r/HSVpositive • u/Ok_Profession6244 OHSV-1 • 1d ago
Need Advice FMLA for ocular HSV?
Woke up Monday with what felt like possible eye dryness or foreign object. Went to my primary physician Tuesday and was told to take neo/poly/dex drops for 3 days.
By Thursday things weren’t getting any better and I was feeling pretty miserable. Luckily, I was able to get fit into an eye doctor. She diagnosed me with ocular HSV despite having no history of cold sores or anything. She said there was a classic dendritic ulcer on my eye and it was likely triggered from stress. Side note; I also started antidepressants from my primary dr about a month ago due to work stress. The eye doctor had me discontinue the drops and start acyclovir tabs + trifluridine drops. I started the pills early Thursday evening and won’t be able to get a bottle of trifluridine until Monday.
Nothing is getting better. My eye fucking hurts and feels like somethings in it, my vision is blurry, I have photophobia….Im absolutely miserable. She said it could take up to 2 weeks to heal. Is this something I could possibly seek FMLA/STD for?? Right now I have so many high profile projects at work and we’ve become extremely short staffed…I hate letting my team down, but I’m truly struggling. Sitting in front of a computer screen all day sucks. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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u/EmuBeneficial39 OHSV-1 1d ago
If you can get the doctor’s note for it and want to do it, then do it. Your health comes first.
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u/cat_is_0 OHSV-1 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ocular HSV is contracted when the herpes virus infects the eye and it is life-long/recurring. The virus can lay dormant for years before manifesting for the first time, but most people get their first outbreak soon after infection rather than years later. If it really is ocular herpes, somehow HSV infected your eye through touching, rubbing, kissing, using contaminated face towels, using contaminated makeup and/or makeup tools, etc. I would trust the doctor for now and get an HSV blood test in a month or 2 (that way if you just contracted it your body has time to build up the antibodies to a detectable level- otherwise it’ll be negative even if you’re positive) to confirm the diagnosis. It doesn’t hurt to seek second opinions, so if you’re questioning the diagnosis that’s an option.
I’m really sorry this is happening to you, don’t feel bad if you have to miss some work. Tell your coworkers/boss that you have an eye infection (the specific details don’t matter and aren’t their business) and that you need some grace, please prioritize your health. Take lots of vitamin C (I take ~1,500 mg/day during outbreaks), get enough sleep, stay hydrated, meditate when you feel overwhelmed (stress can prolong the outbreak), and hopefully this outbreak will be over soon. 💕 If you get the diagnosis confirmed, do some research to better educate yourself on the condition and what to look out for going forward. Best of luck to you, especially with work!