SPATX919

There's no easy answer @Mandyr - I'm sorry. Everyone's body reacts differently to the virus. My first OB hung around for a while. It would be getting better and then start up all over again. My doctor prescribed antivirals and a lidocaine jelly to topical treatment. Personally I found holistic topical treatments to work better on the symptoms. Coconut oil, tea tree oil - I keep reading good things about lemon balm oil as well. I also took OTC pain killers like Advil and Tylenol. The best thing you can do right now is give your body what it needs to get stronger. Rest, fluids, a diet high in nutrition. Fresh veggies, lean protein (if you eat meat) - try to avoid processed foods, sugar, alcohol. Also try to keep the area cool and dry. Loose-fitting clothes, go commando if you can stand it - otherwise, comfy cotton undies. Try not to stress too much about it, but I know that's much easier said than done. Personally, my first OB finally started taking a turn for the better when I released some of the emotional burden I was carrying to confiding in a trusted friend about it. There is good news, though. This is likely to be your worst and longest OB. Any recurrences are likely to be shorter and less severe. Start doing some internet research looking for common prodromal symptoms - they can help you detect when a recurrence is about to happen. Keep track to help you determine your triggers. Stress, diet, hormonal changes, sex are all common triggers.

Everyone's body reacts differently. And your recurring outbreaks will not be like your first. Remember the first one hits you hardest because your body hasn't developed its defenses. I'm still rather new to this, just had my diagnosis and initial outbreak in mid-April. I looked up common prodromal symptoms and stay on the lookout. This is from the CDC website: "Recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes are common, and many patients who recognize recurrences have prodromal symptoms, either localized genital pain, or tingling or shooting pains in the legs, hips or buttocks, which occur hours to days before the eruption of herpetic lesions" - personally I feel a soreness in the back of my legs and butt and I can almost track it moving from deep within the muscle tissue until it feels like it's just beneath the surface. And the skin in my genital area burns like there's a rash before there is any skin discoloration or lesions. Some people also develop swelling or pain in the lymph nodes in the hip/groin region. That makes sense if your body is preparing to fight something off. For the first year or two, I plan try to track my trigger(s) as well as early symptoms to try and get a handle on it. Some suggest keeping a diary of sorts to track what you're eating, where your stress level is, hormonal changes like having your period and even sexual encounters. Do what you can to build up your immune strength. Healthy diet, hydrate, regular exercise and rest are key.

Did you experience similar fatigue during your first OB? If so, were you on Valtrex then too? I've read that it can be a side effect and thought I was experiencing it but when I stopped taking the meds, I was still so tired all the time. Went to bed before the sun went down a few times. It seems to have leveled out as my body adjusts, though.

Was this your first OB? I experienced similar fatigue but it continued even when I stopped taking the medication. I've only had one OB since then and no fatigue - even with the meds. I just figured it was either from my body fighting a new virus or some depression about my circumstances.

Thank you for your post @katy because your symptoms sound remarkably similar to mine. I found out through a not-so-random blood test (his ex found me and warned me to get tested) - started feeling the prodromal symptoms (malaise, achy feeling) the day I went for the test and the burning irritated feeling started the next day when I got my results. My first OB lasted about 6 weeks - my skin was red and burned - I could see elevated patches - when I saw what looked like blisters, they would be gone within a day. I was taking Valtrex at the time but it wasn't doing much for me. I was also watching my diet, taking Lysine and vitamin D - topical treatments helped some. First coconut oil, then coconut oil with a couple drops of tea tree oil - finally just tea tree oil diluted in water did the trick to take away the redness. I have since had another OB with the same burning red skin, no blisters. Some prodromal symptoms like nerve pain in my boxer short area (I get it right where my legs and butt meet) but no malaise or flu-like symptoms the second time around. I started on the tea tree oil almost immediately for the second OB and it helped tremendously. I went to see my doctor after getting my initial results. She said that I would either be asymptomatic (since I wasn't sure I was having an OB at the time) or my OBs could be so mild that I didn't realize what they were. That it could be a mild strain of the virus. It has also been relatively mild on the man who transmitted it to me. As best I can tell, stress is a trigger for me. Finding out I was at risk and then HSV2 positive can be very stressful, it seems. Who knew? The virus had been transmitted to me anyway from 2-6 months prior to my test and any symptoms I had were so mild I didn't even notice.

