My wife (39f) and I (30m) have been married for two years. About one year ago she developed extremely painful sores on her labia, and soon tested positive for herpes. The first outbreak took more than a month to subside. Fast forward about a year and she's two weeks into a significantly more severe outbreak and her pain is literally debilitating. We have some medication, which I will list below, but her gynecologist is basically telling us we can't do anything. They are slowly rotating medication but they are not treating this aggressively and she is in so much pain. I know there is no cure, but there has to be some treatment better than lidocaine. The sores are so painful she can barely move, much less sleep. She's at the end of her ropes and we are desperate for some help. Medications are as follows:ValACYclovir (a valtrex substitute I believe) was prescribed initially. She's tried taking it during the outbreak and not - as a preventative. Outbreaks do not seem to decrease in severity or duration in any meaningful way because of this medicine. Acyclovir (stated as substitute for Zovirax) was prescribed last week. Another pill, seemingly no effect. Albeit she has not been taking it very long. Local relief: Lidocaine and Acyclovir. The lidocaine is excruciatingly painful for her to apply but does give some small relief afterwards and the Acyclovir is too painful to apply. Her nurse said you have to "glob the Acyclovir on" -- obviously it's too painful for my wife to apply so she can't use it. Anything helps, we are desperate at this point. If anyone can provide knowledge about next treatment steps that would be extremely helpful. Right now we are at the mercy of her gynecologist who we like but does not seem to be treating this as seriously as it deserves. Thank you
sadly, i am newly diagnosed so i dont have any advice regarding medications. but i want to commend you for being so supportive to your wife during this extremely difficult time! the only thing i could maybe suggest is her to take daily suppressive therapy in between outbreaks, that has seemed to help a lot of people. i have heard about applying manuka honey topically. ive also heard of people swearing by applying bentonite clay topically. is this her second outbreak since diagnosis?
Hi I feel awful for your wife that she is going through so much pain. I am yet to be diagnosed and due to see the doctor on Monday but after days of pain and speaking to a gmed doctor I have been started on the same medication. So unfortunately I don’t know that much yet to offer help other than vaseline (and lots of it) has been my main source of some relief and much easier than the lidocaine. I put it on regularly and also before using the toilet as it helps with the pain of that too. I hope you get more helpful replies and that her pain is over soon