Hi,

I found this post and I'm 51 just going into menopause.  Not taking any hormones and having the 1st outbreak in over 10 years. It's as bad or worse than the first one and has lingered much longer. I will write the University of Washington Herpes Virus Center as advised.  Thank you for the information! CWR

Please tell me why you would be prescribed hormones, and how long you're allowed to take them? I'm suffering from some severe menopausal symptoms, but my Gyn believes in 0 hormones.

I certainly dont want more breakouts though. I saw an increase in beakouts, until several months ago. More so in the summer, and possibly brought on by sweat and rashes after biking or working out. Ive been period free an entire year now.

Is hormone treatment worth the side effects Ive heard of, plus the breakouts you mention?

Thanks!

Doctors are not taught about hormones in school, unless they are Naturopaths, and even many natruopaths don't understand unless they have specialized. Medicl doctors do not know how to precribe bio-identical hormones, they only know hormones from drug companies and regular pharmacies, not compounding pharmacies.

Lots of great books on bioidenticals at you public library, but I'd start with these, easy to read and tell you what you need to know.

Read these two books and you willunderstand, then make your choice:
Natural Hormone Replacement For Women Over 45 [Paperback] John Morgenthaler (Author), Jonathan V. Wright (Author)

Stay Young & Sexy with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement: The Science Explained [Paperback] Jonathan V. Wright (Author), Lane Lenard (Author), Suzanne Somers (Foreword)

Then, research naturopaths in your area. if you are anywhere near Seattle go to the Tahoma Clinic, Dr. Hinchcliffe.  She's worth traveling to!  If you are too far away, contact your nearest compunding pharmacy (listed under Compounding Pharmacy).  Go talk to the pharmacist there and ask which doctors he/she works with understand bioidentical hormones. That's how I found Hinchcliffe and that is the recommended way to find a doctor in many of the books out there. Compounding pharmacists know who knows their stuff and who doesn't.  You may need to fill out insurance forms with your insurer and submit them to get a partial reimbursement (I do). Good luck.

However...hormone replacement with testosterone, estrogen  and progesterone will help you feel great, sleep soundly and have stronger bones but it does not seem to affect herpes outbreaks.  I just turned 62 and I am having just as many outbreaks as before. No change except that I am strong, happy  and healthy!

I have more skin related issues; thinning of the vaginal and walls and labia (as if herpes wasnt enough) leading to tears and of course outbreaks because the area has been compromised. 

I just read about vaginal dialators, and about pelvic floor physical therapy. There are p/t's who concentrate on this! So if your vaginal skin is thinning, (I see overall extreme dry skin, I simply cant keep it moist.) and there's less moisture, lots of time the vagina is also tightening or tender and this may help. 

Thanks so much for this great info. I'm on the East Coast, will Google my area.

Sounds like you already know thinning of the vaginal tissues will be remedied in short order with bioidentical hormones! It is very common.

Hmm, no I had no idea really....I know nothing about hormone replacement, and didnt imagine this could be remedied. Hmm!!! (Naive eyes popping ) 

in '09 you were going to see if an increased dosage of hormonal dosages would help the outbreaks. Has it?

"My naturopath is changing my hormone dosages upward, to balance my horomones, so I will be able to report in a few months if that helped the outbreaks."

No change, if anything outbreaks are as bad as, or worse than before.  Seems like they get worse every year, even with hormones. 

I have a great naturopath, Dr. Hinchcliffe at the Tahoma clinic.  I take bioidentical hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) for bone health, sexual health and all around feel great and energetic.  I'm careful with organic food, no gluten or dairy or anything else inflamatory, exercise 3-4 times a week with cycle and weights......But non of this helps with outbreaks, just like all the other women here.  It's discouraging that the researchers don't recognize this.  It's puzzeling, though.  M

I'm 57 and started having non stop outbreaks after using progesterone cream. Just out of the blue, my life went from normal to hell. I've tried everything under the sun for over 2 years and I can't get them to stop. Every two weeks, one finally heals and another is on it's way. Before that, I rarely had outbreaks and it was a tiny dot. Now it's spread along my crotch and is miserable. :(

I'm now taking 3000mg of Lysine a day, high potency olive leaf, DHEA, oregano oil on and off. 2000mg vitamin C, IP6 and also Lauracidin. I'm still breaking out! This just seems impossible! I'm going to try using Valtrex (1000mg per day), you can raise the blood level using Tagamet (300mg 4x a day). Also, natural thymic hormone is supposed to be fantastic (called proBoost). I got these last two sentence worth of info from a book called "From Fatigued to Fantastic". So here I go again, trying to find something that will work! At least my previous regime got rid of my fatigue. Now I just need to get rid of the break outs.

exactly. Me too. Same exact.  I am 46 , peri menopause. Getting outbreaks every 4 - 6 weeks and they are more painful and worse each time. Really at my wits end. This a PROBLEM. I don't want to start messing with hormone stuff. I am going all natural. Taking vitamins and echinacea.

