Exposed on Easter (4/8/07)... diagnosed on Friday the 13th

[Rose]

Hi, I am Rose and here is my story. My doctor told me she is sure that it is HSV2. I am waiting on my blood tests to come back. It is so hard for me to talk to anyone about my feelings other than my two best girlfriend's and my sister. I was exposed on Easter and four days later I had the physical symtoms. A couple of red rashy looking spots. I just KNEW right then what it was. On Friday the 13th I went to my doctor and she examined me. She knew right then what it was. I have never been so shocked in my life. I just cried for and while and freaked out. She said, "Can I tell you something confidentially?" "I have herpes!" I could not believe my doctor was telling me that she had it too. She told me she found someone that accepted her and she has two beautiful, healthy children. This made me feel so much better. I just hugged her. She told me she is on suppressive therapy and only has one OB per year. She started me on Acyclovir 5/day for 10 days. I do not have health insurance so I cannot afford Valtrex. I am trying to figure out if I should wait and see how my symptoms persist... or just go ahead and start on suppressive therapy. I can afford Acyclovir daily. Any imput would be greatly appreciated. By the way, mentally the first three days were awful. I couldn't stop crying. Today is the forth day and I have not cried at all.

[BoxofRain]

you are so lucky to go to a doctor who actually has this and was willing to disclose this to you...that is usually not the case when being diagnosed...because no one understands and a lot of doctors dismiss it and offer no support because they dont see it as any type of medical threat, even though it is an emotionaly damaging and stigmatized disease. Another plus to having a doctor with it is that she will be informed and truly understand what having herpes means to a person mentally, socially, physchosocially, and above all physically...although it is very different for every individual in terms of symptoms, duration, emotional damage, etc. She will be current on the treatments and most likely the statistics and will be a great help when you have problems. I still await the day to find anyone who has this disease, or for that matter who is actually willing to disclose their status....i feel so alone not having ever known anyone in my whole life who had it or who would ever say they did. Also, just to be able to find one person who has this would do wonders for me, as the only people i know who have it are all on this website and it helps, but it is not like having someone in person to make it a reality. Good luck to you and I am so glad you will have the support of someone who has it, as well as being educated about it. You wouldnt believe the horror stories of doctors, my personal experiences included, about the misinformation, misdiagnosis, out dated information, or crazy ideas about what herpes "does and doesnt look like", about transmission, types of people who get it, etc. so thank your lucky stars youve got someone who knows what they are talking about. Good luck to you in the upcoming weeks and future...wishing you continued support and courage.

[Gnome82]

Diagnosed Today

I went into the Doctor this last Thursday for what I thought was a bacterial infection. The doctor told me to call on Friday for my results .... way to go friday the 13 my results weren't in. I was in so much pain I told her I couldn't wait till Monday. She told me I probably had a yeast infection and would call in my script. When I showed up though she had call in a script for Flagyl (sp) for a bacterial infection. I took it and when I woke up Saturday and saw a red patch with little blisters where my pants had been chaffing I freaked and called the emergancy hotline/ They told me yes sounded like yeast they called in script. Sunday I woke up and couldn't even walk or sit without imense pain. I went to see and different Doctor today and I could tell on her face right away that my suspisions were right I have herpes. I find out for sure in a few days. For now I'm on valtrex and using vasoline to help with the chafing. You are lucky to have such a caring doctor. Mine had no idea what to say she started printing crap off the internet. I'm like I've seen this already I need a friend not a peice of paper. Then I burst into tears and she left the room.

What really bothers me is I was getting my life on track. I have a career I quit "hooking up", I have been regularly attending Church, I was finally looking for love and then this happens.

[Rose]

here is more of my full story!!!

I posted this on another message board!!

