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helps w. physical pain

First Outbreak Helps



The first ob can be a doozy. What are you trying for pain relief? Don't hesitate to sit with an ice pack in between your legs too if you need to. Unless you have a medical reason not to - try alternating tylenol with ibuprofen for pain relief comparable to some narcotics - ie tylenol 1000mg at 6am, 600mg advil at 9, tylenol at noon, advil at 3pm etc. Also look for dermoplast spray (the blue can for the genital area, not the red can) or another topical anesthetic spray ask you pharmacist (Courtesy of Betsy1967)

Keep the affected area as dry as possible and wear no underwear (if possible) to let the air get at the area. The dryer that you keep the area the faster it will heal. When coming out of the shower use your hair dryer on a lower setting to dry the area so that way you do not have to rub it with a towel (Courtesy of NicoleRB)

Apply cornstarch by sprinkling it on to the affected area as cornstarch helps to keep the area dry.

To decrease the itching at night and to get a good nights sleep take Benadryl before bed time to get that good nights sleep. (Courtesy of Alex 71194)

Finally if going to the bathroom is painful run water over the area, urinate in a tub or shower. All these help to dilute the acid in the urine.

These are some additional items that will help with the first outbreak and I do hope that you find them helpful.

Haha...So I was an idiot when it came to the lydocaine. I have only ever had pain killers once before and that was with my wisdom teeth...I think I used it for two days and then was done. Anyways...If you haven't figured it out (which I'm sure you have...) apply the gel a couple minutes BEFORE urinating instead of after. I betcha I'm the only person in America to do something like that but I thought I'd pass it on just in case.

Nope you aren't the only one! We recommend that frequently around here. sometimes those lesions are just in the "wrong" spot to make urination possible without screaming Using a "squirt" bottle filled with lukewarm water and squirting the water over the lesions while urinating is also helpful sometimes. It dilutes the urine so it burns less ( you can also use a sitz bath set up and urinate into that ). Also even though it seems like the worst advice ever - drink tons of fluids. It keeps the ph of the urine less acidic so it's less painful as it flows over lesions too.

Sometimes herpes lesions just hurt like a SOB ( sorry the censors here won't allow me to post what I think they really feel like !! ).

Oh believe me. I drank to my little heart's content. My sister had me drinking TONS of cranberry juice at first because we did think it was a yeast infection but after my diagnosis...I just kept the fluids up because I was crying so much too. Granted you lose more sodium than anything but I was achy and felt horrible. Just wish I had figured out a few days sooner to put the lydocaine on before and not after. Oh well. Now I know for next time.

I was definitely one for biting the sleeve of my shirt though. I lived in a dorm at the time and then I left and moved back home. I didn't want my roommates knowing but I also didn't want my mom to hear me because she was already upset enough as it was.

Thankfully I've been lucky so far (knock on wood) that I have only had my primary outbreak. I'm crossing my fingers that it remains at that. Back in ... November? December? I read a post that 50% of those with HSV1 only have their primary outbreak and then the other 50% have one to two outbreaks every year to two years. That brightened my day a lot. Betsy have you heard similar numbers? I realize that we don't have the same information about HSV1 but we can't be completely in the dark as for averages.

And you're right. They do hurt like an SOB. Although since I'm a nursing student I thought you meant "shortness of breath" at first. Haha. I'm a nerd. Oh well. At least I'm doing my homework.

When I capitalize it I"m cussing...he he he even after 21 years of being a nurse - I still can't read sob on a chart without thinking you are calling someone a name....he he he I swear to never fully grow up

Yes for hsv1 genitally about 1/2 of folks never get another ob and those who do usually it's one additional ob the first year and then 1 ob every other year. Only a small percentage of folks with hsv1 genitally get ob's more often.

When I first looked at these numbers and was happy... unfortunately for me I had 5 or 6 outbreaks within my first 9 months. I had to go on suppressive therapy... I was tested again to make sure I didn't also have HSV 2 and it came up negative... I guess I'm just one of the "lucky" ones haha. I am in good spirits about it though. Thankfully the more you get the less they hurt. Also, I'm thankful I didn't get something else

There is a reason for this, we just don't know it yet I have made myself feel better by knowing that this will make me get to know a boyfriend better before I have the guts tell him and begin a sexual relationship. And also if he agrees to sleep with me (and doesn't already have herpes), he must have some sort of feelings for me besides trying to "get in my pants" Hehe.

Stay strong everyone!!! I have no idea why I felt the need to share my feelings, but yeah... I'm sure it will help someone out there