LiaBee

Hi all, I was just diagnosed. By which I mean literally this morning. I've been mentally preparing myself for the diagnosis for a few days due to my textbook symptoms. I'm still waiting on my test results but the GYN seemed pretty darn sure of my diagnosis. She also seemed sure that I was recently infected given the timeline between my last sexual encounter and the timing and severity of my outbreak. So, hooray, I have herpes and it f***ing hurts :( I guess I'd like to reach out to any one else who has been newly diagnosed, as well as the veterans with HSV, for support, advice, commiseration, etc. I'd also like to share my story, in case it helps any one cope. So here goes - I'm a woman in my mid twenties in a committed monogamous relationship. As it appears now, I contracted HSV from my boyfriend who had no idea he had it (pending blood tests as well). I was shocked to learn just how sneaky herpes can be and that someone can become infected with the virus (and also infect others) while presenting with none of the typical symptoms. Largely due to misinformation and the social stigmatization of the virus, I always thought it was something people only caught if they were being particularly sexually promiscuous (wrong) or failed to practice safe sex (wrong again). But here I am, living proof to the contrary. After rushing over to the pharmacy following my appointment (Lidocaine ointment is my saving grace right now... anyone have any other good tips for relief of the pain and swelling of an outbreak???), I found myself faced with the next scary step following a herpes diagnosis - telling my boyfriend. I decided I needed to tell him right away and although he was at work, he seemed to know something was up and wanted to talk on the phone. I was hoping to tell him in person but hey, when the time is right, the time is right. I started the conversation by stating that I wasn't interested in playing the blame game. I figure hey, I have herpes and am going to for the rest of my life so the less time I spend blaming and being angry, the faster I can get back to being happy and living my life. He was freaked out but generally took the news as gracefully as anyone can be expected to. He's made an appointment to go get tested but was also shocked, as I was, that STD screenings don't usually check for herpes (which I think is so odd since, as I've recently, learned, herpes far more common than I thought). So here I am, new to this whole herpes thing and in absolute, miserable physical pain... not counting the emotional roller coaster of the diagnosis as well as the past few days. Anyone wanna share their story, commiserate, and/or share some symptom relief tricks?

Hi, like you, I'm in the throws of my first outbreak. My heart goes out to you, this f***ing sucks. The flu like symptoms went away pretty quickly for me though. I had what felt like a low grade fever, body aches, and a terrible headache accompanied by behind the eye pain. The good news is that all went away a few days after the itching and blistering began. Everything I've read in addition to all I've been told by my doctor says this first outbreak is the worst of it. Fingers crossed because, I hear ya, this is downright awful. Hang in there. You'll get through this <3