I am new here. I was exposed on Easter (4/8/07) and diagnosed on Friday the 13th with HSV2. I was itchy from Monday through Wednesday, which I thought was the normal feeling after not having sex for a long time. Well, Thursday I felt the bumps and Friday I went to my doctor. She looked for two seconds and told me what it was. As soon as I found out, I text messaged the guy that gave it to me. He said he has NO CLUE that he had it and he was getting tested again ASAP. He said his last tests were negative and I told him that they do not test for herpes unless you ask them to. Sure enough, yesterday (4/18) he went to the doctor and his doctor saw a bump that he did not notice. He tested it and gave him some antivirals in case he ever has a OB. He feels like the biggest loser in the world and hopes that I don’t hate him and will still talk to him. It was basically just a drunken one night stand with a friend. (I have never done this before) I told him it was just as much my fault as his and you take that risk when you have sex with someone new. I believe that he did not know since 80% of people have it and don’t even know.

My symptoms included red, rashy raised areas four days after contact. By Friday when I saw the doctor there were a couple small open sores to the right and right of my vaginal opening. She also said she saw a lesion. I had a slight fever 99.6 and felt very tired. After I started the acyclovir the blisters started going through their cycle. More than anything, I was just uncomfortable for a few days. There was not really that much pain, but it did burn when I urinated. I started to drink a lot more water to deal with the burning.

I am waiting on my blood tests to come back as I am getting over my first OB. I pretty much knew what I had before I went in and I was so scared for her to tell me what I already knew. I was crying and freaking out and she told me that was a normal reaction. The was only one thing that made me feel better at that point. She said, "Can I tell you something confidentially? I have herpes!!" I could not believe I was hearing this from my doctor. This just goes to show anyone can have it. She said she got is when she was about 19, but she has a husband that has accepted her for her and they have two beautiful, healthy children.

This is the first day that I have not cried. For the first three days I just sat on the computer and tried to get myself as educated as possible. I am taking l-lysine, women’s daily multi-vitamin, b complex (I am vegetarian), calcium magnesium and zinc, and vitamin c. I still have a lot of questions about treatment though. I will be on Acyclovir 200 mg, 5/day until Monday. I want to start on suppressive therapy Monday. Some people say to wait to see how your OB's are until you start the suppressive therapy. Is it okay for me to just start, I don't want to wait to see if I get them again. If I feel like trying to slow down on meds in the future I will. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Caliope]

in my honest opinion.

I know that some people out there will disagree with me but I am going to encourage you to try the antivirals in the beginning. You are already taking the vitamins I would recommend though you might benefit from probiotics too (there are vegetarian formulas).

My logic is this: When a person is first exposed to herpes your body must begin to create antibodies. This takes a while and although there is no cure for herpes if you have a healthy immune system your natural immunities will work to keep the ob's to a minimum. For the time period that your antibodies are not up to full strength defense I think that the antivirals will help to keep the damage to your nervous system to a minimum by slowing down the process by which the herpes virus replicates and takes up residence in your body.

I have read that this is the preferred way to treat a new infection and it makes sense to me. I also advocate for a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and exercise.

And I am so jealous that you got a dr who can relate to having this.

[Rose]

Caliope

Thanks for your response. I posted this on another message board and someone said that I might not want to start on suppressive therapy yet, especially if I am not in a relationship. They also said.... what if you don't ever have many OB's.... why spend the money? This makes sense to me... but now that I have read your post I want to start them now. I don't care about the money. I can't afford Valtrex at the moment, but I can afford $30 or so a month for Acyclovir. I will definitely have to check in the the probiotics.

From what I have read in the past week, I know that I am very lucky to have an understanding doctor... let alone someone that has it. She almost cried with me. She pretty much cried with no tears. I am going in to talk to her tomorrow about the suppressive therapy. She is on it and gets one OB a year.