I'm having the same exact situation.  I'm 48, contracted herpes at 19 and for many many many years, have had very few outbreaks and those that I had were pretty minor.  Over the past year or so, I've had more frequent and intense outbreaks.  I'm still having regular periods and no big obvious signs of menopause, but something is changing that is causing this.  My stress is not the issue - I'm under no more stress now than I have ever been - in fact, quite a bit less.  I'm fit and in great health, eat right, drink moderately, don't smoke...etc.  It's a bummer.  

I hear ya,  I am 44 and have had herpes for 25 years... great eh?  Anyhow I seem to in the past year have more OB's,  like once a month!!   Hormones??   I really wish I knew!  However just know we are not alone!

I am a 42 year old who just found out last year that I was infected.  You ladies have given me great comfort; as I am also pre-menopausal, frequent skipped menses.  However, I am finding that I am having frequent breakouts.  I am single and have not been sexually active for an extended period of time (especially not after being diagnoses).  As I have a family history of breast cancer, I am not eligible for HRT and have opted to go natural with Soy and vitamin therapy.  However, as this is new to me, I did not know the "regularity" of breakouts.  My physician told me that I may not experience one after starting medication with the initial, but I am having "regular" breakouts.  I am however very concerned about the consistant use of the anti-viral medications and their long term effects on my liver.  Any answers?

I'm in the same situation.  49 years old. Never even knew I had it until 2 years ago and even then my outbreak was not TOO bad.  I believe that it's menopause.  I am at a loss as to what to do.

I'm jumping in the boat ...44 yrs old ... a confirmed clinical perimenopause....same issue as everyone else ...mine is the week after a period or on the 36th day if I don't have one...just started the monthly OB 6 months ago...more painful , more intense...Starts with general tiredness, followed by crippling lower back /pelvic pain then shooting pains in my tendons and thighs...followed by a swollen urethra and peri area... ofter 7-10 days it ends and if I am lucky I get a break for another 2-weeks before my next period or time when I should have one unless I have one that lasts for 2 weeks(those are fun) ...I am going to check into the University of Washington...lets see if they have relief...

I am 51 years old and had my first outbreak at age 33 when I was newly pregnant with my 3rd child. Thinking I was having a severe yeast infection I was shocked to find out I had genital herpes. Subsequent tests revealed that I had herpes simplex 1 (usually oral herpes) in my genital area. I contracted the herpes from my husband during oral sex - he has herpes simplex 1 orally. Since then he has not contracted genital herpes even though we have not always been careful - our assumption is his body already has antibodies to it. I too experienced infrequent breakouts until my mid 40s when I went off the birth control pill - I then had multiple breakouts in a 6 month period. Now that I am menopausal, I have had two severe breakouts in a 6 week period. Both of these breakouts have started with intense nerve pain running from my buttocks down my leg. As soon as I realized what was happening I began taking Valtrex which seemed to keep the sores in my genital area from getting too bad. I am glad to hear that others have had similar issues and I too hope that someday we can be cured. Hang in there ladies - thank you for letting me read your stories!

Thank you all for your comments. I am closing in on 52 and have noticed a marked increase in outbreaks over the past year or so. I have no other peri-menopausal symptoms except the occasional night sweat and this is very rare.

Like many of you I prefer the natural approach and use products from www.Herpaflor.com.  They have a daily supplement, outbreak response tablets and a topical formula.  I was using Acyclovir but found that it stopped being effective, I would get an outbreak on top of the first outbreak, while on the medication! I have been using the new formulas but find that I still have outbreaks, often back to back.

Thanks to the woman who re-posted the response she received from the University of Washington Viral Research Center.

These frequent outbreaks really make me feel sad as I am married and my husband is affected in terms of our inability to have intercourse during the outbreaks. He does not have herpes. 

I wonder what the future holds in terms of our outbreaks...as we age will they dwindle or continue on the current course.  If there are any out there who have been post-menopausal for a period of time, would you please share your experiences with us?  

