Question:
Hi! I was having severe itching and pain for a week and went to the doctor. They thought I had a bladder infection and gave me medicine. I asked for something for the pain because it was severe, and they just looked at me funny.
Well that night after I got home, I found a few sores on me. I had to wait to go back to the doctor, but I was finally able to go in Friday. The doctor took one look and said "oh that's herpes!" then told me she understood why I was complaining about so much pain. I also have an infection for bacterial vaginosis. They gave me a prescription for that, and told me to take it twice a day. That infection is great; I love how it creates a discharge that makes the sores more painful!!
She also gave me vicoden for the pain, but that doesn't seem to help at all, except to make me sick.
She's also giving me Acyclovir. I'm taking 800 mg 5 times a day.
I don't know much about the medicine at all, and there's no one to ask over the weekend. I didn't know it would be a 5 times a day medicine until I picked it up late Friday night. My question is: how in the world am I suppose to take the medicine 5 times a day? Today I tried it by doing it at 9, 1, 5, 9, and 1 again. However, that leaves 8 hours before taking it. Is that ok? Or should I really be waking up in the middle of the night and taking the medicines?
I've spent the last few days laying around, and I really hate it. I can't do much more than that though because of the pain; if I move, I can't stand it. I did shave because hairs were poking the sores and making that feel worse.

I was terrified after coming home from the doctor after finding out because I had to tell my boyfriend. She said that I'd be in the blame game stage and we'd each blame each other, etc. I've studied enough to know that even though outbreaks can appear 2-20 days....they can also stay dormant for years so you really have no idea. And you can give it without having symptoms...So that wasn't an issue. I thought he'd feel disgusted by me though, and was just scared to death. I've known him for 14 years but some things are just not something people get over. We just recently started working on a real relationship.
I was crying and finally was able to tell him after I saw him. I was expecting him to get pissed and walk off, but he asked for a hug instead. I asked if he was sure and he said of course, why wouldn't I. I said because I'm dirty and he told me no. I said I thought he'd take off and he said I mean too much to him to do that. We talked about it for awhile, different things to do and things to make it feel better. I still don't know very much, but he's certainly trying. He called me about 8 times today to see how I was doing and just talk about random stuff.
His reaction made things okay. We didn't do the blame game, and after about 30 minutes of being upset and him saying it was ok and he can't wait for the outbreak to be over so we can be together...everything was fine. It's just an annoyance that I have to deal with now, but I'm going to figure out what I need to do and not do to prevent another one. I'm trying out some vitamins and some H-Balm stuff. His reaction and support definitely made it so I didn't feel bad anymore. It hasn't been 48 hours yet, but I can't see that changing. I mean, you can't stress about things you can't change, you just have to deal with it and move on. I don't feel dirty, I don't feel like a bad person. It's such a wicked disease and can get anyone at any time, no matter how much you try to prevent it. I just hope I don't have any more, or if I do, they aren't very harsh!

Well I wrote a lot, but the main thing i want to know about is the medication and how exactly to take something 5 times a day. And if there is anything else I really need to be doing...
And why am I reading people only taking 400 mgs a few times a day? I'm taking 800 5 times a day....is that weird?

And if anyone wouldn't mind .....what happens during the outbreak? I mean online it just says...sores, blisters, scabs, done.
Well how long does it take for the sores to move on to the scab stage and get over it? Do the scabs look different than the sores? I mean will I be able to tell it's scabbing up like you can on a finger? Right now the sores are just there with a white covering. Will that change to a hard covering? How does this work?! And why can't I find information about it?

Thank you!!

Answer:
At the beginning I had an OB every month just before my period, I'd start to feel it coming on. But now I haven't had one in at least 6 months. I've heard that the first year is the hardest, and honestly the first OB was the most painful...now it's more like an irritation when it comes. I don't know if it was like this for you, but going to the bathroom felt like razorblades the first time...Anyways, take care of yourself!

Answer:
most likely the reason your taking acyclivor 5 times a day is so that it can get into your system and start working. when i was first diagnosed my doctor gave me valtrex and told me to take 1g twice a day for 10 days and then after that told me to take 500mg a day for suppresive therapy.

Answer:
don't spend much time stressing about the progression of the sores. the description is general and we all have a different experience. I never had a scab. Don't shave too much it could irritate stuff or spread the virus (during the ob).

Don't use anything with hydrocortisone or petroleum in it until the sores are all gone.

Just space your rx out as close to 5 times a day as possible and don't wake yourself up to take it you need your sleep to help you get better. Drink tons (TONS) of water. When you wake up take it and then do your math. Take the last one as close to bedtime as possible.

Epsom salt baths help and so does the Aveeno Active Naturals with the colloidal oatmeal powder. Wear loose comfy clothes and the hair dryer on cool is much better than a towel.

You might also consider picking up some vitamin supplements like Lysine and vitamin c to start taking to help things heal quickly.