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So confused?


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Well, I just found out two weeks ago that I have hsv 2 while going in to get a pap smear and my doctor wasn't much help. He basically said here's the meds(famciclovir 500 for 7 days) and search online for your answers. I had questions but he ran out the door!!! Idk how long I've had the virus but it showed up at a time when I hadn't had sex for months (since like Feb) and my immune system crashed due to my other recent findings of anemia and cholesterol. In September, I noticed my first blister because I felt something itchy and mildly painful for days towards the back of my vagina on the outside until I decided to look. Within some days, it disappeared, so I thought it was just a rash and paid no mind. I had been seeing a guy since around August and he was leaving out of town for a month(October) and we had sex before he left(with condom). 2 weeks after that was when my pap smear was scheduled, the blister was back and my doctor noticed it and tested me. It turned out to be positive and my jaw was floored. I went for the pills and had to leave out of town for the weekend the next morning(Saturday).... Sunday night I noticed another blister towards the top of my vagina by "the hood" and tiny ones along the sides of my inner labia. Idk if that might have been autoinoculation or spreading by having sex? I keep reading about other peoples outbreaks, bursting ulcers with pus and pain but I have nothing close to ulcers, I have little blisters that are barely there. They didn't go away with the meds but most of the itching did stop. I read online that most people start taking lysine and vitamin C and get positive results so I went out and bought pills. The lysine and famciclovir weren't much help until I bought the vitamin C pills and I think the blisters are looking a little more faint after taking vitamin C for 2 days (I'm taking like 5000mg a day) which I'm happy about. I've seen everywhere that your first outbreak is the most painful and worst so idk if my little blisters would be considered my first outbreak? Or should I expect a full blown outbreak with ulcers in the future??? I've also been having unusual pain around my right ovary which has never happened before so idk what that means, maybe blisters inside??? I'm also not sure if my sore throat has anything to do witht the virus because it feels swollen?? Oh and I keep getting yeast infection after yeast infection and idk if that has to do with the virus? I am lucky to have a good team of close friends and family that have been helping me cope with all my emotions but I still need people who can relate to me and help me with questions that idk about. I'm just trying to keep calm.....trying is the key word. I keep seeing everywhere that hiv could infect people with hsv faster and freaked out about that so I went for a test and felt relief when it came back negative. I was a bit paranoid for a minute there and felt kind of stupid for freaking out.

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Ok, well there is no one size fits all w herpes. The classic symptoms, are almost worst case scenario of all symptoms. Even my primary OB, I didn't have blisters. I just had bumps and fissures that ulcerated and I never had crusty scabs on them either. Outside of my primary, I only get red bumps now. I don't get ulcers or fissures. Everyone's immune system is as unique as their thumb prints, which is why there is no one size fits all w H. No one presents exactly the same and most are not severe cases and are asymptomatic for the most part. .

 

You can't assume you've had it for awhile unless you took a blood test along w the swab and your blood test come back positive, which would mean you had it for four months or more. A new infection will not show for 3-4 months after exposure in the blood. Also, time for you to find a new doctor. He's a jerk.

 

I have friends who only had 3 sores for their primary. I have another friend who only had bumps and was just irritated, not painful. You can't put herpes into a one size fits all box, everyone is different.

 

You wouldnt get blisters on your ovary and it may just be a coincidence that you're feeling that, but yes, people can feel lower abdominal pain during an OB, especially the primary.

 

Often H is mistaken for yeast infections; start journaling your symptoms, location, frequency and triggers so you can learn your body. That's what I had to do. Also start taking a daily probiotic. I have always been sensitive to yeast infections, but everything I thought was a yeast infection my first year w H wasn't. It was the herpes itch. You'll notice a pattern w it too. During your symptoms and itching, take daily Epsom salt baths to help clear things up. Bactine helps a lot of and comes in soray, so you can take it w you and use it in a stall in a bathroom.

 

If you feel like you're getting sick all during the time of experiencing blisters for the first time, it sounds like your primary OB.. Not everyone will have a horrific primary OB. Had I not gotten neuropathy w mine, mine not been that bad either, despite how many sores I had.. It was uncomfortable, but not painful... The neuropathy that followed a week after my first symptoms showed, is what was hell for me.

 

Just relax and take a deep breath.. Everything will be alright. You will be OK and it sounds like your body is doing a pretty good job of handling it. Let me know if you have any other questions. Hugs!

