Question:
I have had itching, burning, open lesion, extreme redness, pain, and swollen labia. I was treated first for a vaginal bacterial infection (at the time had what seemed like a small scrape on labia), then the dr. thought maybe herpes and I had 10 days of 1000 mg. Valtrex 2 times a day and Zovirax for topical application and Vicodin for pain. It has been a month since first dr. visit and 17 days since first dose of medication for herpes. Still, no relief. I am dying here! Does this really sound like herpes? I have never had a bump or round sore--only a vertical scratch that widened. Would the medication dry up the open lesion? The redness is bright red--not just an irritation. The itching keeps me awake at night. I have tried HBalm, aloe vera gel, calamine lotion, tucks, nothing--but the symptoms don't go away. I am desperate for help!
Any help will be really comforting to me!

Answer:
Well, I have never had an outbreak yet but my research would say watch your diet and take lysine 1000 mg a day 4 times a day until it clears up then take 1500mg daily. Check out my post at helpful info after exposure on the personal experience forum. Have you tried hydrogen peroxide? they say it helps by adding oxygen to the cells which kills/calms the virus. My best advice is watch your diet and take vitamins to strengthen your system. If its not herpes then your body can use the vitamins anyway, no harm done.

Answer:
Joy, you never had an outbreak? How do you know you have it then?

Answer:
My first OB was very much like what you are describing. It took me 2 months to find a gyn doc that gave me some helpful info. (not much but enough for the time). I was changed from Famvir to Acyclovir 400 mg 2x a day. Maybe you need a differant med. Everyone is differant. She also told me to dry my privates with a hairdryer on cool setting after bathtime instead of rubbing with a towel. I was also very swollen from the vagina to the anus. She prescribed a cream for hemmroids that reduced the swelling and it seemed to soften the skin so it didn't "pull". Also I added epsom salts to my bathwater because it has drying and soothing properties. And last but not least, when the itching got too bad I applied an ice pack (doc recommendation) which helped numb the area (a ziploc bag with crushed ice wrapped in towels works well). Unfortunately I got a secondary bacterial infection and the dryer really helped a lot. It dried the area which was good because when I was sweaty or wet I itched even more. Hope this helps.

