ann122

The above article is super helpful to show others as it shows how NON serious ghsv1 really is. However, I'm not sure you can get away with not telling someone that you think you will be in a serious relationship with. I don't mean that in a judgemental way at all, as I tried the same thing with my now boyfriend because I knew I got it from him. However, when/if an outbreak pops up, you're kinda stuck and forced to disclose. You may not be as prepared and be a little more freaked out. If this guy is someone who you have had as amazing of a time as it sounds, he will want to be with you. Definitely at least be willing to get tested for well. Stay positive about the situation, rehearse what youre going to say, and just dont forget how common hsv1 is in general. Just because its in a different location doesn't mean you should be looked at differently.

I only had one initial outbreak and havent had one since. I have also been on suppressive meds the whole time, so I'd say it works pretty well for me.

how you present it to someone is SO important. and i know its hard, its terrifying being diagnosed and I couldnt even think about it without sobbing for a few days. But if you don't present it as scary they take it way better. I got it from my current boyfriend and when I told him about it i gave him all the statistics (i have genital hsv1, which at least 60% of the population already have antibodies too). He got tested and it was already in his blood. I was positive from a culture test so boom I figured out how I got it. I also had a really intense initial outbreak so I figured i had been a recent exposure case. I hope you feel better soon, get on some antivirals to ease your symptoms for now and just breathe. I'm only 23 too and wanted to die when I found out. But life goes on. Its more common than you think. And if your giver doesn't take it well dont take it personally. i had to kinda imagine how I would react to someone saying they had it that I was dating to figure out exactly what to say to him to disclose. if you need someone to talk to about it im here! also get a blood test- the type of herpes can present itself in pretty different mannerisms SOMETIMES. its a virus so nothings concrete....but I personally had one outbreak last march and havent had one since. So besides knowing I have it, my life hasnt been affected in any other way. at all.

hey! I know how you feel I got it just this past year at 22 and it was so incredibly overwhelming and depressing. I take suppressive antivirals (wasnt sure if i got it from my boyfriend or not, but he got tested and his blood test was positive so I may stop), and vitamin c and lysine supplements. I only had the primary outbreak and havent had another one since (most likely from all the suppressive meds). I too eat well and exercise so honestly give your body time to learn to fight it. If you're already healthy then odds are you will be good at fighting it in the long run. The first couple months are a wild card of how often you will get outbreaks, but for now try out the vitamins,and just watch out for your stress levels! Theyre a huge cause of outbreaks from what ive seen on here. Best of luck, hope you find as much help from this site as the rest of us :)

thank you @malicepalace that helps!

ugh great so hes probably negative. meaning I'm right back to square 1 with wondering how I got it and being constantly scared of passing it on.

They're not much help. I gotta say though, my primary care doctor gets really bad cold sores so she was great to talk about it with. No judgement, and she really put things into perspective how little of a deal it really was.

the uti could be a trigger....that has happened a few times with me. The first time i had my outbreak it was brought on by BV. and with UTI's i usually get prodromes. If you've only had it since this past summer it is super likely that you are getting the outbreak as a reaction almost to the UTI. When your body/immune system is in distress...its way easier for an outbreak to occur.

I doubt it. In reading that nothing really strikes me as herpes....especially if theres no tingling. its probably just irritated skin? Personally, I wouldn't say anything to them. Seems like it would just freak her out over something that is most likely nothing to be worried about. I think youre fine! but for peace of mind call your doctor and sched an appointment if it doesnt get better.

I understand....I can think of guys i used to date who i wouldn't even think of telling now. I just know how they'd react. but keep your chin up! What works the best for me is to think how much worse things can be....its not a death sentence and we still are healthy individuals. If anything my diagnosis made me take way better care of myself in the long run. It's hard with the emotional impact, i don't know about you but I'm in my early twenties and most of my friends are care free and date without a care in the world and I can't help but be jealous of how simple it all is for them. They just have no idea (but then again, neither did I about a year ago when I was doing the same thing). Youre not alone, just keep moving forward!

i feel the same way. I have good days and bad days....some days its all I think about. others it barely crosses my mind. how did your first disclosure go?

