The difference people make between hsv1 and hsv2

[DarkKnightX]

Why is hsv1 accepted as just a cold sore or fever blister, but hsv2 is considered to be the worst of the two?

[WCSDancer2010]

Because HSV2 is on the genitals... and we live in a country that was founded by the Puritans.

 

Because it's not talked about.

 

Because there is no good education

 

Because people are judgement-making machines

 

Because we as a "community" have allowed ourselves to become "closeted" by the stigma

 

Thankfully there are more and more of us speaking up and speaking out and educating others. Hopefully this will change in the future. For yourself, you can choose to speak up and educate, or to remain quiet and keep this as a personal issue. Neither is "better" or "right" ... but in my experience and my opinion, we teach others how to treat us. I'm 100% out. When I came out, I made it really clear that I didn't give 2 shits if people "thought less" of me, because I know the facts and I know who I am, and I was coming out to enlighten and educate people and to be a support for those who are struggling with the virus. Not ONE person was ugly to me and I came out on FB to over 1000 people.

 

So - in many ways, we "the carriers" are just as much responsible (IMO) for the stigma ... I am sure that if we all stood up and said "We have a nuisance skin condition in a really inconvenient place .... and we are ok with that ... and BTW, odds are you have at least one of them too" the stigma would disappear over night.

 

As Brene Brown said "If you put shame in a petri dish it needs 3 things to grow exponentially - secrecy, silence, and judgement. If you put the same amount of shame into a petri dish and douse it with empathy, it can't survive."

 

Right now the stigma of H is in a dark, covered petri dish.... if we could all just be empathetic with OURSELVES, the stigma would die a very quick death :)

 

That's my opinion anyway :)

[Bambina3]

I agree, we the carriers are also to blame for the stigma...I have disclosed to 2 men without using the h word...I've officially known since august...and I'm still not comfy talking about it, it's like my hidden secret.

[WCSDancer2010]

Honey - you are in a Closet :)

 

[Bambina3]

Btw you are right, I am in the closet :(

[thepowerofpink]

I was just called yesterday with my test results. The phone nurse said " you have H2. Those sure aren't cold sores all over your face." Gee I guess she thinks I should clarify when people ask.

[WCSDancer2010]

@thepowerofpink

 

WTHELL??? You need a new Dr .... and that nurse should be fired for that comment. What the heck did she mean by that dumb-assed comment anyway?

[thepowerofpink]

Yes, people don't spend much time thinking about how much comments make others feel. I do have some confusion. Not because of the location and which is which...but having my first outbreak which I have been very sick finally feeling better. Will I now get break outs up above and btw?

[WCSDancer2010]

If you have HSV2 genitally, you will just get outbreaks genitally. It doesn't magically travel around the body. That's what I don't understand from her comment. If you have oral OB's odds are that HSV1.... did they test you for that too?

[WCSDancer2010]

And sorry but a NURSE should know better than to make a comment like that.... that's terribly unprofessional ...