Doctor's advice and treatment seems wrong

[purpleherple]

I was just diagnosed with HSV2 just over two months ago and I am still struggling with this and trying to make the best of it. I've read the Good News About the Bad News and I have been reading numerous articles and forum posts on the subject. I feel that I have started to get a grasp on the situation and what I may be in store for. I'm not completely over feeling the negative aspects of this but I don't feel like I'm in a pit of despair anymore and want to begin to feel better.

 

I have been single for almost a year and I feel prepared to possibly give dating a shot again. In preparation for this and knowing often the asymptomatic shedding occurs, I made an appointment with my doctor to get a prescription for an anti-viral.

 

I was a bit surprised to have my doctor tell me that he was basically just going to prescribe the medication for outbreak management. I have only had two outbreaks in the last three years (from what I know now I was misdiagnosed years ago when I had an initial outbreak and by a dermatologist of all people!) and he used having 6 outbreaks a year as a baseline of whether or not I would need daily suppressive therapy. I pressed him on this further with my concern of transmission to another person as my outbreaks are few and far between and are very mild (at least I can be thankful for that). I was told that as long as I'm using condoms and abstaining when I have outbreaks that I wont transmit it.

 

I didn't feel like arguing with him and I sort of don't feel like I should argue with an experienced medical professional, but I thought this was how the medical community used to handle this (maybe around the 80's and 90's) until they better understood how often shedding occurred. From just about everything I've read that just doesn't seem true and condoms only protect the area they cover leaving everything else vulnerable to transmission. I know even with condoms and medication it is still possible, but the risk is greatly reduced. Does the advice I was given seem out of touch?

 

The only other conclusion I can try to grasp is that because I have such infrequent outbreaks I don't shed as much or there is less of a risk? I have yet to read anything that would back that up.

 

If it does seem off I don't feel like I can tell my doctor to prescribe me more for daily suppressant or that I disagree with his medical advice. Do I go to different doctor and try to explain this or a family planning center? It's such a pain to establish with another doctor and I feel like a dick telling him I think he's not giving me the best info.

 

I was really hoping to feel less burdened by this disease today, but this took the wind out of my sails. I just don't feel that I would be giving a potential future partner the best scenario to prevent infection and makes me feel less confident in putting myself back out there.

[Katidid]

Hi...I'm hvs2 positive as well. I only had 5 to 6 ob's a year at most. You can always go to another Dr and tell them you have at least 6 per year so they will prescribe. I've had this 30 plus yrs and my husband is H- (we've been together 21). I started anti viral in March to take ob's to zero and so far no ob's at all. My husband chose to always wear a condom for intercorse....we use nothing for oral and actually do that way more often since he is stg 4 cancer, on tons of meds and...well, things down there aren't working any more. Nonetheless, you can have a great life with H. It hasn't been a big deal for me at all, but is worse for others. When it comes time for disclosure.....don't make it out to be a big deal otherwise the "other" person will perceive it as one. Best of luck and education is key. You will be better informed right here than from most Dr's.

[optimist]

@purpleherple Most doctors are focused on managing symptoms, not preventing transmission. And as you suggested, some are not current in their knowledge of viral shedding between outbreaks. I asked for antivirals for the same reason (minimize transmission risk as much as possible, reassure prospective partners) and was told antivirals were not needed in my case. I then saw another medical professional in the same practice who was willing to prescribe antivirals, though he also felt they were not necessary. During our conversation, a nurse in the room also asserted I did not need to take antivirals. So if you want antivirals, you may just have to keep trying until you find someone who understands why you want them and is willing to prescribe.

 

Also, regarding dating, I returned to dating several months ago after processing a diagnosis of HSV2. It was intimidating at first but then reassuring. If you ever want/need to chat on the topic, you're welcome to message me.

[purpleherple]

Do you think going to a family planning center would be better or they would understand where I'm coming from and suggest daily therapy? It seems like they deal with sti's more directly and could be more knowledgeable.

[optimist]

@purpleherple It's worth a try. All three medical professionals I mentioned above were in my gynecologist's office, so you just never know.