it.
i did an order from the herpes virus association website too of olive leaf oil supplement which is also good for prevention and a cream I think it’s called Lomaherpan which is soothing for it. That will take a few days to arrive though so Vaseline and/or sudocrem is good in the meantime.
ibuprofen too I was experiencing a lot of inflammation and that seemed to help bring it down to a normal size.

went through all the embarrassment/ shame that you describe and haven’t told anyone about it I had to call in sick for a week and have pretended it was a kidney infection but like others have said it’s just one of those unfortunate things that can happen to anyone. Condoms don’t prevent it, they don’t test for it and a large percentage of the population carry the virus without knowing so don’t beat yourself up for it.

another top tip once the sores clear and the skin regenerates it does something to your nerves down there it’s nothing like the pain of the outbreak but did cause itching and discomfort for me and ChatGPT advised me to take antihistamines which I started yesterday and that’s relieved the irritation a lot.

The user name was actually related to my garden originally but it still fits nicely here 😂

You can use it on the vulva, just not internally. My dr told me to use it this way.

@scabbyfanny can I ask how you are getting on op and did you get a herpes diagnosis from the GUM clinic. I too am currently suffering from my first suspected outbreak and im devastated. im almost 50 years old and I can't believe this has happened. ive been with my current partner for 7 months and im suspecting its come from him. He does suffer from cold sores but we were always careful to avoid kissing or oral sex when he's had cold sore flare ups or so we thought.
Im only 4 days into my suspected first flare up and each day has been getting worse. ive got an appointment at the GUM clinic tomorrow.
I cannot speak to anyone in real life about this due to the embarrassment and stigma. ive told dp who is devastated and feels upset that im blaming him!
Has your flare up calmed down op and how are things now?

Hope you are feeling better. But be assured its never as bad as the first attack. I know when ts comingbin, I feel a heavy dragging ache in my genitals , a touch feverish. So take the tablets (keep them in stock, ask the dr for a supply) as soon as you feel it starting. Good luck.