JessikaRabbit89

awwww!!! @fitgirl, that is so beautiful!!!!! sounds like you got a real keeper. Gives me so much hope.

@parbla, thank you for your story, and I love that you didn't judge her based off of her status, shows how mature you are to handle this situation like an adult should. Of course if someone doesn't feel comfortable they shouldn't disclose, Especially if they don't see any relationship potential and they never get physical. I just personally don't see it as a big deal anymore, so I don't see any harm in telling someone while the conversation is in that direction (sex, dating, etc). For me, its more of educational purpose to disclose, because so many people have no idea what herpes really is. I had a 30 year old guy tell me he thought herpes was genital warts. So, you see why I try to get the awareness out there, because I can't tell you how many men admit to me they love sex without condoms, not knowing the risks involved with it. and @vanessayee, yes there are indeed good men out there! I learned if I just take the time to get to know someone on a more personal mentally, everything else falls into place. This post was intended to let people know they can still have an enjoyable dating experience with herpes. They shouldn't feel like they have to shut themselves off from the rest of the world, because they probably either know someone who has it, live next to or work with someone who has it, you just never know. Herpes is an exclusive club, but it has quite a lot of members. That's what I express to the men I talk to, it opened their minds to accepting someone H+ and made them think more about protecting themselves.

I'm really hoping its not Lymes disease >_< I was on my antivirals for 3-4 days. I did notice my face appeared normal the last time I was on it, so I'll start taking them again. I've been told cold weather triggers Bells and it has been 16° and below here. I typically only see it on cold days. This is so crazy..

One of the things I have noticed since having H is the asymmetry of my face. One morning back in November, I looked in the mirror to discover my right side was drooped. I thought I had a stroke and panicked. I called my dad and he tells me he had it when he was younger and its called Bells Palsy. From what I read, its not hereditary, but believed to be caused by a number of Herpes viruses, including Chicken Pox. I had Chicken Pox as a kid, so I assumed I have had Bells all my life but it reappeared after getting exposed to HSV2. Some days my face looks fine, other days my lips are completely uneven, my cheeks look lopsided, my smile looks forced, and it literally looks like I have half of 2 different faces. I woke up this morning to my right side feeling like it fell asleep. I do facial exercises and they definitely help, but only if you do them daily, otherwise the muscles will get weak again. I know herpes is associated with many nerve and neurological disorders, so having this isn't entirely shocking. Just not exactly what I was expecting. Anybody else have this issue?

@ihaveittoo, we just have to be patient with this kind of thing unfortunately. I was lucky at first to have only had one ob, now it seems like I get one every month. They are pretty mild though, but its still an inconvenience. We are still newly exposed so I guess our bodies are still adjusting to it all. I read an article about a woman who contracted H at age 20, didn't have another ob for 2 years, then suddenly suffered obs everyday for 9 years straight. The only thing that gave her relief til this day was marijuana. She has been using for 6 years and is outbreak free. Idk if that's something you can or will consider, depending on your opinion of cannabis, but I tried it myself during my outbreak, before even reading that article, and noticed my ob was less painful, so I stopped taking Valtrex and the next day, I literally had no pain. That's actually what led me to researching the potential benefits of marijuana for Herpes because a friend of mine told me her friend drinks cannabis tea during her obs and they truly help her.

I wore pantyliners during that time, because it would leak out uncontrollably. Wear cotton panties too to help keep the area as dry as possible. It should clear up within a couple of days hopefully. Or at least until your blisters inside complete heal.

You're so right @WCSdancer and @PositivelyBeautiful, my mistake were always jumping into bed with a guy and hoping a relationship would follow. I didn't feel love at home so I was seeking it in guys instead I was doing everything totally backwards. I never found love because of it. Herpes has definitely made me realize this and so in the future I won't make those mistakes again. There are lessons in everything we go through in our lives, this was a huge one to learn from.

I had the exact same experience with mine. And I was hoping it would just be a one time thing but with my current situation the yellow discharge came back. I just let time heal the wounds with taking my antivirals. This time it cleared within a day. Hope you feel better soon<3

May I ask how long have you had it? I believe with all that you've been going through and the great amounts of stress, that's probably whats causing your recurrent obs. Have you tried any ways to vent or meditate to get your mind off of things and see if that helps? I find coconut oil very soothing for blisters.

@positivelybeautiful, I agree with @WCSdancer, that's wonderful and I'm happy to hear that it makes you stop and think before you go too far and do something you could later regret. I unfortunately slipped back into my old ways after symptoms of my first outbreak started to clear up. I began dating someone new and we rushed things (I was vulnerable and automatically assumed since he had herpes that we would stick together sort of thing), but after we got physical and the more we hung out I realized he wasn't for me and broke it off. I told myself I would stay single and learn to love myself, thats when my giver came back into the picture and I was torn. I thought that we could somehow help eachother heal and pick up where we left off...but I noticed his personality towards me wasn't the same. He would tell me he missed me and loved me, but his actions were total opposite. I decided to let him go as well, and the heartache from that along with stress of everything caused another ob. As of now I am not looking for anything more than a good male companion at this point. Someone I can talk to and spend time going out doing things together. Its a shame that guys now days always expect sex to be part of being in a female's presence.

