Question:
So sorry for the long post, but I don't know where else so turn...I think I've cross-contaminated myself with HSV-1. However, I cannot get any doctor that I've seen to believe me, and I'm at my wits end. Last spring, I had a severe outbreak of oral herpes and took Valtrex. I stupidly applied Abreva and didn't wash my hands before having genital contact. Soon, I experienced urinary frequency and diarrhea. Everything, including my urinalysis, was fine. I have had every test imaginable...from a colonoscopy to a transvaginal ultrasound...all negative. In June, I had my annual Pap, and I was a little sensitive during the exam. In August, I felt a small, painless bump on the right side of my labia minora near my vagina. A week later, it was getting red and bigger. On the 3rd day, a very thin, long, white substance came out of it. I started to think about the Abreva incident. Finally, on the 5th day, I got up the nerve to go to a gyno. She said that what was there didn't look at all like herpes, but she cultured it anyway. She commented that my vagina opening did look red, and she didn't know what was causing it. The culture came back negative. Three weeks later, I went to another doctor to request STD testing. Everything negative except HSV-1 positive. He said that it was because of my oral herpes. About 3 weeks ago, I noticed a raw spot on my outer labia that healed within a few days. Two weeks ago, I noticed a small flesh-colored pimple in the same exact spot where the red bump had occurred earlier. I immediately went to a Medic-1 because I felt that my last culture had been taken after the bump had healed, but the doctor said that he was almost positive that it was just a pimple. He didn't culture it. It didn't change for a week. Then, I had a couple of stressful days at work, and I ate a lot of sugar. I then felt really lethargic for 2 days and had a really bad headache. The next day, I checked the bump, and it was red and swollen. This time it itched a lot. Also, I had some itching and raw looking spots right outside my vagina, but no burning upon urination. The area around the bump was really swollen (maybe even involving a gland). My entire genital area seemed to be red. It's 10 days later, and the bump seems to be almost gone. It never spewed anything. I've also noticed a few unusual bilteral itchy bumps scattered around my back. Even if a doctor will believe me, I can't take Valtrex because I experienced face swelling when I took it last year. If I'm allergic to Valtrex, what can I do? I'm taking lysine, but it doesn't seem to be working. I know that it's uncommon, but I seem to have almost chronic symptoms of HSV-1. I've always had a weak immune system. I'm afraid to ride my bike because I'm wondering if the friction is making it act up. I'm unable to get a good night's sleep from worry, and I don't know what to do at this point. Since March (when I'm sure this is when I was self-inoculated), I've been trying to figure out the diarrhea and urinary frequency. I've noticed that I seem to have a bad case of diarrhea after eating my morning bowl of oatmeal. Tomatoes also seem to trigger it. Is it possible to have my stomach affected by HSV-1? Also, I've noticed some slow-to-heal bruises on my arms and legs. How can herpes cause this? Something else that's bothering me is that I am an extremely healthy eater - whole wheat everything (pasta, bread, etc.) and brown rice. I've eaten a big bowl of oatmeal every morning for years. I noticed the herpes diet on this site. How do you still get enough fiber if wheat and oats trigger it? If you're still reading, thanks for listening!

Answer:
have you considered that some of your symptoms may be unrelated to each other?

it may be in your best interest to find out if you are having either allergic food reactions or food tolerance problems that are causing your bruising and diarrhea. the human immune system is very tied to gastrointestinal health.

Answer:
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my lengthy post! I was actually tested for Crohn's and Celiacs disesase, and both were negative. During my extensive testing phase, I was diagnosed with a 2 cm complicated ovarian cyst. I reassured myself that this was the cause of everything...until the itching and red blister-like bump at the same spot at about a month apart. Also, around the same time in the spring that I think I auto-inocualted myself, I recall a poison-ivy like rash on the backs of my knees. However, it didn't itch as much as posion ivy. It lasted for about a week. I thought that I had just rubbed up against something in my yard, perhaps mild contact dermatitis. I've basically lived the life of a saint...sexually speaking, so herpes never entered my mind until the headache, swelling, redness, and bump...and then I remembered last spring. Thanks, again, Caliope for trying to help.

Answer:
JaneK35 - The rash behind your knees is something different than hsv.