Hi there,

That is a scary question. I can't help but hope that menopause is a temporary situation. Our bodies are unstable and out of control. minds too! ha!  and once we get into the swing of older age, we will settle down. I don't know that the U of W has any other answers for us, since our generation is the first that has had to deal with this affliction. I hate that our husbands have to deal with this too. But you know, I just compare it to having cancer. We don't have cancer. So, I'll continue to dabble with the Valtrex , which is stronger than Acyclovir, (that stuff didn't work at all and I was mad at the doc who prescribed it, knowing there was something better out there)  and keep trying to get enough sleep etc.

Much good luck to you...

Hi, Are you finding that Valtrex is limiting or eliminating the outbreaks?  Thanks in advance for your response.

Sorry to say that menopause is not a temporary sitation when it comes to certain symptoms.  I am 62 and have been dealing with increased outbreaks with increased stress and when I use estradiol (vaginal) for dryness.  I cannot use any other type of hormone treatment due to clotting factors and stroke history.  My vaginal dryness is severe as is the dryness to the point of bleeding of my genital skin.  My husband and I do not sex very often which is a huge problem in itself.  In preparation for an attempt last week, I used the estradiol and bingo, an outbreak.  

Thanks for the info on Valtrex.  I have been using Acyclovir for years with little or no success and will now have a discussion with my doc about alternatives.  I also read that Lemon Balm compresses (tea bag) on the sores can help so will try that. We really have too much other stuff going on in our lives to have to deal with this all the time.

Thanks for your very detailed post. I've tried all of this but nothing work has affected the number of outbreaks that are worse with age.   I even tried some of the goofy remedies on the internet...peroxide, etc. Lots of wasted time, money and effort.  There is a strong connection between hormones and outbreaks but for some reason the researchers are not picking up on this.

If any of you have luck with a natural cure, please let me know. 

Hi I'm 52 and have had herpes for 30 years with a dramatic increase in OBs during menopause. What are bioidentical hormones? Where did u get them? And how do u know which ones to use? Thanks in advance. -Sad

omg, so glad to know others are believing the hormone correlation. i'm 52 post menopausal and outbreaks are becoming more regular again. FYI TO ALL Vitamin B1, Thiamine CAN AGGRAVATE OUTBREAKS... so B supplements need to have lower levels of B1.  Found this info years ago...was taking high level B complex felt fantastic but OB's  were out of control. i read this info in the now old boook Women's encyclopedia of Health and natural healing by Emrika Padus.

i seem to notice having too many sweets, nuts, running on empty (not getting enough sleep) etc aggravate.  However, i use herbs from accupuncturist to help with the meno symptoms (liver heat) and am going back to see what to do. i also regularly use a small amount of natural bio-identical hormone to relieve the sensation of getting a bladder infection, think it is from vag dryness as i do not have bladder infections. i am in a new relationship and frustrated beyond belief and baffled as to why this is happening.... i'm excercising more also hoping it will help. i will continue to check in here and contact university of WA. thank you all for sharing.

Yes! Nuts, seeds, chocolate, caffeine and anything that contain Argenine, will aggravate the virus, is what my ND told me. She gave me a food list outline of things to eat and what to avoid so I could better get a handle. I do know that for me, at least, she highly recommended eating protein at every meal, but with no nuts, and a lot of the grains on restriction as well, that just leaves meat. Not a personal problem for me, but may be for anyone vegan or vegetarian.

I don't usually see threads continuing on month after month.  Interesting how this one seems to have hit a nerve.  I'm like everyone else here, 52, starting to have changes in my period.  Only got Herpes 2.5 years ago and have had very few breakouts.  Now a week before my period is due, I'm having one nearly as bad (or maybe just as bad) as the first.  It would be a great relief to hear some success stories or that things ease up after menopause.  If you're posting here, please don't forget to come back and let us know any changes you find and whether any of these suggestions helps.  Hope is anti-stressful :)

I can say my OB's went back to being pretty rare.  I'm using bioidentical hormone cream (estrogen and progesterone), and take acyclovir when I get prodromal.  I also eat/drink a lot of probiotics, which I'm convinced help with immune health in general - kefir and kimchi, which I make myself.  I'll tell you how if your'e interested.  Don't despair - it's time-limited, at least.

