lighthouse

Interesting topic... I have a question to add: if the herpes you have is mild barely any symptoms does that mean if the person you give it to will have it mild as well or it depends on everyones body and how it reacts to the virus? I'm only asking because I don't know how long I've had herpes and I'm starting to wonder if it has been years if there are other people out there I've infected and maybe they have no idea because my case was so mild?

@desertlove so glad I came across your post. I just found out I have HSV2 myself and felt like no one my age has this. (I'm 26) I too haven't told my mom or my sister and don't know if or when i ever will. I feel pretty happy for you that you at least have someone who's going through the same thing you are and although it may seem like he is distancing himself from you i think you guys just need the space to deal with what happened. To be honest if I was in a relationship with someone and we both got diagnosed I feel like I would be more likely to stay with that person and deal with it than meeting someone new who doesn't have the virus and have them be accepting of me. I know a lot of people have stories on here that people are accepting but I just don't feel that way at the moment. I don't know how I will ever meet someone and have them stay with me again..

It started what was a little rash on my bum, figured it was razor burn or maybe eczema. I had an appointment with my doctor last week and so I mentioned it to her. She had a look at it and said the same that its probably nothing, looks like razor burn, but she said you know what just to be safe i'll take a swab. Then I got the call and found out yes, I have HSV2. What scares me or confuses me the most is it was such a mild feeling that I don't even know if this is something I just got or if I've actually had this for some time? And since I barely even noticed it how will I know when/if I have another outbreak. My next worst thought is how am I going to live. I can't imagine having to tell someone what I have, I've read a few of your discussions and I feel like people would only be accepting of it if I was already in a long term relationship I don't understand how I will ever get into a relationship and one day tell them. I don't think anyone would stay with me. The doctor told me you're only contagious a few days before and after an outbreak, but I've read things online that you can be contagious anytime due to shedding. And the area of my outbreak not even a condom will prevent that possibility. I guess my question is do you tell every sexual partner you have? I've only told two of my best friends, both of whom are very supportive, one actually has HPV and she's in a relationship with someone and told me she just hides it from him - do people actually do that?! I can't imagine having to keep a secret for my whole life but I honestly feel like I would need to. Sometimes I think about telling my sister or mother but I feel like they would just judge me or look at me differently. I feel like anyone would...