Question:
i am very new to all of this. i had some symptoms, tingling in my right leg, itching and then a bump that turned to a blister. i googled it and realized very quickly that i probably had genital herpes. that was last month, just recently, 2 weeks ago i went to the doctor and had a pap smear and blood work done and just recieved the results two days ago. everything came back normally and i was completely relieved for a moment, then i got the nerve to ask her what was tested for and as it turns out, the herpes test isn't on a regular screening it has to be requested, fortunatley(and i say that loosely) i was having some of the same symptoms, including the bumps that had just that morning broke open, so i opened up to my dr and told her what was going on and asked her and she decided to look at them and agreed that it is probably herpes. i still haven't told my boyfriend, and i haven't even really got the results back, but i'm sure that's what it is, and i even think i know where it came from. so, the doctor has me on famciclovir 3 x a day for 10 days, i don't really notice any differance in taking the medication then when i didn't have a potentially diagnosis or whatever, it seems the same except for the side effects from the medication. i'm so tired and i developed a blister of a sort, looks like a burn on my chest under my left breast, and i have a head ache and tingling and just a lot of stuff, the most bothersome isd the extreme tiredness, not to mention i have 3 children so can't afford the tiredness.

okay so thanks for bareing with me and reading all that, and yes i do have a question......do you have to take antivirals, do they make you better? can you live your whole life with genital herpes and not ever take suppresive medication or antivirals during outbreaks? do you have to take something during an outbreak or can you just go about your daily life and let it run it's course like a cold or something? idk, i'm thinking of cutting out caffiene and chocolate (which will be very difficult) and starting to drink milk, which will also be difficult. i'm also thinking of taking supplements and possibly trying dynamiclear...all of which i've read about on here. so anyways, anyone have any comments? do i have to take anything? keep in mind i'm a stay at home mom, and i still have to tell my boyfriend, and he's the sole income in our house so i can't do anything til i tell him.

so sorry this was so long, i've always been long winded but since this is my first post i felt the need to give a bit of personal background of my story. thanks to those who have read this and please take the time to comment. i'm lost confused and scared and worried and kinda a bit distant to the whole thing as well, idk....help!

Answer:
To answer your question, worried2D, whether to take antivirals or not is a purely personal decision. Herpes is not somethign that requires treatment. Many people take prescription meds to lessen the frequency of ob's and the incidence of shedding, but many people (myself included) also get along quite nicely without any medication at all.

The big deterrent for me was the possible side effects, along with the fact that I simply dislike taking any kind of medicine at all that isn't absolutely essential. I took supplements for a while during the initial first few months when my ob's were frequent, and I think they helped, but have since stopped those as well, and now I don't take anything. My ob's are quite mild, and don't last long when I get them, so I don't feel the need to take meds. If you suffer severe and frequent ob's, the meds might help you until your body has a chance to build up enough antibodies to fight the virus on its own. If you're experiencing ill effects from the meds, though, you may consider trying supplements and/or diet to help bolster your immune system.

Whatever you decide, whether to treat the virus with anything is entirely up to you. There is no cure, so anything you take will only treat the symptoms, not rid you of the disease.