Glad you found this helpful - I have, too.  (I'm the original post-er).  I'm now using estrogen/progesterone cream, about which there's some controversy, but I'm willing to risk a MAYBE couple-percent risk of cancer of the something or other in exchange for improved quality of life, personally.  Don't know if it's the hormones or the passage of time, but I'm back to my earlier state of, like you, forgetting I have it most of the time.  I'm also eating a lot of fermented foods (kefir, kimchi), as I've read that having a gut full of normal flora is a big factor in immunity - I think the whole ecosystem in there produces substances we don't understand, but which we need, and which most of us have killed off with antibiotics and over-sanitized living.  Good luck with it all!  If you write back, it shows on my email and I'll answer.  Bestest - DM

Wow...thanks for writing back, and for the words of encouragement.  Interesting, as I have recently read several new studies about changing the bacterial "content" of one's intestinal tract, by eating the kinds of things you are suggesting, and how enough of these things need to be eaten in order to counteract the negative types of bacteria that are put into our systems.  I have also been trying to do this, (eat more for important body fuel, rather than for pleasure.)  By the way, I forgot to say, I have never really had to take medications over my almost 27 years of having GH - to me, it was never really much of a problem (until now.)   My husband gave me GH @ age 24, and we are still married (much more happily in our older age,) so the consequences haven't been much to deal with (for me.)  I did have to take the mega-doses of Valtrex back in September when I was diagnosed with shingles.  I must say that I don't really like taking ANY type of drugs that are not absolutely necessary, but I am now considering using the cream (and thanks for your current information on that, by the way!)  It is SO important for women to talk with each other about these issues, because as the posts show, it seems that many health care "professionals" have a less-than enthusiastic attitude about these topics, when questioned.  Thanks, ORIGINAL POSTER, and best to ya!

And to you, m'dear!  Keep me posted - I'm puttin' my money on beneficial bacteria, for the moment.  The concept reminds me of composting and soil microbiology, which I just read a book about ("Teaming with Microbes" - a little dense, but I found it a page-turner.  But then I'm a compulsive gardener. . .).  The book talked about all the mysterious ways that plant roots attract the microbes they need to break down nutrients for that particular plant.  I think Ma Nature knew what she was doing, and we should try to cooperate. . . 

Also, re fermented foods - I've heard from a few different places that the longest-lived and healthiest cultures eat a lot of them.  It makes sense - we evolved before refrigeration and antibiotics, and fermentation was the main way to preserve food.

ALSO, re hormone replacement - I started after I met a doctor in his late 80's who contends that we don't stop making hormones because we get old, but that we we age because we now outlive our capacity to produce hormones.  I THINK it makes sense, although I'm reluctant to suggest it to anyone else.  I'm a nurse, now with hospice, and I do notice that women in their 80's and 90's who are taking hormones seem more vital and active.  For what it's worth. . .

I'll be 54 in a couple of weeks. I've had GH for probably 34 years. I was on Acyclovir, Zovirax for years. I am now on Famciclovir as I had commented to my PCP maybe a year and a half ago that the OB seemed to be related to Hormones but that was strictly anecdotal on my part. That's when he changed me to Famciclovir, saying I'd been on the other so long that it wasn't working. I had gotten to the point that I was only taking the Zovirax for the duration of outbreaks.  The Famciclovir is to be taken twice a day, but it didn't seem to be working. I had quit taking it because I've had ongoing back to back problems for most of a year, what I thought were OBs. I did start taking it again a week and a half ago? But now have a true herpes OB, so maybe it doesn't work for me.

I tell you I only got online today because I'm again at my wits end. I came home from work last evening and just wept, freaked the cats out. What's the old saying, `Some days it's not work chewing thru the restraints?' Or is that new? At least I still  have my sense of humor.

I made up my mind to not use HRT. I've done some investigating over the years about natural birth control since I was taken off of birth control in my 30's. I heard Merryl Winstein interviewed and bought her book Your Fertility Signals, which is probably out of print now. I later heard Sherrill Sellman interviewed and picked up her book Hormone Heresy, what women MUST know about their hormones. Then I heard Roger Mason of New Vitality talk about Natural Progesterone Cream. I'd noticed if I had a particularly chocolately Mud Pie at a favorite restaurant, I'd get night sweats. I discovered `What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About PreMenopause' by John R. Lee, MD. And some of these 4 mention the work of the others. I use progesterone cream; no sweats, the hot flashes dialed back to zero. No symptoms (other than emotional) to speak of. Oh, had to give up Diet Pepsi, sensitive to preservatives; thought preservatives might be causing what I've been living with.

