Hi all
New to this site!
I was diagnosed with HSV2 in 2013, and have around 4-5 outbreaks each year. I was wondering if anyone had used a daily Lysine supplement to suppress recurrent outbreaks? I've read up quite a bit online about it, and have just ordered some 1000mg tablets. Has anybody tried this and noticed a difference in recurrent outbreaks?
Thanks in advance.
Hi :D welcome!
I have just been diagnosed with hsv2 also. As well as hsv1 cos I'm just super lucky ...
I've been thinking about taking lysine too.
Have you not thought about suppressive therapy?
What are you're outbreaks like? So far mine only consists of mild red sore patches but they don't seem to blister etc. I also get groin pain.
Hi 😊
I asked my DR about suppressive therapy and he seemed to shy away from prescribing it for some reason!
My outbreaks seem quite strange, I never get any warning symptoms at all, which is really annoying as I've read that starting treatment works well if taken as soon as the warning signs appear. I just seem to wake up one morning with what looks like a tiny cut, I never have a blister, just a cut which weeps then disappears after about 5 days. The little 'cut' is always extremely painful though! I never have the groin pain either. I'm currently experiencing an outbreak that just appeared this morning so I've started on my stash of aciclovir!
Ah I see, yeah I've just noticed another cut too, that's how I was diagnosed via a swab from a cut!
Acicylvoir doesn't seem to do much for me... I still get symptoms develop further.
Are u in the uk? They seem to be less keen on suppressive.
I started taking the lysine tabs about 2 wks ago... But I've only had one OB so I won't really know if they do much. I'm still gonna take them though! Although it's not meant to be good for your kidneys to take them long term without any breaks in between.
I also got the small paper cut thing, then just two little spots, they never blistered or anything but my God the pain of that little cut every time I had to wipe myself 
I've got a small bit of an itch down there this evening and am petrified it's a second OB starting. I got my period on Sunday and had read some women get an OB at that time of the month, I'd been ok till now and was maybe counting my chickens too soon... Hopefully it's just a slight unrelated itch though.
I think it just needs to run its course really, I've never had an outbreak and not took medication so can't compare the healing time.
Yes I'm in the UK so that may be why! I have however discovered superdrug online (a UK pharmacy if your not from the UK) where you can actually order suppressive therapy online, I've used the service before for treatment when my DRs was closed, I'm currently considering ordering a 3 months suppressive course!
I was diagnosed through a swab too, I went to a clinic after crying on the loo going for a wee because it was stinging so much!
Are you taking 1000mg or 500mg daily? I've just ordered some from Holland and Barrett as they have the lysine tablets on their buy one item get another for a penny, so they'll arrive tomorrow 😊
Whenever I feel like I've got an outbreak I get a magnifying mirror and the torch on my phone!
I've only ever had one outbreak which seemed to be triggered by my time of the month, however I was going through a stressful time of going for an interview for a job I really wanted, so was probably a mixture of hormones and stress! I still haven't figured out my main triggers for outbreaks and it's been 3 years since I was diagnosed 😔
Haha I'm exactly the same when it comes to potential outbreaks!
I photographed my bits every day before diagnosis to try and keep track of what was going on and now I have a very dodgy collection on my phone but I don't want to get rid of them because I want to reference for future outbreaks.
Aha okay I may look into super drug then as I'm scared of a crazy outbreak Happening when I least expect it. I think I want to go on suppressive therapy forever through fear of suffering otherwise.
I ordered 2 courses of aciclovir for emergencies, and it worked out just a little bit dearer than 2 x prescription charges. The 3 months suppression course is £49 which I think is quite a good price! I think I may also go down the suppressive therapy route, even if it gives me one less outbreak a year it would be worth it!
After a lot more larger studies, including in humans, it turns out that lysine is not clinically proven to do much and HSV experts/researchers no longer give it any weight. Reputable sites will state this and not endorse lysine for herpes as a result (but won't necessarily advise against it either).
Some people with herpes nevertheless swear by it, so it is a personal choice. I don't take any (nor have I changed my diet), and would rather spend the money on multivitamins, fish oils, etc., but that's me.
If you do take lysine, just note that it does not reduce sexual transmission risks and is not a substitute for the three approved meds, plus taking too much lysine (more than recommended) can supposedly interfere with your body's natural mineral absorption, etc.
OK so I know this is gonna sound weird but I swear by sudocrem, I've only been diagnosed with HSV2 for 2 days but when asked how long my first outbreak lasted, doctor was surprised it was less than a week.
seriously, try sudocrem, works wonders on pretty much anything and takes the sting out of it too.
Thanks for your comments 😊 I'm going to give it a try anyway. Have you found anything that really helps with speeding up the healing process during an outbreak at all?
Does the sudocream speed up the healing process at all? 😊
I take two of the 500mg tabs each morning.... But to be honest if this feeling I have now does develope into an outbreak I won't bother keeping up taking them! My doctor also said to try echinacea just to build up myself so am taking those each day too... Between those and all the supplements I was already taking I'm like a walking health shop! 😂
Not sure, but I do like my multivitamins et al. for overall health and topical tea tree oil for itching, although I may now be allergic to the latter.
Oh no, I'm trying the baking soda approach currently, but it stings so much!
It's got zinc oxide in it so as far as I'm aware that contributes to the healing process, give it a go and see if it helps any, I know it does for me
I tried sudocream today, and wow, no pain at all!! Thanks for recommending it 😊 On day 3 of outbreak today and it seems to be starting to heal! Feels like it's been over a week though, they drag so bad
Keep using the sudocrem and by day 5 it should be nearly gone, and when you feel the tingle of an outbreak apply some then and it should stop it flaring up like it usually does :D
Is it the same as Zincofax and other baby rash creams? I always find those sting. In my second out break this month since I was diagnosed and looking for something to calm the itching/pain!!