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Thank you!!!! @2legit2quit I did get a blood test and that's what came back positive :( So if my outbreak this time is just tiny blisters, I'll probably keep getting just that and it won't become lesions?? Also, about the autoinoculation, should I count the months as of now that I had the outbreak and stay away from touching it to avoid spreading it??? How many months are the usual time to stay away from touching the blisters to avoid them spreading further??? I read that HSV 2 will stay on your genitals and won't go to your face, I'm guessing that is in the case of oral sex? How true is that? My doctor was pretty douchey, knowledgable, but douchey. I'll look into another one! So then this would be the first outbreak, I've been feeling super sleepy and tired and generally like crap. I would get super itchy behind my thighs and butt for the first week, it was driving me nuts but it went away. I started using hydrogen peroxide to clean the area but I'll look into finding bactine :) About the yeast infections, they do keep coming back since I start noticing the white discharge and that's probably more annoying than the H itself. Do you get discharge from H too??? I'm just trying to adjust to everything and accept that it is what it is. :/

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Since you already came up positive in blood, you have antibodies and you don't need to worry about spreading it. It will breakout anywhere in the anogenital region and you can control that there is no telling how it will be for you. It's been consistently quiet for people for 20yrs or more and then comes out. W time it's supposed to get better, but you have to learn to accept and be OK w the fact that you can't predict herpes. You need to focus on learning how to be OK w the unpredictability and know you can keep living a normal life.

 

Obviously it's not a good idea to rub sores and then touch other places or anywhere for that matter, w out washing your hands. HSV 2 orally is rare and is only reported in line 1-2% of oral herpes cases, so don't worry about that, but obviously you need to abstain from sex during symptoms.

 

I too got very tired during my primary OB and get itchy behind my thighs and buttock. How long have you been w this guy? Have you told him?

 

The only time I had discharge from H was during my spring and it was yellow. You need a daily probiotic if you're getting yeast infections that much. Also, are you using latex condoms? I found I got a lot if them when using latex.

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@2legit2quit well, he's out of town and hasnt gotten back to me but I'm planning to tell him as soon as he is back. I'm nervous because I now know I had it before sleeping with him so I'm scared he might have caught it from me :( I started seeing him like in August but I didn't sleep with him until October. I know I didn't get it from him, I'm pretty sure it was my ex but he will never admit anything, he's the king of denial.

 

Yes, the condoms I use are latex. I didn't know they could cause yeast infections, I'll have to keep tabs on that now.

 

Another question, since famciclovir didn't clear it in the 7 days I took it and now two weeks later I still have the blisters faintly there but no more itching, should I take another set of famciclovir for 7 days or is it a better idea to tell my doctor and switch to something else???

 

You've been a lot of help!!! Thanks times a million

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Oh yes! Many women are allergic to latex or have sensitivities! I had nonstop yeast and bv infections. The constant inflammation caused a nonstop itch in a specific spot that has never gone away, now 12yrs later. None of my docs thought to ask me of I was using condoms, cause I was married at the time. Sure enough when that marriage ended and no more sex, I stopped having infections. Now my nerves in one spot misfire from that all those years ago. I use nonlatex Condoms and don't have issues w it. Also make sure you're using lube.

 

Your primary OB. I have found meds only help so much. They're best when you start them when you feel symptoms. Continue taking them and I suggest daily suppressive therapy, especially if you want to protect your bf. What were the values in your blood test BTW?

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@2legit2quit omg I can imagine the endless frustration. I haven't had many yeast infections before these couple of months and it's so annoying!!! At least you got the hang of it now. Better late than never. How long have you had herpes?

 

Well, that question goes back to my doctor being rushed out the room. He only said I was positive and idk what the values are or what I had in my blood test results. What is that supposed to tell me?

 

I'll go get a refill for another 7 days to see if that helps clear it completely. I'm going to look into suppressive therapy....first I want to see how many outbreaks I get and how far apart they are without it. I'm still taking lysine and vitamin C and that I'll continue daily for now. I know my immune system sucks and I'll need to really keep up with it from now on.

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I've had H for a year and 4 months. I was just curious of your values. If they were borderline positive or what? Well I didn't recommend the meds for you, but rather to protect your bf. It will also make it easier for disclosure to him and to show him how low his risks are w the meds. It's ultimately up to you and him. If he's OK w no meds, then so be it.

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