Athena

@Yadira I completely agree!! @whitedaisies why the heck not? ;)

@WCSDancer2010 Thank you :D It's funny they are actually all EXTREMELY FIT men WITH graduate school degrees! lol I think a lot of people will initially try to "aim low" and settle because they feel there is something wrong with them for having this and they some how don't deserve better. WRONG! I think people need to realize that H is not WHO they are, and that there are MANY MANY worse/controversial/dentrimental/fatal things that they could have! @whitedaisies hahaha it's too late for me! already in grad school breaking the big rocks into smaller rocks! Thank you :) Hahahaha!

So i've been a bit on a disclosing/educating kick since I was diagnosed a month ago. Partly due to being scared but mostly FOR SCIENCE and experimentation i've disclosed to 10 potential suitors who have shown interest in dating me. NONE OF THEM RAN! NONE OF THEM looked at me like I had three heads! None of them treated me like anything my worst fears conjured up when I was diagnosed. NONE. In fact, HALF of them said they had dated women with HSV before and as long as they are on suppressive therapy and keep them in the know about flare ups...they were cool. 10/10 100% said it changes nothing. Some will say they don't want to take the risk, sure. But look here ladies, 100% said they don't care. YAY SCIENCE!

@inka /cheer! My puppy is the only boy that I know for a fact will never lie, cheat or steal and will always give me cuddles and kisses :)

Fucking love this! Rock on! <3

Ahahahaha! Can't stop laughing! @kaybee Yes *sigh* I know, you're right :( WCSDancer2010 I'll have to plan a shopping trip soon! @Whitedaisies Lady, there are TONS of men that DON'T CARE! Every single guy i've told HAS NOT CARED! I made a dummy pof account and talked to a few guys just to see what it'd be like to tell people....NOT A ONE CARED! Ladies, thank you for the laugh! Really great to wake up to! :D

ahahaha WCSDancer2010 you crack me up xD We should have a thread for toy recommendations :p Oh but how I crave penetration ughhhhh! And..I kinda really want to be intimate with someone who knows and cares about me enough to still want to go there...especially since I haven't had sex since my diagnosis :/ I want to feel comfortable with myself and truthfully....i'm ready to bash some skulls if I don't get my fill soon (sorry graphicness) lol. 9 months?! You're a super hero!! Any guy who wouldn't drive 45 minutes for you has no idea what a wonderful woman he's missing out on!!!

@kaybee omgggggggg you're a strong person! Let's see..i'm in an accelerated grad school (not stressful AT ALL), taking care of my sick parents (what's stress again?) oh and dealing with this new diagnosis while working with 300 people underneath me....yup no stress :D I'm on acyclovier (?) since day #1 of diagnosis and condoms will always be used no matter what from now on lol ugh.... but goodness gracious I hear what you're saying and while it makes sense...i've never ever gone a month without sex...let alone a few months. x_x But, *sigh* I will do what it takes to protect him. *hangs head* @Whitedaisies *big hugs love*

I got it from my ex and there was love, lots of it. But we weren't right for each other and things ended badly. Actually, he broke up with me a week after diagnosis. It actually hurt MUCH more getting it from someone who loved me and then deserted me.

Soo...I should wait a year before I have sex again? I might die :(

Hey, so i'm still very new to this...it will be a month since my first OB in two days and I started taking acyclovier (?). Is it normal to get the tingle sensation down my leg but have no swollen lymph node and no real pain vaginally? Does this mean i'm still having/will have an OB? I'm due to have my first sexual experience next week since my diagnosis and I want to be as careful as possible. I get tingles all down my right leg through my foot. Anyone else experience this? I want to learn how it feels when an OB is coming on to protect others but I'm not sure how.

