Hi

[elena]

I've known since April, but just got the courage to talk. I'm still hurting emotionally. This is so hard.

[Support1]

Hi Elena,

I was diagnosed in November 2006 and it was very devastating for me as well. At first, it seemed as if my world was over and I would feel like this forever. I knew that I could not tell anyone and I didn't for a while and that is how I found this site. I felt that I had to talk to someone and it could not be in person, so I turned to this site. This site has really been very helpful and informative. If it were not for this site, I would have probably lost my mind.

I can tell you that it has gotten a lot better for me and it will do the same for you. I had many ups and downs in the beginning and I still from time to time have ups and downs right now, but it is much better and my downs do not last as long as they did in the beginning. I do not know your story, but I will share with you mine.

I contracted HSV2 from my boyfriend (ex-boyfriend now) and to this day he is still in denial and has not been tested. Well, that is why I had to leave him. I truly think that he knew he had it or had been exposed to it, but remained in a denial state; therefore, moving on with me and transmitting it to me. After observing his actions, I honestly do believe that he knew and if he had no ideal, it would be very surprising to me.

Before I was diagnosed, I started to experience a lot of irritation, burning, and yeast infections. I have never experienced a lot of yeast infections, so I thought I was being irritated by soap or detergent. I tried everything changing my diet, soap, and even going without underwear when I could. Well, one day, I got very sick (fever, very bad pain in my back, groin, vagina, legs, stomach, headache, and pain during urinating, and a pimple in my vagina.) I finally went to the doctor and at first glance, she said that I might have herpes, but she wanted me to get tested before I started to worry. I started to worry before the results came back because everything that I had turned to herpes, so in my mind, I knew that I had it. It has been an uphill battle since November 2006, but miraculously I have gotten better in such a short period of time without suppressive therapy of taken meds for a long period of time. I took Acyclovir when I was first diagnosed and did not take anything since then other than vitamins. I really have not taken the vitamins like I should be and starting this week I am going to sit down with the info I have researched and put together a vitamin regimen that I will be taking from this point on.

I did not mean to say so much (and it is much more to say), but I did not want you to think that you are alone. It does get better and sometimes you may even feel bad after you get better, but that is normal. If someone would have told me that in 6-8 months I would feel much better and even be involved with someone (accepting this virus), I would not have believed them. Whenever you need to talk, ask questions, or just vent, please do not hesitate to send me a personal message, I do not mind at all. I know how it feels to not have someone to talk to. Don't ever feel alone and try to stay positive as you can. Take care and hope to hear from you soon!

[Christy C]

you're a sweetie

Christy

[awake67]

Glad to Meet U

I'm happy you found this site Elena. I write for all of us, we know how hard it is to cope with this suffering...at first it's really tough getting adjusted to this dis-ease, but eventually it gets better and better, especially because the symptoms occur less frequently.

Keep your chin up and smile.

When you don't have the symptoms, life goes on and you forget all about it. When you are ready in a relationship for physical affection, just be honest. If your prospect sexy friend rejects, don't fret, because being shallow don't go far... there was a post recently that one out of 4 people have herpes. You may find this same shallow person at your doorstep again!

Think positive and be happy, do things that make you happy...go places that make you happy and pray for strength and understanding.

Best Regards

[lintrus]

I've had it for over a year, and I have to say that finding this forum two months ago was and still is the best thing to help you cope with it. It makes all the difference to know that there are other people with whom you can talk about what you're going through--because they've probably gone through it too.

That said, I don't know exactly what you're feeling right now (btw, writing out your story can help too, help you... and us to help you as well;)), but I can guess: Whatever the circumstances, whether someone knowingly exposed you to HSV or not, do not let it force you to retreat from other people or from yourself; do not let it destroy that confident loveliness that makes people love you; and by no means let yourself get to the point where you start blaming yourself--once you get to this point its extremely hard to get out of it (I know this personally).

Also, its important to think about what HSV does to your conception of yourself, to your relationship with your body and with other people, but its dangerous to think about it passively--all this is happening to me and everything is changing in such and such a way and I can't do a thing about it. Fatalistic attitudes of this sort never help anything.

You may not be able to change this part of your body, but you can change the way you think and feel about it.

(Also, starting thinking about it as "The Herp"--you can't get mad at something called the herp, nor can the herp ever get you down. In fact, the herp can only ever be lovable. Remember, "Da Herp")