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Original poster

First oubreak of genital herpes... please someone talk to me!

70 replies

WhyTheHeckMe · 03/03/2017 20:27

Married to DH for 12 years, I may add I trust him completely.

Have been poorly the last few weeks and therefore immunity very low.
This week I've come out with what I thought was thrush. Took pessary but it did nothing.
The following day the pain was bad. I thought uti. Got in at doctors who said they suspected genital herpes. Sent me to gum clinic who confirmed diagnosis.

This is potentially the worst pain I've ever had.
My entire vulva is covered in weeping sores and blisters, they're spreading up my bum crack :-(
I can't sit, walk, lie. I am in tears all the time. I'm off work as it's so bad.
Weeing is just unbearable. The pain is so bad it's actually feel like I'm going to be sick. It burns the entire way down. I've tried weeing in the bath and the shower, nothing helps.
This is day 4 now, I'm meant to be going on holiday in a week.
I just can't see how I will go if I still feel like this.
The doctor gave me instillagel to put on the affected sores but all it does is burn. It's literally like someone is holding a naked flame to my bits.
I'm also on aciclovir 400mg 3 times a day. I started it yesterday but I'd say the pain is worse today

He said I have a very bad case so I'm also on tramadol which isn't even touching the pain.
Please can anyone offer me some help and advice?
I'm having regular salt water baths and have been in loose jamas all day with no underwear on.
I don't know how long to expect to feel like this
I've missed so much time off work due to my other illness I am mortified to have now had this come out. And i obviously can't tell them why I'm now off again.
I thought I'd be back in work Monday but how I feel now I just can't imagine it

If you don't want to respond on here feel free to pm me.
I just don't know what to expect time frame wise!
And is it normal for this to have lay dormant for 12 odd years?
Neither me or dh have ever had any other symptoms not even a coldsore in our lives

Thanks

OP posts:
AnthonyCupper · 04/03/2017 17:50

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
WhyTheHeckMe · 04/03/2017 18:36

Hi out2pasture that's interesting, I did read up on a Steven Johnsons Syndrome after reading your comment but apart from the genital stuff I have no other of the symptoms which makes me think it can't be that. Also the only anti inflammotries I've taken is ibuprofen which isn't on the list as one that causes it
Thanks for the info though, appreciated

I'm in even more pain today than yesterday. I have loads of white blisters with very very angry red rings around them.
And horrible discharge. I can't tell if the blisters have burst or not I wish I knew how much longer this would go on.
Been on the meds 3 days now.
I've been in bed all day as I feel sick and have an awful headache with it. The tramadol just isn't doing a thing :-(

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 04/03/2017 19:05

Oh op you poor thing. It is so so painful. If I recall it lasted about a week for me. And to reassure you I have not had another outbreak since.

My doctor gave me a barrier cream to put in the sores to make weeing less painful and I did find that that worked.

Get well soon Flowers

Anonomiss · 04/03/2017 21:47

Tea tree oil. Not the aromatherapy stuff, the kind for skincare by first aid supplies. Apply to sores.

Original poster
WhyTheHeckMe · 04/03/2017 23:53

Will that burn? I'll try anythjng. Just been to out of hours got stronger painkillers :(
Can I get tea tree oil from pharmacy?

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 05/03/2017 09:44

I personally would not have wanted to put tea tree oil on! I would imagine it would really burn.

Did you ask at the chemist for some barrier cream to help with the wee?

Spybot · 05/03/2017 12:51

Hi OP. Sorry to hear that it is still so bad. You will turn the corner soon. You must have been very run down to get this so badly. Plenty of vitamin C and keep resting. Poor you. BTW I think T tree oil applied might send you through the roof with stinging.

EmmaC78 · 05/03/2017 13:27

I would say the Tea Tree Oil might not be a great idea. Sounds like it could be painful.

Original poster
WhyTheHeckMe · 05/03/2017 13:48

I've not been brave enough to try tea tree.
The doctor at o.o.h past night has given me Neurontin painkillers and emla cream.
Anyone have any experience of these? I've put the emla on and the whole area has gone number which is great but I can't find anything on Google that tells me emla is okay for genital herpes (I should trust the doctors judgement but he barely spike a word of English and didn't even look at me! So I'm finding it hard.. )

OP posts:
RandomMess · 05/03/2017 13:53

I really can't help at all but I want to send you buckets of bests wishes and sympathy, it sounds horrific Sad

Flowers
RandomMess · 05/03/2017 13:55

Found this, sounds like it won't speed anything up but will stop the pain which sounds like a priority at the moment

How does Emla Cream work?
When Emla cream is applied to the skin, the lidocaine and prilocaine prevent pain signals passing from that area to the brain and help numb the skin. This means otherwise painful procedures can be performed without causing pain.
What is Emla Cream used for?
It can be used to temporarily numb the surface of the skin before procedures such as injections, taking blood samples, and minor skin surgery.
It can be used prior to a needle involving procedure, to reduce pain and make it less distressing for you or your child when visiting a doctor.
It can be used to temporarily numb the genital skin before the surgical treatment of localised lesions, such as the removal of genital warts.
It can be used to facilitate cleansing/debridement of leg ulcers.
Disclaimer: We are only able to supply this product for use with injections, blood samples and minor skin surgery. If you order this product for any other purpose your order will be rejected.

RandomMess · 05/03/2017 13:56

Says it can be for the removal of genital warts so I can't see that it would be unsuitable for herpes sores as it must be safe for an open wound in the genital area?

