Hey i had to step away from the board for a second, they punished lil o me for violating the rules and what not but at least i could still read. I missed you guys mannn, but n e who. My doctor prescribed valtrex for me but only on episodic treatments because this is my first out break. He said he wouldnt prescribe it for every day treatment unless i had 3 to 6 outbreaks a year. Of course what HE doesnt know is that i cant afford daily treatment any way, so who laughs last?!? **snickers** BUT, he said i can take it for 1 to 6 yrs until my immune system gets the virus in check. I was wondering if anyone has taken it that long and after they came off did they still have recurrent out breaks? Also, if you take Valtrex during an outbreak is that pointless or will it help to reduce the length of time? I hear some people say there outbreak is like 10seconds while other people say its 10years... :D Of course im guest-e-mating with those numbers but you know what i mean. Since this is my first one i guess im just in for the long haul huh? And for anyone taking Valtrex on episodic treatments, HOW do you know when to start taking it? I dont really tend to get any predrome symptoms that im currently aware of. I wake up one morning and im having an outbreak and the H is like "hello burned surprised you agian huh?" :nono: @ HSV2 Of course im still trying to figure out how my body functions as far as when an out break is coming or going. Oh yeah, not to put ALL my business out there but the doctor gave me some cream for "scabies" too just in case the itching is asociated with that even though he couldnt find any under the microscope. Some times i think my doctor has a secret agenda of just making me feel dumb when i get in that office, WHICH he does a fine job of. BUT for any one who has itching associated with their outbreaks just wanted to let you know, if you havent read already, that benadryl or any allergy "histamine" blocker works well for that. PLUS it puts me to sleep or something closer to a comma at night. Well im off to do my daily "is there a cure for herpes" search. :wave:

Burned,

I've been on Valtrex every day since i found out i had this, even when i thought i didn't have it and Valtrex didn't do anything for my first outbreak.
It didn't shorten it, or make it any easier. On my second outbreak however i took it as soon as i even felt anything at all, and once i saw the breakout it was two pills a day and rather than sticking around for two or three weeks it went away in a matter of a week or less. Valtrex does work if you take it soon enough, once your a week into your breakout i don't think it does a gol darn thing LOL . I was given episodic treatment and 6 refills so rather than taking two a day i just had it refilled and take one pill a day, it works, even if it doesn't makes me feel better, since i seem to be prone to outbreaks when i work out and put stress on my back and sweat heavily. So far i've only had the two outbreaks, so it must be working.

The thing you have to look forward to is over time your immune system does come to terms with this dam thing i assume once your antibody count gets high enough and you shouldn't have to worry about it much or even think about it much unless your going to engage in sexual activities.