@Animus1 there are dating sites specifically for positive singles - and check for any meetup groups in your area. I found one in mine that is a private group - meetup.com even suggested setting up a separate profile for the H group I haven't personally used either because it's still very new to me and I'm just not ready to start seeing anyone yet. It's an option I've considered when I'm ready.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation @Swellcoffee because it's been a fear of my own. I haven't told my very best friend for a myriad of reasons but predominantly because I don't know that he can be discreet about it and I've heard him say some pretty judgmental things about other people with STDs. And now it sounds like you feel trapped in a friendship with Jane just like you felt trapped in a toxic relationship with your ex boyfriend. If you feel like Jane is a gossip and told everyone about you, I'd be weary to trust her with personal information again. Consider it a lesson learned and move on. You don't necessarily have to break up with her, but you can pull back. At this point, if the rumor is out there about you it's out there and there's no way you can undo it. Don't torture yourself over what you shouldn't have done. I'd suggest you arm yourself with information and statistics so you can advocate on your behalf if/when it comes up in conversation again. Being in the medical field will help with that. You can say you've been researching it for class. If someone flat-out asks you, own it with pride. Don't let the rumor mill overpower you.

It may take her a while to see it if you're not FB friends. That's what happened with me. She sent on a Tuesday but I didn't see until Saturday when I just happened to be looking at Message Requests. It does sound pretty obvious who transmitted it with your positive swab, negative IgG. It gets better faster than you might think. It hasn't quite been two months since I got my results and I'm learning to accept it. The emotional toll was worse than the physical. My big turning point was when I confided in a trusted friend about it.

I went through three 3-day rounds of Valtrex during my first OB. Never had a lot of sores but my skin was red and burned like hell for about 6 weeks. The prodrome symptoms would come and go as well. They eventually died down and tea tree oil did wonders for the skin irritation. Your body is just developing its natural defenses to the virus. Just be kind to it and yourself while it does. Eat a healthy diet, get plenty of fluids and rest.

@Crookshanks1217 I hate to suggest this but do you have any way of contacting the ex? She may already know. She may already have it. My giver rejected me in a similar fashion (unfriended on FB, blocked on phone) before I even got tested because he and his ex were trying again. She found me on FB because she suspected he was lying about having sex with me (which he was) and warned me to get tested because he'd disclosed. He reacted a little better than yours when I got my results, though. Sorry you had to deal with that. In other news, I've found tea tree oil to be a very effective topical treatment. I was mixing with coconut oil at first but now I just put a couple drops on a wet cotton square.

Independent woman complex, maybe? My expenses haven't been that much. My health insurance has covered the bulk of it.

Good point, @JeffH - mine did admit after some pressing. He actually stood up and took responsibility. Offered to cover my medical expenses and go to therapy. I haven't taken him up on either. We actually had a conversation forgiveness (not just for HSV but in general) recently which is what prompted this discussion.

Just curious to hear from others. If you know the person who gave you HSV, have you forgiven them? Did they disclose beforehand? Did they know even know their status? If you have forgiven them, how long did it take? I'll start. I do know. He did not disclose but did know his status. I have forgiven him. It didn't take long but it wasn't easy. I had to let go of the contempt I was holding for my own sake.

Are you experiencing any other symptoms of an infection? Pain, fever, etc. Or have you been taking extra vitamins? Could you be a little more dehydrated than normal? Both could affect the odor and color of your urine.

@littlelibra I think it depends on the location of your lesions. If they are internal or you are likely to make contact with the lesions when inserting, it's probably best to stick with pads. Just to avoid spreading it.

@Eleni_Nicole, what's your emotional state like these days? Could that be contributing to the loss of appetite? I only ask because I was pretty depressed finding out my status and the circumstances around getting it. I've experienced a loss of appetite from depression before so I was pretty conscious of making myself eat. Your body needs fuel, especially now.

@Eleni_Nicole it's different for everyone. The first OB is typically the worst and longest because your body hasn't developed its natural defenses to the virus yet. It sounds like this one is going to be pretty awful for you and I'm sorry for that. It wouldn't hurt to let your doctor know you're not seeing results from the antivirals. She may prescribe a different one for you or adjust your dosage. It may also benefit you to try a topical treatment as well. Tea Tree Oil has done wonders for me. Just make sure you dillute it with either water or a carrier oil (like coconut oil - virgin, unrefined) - I put a couple drops on a wet cotton square and gently apply to the affected area, you'll feel a cooling sensation almost immediately. You may start experiencing other symptoms that don't feel like they should be related. Personally, I had an overall sick feeling and a dull headache for at least a couple of weeks. And odd pains in my "boxer short area" - feels like muscle soreness some days, others it feels like a burning sensation just beneath the surface of the skin. The virus moves up and down your nerves so that is normal. I'm so sorry you're going through this! You're going to find this forum very helpful. Lots of information and perspective.

