Oh bugger, I have herpes..

[Slavetolove]

I am in SO much pain. Iv never been in so much pain. I’m shivering, my groin aches, I’m freezing, I have about 20 blisters, some are liquidy and some have gone white. I originally thought it was thrush but obviously not..

I can’t wee, can’t walk, can’t sit, can’t close my legs.

I started anti viral meds yesterday but they seem to be constantly popping up and I feel like Iv got one coming at the side of my mouth now too!
I’m on codeine as well. Which is slightly helping until it doesn’t.

I’m so so so upset.
I can’t even wee in the shower because it stings so much. On day 3 now.

Oh goodness, I'm so sorry you're going through this. No idea what to advise but I really hope things improve soon. Would something cooling help a little? Like a cold compress of some kind?

I was told by my gp to do a shallow salt bath twice a day in lukewarm water, helps keep it clean. Put zinc on or propovir, take the anti virals and an anti inflammatory pain killer like ibuprofen.

Loose cotton underwear and an ice pack.

Op I would call 111 if you are this much pain, I think you will need to see a doctor. Have you taken any pain killers?

Iv called 111 I’m being seen at 2. I’m on codeine. Iv used ice wrapped in sandwich bags that’s helped slightly.

Only thing that seems to help is putting a towel between the lips.
I need a poo but too scared to go :(

@Slavetolove

I have an appointment at urgent care today at 2 just to be checked out after ringing 111.

Codeine is barely touching it, I’m
Taking the antiviral tablets, iv got a water bottle thing to help me wee, I have just started on llysine. It’s so itchy. The only thing that semi helps is holding a towel there/rubbing it slightly with the towel!

This is fucking horrific. How can someone pass it on to someone without even a second thought.

They don’t, OP. They often don’t even know they have it or if it’s type 1, they may know they’ve had cold sores (like the majority of the population, might I add) but not that there’s a chance they’ve passed it to anyone’s genitals.

I really feel for you but focus on your rest and healing and don’t waste effort misdirecting your anger.

Been to the nurse, she wasn’t very good. Said it’s internal as well. Have me a prescription for antiviral tablets again and told me to use vasaline.

I went to the chemist and begged for lidocaine cream and it took them a good half an hour to decide to give it me. I may have cried.

Iv put it on and it’s helped a lot! Iv taken ibropurfen aswell.

I’m just extremely constipated now from all the codeine :( lol

@Slavetolove I hope you managed to get seen at urgent care!
The first outbreak is always the worst, I remember I was in complete agony for over a week, I thought it would never end!

Bought some lidocaine 5% from the chemist. It was instant relief! Best thing iv ever spent £15 on!! The swelling has gone down slightly!

The first one is definitely the worst. I was abroad at the time on an activity holiday - absolutely ruined it I could barely walk never mind cycle! Wee in the bath definitely.

I'm 13 years down the line now. Still get them fairly regularly - probably once every other month. And whilst they're painful, they're NOTHING like that first attack. You have my sympathies.

Really hope you start to feel much better soon

@CoastalWave

The first one is definitely the worst. I was abroad at the time on an activity holiday - absolutely ruined it I could barely walk never mind cycle! Wee in the bath definitely.

I'm 13 years down the line now. Still get them fairly regularly - probably once every other month. And whilst they're painful, they're NOTHING like that first attack. You have my sympathies.

Gosh that's quite frequent. Do you take lysine or anything to support your immune system?

Had enough now. Day 5 and still in so so so much pain. Every photo Iv seen doesn’t look like mine,
I wonder if I have just a very bad case? Im
Sick of being woken up in pain once the numbing cream has worn off.
Im taking codeine 60mg; antivirals, l-lysine, ibropurfen but still in so much pain.

Link to my Reddit pic..

www.reddit.com/r/GenitalHerpes/comments/sm8hur/comment/hvvss8y/?$deep_link=true&correlation_id=32ec51aa-bf69-440a-a9fc-b32b32982b3d&ref=email_post_reply&ref_campaign=email_post_reply&ref_source=email&utm_medium=Email%20Amazon%20SES&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA3VO7UrEQAx8mvqvrXZ7RyscIoj6FiG3TW8X94vs7pW%2BvSnqTyEJM5kZElNKys99z7QstnSYUuds%2BOpVemmGUaULAeYHgZHtzQZ0UNldzJFq1GszvEtt29b95nX0smDpDwq2oPskTpSFi%2BIplANmP5l6eKwHGyBH8FUbSChkwR3GExhiApFDLJCrYBM3CZj7PedpP84quTwuRAmOfxv1VrhSM5x1ZCaHxcYAdpG9GkifnhDb63qe23F8xBbnVbdXNUjNk8xFckyrmMmjdZBiLsCU3P4jgEYv393C%2F44cK2v6078BS%2BF7E1YBAAA%3D&$3p=e_as&_branch_match_id=1019061072950567646 @

@Slavetolove

Had enough now. Day 5 and still in so so so much pain. Every photo Iv seen doesn’t look like mine, I wonder if I have just a very bad case? Im Sick of being woken up in pain once the numbing cream has worn off. Im taking codeine 60mg; antivirals, l-lysine, ibropurfen but still in so much pain.