Thank you all for your responses. Noboby understands like you guys

[Rose]

you are so lucky to go to a doctor who actually has this and was willing to disclose this to you...that is usually not the case when being diagnosed...because no one understands and a lot of doctors dismiss it and offer no support because they dont see it as any type of medical threat, even though it is an emotionaly damaging and stigmatized disease. Another plus to having a doctor with it is that she will be informed and truly understand what having herpes means to a person mentally, socially, physchosocially, and above all physically...although it is very different for every individual in terms of symptoms, duration, emotional damage, etc. She will be current on the treatments and most likely the statistics and will be a great help when you have problems. I still await the day to find anyone who has this disease, or for that matter who is actually willing to disclose their status....i feel so alone not having ever known anyone in my whole life who had it or who would ever say they did. Also, just to be able to find one person who has this would do wonders for me, as the only people i know who have it are all on this website and it helps, but it is not like having someone in person to make it a reality. Good luck to you and I am so glad you will have the support of someone who has it, as well as being educated about it. You wouldnt believe the horror stories of doctors, my personal experiences included, about the misinformation, misdiagnosis, out dated information, or crazy ideas about what herpes "does and doesnt look like", about transmission, types of people who get it, etc. so thank your lucky stars youve got someone who knows what they are talking about. Good luck to you in the upcoming weeks and future...wishing you continued support and courage.

BoxOfRain:

Thank you so much for your wonderful, wonderful response. I was completely shocked when my doctor told me this. When you don't know much about this disease.... hearing someone say that they have it (especially you doctor) is crazy. I have learned so much in the past week though.... and to hear it now would not surprise me as much.

You will never believe this either. I have only told 3 people besides my doctor. My two best friend's and my younger sister. I called my best friend over over 20 years.... (I am 24 and she is 25) and I said...."I got an STD...!!" She said omg me too and I asked her what and she told me to tell first. I said well it is one you can't get rid of...HERPES!! She said, "Me too!" She was diagnosed one week before me. She has always been way more promiscuous than me and has been with a LOT of guys. I have only been with a few. I am kind of surprised that she didn't get something before now actually. So, I went over to her house that night and just hugged her. She told me not to let it consume me and she doesn't seem even half as worried as I am. She thought she had it when she was 18 so she has already went through the shock, worry and research stage.

[Rose]

I went into the Doctor this last Thursday for what I thought was a bacterial infection. The doctor told me to call on Friday for my results .... way to go friday the 13 my results weren't in. I was in so much pain I told her I couldn't wait till Monday. She told me I probably had a yeast infection and would call in my script. When I showed up though she had call in a script for Flagyl (sp) for a bacterial infection. I took it and when I woke up Saturday and saw a red patch with little blisters where my pants had been chaffing I freaked and called the emergancy hotline/ They told me yes sounded like yeast they called in script. Sunday I woke up and couldn't even walk or sit without imense pain. I went to see and different Doctor today and I could tell on her face right away that my suspisions were right I have herpes. I find out for sure in a few days. For now I'm on valtrex and using vasoline to help with the chafing. You are lucky to have such a caring doctor. Mine had no idea what to say she started printing crap off the internet. I'm like I've seen this already I need a friend not a peice of paper. Then I burst into tears and she left the room.

What really bothers me is I was getting my life on track. I have a career I quit "hooking up", I have been regularly attending Church, I was finally looking for love and then this happens.

Gnome82:

Aww! I am sorry you had a bad experience at your doctor's office. Have you gotten your results back yet? I have not gotten my blood test results back yet and now that I think of it... I don't think that she even did swabs for the culture test. I will have to ask her about that tomorrow.

I agree with what you said about getting you life on track. I was trying to too. I am just trying to finish this semester at school... which ends in less than two weeks. It has been really hard to study though. I haven't even really wanted to leave the house much at all either. I am pretty much over my primary OB and SO thankful. It is like you almost forget that you have it when your OB clears up.

[BoxofRain]