What gives me hope today is the mention of the vaginal dryness leading to tears in the epitheleal tissue. I knew this wasn't OBs. I thought it might be diet. I can't eat nuts; don't drink coffee; have reduced to almost nil the chocolate intake. Is my sugar level still too high? Diabetes runs in the family; I'm trying to stave off with diet, but need more work on that as I'm overweight. Was it a yeast infection; almost feels like that. But the idea of bacteria getting into tears...that seems to have some merit in what I am going thru. I do get nauseaus with Zinc. I thought Selenium, too, as I've heard it has some antiviral properties. I wrote down the U of W's 5 points and will follow. I'm bookmarking this site. I won't say I was at a precipice, but today I may be able to take action, to cope...

Thanks to all of you who are responding to this issue.  I, too, have noticed the connection between changes in hormones and herpes.  I am 61 and did not know I had GH until I was given the estrogen pellet.  This was done after one year on using both estrogel and progesterone cream.  Since my estrogen levels were extremely low and still not increasing significantly with the gel, I agreed to start the pellets.  After the 2nd or 3rd pellet (about 6-9 months) and a sharp rise in my estrogen and testosterone levels, I became aware of what seemed to be a urinary tract infection which did not go away.  Then I experineced what I think was my actual 1st OB and  tested positive for GH (Have not been sexually active for 9 years).  Since then the prodromal symptoms are almost always present.  I have been trying to use natural products (Lysine, echinacea,etc), but find that the only thing that is suppressing an outbreak is the use of Valtrex.

I'm wondering if the GH is most triggered by the hormonal fluctuations. A Suzanne Sommers book claims that taking progesterone daily along with estrogen daily is actually mimicking pregnancy.  So I've decided I need to stay with the most natural flow which is to use the progesterone cream for only 2 weeks and allow myself to have a period.  I've noticed a slight decline in my symptoms doing this and will keep you posted.  I have also decided to see an alternative health care practitioner in my area to test for other imbalances that may be creating these symptoms.  My current doctor believes there is a connection related possibly to the vaginal lining and changes it goes through with hormonal changes.  I also found on an "Allexperts" website that a John Thai MD totally believes that progesterone increases one's susceptibility of OB 100x.

Thanks for anyone who can continue to add insight to this problem!

I'm 54 and entered menopause with a "bang" about 7 years ago.  I've had GH since age 16 (not formally diagnosed, but once I knew enough to deduce what it was, I put two and two together), including Herpes Whitlow ("finger herpes") of my non-dominant hand, ring finger (go figure). As I recall, it seems I used to get OBs related to my periods the first 10 years or so, then had them infrequently, then not at all for at least the past 25 years.  I don't remember ANY OBs as being all that memorable.  The worst were actually the Herpes Whitlow OBs-those could be excruciatingly painful, and I didn't actually know until fairly recently that that's what they were!

 When I started perimenopausal symptoms about age 47, I had everything and more: hot flashes that left me in rivers of sweat (I'm a RN and was pulling ice packs out of the freezer at work and shoving them down my bra); same with night sweats, mood swings,etc. I couldn't exist like that. I didn't really have hot flashes, though-I just had hot, steamy days upon days, with some moments between being hotter and steamier than others.  It was like living in the tropics and then continually going into a sauna (you ladies know what I mean). I went to my doctor (mind you now, this was just after the big WHO study that came out saying that HRT was basically deadly, and women were coming off of it in droves) and demanded she put me on it.  I'd already tried everything OTC that I could find with no relief.  So she put me on Premphase and I've been on it ever since.  Pure heaven. I've said more than once that you'd have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands before I'd give it up. I've tried coming off of it several times, but the symptoms of menopause are so life-disruptive that I would sincerely rather take my chances with the HRT. 

So...enter lovely GH.  I'd had decades of zero OBs (I really never knew for sure I had herpes-I was just a dumb teenager when I contracted it, and hadn't worried about it for decades, and that included infecting anyone-I didn't give it a second thought. It was as though whatever it was, it was a thing of the past.  I'd been having unprotected monogamous sex with multiple partners all that time since and had never had a single issue). I suddenly found myself having back-to-back OBs that were excruciating, covered relatively large areas and lasted for 3-4 weeks at a time. That's when I actually realized I'd likely had GH all along, but why I was all of a sudden having OBs was a mystery.  I also had a severe Herpes Whitlow OB last year that caused me to wind up losing part of my fingernail! I was actually convinced that I had HIV (as I think someone else mentioned), since an increase in herpes OBs is a sign of HIV, and of course, being a nurse I'm exposed to patients who are HIV+.   Fortunately I tested negative for that (whew), saw my doctor who gave me a prescription for daily Valtrex, which seemed to suppress the OBs once she upped the dose to 1 Gm/day. 