Link to my Reddit pic..

www.reddit.com/r/GenitalHerpes/comments/sm8hur/comment/hvvss8y/?$deep_link=true&correlation_id=32ec51aa-bf69-440a-a9fc-b32b32982b3d&ref=email_post_reply&ref_campaign=email_post_reply&ref_source=email&utm_medium=Email%20Amazon%20SES&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA3VO7UrEQAx8mvqvrXZ7RyscIoj6FiG3TW8X94vs7pW%2BvSnqTyEJM5kZElNKys99z7QstnSYUuds%2BOpVemmGUaULAeYHgZHtzQZ0UNldzJFq1GszvEtt29b95nX0smDpDwq2oPskTpSFi%2BIplANmP5l6eKwHGyBH8FUbSChkwR3GExhiApFDLJCrYBM3CZj7PedpP84quTwuRAmOfxv1VrhSM5x1ZCaHxcYAdpG9GkifnhDb63qe23F8xBbnVbdXNUjNk8xFckyrmMmjdZBiLsCU3P4jgEYv393C%2F44cK2v6078BS%2BF7E1YBAAA%3D&$3p=e_as&_branch_match_id=1019061072950567646 @

You poor thing😭

To take away the pain I use Germoline, it has a numbing agent in it. Also I found using warm water/salt solution helped speed up the healing process as it drys out the blisters .

Oh my god this is awful. Who gave it to you, do you know?

Yeah, I do know sadly. He’s blocked me on everything haha

Did you tell him?

@Slavetolove

Yeah, I do know sadly. He’s blocked me on everything haha

What a complete and utter wanker to think this is in anyway okay to pass this to someone. If this was me I would tell everyone who he knew what he'd done I honestly wouldn't care. Gosh op poor you ,I hope today there is a slight improvement for you

My sympathies OP. The first attack is awful - mine went on for a week peaking whilst I was away at an important 3 day conference where I was speaking. I'd second painkillers and warm salt baths.

Just to make you feel better I've never had another attack in 12 years.

OP just being curious did you use condoms? I hope you have some relief today you poor thing

I’m sorry things aren’t much better for you OP, but honestly they will get better! My first attack was quite honestly horrendous, I could barely get up from my desk at work and had to go home at lunchtime for a bath just to be able to cope. Definitely try ice packs to relive the swelling, I am so sorry someone has done this to you!

How’s things today.

Iv woken up very sore and swollen again. I feel really bruised and stingy. I think they are all starting to pop as I woke up to a lot of stinging and liquid down there. They are all white and ulcer looking. The main one is about the size of a 20p all the rest are small. Iv ran out of numbing cream and can’t afford the £15 really again so Iv rang the doctors and they are ringing me back today

@Slavetolove This reminds me of my initial GHSV-1 outbreak in October 2020; it was dreadful but as lots of others say, it does get better with time.

You should go to your local GU clinic; GPs/urgent care aren’t experts and won’t give you the right advice or medication. My GU clinic give you priority over others if you have herpes and will provide anti-virals (plus spare boxes to keep on hand), lidocaine gel, instillagel (you can buy this from Boots also - was a god send for me) and will give you aqueous cream to wash the area with to reduce irritation and keep it moisturised.

There are UK-based Herpes support pages on FB and also the HVA are very good for providing proper information and support. Feel free to message me if you like.

Oh this sounds horrendous :( really hope you start getting relief soon. It will likely be milder in the future or you may never get another recurrence, I’ve heard type 1 particularly can be bad for severe first outbreaks but often doesn’t cause any subsequent flare ups.

The person who passed it to you may not even be aware they carry the infection- only about 20% of cases are diagnosed so that actually leaves the majority of people with GH completely unaware they have the infection (plus more likely to pass it on anyway as they won’t be overly aware of their symptoms or taking any medications). It can also be passed from cold sores which many don’t actually realise.