Herpes

[user1497510803]

I've name changed here , as I feel people with herpes are stigmatized. For disclosure , I've had it probably 15 years and have slept with 2 people in my lifetime. Probably caught it from my 2nd partner ( still with him , he didn't know / does not have outbreaks ) and I didn't have it prior to him.
So I get both genital and sacral ( at bottom of spine ) . I have both at the moment and the sacral one also gives me muscle pain in my leg . It makes you feel shit for 7-10 days at a time.
I am getting frequent outbreaks about every 8 weeks or so , inspite of taking a Lysine supplement which is allegedly supposed to help.
I guess I'm just offloading , but is there anyone out there have any advice / tricks that helps them ?

I spoke to a Dr on the telephone last month who says he wouldn't prescribe aviciclor (sp) unless I had an actual outbreak ( even if you manage to get a telephone appointment , it still takes 4/5 days before you get the actual prescription when you need to take at first sign of outbreak so technically useless )

Oh no, 8 weeks is rubbish. Is it linked to anything in particular - food / alcohol / stress?

You need to speak to a different GP because you can be prescribed aciclovir so that you can have it in to self initiate treatment, or you can also be prescribed daily aciclovir. Or maybe go to a GUM clinic as I bet they're much better than your GP.

Sexual health clinic should be much better than your GP.

I know breakouts for me happen so much more when I'm stressed or run down, I hope things ease up for you soon.

They have ramped up since covid , as in past 18 months or so , so perhaps it's stress induced.

Would sexual health prescribe aviciclor to take as a continuous low dose do you know ?

you can buy valaciclovir online (valtrex)

I got a really horrible viral skin infection on my back when I was abroad one year and then it repeated when I got home. I went to a dermatologist because the GP couldn't sort it and they gave me valtrex and it went away.

I read the whole leaflet and it is used for maintenance dose for genital herpes (you can get it from superdrug/places like that online).

if you are taking any other medication or have any other conditions I would check with the GP first but otherwise, you can just get it and take it yourself

I'm surprised the GP had that view if you've been officially diagnosed before.

www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/valacyclovir-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20066635

Didn't want to scroll by this. I don't suffer herpes tho a close family member does and although she has only ever had one (extremely severe) initial outbreak has had none since. That was 5 years ago. Yet still she feels stigmatised and finds new relationships tricky even though she rightly points out that someone in a relationship with her may be safer because she and they will know what precautions to take. So many people are asymptotic and can unknowingly pass it on.
So yeah it can be crap xx

Please book an appointment at a GUM clinic / umbrella. I had outbreaks every few weeks / months and was given low dose aciclovir for a year at an umbrella appointment. Since then my outbreaks are much more manageable