Herpes

[TalesOfTheUnexpected]

Nice......NOT! :)

So, last boyfriend ended up giving me herpes. He had a cold sore, we stupidly had oral sex and I ended up with quite a nasty infection on my fanjo

The GUM clinic said as it was HSV1 (i.e. oral herpes), and because it was HSV1 I would be unlikely to get another outbreak. If it had been HSV2 (genital herpes), that would have been bad news.

So what do I tell my new partner? Keep quiet and say nothing? or tell them I'm probably infected with something they may catch (and then they will run a bloody mile).

TalesOfTheUnexpected

Take care of yourself, Lots of sleep and healthy meals, try to avoid stress ( i know impossible) Relax.

The first bout is horrendous-unexplainable even.... It will NOT be like this again... only for the innitial !

After that they will be very subtle compared. I think after the innitial my 2nd was over 2 years later. I think in 13 years I have only had an outbreak about 5 times max.
Nothing like the first though.... all easily managed and gone within a week.

For that week I douche with cool sea salted water after showering or bathing, at least twice a day. Dry yourself off with a fan or cool setting on a hairdryer, yes it really helps. There is no contact with towels and the breeze is very nice a soothing ! :)

Ignore any people who make ignorant comments.

I have never passed it on to anyone. I've had to tell 3 partners about it, 2 of which I went on to have children with. It doe'snt affect them, they just need to be correctly educated. Obviously with an outbreak be careful, but i doubt you'll feel like nookie anyway.....

The correct education is the answer.
Take care of yourself, It will all be fine, Honest ! :)
x

Apologies I didnt read page 3. Sorry to re-bump too - again !

Glad you are happier now.

Yes take care and good luck with it. Think sanity has prevailed on this thread xx

Really nice to see Joanne's reassuring post to Tales.

I was speaking to one of my neighbours at the train station today. She said that she was feeling crap and she looked to be having an outbreak on her face and was really self conscious. She is a happily married, attractive, successful woman with children......a large proportion of people we know suffer this discomfort every x months or y years but they lead normal, happy lives like everyone else.

This website www.herpes.org.uk will give you all the sensible information you need. Herpes is not a death sentence and a huge number of people already carry Type 1 and 2 without even knowing it. When I was diagnosed by a consultant (and he knows his stuff because he helped develop Aciclovir) he explained that in fact 75% of the population carries one of the many strains and will never have an outbreak. It can be contracted and stay in the body in the same way as chickenpox.

I have always disclosed my STD status to a potential partners but I feel that people should educate themselves about such things before making judgements as it does not help remove the stigma and shame associated with these things. Someone gave it to me and I didn't ask for it all I can do now is try to live with it and encourage others to open their minds and get educated.