I've never noticed any OB

[curiouskaren]

I received my 'big' news on new year,s eve. I rang in the new year crying and stressed. I went to work New Year,s Day and everyone was wishing each other good health. It was so hard to function.

Anyway, thinking back I can't recall ever getting any of the symptoms that I have read about. How do I know if and when I have an OB? Is there something I need to do to prevent one? Should I get treatment? I'm clueless.

[Teacher Man]

Hi Curious -

Well, Happy New Year! That kind of sucks, but it's far from a disaster. Outbreaks can be different for everyone;

in fact, some people may never have one or have ones which are so mild that they go unnoticed. Some people have

glaring, painful outbreaks, while others are very mild. That said, they get better over time and the first one is typically

the worst as you body then develops antibodies to fight the virus.

And in case you haven't figured it out yet, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. This H nonsense is much more common than both

Diabetes and Asthma.

Ok, the first thing I'd do is talk to your doc about your options. My doc gave me the choice of taking antivirals (valtrex,

valacyclovir, etc.) as preventative treatment or to forego them and just see what happens. I chose the former.

And yes, at first the news does suck. I freaked out...felt like hell for a few days. Now, (just a few months later) I

have perspective, and trust me, it gets better. It's not as bad as it initially feels. So...hang in there, one step at a time.

Hope that helps, little lady.

ONE LOVE.

[Dogwatch]

I received my 'big' news on new year,s eve. I rang in the new year crying and stressed. I went to work New Year,s Day and everyone was wishing each other good health.

Having herpes and being healthly are NOT mutually exclusive.

It's a trifling, self-limiting skin virus shared by 25% of the adult population that for the vast majority of people is a minor inconvenience at most. Many never experience any symptoms at all.

Don't buy into all the hype and panic-mongering. You'll be fine. Give it a few weeks and things wil be back in perspective.