Oh, Hil, any chance you could make "NON-craxy officemate" a condition of your next gig?

Oh, Hil, any chance you could make "NON-craxy officemate" a condition of your next gig?

I was just thinking to myself, "Did she take the craxy officemate with her?"

Oh my god, I'm so frustrated. (Not the printer issue this time.)

I saw the OB/GYN on Monday, and she took samples to send for lab tests. I still hadn't heard by today, so I called, and they had some of the results, but not all, because one of the tests takes a longer time to culture, so they weren't going to call until they had them all. Well, whatever, that's annoying, but since I called they gave me the results that were already in.

The HSV culture was negative, which the doctor told me had a strong chance of happening, since I had been having symptoms for probably 2 weeks before I saw her, which means that there might not have been enough virus to culture.

So the HSV diagnosis was based on the physical exam, and I believe her, but my symptoms aren't really any better yet even though I started Valtrex Monday night, so now I'm second-guessing her diagnosis, and wondering what in the hell is this [TMI for ladyparts] painful sore on my ladyparts that won't get better.

I don't know when I should be noticing any improvement now that I'm taking Valtrex, and now that the HSV culture is negative, don't know if I should keep taking it at all.

On Monday when I saw the doctor, and she told me the culture could very likely come back negative, she told me to keep taking the Valtrex even if the culture was negative. And I'm fine with that; I'll keep taking it, but -- I just want to feel better because it's really painful. And a positive HSV culture would have made me confident that this is the right treatment.

And I'm having a really hard time dealing with the diagnosis (assuming it's correct) anyway. I didn't expect it, and it's a big thing to wrap my brain around because it's NEVER going to go away. I have it forever. For goddamn EVER.

This is a really shitty week. And I can't stop crying and don't know what to do. No; I don't know what I *can* do.

Oh, balls. I called the OB/GYN just now to actually ask how long before I should notice improvement with Valtrex (I realized that would be the most efficient way to get information, instead of sitting on the couch and crying), and they're already closed for the weekend. Really? At 3:20 on a Friday?

Well, then, I guess I'll see how the next couple of days go. Woo goddamn hoo.

they're already closed for the weekend. Really? At 3:20 on a Friday?

Is there a service you can leave a message with?

Steph, I found this if it helps

Since its your first outbreak, its very difficult to tell how long it will last. Some people have very very bad first outbreaks that last two or three weeks. Other people get milder ones that only last a few days. Either way, the antivirals will help shorten the length. Either way, if you don't see any improvement in about two weeks - go back to your doctor.

Please know that, for most people, the first outbreak is the worst. It is rare for an outbreak to be as bad, or last as long, as the very first one. So no matter what happens, don't feel like its going to be like this forever. Your symptoms will get less severe, and your emotional pain will subside. It's hard to believe that, but its true.

Ugh, Steph. Sending you much empathy.

Tep, maybe a pharmacist would be able to provide some guidance on timing?

{{{Teppy}}} That sucks.

Oh Steph, how sucky. Both the discomfort and the not knowing.

A friend once told me that her first outbreak was amazingly awful but that the few others she had over the years were extremely mild. She had to be vigilant when she bore her two kids, but there were not problems with either delivery.

She had the virus before she met her husband. He told me, years later that he saw his children in her eyes the first time they met. She was super upfront with him about the dangers and precautions. His response was that he wanted to know when she had her next outbreak so that they could 'get it over and done with.'

They've been married for 23 years.