herpes simplex, suppression
"I have had herpes simplex for at least 40 years.  I also have genital herpes.  I used to get terrible cold sores on my lips and face that made me sick, really sick.  I have also gotten sores on my arms and back as well as the genital area.  I started taking Valtrex about 10 years ago.  I now take valcyclovir which is much less expensive.  For about the past 8 years, I have been on suppression therapy, 500 mg daily, and I haven't had one outbreak at all, neither on my lips or in the genital area.  Before going on suppression therapy, I used to get outbreaks every once in a while.  I would never know when it was going to happen and sometimes the outbreaks were so bad I became physically sick.   I'm so glad those days are gone."