I'm glad you got tested for both Crohn's and Celiac - smart girl. It still doesn't mean that you aren't intolerant to certain foods just that you don't have the two major food related illnesses missed by most dr's. For this I recommend you cut out some of the suspect foods such as the oatmeal for several weeks and see if it helps to stop the diarrhea.

The bump is suspect to me. What you describe is happening with it sounds like hsv to me but there are crazy illnesses that are very similar to hsv and if we just assume that is what it is without having a medical professional confirm it we could be missing out on the opportunity to get it treated properly.

Answer:
Caliope - Again, thank you for your help! I think that my immune system is shot right now because I have been through so much testing. I endured 2bowel preps in July. After I had my first bump 6 weeks ago and "herpes" entered my mind, I lost a lot of sleep, further weakening my immune system. I think that's why I seem to be having chronic symptoms, even with HSV-1. Therefore, I've been taking lysine, vitamins B-12 and stress, Culturelle, and my usual Centrum and fish oil capsule.

After I went to 3 doctors, who were incredulous, to confirm my suspicions, I basically took it into my own hands. One of my biggest concerns is that I can't take Valtrex or use Denavir cream, due to allergic reactions I experienced with the cold sore. My extensive Internet research for alternative treatments turned up nothing. Do you know of any? Also, do you know if it's gluten in wheat and brown rice or is it the arganine that puts it on the "foods to avoid" list?...and finally, my last question...Is it possible for herpes to cause easy bruising on the arms and legs that's slow to go away? Right now, I've given up on seeing another doctor, but I know that will change. I'll just have to wait until the next time I get a bump that looks like more than a pimple.

Answer:
my guess for the bruising is that you may need to increase your intake of vitamin c. I found one from Solaray, that I am really happy with, it has bioflavanoids and is slow release. It is worth finding out if you are anemic and possibly adding iron supplements as anemia can also contribute to bruising.

To answer your question about gluten vs. arginine: some evidence points to arginine being a trigger for herpes ob's. as long as the intake of lysine is higher than that of arginine it should slow or reduce viral replication.

Wow, you've had a hard time haven't you. I'm betting that you've been on antibiotics, if you had the bowel prep, that could certainly mess with your digestion and your immune system. If you are not allergic to dairy products I'd advise you to consider adding pro-biotics to your daily vitamin supplements to help re-balance the good bacteria in your gastrointestinal system. I take the capsuls from Jarrow Formulas and eat organic yogurt to help with this.

Answer:
Thanks for sharing info. about your supplements. Do you take a specific type of lysine, or are they all created equally? In addition to the vitamin C and probiotic, have you found any other worthwhile products? The Internet has such a diverse offering, and I don't know which ones are sound. I know to stay away from anything that states it's a "cure" for herpes! Speaking of...Like many people with herpes, I'm looking for a ray of hope in the form of a future cure (perhaps gene therapy??) or a therapeutic vaccine. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Answer:
Most people don't understand, though you might, that there are currently no cures for any viruses. I suspect that once there is a cure for one major virus there will be cures for others to follow.

Viruses we are most familiar with include things like the common cold and flu's. The bigger ones are HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C etc. Each time you get a cold or the flu it is a new strain of that type of virus.

There are vaccines for some viral infections but vaccines are only a way in which to introduce a killed version of a virus into someone's immune system so that their bodies will create antibodies against that particular virus. HSV is not like the common cold or the flu in that it incorporates itself into our own cells and hides there and our immune system is not designed to attack itself so hsv can live and thrive there.

So far there has been little success with vaccines for viruses in the herpes family. There was one recently for the Chicken Pox but it is proving to be very flawed. It's actually causing big problems.

I like to take vitamin supplements only after much research into the reason it might be beneficial to me. Most of the supplements I use are because they strengthen the immune system rather than being just for hsv. The only exception is Lysine. I use the Country Life brand and I take a minimum of 1500 mg. daily. I like this brand because it is vegetarian and doesn't contain wheat or corn.

Check out the supplements offered by Dynamiclear if you are looking specifically at controlling hsv they have a combined formula that has several herpes fighting herbs in one pill. I think it contains lysine, echinacea, and olive leaf among others. This beats taking a handful of pills every day.