ex_triangle

Oh, the irony of your comment, lelani! The odds are that you DO know people who have herpes ... but no one wants to talk about it or wants their friends to know. I'm no different; I've told hardly anyone, aside from the necessary disclosures. Sigh.

It's interesting that there is such a disparity in the social stigma toward HSV-1/oral herpes vs. genital. My doctor was quite emphatic that herpes is herpes is herpes. There is no "good" herpes or "bad" herpes. I'm not saying that to really weigh in on whether disclosure of asymptomatic HSV-1 is necessary. It just frustrates me that so many people have the virus and have no clue, and there is an astonishing amount of ignorance about the fact that if you get "cold sores" or test positive for HSV-1 antibodies, you have herpes.

My closest friend, who is like a sister to me, feels that her life is over, or not worth living, because of herpes. We both have it. I can't seem to get through to her that she does have a choice and her life does not have to be all about anger and bitterness (and I understand that reaction, but it makes sense only for so long). My heart is breaking for her.