Rose, you are a lucky duck! can you try and mentally send me some or your energy or good luck through the computer to me? lol I wish I knew ANYONE with it but unfortunately I dont. I always thought my childhood friend would be a candidate for getting and std, as she has slept with an insane amount of men and was not very careful most of the time and when she finally did 2 years ago it was only chlamydia.....curable...which is wonderful for he sake, but when i got herpes it kind of made me angry that she had slept with over 50 men, compared to my 4 and I know I shouldnt have felt upset but i just felt like life was so unfair. When I told her I thought she of all people would offer me support and understand...and I thought for sure she must know at least one person with it.....wrong again! She was not supportive at all, and all she said was "well I have problems too, and Ill never meet a man that wants to be my boyfriend" and she also said matter of factly that she didnt know what to tell me because she doesnt know ANYONE with it either....and never has even heard of anyone she knows to have it. Her next response after a minute of silence was only about herself and she said "remember 6 months ago when we all went away and went in the hot tub together....could I have caught it from you?" without any tact or compassion....nothing....I was like WTF. I understand fear and miseducation is what has people so afraid of this but I just couldnt believe her response....a person who had been there for me for anything I needed her support for my whole entire life and here I need her most out of anytime in my life and this is what i got as a response.....my own best friend instantly afraid of me. I wanted to punch her but also felt so hurt i wanted to just burst into tears at the table. Since then she has not talked to me much and we have busy schedules so we werent seeing each other much before but she never even mentioned it to me again, or has ever asked how i am doing with it....NOTHING! so it sucks.... I envy you....to not only have a great doctor (who has it) but also a best friend to go through it together and help you feel like you are not the only one youve ever known to have it. lucky you! Sorry, guess I just needed to vent about this and never realized it

[Gnome82]

My doctor called to give me the results yesterday but I was with coworkers so I couldn't answer. I feel I already know the answer anyway so I can wait till my next appointment on Monday.

I did tell the guy I have been seeing though and he took it fairly well. He said he swears he didn't know and is going to get tested. He thought I was going to tell him I was pregnant so he was relieved yet now he has another fear to contend with. I just hope things won't be weird between us now.

[Malibu]

I actually got my first OB symptoms on friday the 13th, it was the start of a month long process of figuring out what was wrong with me. Seriously, the medical profession worries me. Anyways, you're lucky you had such a wonderful doctor, mine was very supportive, but to talk to someone else who had it would have been amazing.

[starphyse]

Rose, you are a lucky duck! can you try and mentally send me some or your energy or good luck through the computer to me? lol I wish I knew ANYONE with it but unfortunately I dont. I always thought my childhood friend would be a candidate for getting and std, as she has slept with an insane amount of men and was not very careful most of the time and when she finally did 2 years ago it was only chlamydia.....curable...which is wonderful for he sake, but when i got herpes it kind of made me angry that she had slept with over 50 men, compared to my 4 and I know I shouldnt have felt upset but i just felt like life was so unfair. When I told her I thought she of all people would offer me support and understand...and I thought for sure she must know at least one person with it.....wrong again! She was not supportive at all, and all she said was "well I have problems too, and Ill never meet a man that wants to be my boyfriend" and she also said matter of factly that she didnt know what to tell me because she doesnt know ANYONE with it either....and never has even heard of anyone she knows to have it. Her next response after a minute of silence was only about herself and she said "remember 6 months ago when we all went away and went in the hot tub together....could I have caught it from you?" without any tact or compassion....nothing....I was like WTF. I understand fear and miseducation is what has people so afraid of this but I just couldnt believe her response....a person who had been there for me for anything I needed her support for my whole entire life and here I need her most out of anytime in my life and this is what i got as a response.....my own best friend instantly afraid of me. I wanted to punch her but also felt so hurt i wanted to just burst into tears at the table. Since then she has not talked to me much and we have busy schedules so we werent seeing each other much before but she never even mentioned it to me again, or has ever asked how i am doing with it....NOTHING! so it sucks.... I envy you....to not only have a great doctor (who has it) but also a best friend to go through it together and help you feel like you are not the only one youve ever known to have it. lucky you! Sorry, guess I just needed to vent about this and never realized it

Always remember these few things in life.. Any true friend will support you no matter what.. You have to believe in yourself more then anything cause its your life and only your life your in control of and finally outbreaks being managed herpes is as common as the cold almost almost everyone has it in some form or another without even realizing it. 80% of the popluation has it says medical studys in one form or another. Another thing is beating down on yourself is only gonna cause outbreaks not prevent them. Besides you have wonderful support here filled with hugs and kisses so no need to envy or worry just love yourself and know that others care as well.