@MB28 how may OBs have you had? From everything I've read online, those flu-like symptoms usually only arise in your first. I've only had one and yeah, it really sucked feeling a little bit sick and tired all the time - but my actual skin irritation was relatively mild. I don't anticipate future OBs to be all that bad, if I have any more at all. So now you have to limit sexual encounters to men you can trust. You have to take care of your body and manage your stress levels. That's not so unreasonable. This isn't a death sentence, it's an opportunity to grow from a traumatic experience. To give you a little perspective, I found out 7 weeks ago that I'm HSV2 positive. The man who gave it to me knew and didn't bother to disclose because "it's a difficult conversation to have." He had rejected me to reconcile with his ex (which he'd been actively doing the entire time we were sleeping together) before I was even tested. I felt worthless and all alone. I cried myself to sleep many times. I didn't know how to face my loved ones and couldn't stand for anyone to look at me. But it's getting better day by day. It's no longer the first and last thing on my mind every day. And it's only been 7 weeks. I know it feels like a punch in the gut now, but it will get better. You just have to woman up and deal with it. You'd be surprised what you're capable of when you have no other option.

I've heard IgM tests are notoriously inaccurate. Some say it can indicate a recent infection because the IgM antibodies develop before IgG. If your IgG was negative and you've had no outbreaks, I'd test again in a few weeks just for peace of mind. IgG antibodies can take up to 16 weeks to develop enough to be detected.

@Homewardxxbound has your boyfriend been tested? Is he willing to get tested? If he's brushing it off and not willing to get tested, I wonder if he already knew. I think it's worth a conversation with him about it. I've also read about antivirals leaving your more susceptible to superbugs and I experienced some of the side effects from mine. Abdominal cramping, mostly. Other symptoms could be attributed to my body fighting the virus. So I can understand your hesitation. If your boyfriend is positive, you are both asymptomatic and monogamous, there's probably no need for the pills. Keep them in the event of an OB but it's not like you need to worry about giving him something he already has.

He's not going to fully understand unless he is diagnosed as well. Be honest with him about how you feel. He might be able to help, you never know. Every time a man looks at me my internal voice says, "You don't want me, I'm damaged goods." - so maybe your boyfriend can help you understand that you are not damaged and he still finds you attractive. If you're not ready, he should respect that. If he doesn't, then maybe he's not worth your affection. If you're going to engage in a sexual relationship you should probably be taking antivirals daily to reduce the risk of shedding. Knowing that should help ease some of that burden you're carrying.

From what I read online, the incubation period is two weeks before it should show up on a test. But many people (women especially) are asymptomatic for extended periods. A test is the only way to know for sure. To me it seems unlikely but anything is possible. Painful/difficult urination is also a symptom of HSV. My first OB started in April and I'm still experiencing a variety of symptoms as my immune system adjusts.

Dealing with it alone was worse for me than anything else. I told a trusted friend who has been with me through a lot. He told me the same thing I'd been thinking to myself. This is just my next obstacle to overcome. Struggle builds strength.

These are cold sores. According to the World Health Organization, 67% of the global population under 50 has HSV-1. You're maximizing the situation and, in doing so, feeding the stigma that makes people hesitant to disclose in the first place. Be a part of the solution, not the problem. Arm yourself with facts about the virus and how/when it can be spread. Then, when you feel the need to disclose, you have more information to provide to your potential partner.

Well, you're not alone. My story is remarkably similar but this isn't a contest. Out of curiosity, did you have unprotected sex? I did but my giver was taking medication. We had a lot of unprotected sex on multiple occasions but I don't think I contracted the virus until the night I didn't wait long enough after a wax. My suggestion is to look for an upside to this whole situation. It won't be easy, I know. if you can find something good about it and focus on that, the sadness seems less significant. For me, personally, I've been given another reason to say physically healthy through diet and exercise. And I now have to be more selective about my sexual partners (not that I wasn't before) and look for men who truly see my worth.