I had them about a month ago. It was horrible pain. All around my waistline on my right side. I went to my doctor and he gave me a prescription for Valtrex 1g, I took three a day for about a week and by day 3 or 4 the pain was gone and it was healing nicely. Everyone I have ever talked to that had them said it took weeks and weeks but with the new medications out now for antiherpetic it is very easily taken care of.