I started looking online for a common link between herpes OBs and menopause and have been finding more and more evidence. I had the worst "symptom-full" month this past one regarding hormones in general-it was like being 16 all over again with PMS (breast soreness, very heavy period, acne), AND having hot flashes and night sweats and moodiness, too-oh, my!  It was lovely. Even on the hormones!!

My dilemma now is that I am single, trying to date, temporarily unemployed and unable to afford antiviral meds (valcyclovir at 1 gm a day as a suppressant is about $1,000 a month). I'm only 54, relatively attractive and want to have a sex life.  Condoms are a help, but not the complete answer.  Is anyone else in this position?  I see a lot of posts from women who are married, but what about us single girls? 

I'd encourage you to pick up `What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About PreMenopause (even if you are in Menopause = cessation of periods). The more you learn about the balance of progesterone and estrogen, the more you can figure out what your hormonal symptoms are and take progesterone or estrial+progesterone (apparently, estrogen shouldn't be taken alone) to balance out or get rid of symptoms. Progestin is a synthetic hormone as is the pill. Go to a Health Food Store.

If hormones stress the body (and we've figured out they do), having them out of normal also stresses the body.

Even though I work in Medicine, I won't take HRT. Look what Medicine missed in me. It took me over a year to figure out what they should have looked at and diagnosed. I was just given steriods. I knew it was something systemic, that I can figure out how to deal with this in the long run if I can break the cycle.

I got GH-1 a few years ago at 47. UGH. Not supposed to have a lot of obs w/ h1.  The first year and a half had a stressful year and constant ob's. 2 years later and I have not had an ob for a year!  I have read it is related to hormonal swings and I have no swings now; now I have no estrogen (boo hoo) but I did not have any ob's until this past week after I BINGED like a maniac on sweets. I drink lots of coffee in the morning always, I eat dark chocolate. I have unrefined sugar choc cookies here and there normally and no ob.   BUT - An entire week of sugar and it was unrefined white processed sugar did the trick. I got my ob. 

I don't think you have to take estrogen to keep from getting ob's. I think it could be the fluctuation and/or the immune system (sugar lowers immune).

I'd suggest avoiding carbs almost completely until this resolves, and eating fermented foods like yogurt, kefir (which has 8 or 10 bacteria, vs. 3 or 4 in yogurt), and kimchi (Korean spicy fermented cabbage - I love it.  You can get it int the produce section of most stores, in a pint-size jar.) 

I think you're right, that high-carb diets many of us crave make us vulnerable to yeast infections, as well as diabetes, obesity, and any condition aggravated by inflammation. (Wide fluctuations in blood sugar, caused by massive influx of carbs followed - until we wear out our pancreas - by overproduction of insulin, causing a rebound low blood sugar, causes inflammation of the lining of blood vessels and insulin resistance, a precursor of diabetes.  It's like we wear out our system for dealing with sugars/carbs by consuming such huge amounts of them.)

High carbs can be in the form of sweets - the donuts and sweet rolls at work - or "natural" foods - fruit juices (like mainlining sugar, and not a natural product.  Fruit, yes; juice, no.), potatoes, rice (especially white rice), pasta, bread.  The more habitually you eat these foods, the more you crave them because of the rebound effect of insulin output/dropping blood sugar.

Try to eat like a caveman - things you could kill or find to eat.  Proteins, veggies, some whole fruits, only occasional whole grains.  No juice or sweet drinks.  Calming the inflammatory cascade helps with lots of other related health problems.

I'll check out the book - thanks for your input, everyone.  Diane (original poster)

I'd suggest avoiding carbs almost completely until this resolves, and eating fermented foods like yogurt, kefir (which has 8 or 10 bacteria, vs. 3 or 4 in yogurt), and kimchi (Korean spicy fermented cabbage - I love it.  You can get it int the produce section of most stores, in a pint-size jar.) 

I think you're right, that high-carb diets many of us crave make us vulnerable to yeast infections, as well as diabetes, obesity, and any condition aggravated by inflammation. (Wide fluctuations in blood sugar, caused by massive influx of carbs followed - until we wear out our pancreas - by overproduction of insulin, causing a rebound low blood sugar, causes inflammation of the lining of blood vessels and insulin resistance, a precursor of diabetes.  It's like we wear out our system for dealing with sugars/carbs by consuming such huge amounts of them.)

High carbs can be in the form of sweets - the donuts and sweet rolls at work - or "natural" foods - fruit juices (like mainlining sugar, and not a natural product.  Fruit, yes; juice, no.), potatoes, rice (especially white rice), pasta, bread.  The more habitually you eat these foods, the more you crave them because of the rebound effect of insulin output/dropping blood sugar.

