So many questions, so confused

[Michelle96]

Hi everyone, 

found out roughly two months ago I was positive for HSV2..I’m only 22. I’ve so many questions but I don’t know where to go to ask them. 

My case was awful. I went to hospital complaining of blisters and doctors said it was an allergic reaction. Told me it would pass. 5 days later I was in so much pain, nothing was helping. Went back to a different doctor. Again said it was just a reaction gave me a steroid cream and some tablets. Another week passed and I couldn’t stand, I couldn’t lay down, I couldn’t sit or walk or anything. I hadn’t slept and I was constantly crying. So 3 weeks after my first doctor interaction I went straight to A&E and cried with pain. I was then hospitalized for 5 days as I was retaining so much fluids, my case had gotten so severe, the cream I was given had made it a lot worse and I shouldn’t have been using it, the tablets I was given shouldn’t have been mixed together. I’ve been left with scars mentally and physically. 

 

Within the two months since, I’m currently going through my second breakout. What do I do? Is there medications to stop the breakouts? Is there certain things that cause the breakouts?

 

What am I now unable to do? 

Can I go to a public swimming pool? 

Can I use sunbeds? 

Can I share a bath with someone?

is there certain body washes I need to stay away from?

the list goes on and on.... 

Please someone help

[100918]

I would say that the only thing you would be unable to do is grind on someone while you have an outbreak.

Swimming pool - you can go. 
Sunbeds - you can go

Bath - don't see how that's any different from a swimming pool. The virus is spread by skin contact, so you should be fine.

Body washes - I would probably stay away from anything that has something like tea tree in it if you have an outbreak just because it might sting, but otherwise, life as usual

I have had HSV2 for at least the past 10 years (but was only just diagnosed also almost 2 months ago by chance when my doctor ordered HSV testing as part of the STI testing I requested when getting ready to start my first sexual relationship in 10 years), and I have a son who I have gone swimming with, he has used my shower scrubby when he takes a shower, he's used a towel after me...and he has not contracted anything from me. When I was first diagnosed, I initially freaked out and didn't want him drinking after me or anything...and then I started to research and realized it's not spread through casual contact and that it's been at least 10 years and I haven't spread anything to him, so I wasn't about to freak out about it now. 

You have a low chance of spreading the virus during sexual contact (4% without antivirals or condoms, 2% with one of those, and 1% with both of those), so you have essentially zero chance of infecting anyone through casual daily life contact as the virus cannot survive without a human. 

So, use a public toilet (they're still gross, but you won't spread HSV), and go about your life.

From what I hear (I am asymptomatic), the outbreaks do lessen the longer you have H. I cannot recall ever having an outbreak, and if I did, it was not anything I recognized as one, so I can't really help you there, but I have seen a lot of people report that the outbreaks get less intense and less frequent as time goes by.