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Well, I'm pretty sure I know what's going on. I am almost 99% sure it's herpes. I get cold sores and my guess maybe I even gave it to myself by not washing my hands after applying meds to my lips. I guess someone could have given it to me as well but I have not had sex in a while ): Ok I said it!
Anyhow, I can see the blister and what compounds the problem is I have vaginal/vulva atrophy which of course itches and then itching and stress of all of this causes the outbreak. So I have gone back to using my antihistamines which is Loratadine and using vaginal estrogen. The itching now is gone and things feels much better!
In any event I'm going on vacation next week I will get the HSV test done when I get back. I'm actually relived to finally hopefully know what this is.
Replies to "Well, I'm pretty sure I know what's going on. I am almost 99% sure it's herpes...."
Hi, Thank you for being open about this, it's helpful, and I don't have contact with doctors who want to help. What is the Loratadine? and what is it used for? It seems like youre saying it's an antihistamine. I take oral estrogen and have for 20 years, but don't know about a vaginal estrogen. is it a prescription, and what is it called?
I contracted herpes in the late 70's and haven't had many outbreaks. I can guess when my stress level is high enough to bring it on, like a move across country. But being familiar with the dease doesn't make me sure that's what this first commentor has.
The first time I was told I had vaginal atrophy I told the doc he was sexist, lol. Now I have more information but it is a terrible name. Having atrophy doesn't necessarily mean there is a itching symptom. When I have had itching, or irritation, I have been tested for a infection (not sexually transmitted) and treated with antibiotics. It is hard to get rid of completely and many older women live with a bacterial infection without being treated. That is sad to me, it doesn't have to be tolerated if we can find doctors who will keep looking for answers too.
Please consider that this could be lichen sclerosus (LS), a skin condition very little is known about, except that it 'may' have:
- autoimmune aspects, and/or
- Inherited/ genetic traits.
I think if you put my name/"handle" into the Mayo Clinic Connect search bar you may find my prior (& very recent) postings on my now "Vulvar Intrepithelial Neoplasia" (VIN) discovery, which is precancerous, with one possible spot that may be cancerous (another biopsy in a month for that).
Have followed my lichen sclerosus condition for about 40 yrs now, since my 1st gynecologist ID'd it.
Your gynecologist should be able to ID it, either upon exam &/or w/a biopsy. It is mostly found in women, though I've read men can have it too.
It can lead to vulvar cancer, in a minority of cases.
If ID'd as LS, Clobetasol propionate is the ointment most effective to calm it down.
LS is NOT any kind of STD.
Hope this may help you to find the proper medical care for the condition.
Best wishes...
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I would grab some antiviral in the drug store for fever blisters. It won’t hurt anything if it’s not viral. But there are challenges to doing that. You need a prescription.
The insurance companies - at least Medicare - have ruled You can only get a script for the antiviral Acyclovir pills in the US. And they help in a 5-6 days. The good stuff - the 5% acyclovir cream that dries it up in 1-2 days if you catch it early is hundreds of dollars here and not covered by insurance - at least not by Medicare. it only takes a smidge every few hours for a couple of days so one tube lasts a long time. And be sure to price it at GoodRx you’re interested. I would never get caught without it although my body seems to have tired of giving me fever blisters.
There is Abreva that is OTC - but doesn’t do more than keep it moist in my opinion.
Good luck!