I found out I had herpes about a month ago. It's been a rough ride so far...
I found out after thanksgiving I have genital herpes. I had a culture test done when I went home for thanksgiving. (I am a student in college.) The doctor thought I had gotten some kinda infection from shaving, but did a culture test for herpes just incase. She told me I was at very low risk for it and I probably did not have it, because my partner did not have any symptoms and he was clean. From the very beginning everyone told me to stop thinking it was herpes and that I was going to be okay. Then a few days later I get a call from a nurse that I was positive for herpes. I get this call on a Friday. I go the whole weekend with so many questions and so little answers, right before the week of finals.
After several weeks of just a rollercoaster of emotions, I see a doctor in the near area of my college. The doctor has me do a pregnant test which I knew would be negative. She has me do several blood test none to figure out what type of HSV I am. I come up positive for Syphilis. She had her nurse call and tell me that but with no more information, but that they want me to come do more blood work, which I do. They make me wait around afterwards for more than an hour saying that the doctor will talk to me and they come out and tell me the doctor doesn't want to speak to me and I need to make appointment for the next week. The next week I come and the doctor cannot give me a solid answer of my test results. The State Health dept. of course had to get involved because of the positive for syphilis. It turns out my numbers were very low for the syphilis and the doctor told me I was neither a negative or positive. I have finally gotten help from the state health department. Who is helping me take care of myself and the situation. I am just hoping that it is a false negative because of hormones or something. And I think it is because my partner is clean or so he says.
After having a horrible experience with that doctor, I am now on the hunt for a doctor that will be able to give me the information and the help I need to manage my herpes.
I am having really hard days every now and then but not as bad as the beginning when I first got diagnosed. My partner says he's clean for everything, but he first did tell me when I told him I had herpes that he had oral herpes. He acts quite shady often and I have for a while have thought he has been lying to me especially when I was told I was "positive" for syphilis. He has been the only one I've been with in over a year. And my first outbreak happened about 2 weeks after we had sex. I remember that I had been feeling a little under the weather and he had told me he had been sick. Recently he and I have been discussing things and he said he gets coldsores when he gets sick. So I think I must have gotten genital herpes from his oral herpes. So I am thinking I have HSV1, but I wouldn't for sure know until I get tested.
Currently I think I have had one more outbreak since my first. I got sick again like my first outbreak during period just like before, except I didn't feel as uncomfortable as before and I didn't feel any bumps or blisters. I am currently taking valacyclovir daily.
I am not at the best point in my health right now, but I am trying to fix it. I am trying to eat healthy and get a sleep routine. I am active runner and I am starting my first marathon training soon. I have really bad anxiety. I had a few anxiety attacks when I first got diagnosed. I am trying to stressless because I know it will not help me or my situation anymore. I am currently trying to come up with a new diet plan for myself. I have a good support system of my mom and a few close friends who know what is going on with me.
I have a lot of questions and I never know where to start, but that basically the gist of me and my story.
Something that need help figuring out is if I might have oral herpes...in the week and half I have had several little bumps show up on my lips when I get really stressed or upset. The thing is they disappear after about an hour or so. My mother thinks it's just from stressing about herpes and everything. They don't blister or stay long so that's why I think it might not be oral herpes. Yet at the same time I think it might be it. I have also gone through a scare that I had a herpetic whitlow.
Something that really concerns me all the time is spreading this else where on my body. The internet always says one thing and someone says something else so I never know what to believe. The doctor I had visited said that this was only spread sexually...which I don't think is completely correct. Its when there is a break in the skin that it is transferal isn't it? Which makes me so nervous because my puppy bites and claws at me all the time. I have open cuts and marks all over my body. I am constantly washing my hands and afraid that at night i'll touch my lip or lower area and spread this in my sleep. I have also read you can go blind from getting the virus in your eye.
I am also concerned about alcohol. I am newly 21 and everything I read highly suggest to avoid alcohol. I know it is something that is already not good for you, but it something I do not want to cut out completely in my life.
Currently I am in a good positive state. I am trying not to stress about anything and educate the best possible way I can. I am trying to adjust my life style accordingly. This was a really long post, but I am glad I have gotten my feelings out.