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Just diagnosed, looking for help


Pollyanne

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Hi everyone! I was just diagnosed yesterday with GH. I am in incredible pain presently, both emotionally and physically. So any encouragement would be greatly appreciated.  I am trying to stay strong and think there will be brighter days ahead, but I still have break downs every few hours. Do I tell my parents? What will the future be like? Will this effect my future careers? Can I keep running and exercising? I have so many questions. 

Also, I am currently out of the country with limited access to proper health care. Once I am back, I was going to start taking Valtrex daily. Can anyone comment on their experience with this? Other alternatives? Suggestions?  Thank you 

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Oh no that's terrible. Things will look up soon I'm sure as it does with herpes.

Did you get a positive swab? Note that you partner within the week leading into symptoms is your giver and will have the type you have been infected with.

This need not have any impact whatsoever on any aspect of your life. As to whether yuo need antivirals, well a lot depends on the type, your outbreak frequency and desired repression for partners.

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I did not get a swab yet. I am in another country. I did go to the doctor and he looked at it and said it is herpes, but no tests were done. My partner has never had an outbreak before so I guess he was a dormant carrier? I have no clue how that works.....

Thank you for your kind words. Trying to stay positive about the future   

 

 

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What country are you in?

A doctor will have enough trouble identifying herpes and can never tell type.

What symptoms are you having? 

Does your partner get oral cold sores perhaps?

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I am in Nicaragua. 

It started out as a terrible fever, and then what I thought was a UTI. Then like three days later I noticed two ulcer-like spots, and have gotten like four more of them. I would love to think it is something else but the only thing I could find online similar is chancroid. 

My partner said he has never felt or had anything, but obviously feels terrible. He had actually gone and had a test done last week but they didn't test for this.  

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I actually just got ahold of the clinic I went to and just got my results back. You can't tell what type it is just by staring at it, but I would just wait until you get back and can get it properly swabbed, or a blood test. Only downfall is it can heal on its own and they can't always get good results unless it's a fresh sore. Herpes can be tricky like that. Also, your partner doesn't have to have any symptoms to be a carrier of GH. A lot of people can go their whole lives without symptoms and will never know. I had all the symptoms you had before I found out I had type 1. Everyone's outbreaks are different. Mine only lasted a week, while you are waiting to get on the medicine you can try tree oil for the ulcers supposedly helps. Take a lot of Aleve and drink lots of water. After a shower you can blow dry it which drys them out. 

As for how your future will be, it'll be however you want it to be. I actually have been taking this really well. Herpes doesn't define you. You still are you. You can still run and workout and be any person you want to be. You don't need to tell your parents if you don't want too. I told my mom because she's my biggest support system and has been nothing but helpful with trying to make me feel better. Having someone you can confide into is really helpful. It's crazy how people with cold sores walk around with type 1 herpes but it's acceptable because it is on their face. 

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