I got diagnosed with genital herpes 9yrs ago. Luckily I only had an outbreak once a year which was very mild. It was always in the same place (underneath) and I needed treatment.
But for some reason recently I'm suffering a lot more and really confused? The blister is coming every 2/3 months and in a totally different part (more ontop) I really can't understand after so long of having this and it not being a problem why all the sudden is it flaring up like this and so frequent! I went doctors in feb and got the anti viral tabs and again have been back today as it's reappeared! I'm beside myself I thought I had this under control and could predict when my outbreak occurred as it did always around the same time each yr??
Also does anyone have any advice or tips on what to do to heal the blisters quicker? Would popping them with a sterilised needle be a bad idea? Should I just let it pop itself ?
When I just used to get them underneath they were just like a bump nothing like that it is now (more sore & fluid filled)
I'm no expert but I have read alot about HSV and have it also, if your lifestyle has changed e.g more stress at work/home, more physically demanding or lack of sleep, or your eating habits have altered this can cause flare ups. Also it sounds as though the HSV might have spread, this can occur through physically touching the affected area and then touching another area, or occasionally (which has happened to me) the virus comes down a new nerve and affects a new area then does not come down that nerve again or for a while at least.
I use a good quality tea tree oil (one that burns when put on a sore), I break the blister with a cotton wool ear bud doused in tea tree oil, this does sting, I hold the cotton wool bud there for at least a minute and I do this a couple of times a day.
I get a bath or shower twice a day and I don't touch the affected area for fear of spreading it, but I simply let the water clense and dry the area with a hair dryer afterwards, if you can get away without wearing underwear through the day and night it would be best to, as the air drys it out much quicker.
A really good website to look at is http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=237 people use different methods that work better for their body so what might work for me might not work for you....hope this helps.
I've had the very same problem with recurring episodes. And mine are becoming more frequent too. I now only have two weeks between outbreaks. Stress is usually the trigger for an outbreak. So try to remember what you were doing in the week before you started to feel the first symptoms. If you can avoid the stress - and I know that's easier than it sounds, believe me - you may be able to go increasingly longer between outbreaks.
The anti virals don't really work. But if you take them at the very first sign of an outbreak - when you get the tingling and nerve pain - than you can prevent the blisters appearing. I always make sure I have anti virals at home on standby for when I feel the first symptoms. However about two months ago I had an outbreak with no pain or tingling. One day, the blisters were just there!
I'm looking for the cure for this that is out there. A nice lady on here told me that liquorice is good for helping to weaken the virus so your outbreaks aren't as severe. She said you can get it from Holland & Barrett.
Either way prevention of an outbreak is the only option we have at the moment. Make sure your anti virals are on repeat prescription. Use them as prescribed at the outset of the very first symptoms. When you've completed the course, call your doctors surgery for a repeat prescription and get it. That way you will have them in your home ready for when it occurrs again.
Keep looking for natural alternatives though, because long term regular exposure to these antivirals can do more harm than good.