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I need methods to cope. I've been diagnosed for a few months now and although some days are better than others I still have trouble. I'm solitary by nature & so are my great pleasures: films and literature. I find that when I try to read or watch I find myself losing interest and hearing that little voice "you have herpes" over and over. I started exercising which has helped a bit but still find it hard putting this out of mind.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the replies grace & petal. I have been seeing a therapist. It's just hard. I guess that it was a one time mostly protected encounter is what gets me. That & I wasn't disclosed to. I'll get there I guess. Eventually. Thanks.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
I agree with Petal, if you've still been having problems with this after 6 months, talking to a professional counselor/therapist is going to be beneficial for you I think. Also consider buying Terri Warren's book "the good news about the bad news". It really goes into the psychological side of having genital herpes more than her free handbook does and you might get a lot out of it.

Even though finding out for sure that you had hsv2 isn't the best news ever, at least now you know and can take proper precautions to protect a partner. Avoiding sex during obvious symptoms, using condoms properly and daily suppressive therapy gets the risk to a female partner down to 2-3%/year.  that's a very low risk!  If the weather man said 2-3% risk today of snow, you certainly wouldn't cancel a trip out for a nice dinner right? Genital herpes is manageable and you can reduce the risk to a partner significantly. don't let it have more power in your life than it should have!!!
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897535 tn?1295206435
Obviously having chronic thoughts like this can completely impair your daily life, and as you'd expect to hear from those of us who have herpes, it shouldn't. Best to seek a counselor/therapist. It's worked for me in my life at different times.
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Avatar universal
So I got a call about my wb today. Indeed positive for hsv2. I took it better than I thought but my question remains. How do you cope/stop thinking about something that never goes away? I hear with time but it's been 6 months Now & it's all I can think about. All day. Every moment. Terrible.
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Avatar universal
So I saw an infectious disease specialist today who not only agreed but encouraged me to get the wb test. Saved me a long trip to get a biokit. I've been doing some reading though & I'm confused. The berkley graph states that 1.1 - 1.5 has an 80% chance not to confirm. But then I found the focus statement about confirming their test which states 3 in 100 are false positives. How do these #s correlate.
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101028 tn?1419603004
many things cause the non-type specific test to be falsely positive which is why we don't recommend its use in general.
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Avatar universal
So I found another biokit provider. Have an appointment in a week. Curious about this though. When 1st tested I had the hsv igg combination. Results were 14. I know it's an unreliable test but I am confirmed negative for type 1 on my last igg specific. If my hsv2 is falsely positive what could cause a + igg combo?
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Avatar universal
I'm starting to feel that confirmatory testing is as stressful as diagnosis. Called quest. They will order the test with a dr order. Dr says it's a waste of $. Biokit people keep giving the runaround. Feel like I should just wait for a recurrence & get it swabbed. I'm gonna call Terri if I can afford it. Thanks for the continued advice.
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1174003 tn?1308160819
I would say your providers are doing you a disservice by whats going on without properly confirming your diagnoisis.  I would suggest that you contact Terri Warren's office.  She is the HSV Expert here are MH and she does do phone consults.  I am not sure if your insurance will pay for her time but they might if not she might be worth the money to get her involved.  She will look into your case and I am almost positive agree with Grace and order a WB to be done for you.  

For those other posters.  The best thing is keep your questions in your own posts.  

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Avatar universal
I tested weakly positive. 2nd igg was a 1.1.
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Avatar universal
hey man, i was reading your posts re having herpes and the depression it causes u.
I had some symptoms and am still trying to figure out whats up w/my stuff. Tested neg for most std's incl herpes 1 wk after i met up w/someone at my gym in april but still having symptoms. Its been driving me crazy too. Going to get retested this week for my fuk3ing sanity and also to see if i mite have gotten hpv or some kind of bacterial sh#t on my penis and butt area. I really didn't do anything to have contracted these things according to everyone here including 4 doctors in two states [wtf] but the symptoms are still around and weren't there before i messed around. Anyway hoping u don't feel too depressed or alone w/this sh#t i know how it feels. Goin for a long ride on my motorcycle today helped me clear my mind a bit. Keep the peace somehow man and good luck.   Jake
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Avatar universal
The biokit is @ a STD clinic which didn't want to do the test on me @ 1st since I'd already tested +. I begged & they agreed finally but when I had to reschedule they gave me the + is + run around again. My dr doesn't see the need either. I keep telling him about low positives not confirming & he just says that my low count means I should just be on episodic therapy.
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1174003 tn?1308160819
They should have rescheduled you to get your Biokit.  Can your provider not get you in at all or not during that day?
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Avatar universal
Most of the specialists seem to agree that the western blot is the gold standard in blood testing... If you want answers now, I think that's your best bet.

I too read a lot into the false positives, but in the end the culture test confirmed it.

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Avatar universal
So my biokit was an epic fail. Got called into work early that morning tried to reschedule & was refused. Been off the valtrex for a week & nothing suspicious so far. Trying to schedule a western blot. Keep reading the false positive stories but worry it's just creating false hope. Would it be better to wait for an ob to culture or get the test?
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Avatar universal
Hello,

Was just wondering if you're having any luck with your situation. I know how tough it is to learn you have this. I've been dealing with symptoms as well, twice since the first, which was 3 months ago. been in a long monogamous relationship and never had any reason to suspect I had this.

Hope you're doing better.
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Avatar universal
Good luck for your test on Tuesday!
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101028 tn?1419603004
yes it is worth getting the biokit or I wouldn't have recommended it.
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Avatar universal
So I talked the biokit people into giving me the test. Going on tuesday. One final question before I post my results on Tuesday. All the discussions I see are for the herpe select. I was tested by labcorp which I've read is the captia. Does that make any difference? Still worth getting a biokit?
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101028 tn?1419603004
no reason to wait 3 months since this wouldn't be a newly acquired infection for you and you just need to confirm results.
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Avatar universal
So I contacted the clinic & they won't run the biokit for another 3 months after my last test. Is it worth going for the western blot or should I just wait another 3 months?
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101028 tn?1419603004
it means nothing dear.
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Avatar universal
Is that a good sign that they went down?
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1174003 tn?1308160819
Just how the test works.  The numbers will always change up or down.
Helpful - 0
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