Answer:
Well heres my story in a nut shell. I started dating Mr. Wonderful right before Thanksgiving. He was one of these guys who appeared to have it all and then some. I knew it was odd that he was still single. Recently divorced but never dated since seperating from his wife almost 2 years ago. Red Flag, I actually thought maybe he had something like herpes from the beginning. My mom even told me to be careful with him. He was divorced because his ex wife was constantly cheating on him, even involved in swingers action. So I knew he ran the risk of being exposed to STDs from her. He also stayed with her for years through this kind of infidelity. Something most men these days wouldn't choose to do. So I thought maybe he stayed out of fear of rejection from other women because he had an std or something. However, I quickly fell for him and in just 3 short weeks we were planning for the future together. We both wanted to get remarried and our Christian values were the same.
I thought he was heaven sent. We discussed not having sex until marraige and agreed to wait. But in a compromising situation alone together we both gave into temptation. That was a Saturday night over 3 weeks ago. Well, Mr Wonderful quit calling after that. He would call several times a day and come see me unexpectedly. He seemed so into me before, now what's up? Well on Tuesday after we were intimate I had this instant burning sharp pain, felt like a urinary tract infection hit me all of a sudden. I ran for water and ibuprophen. I started some serious praying and in about 5 minutes the pain was gone. Through out the day when I went to the bathroom i felt some pressure like I might be getting a UTI but no pain like before. Well, when I got home later that day I started researching STDs. My main concern was herpes. Since I knew it was one of the only incurable ones I focused my research on it. The next day I started noticing a tingling feeling through out the day. This alarmed me because I have never felt anything like it before. I researched STDs again that night and realized the it was a sign of herpes. Well for the next 3 days I had this tingling through out the day and some minor itching. Now it has been one week since exposure and I am still praying it's not what I think it is. Mr. Wonderful is avoiding me like the plague making ever excuse in the book not to come see me. I am not telling him what is going on because I want to discuss it in person. That 6th day after exposeure I had this new feeling south of the border, felt like ben gay was down there and was running fever. Felt like the flu and an eighteen wheeler hit me. I did as I did every night that week and researched on the net for more info. I actaully came across a forum post where someone said that they felt like they had ben gay on their crotch. Bingo, now I was convinced I had it. Now instead of researching symptoms I shifted my research to preventing my soon to arrive outbreak. I went to the store that night and stocked up on vitamins. Started taking them ASAP. Next day, Sunday, day 7, the flu feelings were worse, fever was up but no more tingling. I talked to Mr W. and told him I wasn't feeling well that night, but didnt mention my new discovery. Next day, Monday, day 8 I felt better and today is day 23 and I have had no more symptoms since taking vitamins and herbs and changing my diet. I actually feel better than ever before from the healthier diet and suppliments. But I kept anticipating a initial outbreak, I stayed in prayer and Lord knows I had every sign leading up to one but I think I was spared. As far as Mr. W., well he called me one night while drunk on Monday, day 8, when I was feeling better. I went to his place hoping to talk about the issue. He was too intoxicated to discuss anything. I put him to bed and stayed the night at his place because he lives about 30 minutes from me. I was hoping we might discuss it in the morning. He woke up in the middle of the night and was trying his best to get some action from me. He took his shorts off and want to have his way way with me but I refused. He did however put my hand on himself and I felt a sore on it. It wasnt there the night we were intimate. Also he suffered terribly from sciatic pain. He was suffering from it the night we were intimate. Thats how I ended up in his bed. He wanted to lay down. After researching it he most probably has post herpiatic neuralgia. It was probably a sign that he was about to have an outbreak. The neuralgia is cause from inflamed nerves in the sciatic region which is where this virus resides, near the tail bone. Well to make my long story short. We never discussed the issue. I had to leave for work and he couldnt even look me in the eye that next hung over morning. He continued to avoid me all that week. The last time he called me was Thursday before Christmas to tell me he had overdrawn his checking account and couldn't afford me and my kids Christmas presents. Mr Wonderful, who has plenty of money, is now Mr. Classless. I however showed up at his apartment uninvited Christmas night bearing gifts for him and his kids. I figured I'd get the much needed conversation that night. Well, much to my surprise his ex wife and kids where there. They spent the day together. It is my guess that he may be trying to reconcile with her after this dating experience had gone bad for him. She had been trying to get him back and he may have fallen back into her trap. However I didnt stay to visit. He did however look me in the eys and promise he'd call me the next day. I have yet to hear from him. I left him a voice mail saying I knew his secret and we needed to discuss it. Then I emailed him a letter a week ago telling him that I have it but that I am fine. I also told him that I understand why he is embarrased and acting the way he is. And above all I told him that I forgive him. I have to close this chapter and move on. Its unfortuante that I now move on a different person than I was but I have already found the purpose of this virus in my life. I won't make the same mistake twice and I will not let this get the best of me. It will cause some problems in my future with the men in my life but I see every challenge as an opportunity. I plan to get tested in a few months to confirm I have it, but for now I am living like I do. I also plan to get an HIV test. I will never to do someone what he did to me. And I am truly one wiser woman from having had this experience. I wish you all a Happy and Wiser New Year

Answer:
Wow, Joy. Thank you for sharing your attitude and light. I'm still waiting the results, the doc still has no results yet. I'm sitting on the edge of my seat, just waiting, waiting. No symptoms 17 days since possible exposure.

Can herpes be disguised as a UTI, with no itching, no rash, no breakouts, no tingling? Just UTI, was tested for UTI and given antibiotics, and it went away as a normal UTI. That was 2/3 months ago.

Answer:
Well oh no,
Everyone is different. I am only convinced that I have herpes because of the tingling feeling and flu symptoms I experienced. Had I just felt like I was having a UTI I would not have considered herpes to be the diagnosis. I would have just treated the UTI. But everyone is different. I guess it will depend on if the person who exposed you was contagious at the time. Do you know? If you have reason to believe they were then you should be concerned. Until your test results come back be careful and take care of yourself. It never hurts to take vitamins and change your diet in the meantime.

Answer:
Joy, he didn't know he had it when we had sex on a Saturday (17 days ago), and he broke out on the following Monday night (which made him think I gave it to him) on a spot that wasn't covered by the condom. I have never had it that I know of, nor any symtoms, ever. So, of course I was tested and am learning a lot on this forum. The results are taking forever! I don't believe that I came into contact where he had the blister/sore, but... that doesn't mean anything. Either I am a carrier with no outbreaks ever and I gave it to him, or he got it elsewhere and I dread to think that he might have given it to me. Either way we'll still be friends and there for each other but not knowing if I have it or not and where it came from is driving me crazy. So, I've been stressing out terribly because of it, and still no outbreaks... I'm thinking that is a good sign. I've also been loading myself up with caffeine. No symptoms.