diagnosed today, some general questions my doctor couldnt answer

[amoth]

hello, new to the forums
I have a few different questions

but first a quick run down of my case:
I am infected orally(as far as i can tell not genitally) I have never experienced any syptoms before, about five days before the doctor visit I felt a slight pain in my mustache, I assumed it was an ingrown hair(felt similar) after a day or two had past it became apparent to me that it was herpes(self diagnosed). I dont have insurance so instead of going to the doctor i purchased abreeva (and lysine, I take 2 500mg tablets a day)and began to self medicate. After two days my lip started swelling, I discontinued use of abreeva and met with a doctor the next afternoon. she asked me some basic questions, I told her that I was fairly certain it was herpes. she prescribed me valtrex(generic)

1. My doctor prescribed me 4 1 mg tablets of valtrex and advised me to take 2 in the evening and 2 in the morning, but from everything I have read it seems that this drug usually taken throughout the episode. Is this a possible script error? or is this a common amount for an initial breakout?

2. should I pursue further testing (blood testing) to make certain that this is herpes, and to find out what strain of the disease I have? how much will that information help me in the long run

3.I started treatment within 32hours of the initial signs with abreeva, but waited nearly a week before going to the doctor and starting with the valtrex. is there a general estimate for length time for an intitial outbreak to last or at least the swelling to subside? Did I waist my money starting valtrex so late in the process?

4. the sores are bad but the most unsightly part is the swelling are there any recommendations to bring the swelling down


thank you for your time
I am a poor writer, if you have any problems understanding my questions please let me know

[amoth]

just did some more reading and it seems like im probably jumping to coclusions on the eye herpes issue.

I want to thank you again for all of your help and putting up with all of my questions

[amoth]

Thankyou for your answers, Ill keep it in this post.

I am begining to worry that it has spread to my eyes they are burning, watery and sensitive to light. my eyes get teary and if tears run the part of my eye closer to my nose begins to sting

my doctors office is closed until monday and I dont really have the money for another visit.
are there any at home treatments I can do, or any ways to be sure that this is eye herpes.
there arent any visible lesions yet.

[gracefromHHP]

If I have symptomatic oral herpes could kissing a person who has asymptomatic herpes cause them to get cold sores?

-no it will not.

if i have no visible symptoms is it safe to assume that I can kiss someone who does not have herpes without infecting them?

- you are not contagious 24/7/365 but you can transmit the virus even without obvious cold sores present. http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm   is a terrific link for more reading if you haven't read this already :)

[gracefromHHP]

1 out of every 3 people in what I'm going to assume is your age group has hsv1 orally. it's very common and most folks who have it, don't get obvious cold sores to know it. Just because you can't recall ever having seen a cold sore on them is meaningless to be honest.

swelling is pretty common with any irritation on the face. Yes you can have reactions to abreva too.

grace

[amoth]

ps do you think the swelling could be from a drug reaction.
the abreeva, or the lysine?

[amoth]

Thank you for your response.
I appreciate your help

[amoth]

I am single and before this occurred I had been with three women over the course of the last month. Two of them I have slept/known with regularly for years the other woman was only the second time we had slept together. The two I know better im fairly positive that they have never had any signs of herpes and I have knownn them for years, they have never had any cold sores as far as I have seen. the third woman I know less well but have never seen any indicators of a herpes infection, I might have met her 8 months ago.

[gracefromHHP]

1- that is the proper cold sore dose of valtrex

2- everyone should have periodic herpes igg blood testing to see what their status is.

3- abreva is overpriced and only helps to heal cold sores less than a day sooner to using a placebo.  if this is a newly acquired hsv1 oral infection, it will still take up to 3 weeks to run its course unfortunately.  

4- hard to tell if this is oral herpes or not. if it's not markedly better by monday, return for further work up with your provider.

your writing was just fine :)

do you have a regular partner? if so do you know if they've ever been tested for herpes or do they have a history of cold sores?

grace