Original poster
WhyTheHeckMe · 05/03/2017 14:00

Thanks very much both and sorry for the typos! I kind of feel on another planet at the moment.
As it stands I'm just going to use the emla, it's the only thing that's taken the edge off -
the sores have now changed from looking like ulcers to just red almost likes holes that are bleeding. They've been like this since this morning.
I'm almost not convinced it's herpes right now! Can't find any pics that look even remotely similar to this. It's like my vagina is eating away.
I've not eaten for days and am trying not to drink just so I can avoid having a wee.
Can't imagine I'll be at work this week and no idea what this means for our holiday now either
So grateful for how lovely everyone on this thread has been Smile Flowers x

OP posts:
RandomMess · 05/03/2017 14:36

I wouldn't expect the GUM to get it wrong tbh. but perhaps go back to ensure that you don't have something else as well? Just thinking if your immunity is that low some other nasty could rear it's horribleness Sad

ItsNachoCheese · 05/03/2017 14:37

It could be that your sores are starting to dry out which means that they are beginning to heal. I found my sores would sort of sink as they started to dry out and in a few days they were gone

BitOutOfPractice · 05/03/2017 14:53

If I remember correctly, once I'd started to improve I improved very quickly if you know what I mean. Hopefully you've turned the corner and will be on the up very soonFlowers

TygerLilly · 05/03/2017 15:47

My only piece of advice as far as peeing is concerned is try holding a bottle with a wide neck like Oasis or a fruit juice bottle again your pee hole. I had to do this after I gave birth as I was torn. Helped to stop any stinging immediately

fussymoo · 05/03/2017 16:53

Sorry to hijack the thread but for anyone diagnosed with GH, how has it affected future sexual relationships?

My exDP had GH and only told me after I discovered I was pregnant (unplanned). There were some red flags but this was one of the major ones.

I was monitored during pregnancy and as far as I know I don't have GH but do get coldsores (since childhood).

I sometimes think that my reaction to exDP was wrong, so just wanted to ask how things have been for others.

OP  for you

fussymoo · 05/03/2017 16:54

Meant to sayWineCakeFlowers** for you OP

Original poster
WhyTheHeckMe · 05/03/2017 18:43

Thanks very much ladies, appreciated.
Nacho now you've said that actually the ulcers do have a sunken look about them.
I am praying this means it's the start of the end although right now it still doesn't feel like it!

Tygerlily I've been doing that with the bottle but it doesn't help at all. Nor does weeing in a bath of water. The only thing that helps is weeing standing up in the bath and making sure stream shoot out as fast as possible and not dribble or get into any contact with my bits!
I'm definitely not going to work tomorrow. I want to just wake up when it's all done!

OP posts:
EmmaC78 · 06/03/2017 21:50

How are you feeling today WhytheHeckMe?

AlwaysandForever09 · 06/03/2017 22:12

Sorry to hear you have had such a bad outbreak OP. This was me 5 weeks ago, was such a horrible time I had a very severe outbreak too, and the thought that I might get another one soon petrifies me! I know it's very painful to wee but try to drink as much as possible to flush it out, otherwise you will also end up with a UTI which would be hell on top of that! I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, but eventually after about 10-12 days I was back to normal. I really hope you can still get away SmileFlowers Plenty of rest is the key, I have two small children too, so found it impossible to relax as much as I probably could of done! Welcome to PM me if you like, I did put a post on here when I first found out but didn't get any replies! So would be nice to talk to someone who's going through it too. It's a topic which seems taboo, but like another poster said it's actually really common and most people don't even know they have it! A consultant who specialises in herpes said to me that majority of adults when they get older will eventually have some kind of outbreak. Do you know which type you have?

ItsNachoCheese · 06/03/2017 22:33

Once the ulcers/blisters go away they disappear completely and dont scar. Fingers crossed your feeling a bit better today. I find if i get particularly stressed out or let myself get too run down i begin to get an outbreak but now they hardly bother me at all its just a mild inconvinence as its a bit uncomfortable and itchy for 2-3 days then the sores go away

SorrelSoup · 07/03/2017 09:33

Hi op, how are you getting on? I read your thread last week and have been thinking about you.

Original poster
WhyTheHeckMe · 07/03/2017 21:15

Thanks for checking up. Had a call from gum clinic today to confirm I tested positive for hsv1. That's predominantly the coldsore strain she said that can be passed to genitals via oral sex. Still none the wiser how or when I've contracted it but guess I'll never know!
Been having loads of saltwater baths a day which have helped.
The gum clinic weren't keen on me using the emla cream as they said as the sores are open it will penetrate which isn't great but she said if the pain is absolutely through the roof then use it.
I've managed to not use any since yesterday
I've persevered with the tramadol
The sores are still there, I counted 28! Some of them are in clusters of 4 or 5 which have now joined up to create one huge ulcer and there the ones that hurt the most.
I'm able to wee without pain now which is good.
The tramadol must have been working well as I forgot to take my afternoon dose and the pain has really picked back up! So I'm definitely going to stay on top of those now till its all gone
I'm going to go back to work tomorrow.
It's been a week today since my symptoms started so if anyone comes across this thread in the future (I did soo much googling) it definitely does get better.
1 week on and I'd say I'm feeling 70% better now.
Alwaysandforever sorry to hear you also went through this and yes if you ever want to chat on pm feel free!
I'm bloody dreading a repeat outbreak :-(

OP posts:
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