Try to eat like a caveman - things you could kill or find to eat.  Proteins, veggies, some whole fruits, only occasional whole grains.  No juice or sweet drinks.  Calming the inflammatory cascade helps with lots of other related health problems.

I'll check out the book - thanks for your input, everyone.  Diane (original poster)

Forgot to say that, along with our carb addiction, the use of antibiotics while eating pretty much sterile foods has compromised the normal mix of bacteria we SHOULD have in our intestinal tract.  Healthy colons have billions of bacteria in 1/2 teaspoon of stool; we not only kill those off with antibiotics, but we don't put back normal flora with fermented foods, a staple of healthy, primitive, and long-lived cultures. 

Interesting note:  C dificile, a nasty intestinal infection people get following extensive antibiotic use, is best treated with a "fecal transplant" from a healthy person.  Don't think about that too much, but the take away message is that normal flora and a healthy diet is the best defense against many of our ills.

I thought I would update the things I am trying and so far no further O.B.s...I started taking Lysine 1000mg per day as well as Vit C 1000mg per day and so far so good. ON the yeast infection part of this discussion I have been plagued by them all my adult life and I usually got them around my periods so I think there is yet another connection between hormones. I am almost finished with a bottle of Candida Cleanse made by Rainbow Light and am now wondering if that too isn't helping. From Feb through May 1 I had 4 outbreaks and now, May 31 I haven't had any more. I also have not had a period so that could also be a correlation. I think I am at least the 3rd RN posting here and my speciality is in Infection Prevention so the bit about C-diff I can vouch for. IF anyone is prescribed antibiotics for ANY reason they should ask and double ask if there is an alternative. Ask the provider if it is possible the illness is caused by a virus and if so DO NOT take antibiotics until proven that the illness/infection is caused by a bacteria that otherwise wouldn't resolve on its own because many of them will. FOr me, I am going to stay on the Lysine, Vit C and Candida Cleanse and see if I have found something that works. I will let you know!!

Would taking a probiotic help lessen the OB's do you think?   It seems since the past year I get an outbreak 1 or 2 times a month.  I am 44 and have had GH since I was 19.   Never have I had so many outbreaks, its very frustrating.   Is there anything anyone of you have found to lessen them?  I have been eating lots of chocolate and "bad food" lately, I was on vacation.. lol... and I am just addicted to chocolate but it never increased outbreaks before, hmmm???   Any suggestions?

thanks!

~L

I got GH-1 a few years ago at 47. UGH. Not supposed to have a lot of obs w/ h1.  The first year and a half had a stressful year and constant ob's. 2 years later and I have not had an ob for a year!  I have read it is related to hormonal swings and I have no swings now; now I have no estrogen (boo hoo) but I did not have any ob's until this past week after I BINGED like a maniac on sweets. I drink lots of coffee in the morning always, I eat dark chocolate. I have (unrefined sugar) choc cookies here and there normally and no ob.   BUT - An entire week of sugar and it was unrefined white processed sugar candy / chocolate did the trick. I got my ob. 

I don't think you have to take estrogen to keep from getting ob's. I think it could be the fluctuation and/or the immune system (sugar lowers immune).

I suppose a chocolate overdose could cause your immune system to lower...have you tried any supplements to increase your immune system so that the occasional binge won't affect you that way?

I continue to take the Vit C 1000mg daily as well as Lysine 1000mg daily and the Candida Cleanse when I remember (it is 30 minutes before meals so it isn't as easy for me to remember). However, since I last posted I have stopped the birthcontrol pills I was on for a few years. I wanted to test myself for menopause and didn't trust that as long as I was taking them my periods would stop normally. Since early June I have only had 2 periods (2 weeks apart) and NO outbreaks!! So, for me, I am convinced that the vit c/lysine combo is helping me and I am going to stick with that for as long as it works!

I went on progesterone (pills) and found it lead to a dramatic increase in outbreaks. My doctor finds that hard to believe though she thought it more likely that menopausal fluctuations in hormones was responsible for the outbreaks. For years I used Lysine to control outbreaks when they threatened to occur, until I read in Christiane Northrup's book that Lysine can cause high cholesterol. As I do now have high cholesterol, I'm reluctant to use Lysine. Anyone know more about his connection? Northrup recommends garlic instead, though I didn't find this helped. I'm now going to try progesterone again for two weeks on and off and see what happens.

Yes let me know what you find out about the progesterone,  and I didnt know that about Lysine,  and I have been taking it but NOPE I still get an OB!!  at 44 years old I am getting them monthly!  HELP!!!

thank you!!!

