the initial outbreak was painful and tookseveral weeks to clear up even after taking a course of
Famvir. Even though I had a lingering discomfort
in the affected area I was otherwise symptom free for about 8 months. After that I got outbreaks about 5-6 times a year that were treated with Famvir. I then received the Shingles vaccine which was followed within a month by an outbreak that was light. That was followed by 8 months of nothing except the lingering discomfort in the area.