@Whitedaisies <3 <3 <3

Wow this was amazing to read! Sooooo happy for you!!! :D

@all I cannot say enough how appreciative and grateful I am for this forum and community. There is so much positivity, encouragement and support it's a little overwhelming and rather beautiful. I'm finding that i'm taking EVERY opportunity when talking with friends to discuss just how common H is and WHAT it actually is...a skin cold (more or less). It's AMAZING how many people treat it like the boogy man until they know! I haven't gotten up the courage to disclose to people about my status but I like to think that i'm helping educate other people to not be scared and to be aware. As for my friend...I know that it won't lead to an actual relationship at this point in our lives as our paths have diverged, but I do feel very blessed to have someone who has love for me, has seen me through all the crying and cursing as well as the objectivity and STILL wants to experience intimacy with me EVEN THOUGH he knows that it will not lead to a relationship! Do you guys tend to call your partners a few days after to check-in and make sure they are ok?

So, my best friend and I have recently broken up with our respective ex's....and he's coming to visit me next week. We have liked each other for the past four years but have always been with other people with bad timing. He was my main source of support as I was going through the shock and adjustment to H and was thus subject to all my crying, bitching and newly acquired information on the subject. We've discussed being intimate and he says that my condition DOESN'T CONCERN HIM!! (Really???) I've told him about all the stats, ways to transmit it and that i'm on supressive therapy. Question: Have I done all that I should morally do? There is obviously full disclosure and information that i've told him. What else could I do to protect him? How the heck to I get rid of this anxiety that I may give it to him? I feel blessed to be able to have my first partner post diagnosis be someone who I trust that won't make me feel like a monster and who I know both respects, cares AND accepts this about me. I would feel just awful if I gave this to him though. Please advise <3

I really wish this notion was more widespread! IF people knew more about the facts...I don't think we'd all be as scared! Good find!

I guess I should preface this by saying i'm 1.5 bottles of wine in...Does this always happen? I was just diagnosed last Monday. Recurring fights followed and we are now broken up. I'm alone to deal with this and really truly feeling like no one will ever take the risk with me :( All I want to do right now is go out and be self destructive but I can't. Because. I have. Herpes. I feel like all ahead of me is rejection, fear and hatred. I know i'm just 2 hrs out of a break up but I feel so incredibly depressed. I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew he had herpes. But he told me he was on suppressants. He didn't know he had to take them every day and now i'm stuck with this to deal with on my own for the rest of my life. I'm doomed to think of him every time I take my pills. My heart is broken and I feel like a leper.

Ahahahaha! Love this!

Prior to being diagnosed, I used to use Nair weekly pretty religiously. Obviously i'm terrified to use that now. Is it safe to use a razor that you use on your legs and arms too? Or would you guys suggest having different razors for the OB area? What about waxing? Just because I have H it doesn't mean I want to neglect the upkeep xD Also, as a side question...is it typical for the enlarged lymph nodes to be as big as a silver dollar and remain even after the OB is pretty much gone? It hurts :(

Thank you ladies! I really appreciate it :)

Thank you @Willow :) I know i'm probably coming off super neurotic :( Congratulations on the new relationship! I really hate to ask something so personal but...with the whole spreading thing...I heard a partner can get it on their fingers if they touch you down there? Do you make partners use gloves and dental damns? Seems so...like it may hurt the intimacy although I know acting in the most cautious way is best.

So is it ok to take double the dose when we feel it coming on?

Is there any way to know if i've already spread it? I had it for like a week before I knew what it actually was. I know i'm probably being paranoid but this is new to me and i'm scared :( Better to be overly cautious than not right?

Ok so I know this sounds strange but I have a irrational eye phobia (something that came from watching too many episodes of Chucky when I was small)...Anyways...Is it true that it can spread to your eyes? I'm going compulsive with washing and using hand sanitizer all the time but some times I'm tired and rub my eyes :(

Ok so I don't know if i'm just completely out of my head but...I'm nearing the end of my OB (I think!) as it's gotten much less painful and it looks all better. BUT now i'm getting tingling again down my right arm and leg...i'm also getting pain in my left hip?! I've heard about the tingling leg but arm too?? and hip? is this normal?? Help please :(