I certainly agree with N that you just have to do your own research and see what works best for you. I am happy with the lysine and vitamin C combo. I am off all hormones and am not sure if that actually made the difference or not since I was already seeing a decrease. With the last one I used tea tree oil directly on the area and it was so soothing that using it 3 times a day for a couple of days was all I need do. 

I have had mildly elevated cholesterol levels for several years now for which I take no medications and have not seen an increase whatsoever by adding lysine to my daily supplement use so I am not sure if that correlation is true for everyone...goes back to the try it for yourself and see if it works idea!

Good Luck Ladies!!!

tms: I'm kind of amazed to hear from you and others that applying tea tree oil directly is "soothing"! I can imagine it would really burn or sting because tea tree oil is strong, but maybe you are referring to applying it BEFORE an outbreak in order to prevent an outbreak rather than to heal one...

I know!! I thought the same thing too and have a cousin my age in the same predicament and she is the one that suggested it and I said "are you sure???" She told me it was soothing and so I tried it with much trepidation as soon as I could feel the outbreaks coming on and yes...I definitely agreed with her assessment. I don't know if the tea tree oil or the vitamin regimen I am taking is helping to make the outbreaks short lived but they are and I am very satisfied with what I am doing currently. 

It says on the tea tree oil bottle "not to apply to mucous membranes." It actually can be a bit painful, so I guess the idea is that it's best applied to exterior intact skin, probably pre-breakout. I do find that it has a suppressing effect that way.

I'm not buying the idea that the stress and lack of sleep alone during menopause is what's responsible. I can only assume from my own experience in recent months and that of everyone else who has posted here, that the fluctuations in hormones must be doing it. I'm on progesterone pills for half the month now, since I was concerned that they triggered two severe outbreaks when I took them daily for two months. When I stopped taking progesterone entirely, I had one good month, but now that I'm on them half-time it hasn't totally solved the problem and I've had another outbreak. If it does not improve, I may stop taking progesterone entirely for a few months and see if things go back to normal or not. I wonder if too much progesterone can accumulate in your body over a period of weeks and trigger outbreaks??

I'm also taking a Lorna Vanderhage product for fibroids and as with many of these products it's hard to say if it's doing anything or not.

I'm with you.  I'm no more or less stressed (or neurotic. . . ) than before menopause - I actually feel a little more even-keeled, emotionally.  But my outbreaks, when I forget to use my estrogen/progesterone cream, and before I got it, were dramatically different from anything before, in both frequency and severity.  This is not to say we're doomed to stay on hormones; I never gave it a chance to run its course.  I started on the cream for various reasons, which may not work for others, and noticed the outbreaks were better.  I was still, however, in that awkward, fluctuating phase of peri-menopause, so I think it's possible the outbreaks would calm down with stabilization of hormones over time. 

Too bad the university response was so lame ("Irregardless"????!  Who wrote this thing?)  It'd be nice to see some research on activity over the course of menopause, but this would not be profitable research, alas, unless there's an expensive new drug being marketed.  Don't get me started on the healthcare system. . . 

Just read my initial post, and I see that the cream made it worse at that time.  So much for my memory.  Be reassured: I have fewer and milder outbreaks now, with my usual sporadic approach to applying the cream.  Seems like the passage of time helped.

I have been going through a recent OB and wanted to confirm for you that the tea tree oil is indeed the most soothing treatment I have ever used and that it does not burn...

What I did notice is that I had been back-sliding a bit on my Vit C/Lysine/Candida Cleanse regimine a bit and bam I got hit so I am back on that and during the outbreak bumped up the Vit C to twice a day. 

I am soooooo ready to be over having periods as I seem to have OBs associated with them and the yeast infections are too. I know that others on this forum still have OBs after they cease menstruating but still...wouldn't that be just one less annoyance?? I don't know much about lemon balm except for how good it is in tea so at least you can drink it and know it is both good for you and good tasting!

Thanks tms:  Although tea tree oil is a miracle cure for all sorts of things, bear in mind that on the bottle it states do NOT use on mucous membranes, so external use only. I actually found that it can be quite painful if applied to an open wound, so I presume it's better as a preventative measure.

Lemon balm tea is supposed to be a good for the nervous system including Herpes. So I'll be giving that a try too. At this time of life obviously one needs not just one thing be an entire tool kit to survive.

Are you avoiding or limiting coffee, chocolate and nuts? Those things in combination with lack of sleep can be a killer.