Has anyone noticed after a certain activity or eating, drinking something that you suddenly had an outbreak? If so, what were they? How did you treat them? For me I've learned my two triggers are stress and chocolate, and not just any chocolate, but SNICKERS!!! It seems everytime I eat that candy bar, like clockwork the itch comes back, and since I have internal outbreaks, it almost feels like popcorn is going off inside of me (best description I can give) from the blisters breaking down, with quick electrical bursts every few hours, and pain in the heel of my foot. I'm just curious as to how everyone deals with their condition.

I know many people have touched on this topic but I just wanted to share my experience in hopes of helping someone recently diagnosed that may feel they will never be able to date again. There is hope :) I contracted herpes in November, and since then my life has been a complete rollercoaster. Some days I feel like I have it all together and other days I feel like I will never be able to shake this, but that's life and we all have our good and bad days. It just seems magnified when you have H lol. My love life was abit on the hectic side, my feelings still swayed towards my giver, but I was in the process of trying to rediscover who I am, so I didn't really expect things between us to work out, and for good reason cause it didn't. I had always kept online dating profiles active, just in case I ever get bored and curious as to what's around me, so I logged back in to check out the fresh meat and hopefully find someone with good conversation. I was overwhelmed by all the messages I got, many of them handsome, successful, ambitious and in good health. I started to feel that sense of fear as the messages became more personal and detailed. I knew at some point I would have to disclose, because I had 4 men who were eager to meet me and take me on dates. Instead of freaking out about their reactions, I came out about it as honest and humbled as I possibly could. I wish I could post the screenshot from one of the messages, where a guy asked for my number and before we passed that threshold I told him that I have HSV2. His exact response was "that's okay, things happen!". I figured because he is a medic it doesn't phase him. So far, every man I have disclosed to, with the exception of maybe 5, have been total gentlemen about the whole thing. Many of them ask me questions about how I cope with it and what are the signs to look out for. Of course their main concern is if we ever have sex what would be their chances of contracting it and I send them here lol! I have had a couple of dinners with men who also have Herpes. One guy I didn't even know had it until I used his restroom and saw a big thing of Acyclovir on his sink. He and I are still talking but its strictly platonic. The last date was a guy who is H- and he kissed me, I made a joke telling him I'm a zombie and just infected him, he goes "I'm a big boy, I can handle it". Overall, my dating life has not changed a bit. Actually, I guess in many ways it has changed for the better. I have met wonderful sincere and genuine individuals and it makes me appreciate this experience even more. So let go of the fear and shame you have! Its really all in your head. You are doing nothing but holding yourself back from finding that someone you truly deserve. We all have soul mates out there waiting for their chance, and even if you're not looking for anything too serious, you can enjoy your life but just make sure to tell people before you do so they can have a choice. Often times than not, they will be grateful of your honesty and will probably go forward with you based off of you being real and open with them.

Nope. They are two different types and one cannot turn into the other. I've also read somewhere that once you have one type than the odds of you catching the other is slim to none, but there are exceptions to that rule. Some people have both, but one definitely can't mutate into another.

http://www.healthline.com/health/herpes-esophagitis#Overview1 I don't know if you got a chance to look at this site, but hopefully this may have the information you're looking for.

Thank you :) I told him as soon as I found out which was Dec 1st. We didn't speak for about 3weeks after that..felt like it was forever, looking back on it. I hope everything works out in your favor as well!!

She is like my H fairy Godmother. :p lol.

Aww, thank you! @whitedaisies I feel the exact same way when I come here. This site makes me feel most welcomed and I can be most comfortable. That's why I don't mind telling everyone here I care for them. I feel we shouldn't be limited to only telling close friends and family we love them. Nobody is promised a day on this Earth so to at least let someone know they are loved can really speak in volumes. I have made so many wonderful friends here and I'm looking forward to meeting new people. If it weren't for this website and receiving that first message from @WCSdancer after being diagnosed, I really don't know where my state of mind would be. Thank you all for being my support system and I'd love to share my positive energies with you all as well <3<3

Amen! Beautiful post

:)

Well I officially used one with no irritation and pure success! So I guess I can use them! I still bought pads anyway. Lol. I can't wait to be at menopausal stage lol.

Yep. I had that with my primary outbreak. Worst nerve pain of my life. The only thing that gave me some relief was taking 800mg ibuprofen. Try that and let us know if it worked for you. I hope you feel better.

I had them internal and external...that's why I'm scared. I'm currently using it now and it didn't even hurt inserting it. So far so good...its just taking it out that I'm alittle nervous about.

:D at least you responded! that makes me happy.

Idk why I haven't touched this yet but I am just curious is it safe to use them when you have Herpes? Does it in any way trigger outbreaks? Reason for me asking is because I haven't used them in months, and I am currently out of pads. I'm at work with a friend who only had spare tampons to give me. I'm debating on if I should use it or do the dreaded emergency toilet paper leakage protection. >_< I've been blessed to not have had anymore severe outbreaks so I'm hoping this tampon will not do any harm. I know its probably a silly question to ask considering I've had sex and came out ok but I just thought the alkaline in the blood could cause a reaction somehow. Idk. Just wanted to ask before I use it.

I truly love you all. Everyone's stories that I've read have deeply touched me. Some of them have given tears of joy and some have made me break down because it hurts at how some are taking their diagnosis and treating themselves like they are no longer worthy of being wanted and appreciated. I just want you all to know you are loved. Please don't give up on yourself and feel that all hope is lost because yes you may have hit rock bottom right now, but you can only go up from this moment. Even if we have not talked before a day in our lives. I care for you all and I wish you all nothing but the best in the days, months, years to come. <3<3