Nagging outbreak

[Barrie Cohen]

I was diagnosed with herpes in June of '95. Had monthly outbreaks
consisting mostly of just aching in my legs/hips/rear end and one or two
blisters for about 3 months after that. Since September I've been taking
Zovirax 2x a day (200 mg each). I hadn't had a single symptom or outbreak
until Feb 7. I felt that familiar aching in my legs and hips and saw one
very small blister. I immediately upped my Zovirax to 5x a day for one
week. Seemd to help. I went back to the 2x a day on Feb 14. Now it's Feb
19 and I feel the achiness coming back full force. No sores yet, just
that "feeling". I know you all aren't medical doctors, but what do YOU
think is going on? Should I go back and take the Z 5x a day again for
another week? I tried to call my Dr. but the clinic is closed for
Presidents Day and the on-call nurse didn't know much about herpes.

Other info: I don't eat nuts or chocolate, I'm not really under any
unusual stresses, I am female, nothing else really different about this
time...just this NAGGING OUTBREAK that doesn't seem to want to go away.

Thanks for any insights...

Barrie

[Kent Steinnagel]

KRT...@prodigy.com (Barrie Cohen) wrote:

> I feel the achiness coming back full force. No sores yet, just
>that "feeling". I know you all aren't medical doctors, but what do YOU
>think is going on? Should I go back and take the Z 5x a day again for
>another week? I tried to call my Dr. but the clinic is closed for
>Presidents Day and the on-call nurse didn't know much about herpes.
>

I think we all know our own bodies better than most doctors when it comes
to herpes outbreaks. I'd listen to what yours is telling you. Unless
you just did some very strenuous activitiy involving your legs (hiking,
skiing, skating, etc) I'd bet it's an outbreak starting. If your wrong,
all you will have done is taken some extra Z for a couple of days. BTW,
if you're still getting outbreaks, you might talk to your doctor about
increasing your dose to 400mg 2x/day. That is the dose recommended by
the manufacturer and by a recent large review of herpes treatment. I am
on that dose and have only had 2 outbreaks in 8 months. Happened during
the Christmas/New Year holiday period. Just a little stress there.

[Barrie Cohen]

Thanks for your response, Kent. I found out that because I was taking the
antibiotic Cipro during that last outbreak, it made the antiviral less
effective. I was given the antibiotic by a different Dr. than my regular
Dr. He obviously didn't look at my chart or the note stating what meds I
was on.

I wanted to post this not publicly so others who don't know that certain
antibiotics lessen the effectiveness of antiviral drugs would become
aware. They also lessen the effect of birth control pills too FYI...

Barrie

[Hss Mail]

You should also look into the new drugs, Famvir and Valtrex--another
option besides Zovirax. Talk to your doctor about them.