Hello all. my boyfriend is getting tested as I have hsv1 genital and have no idea how i got it. its been almost a week and he hasn't heard anything....does that mean hes in the clear or do they always call with the numbers for negative or positive? Im really nervous about this obviously....im dreading what will happen if he doesnt have it and I do.

I feel that whole speech without even knowing where it is can be a bit aggressive. just because youre addressing both areas...i have had to talk about it once and I opened with how common it is and the statistics and how its easy to prevent transmission. As long as you say it with confidence it comes off better. are you planning on suppressive meds?

hello there! I'm 24 as well and had my first genital hsv1 outbreak last march. it sucked obviously. But I haven't got sores since, although right before my period i do always feel a bit funny. It feels like I will get an outbreak but so far it hasn't happened again. I do however take daily suppressive meds so that most likely is the reason why. I know its hard but you have to remember how common it is...at least 60% of people already have it and most of them don't know it. It's normal to feel that way around your period though because your hormones change.

mine are constantly swollen. I had one outbreak last march and havent had one since and they are CONSTANTLY swollen. It sucks I feel like im constantly expecting an outbreak...and they never go down. I want it to stop its so uncomfortable sometimes. I guess its better than an outbreak but it makes me feel like a contagious leper all the time.

My boyfriend is going to get tested so I can stop worrying about passing it to him. I want to make sure he gets the right test done. I have heard western blot is the best, but I do not think its really offered near us.

thank you so so much for posting this. I needed it. Best wishes to you! So happy for this FORTUNATE turn of events :)

Okay so something weird has been happening, its like DIFFERENT lymph nodes have been swollen instead. Both sides are swollen slightly higher than where I usually have swollen nodes. Is this normal!? Its been going on for like 3 weeks now but I havent had an outbreak or any other prodromes. Nothing that could have even been a small outbreak. Its driving me crazy!!

green tea is my addiction so I hope thats not true haha. Not too much caffeine in that anyway, just antioxidants! The weight of that secret is hard though. I talk to my sister about it when it gets to be too much and she listens but I dont know, I feel like its something you can't really relate to unless it happens. Something so permanent like this can't be described easily. Talking does help, glad this forum is helping you!

@fairisle I'm completely with you. I was diagnosed about 8 months ago and I was okay with it at first, but lately i'm always depressed about it. It's hard to talk to someone who can't relate, I have been sad a lot in my life but this is something totally different. Feeling out of control of my body is so overwhelming. I don't know when I will ever get used to it, I feel like a different person. It all still doesn't feel real. I hope it passes, and I know it technically will. But know youre not alone, I have to remind myself of it all the time. As said above, maybe it is the time of year and the weather. I just had finals and the stress of school was a lot on my body. It worries me for when I start full time school in a year. But if it helps, just know I feel exactly the way you do!

I really can't shake the depression from this anymore. it completely consumes my thoughts all day every day and I fear i have dug myself a hole I cant get out of alone. Does anyone see a therapist for herpes? My doctor told me she thinks it would be beneficial....I go through phases where it bothers me and when it doesnt but for the past few months my mind has been in a darkkkk place. It didn't bother me at first but now it is really kicking in.

I had my first outbreak this past march and havent had anything since. I have however had prodromes every now and then, but I would just take extra antivirals and the outbreak would never show up. Not sure how it would have gone without the antivirals but as of now I have only had that one outbreak and its been almost a year.

Susie, I felt the same exact way for a long time after my diagnosis. I remember going to my primary care doctor (who I have seen my whole life and have a good relationship with) and just breaking down and telling her how I constantly feel like I'm about to have an outbreak. She told me it was normal, especially since your body is still building up antibodies to it. Essentially, she said to just give it time and that it takes a while for that constant tingling to go away. Honestly, I still have it 6 months later. Its frustrating though, definitely makes it hard to forget about it.

I'm on suppressive antivirals, so its surprising to me that its always swollen. Pretty much makes me constantly anticipate an outbreak..which has yet to happen again.

Ever since my diagnosis about 8 months ago, my lymphs nodes have been constantly swollen! I have read that swollen glands can be a sign of a prodrome, but its literally constant and it doesn't fluctuate much. And its only on one side. During my outbreak both sides were swollen though. Just curious if this is normal? Its like a constant reminder of it I wish it'd stop.