Herpes

[individuality86.livejournal.com]

Since reading the last anonymous post about herpes, I've decided to share my story as well. I, too, have it...HSV-2, to be exact (if I can remember correctly...!). Ironically, I got it from the first guy I lost my virginity to, so you can imagine my devastation. He was 22 & I was 18. At first, we were using condoms, but then I got on birth control, and [being the naive teenager that I was at the time), I agreed to stop using them. At the time, I was SUPER in love with him...he made me all these promises that he was gonna marry me & what not. Not soon after we stopped using condoms, I descovered 3 ulcer-like sores down there. They hurt SOOOO bad & I could barely walk or use the bathroom for a week. I honestly didn't officially find out that it was herpes until I had finally kicked him to the curb. I later found out that he was a liar and a cheater. I felt so hurt...so alone. I felt like a dirty whore who could never be in a decent relationship ever again b/c of how ignorant I was. That happened when I was 19...I'm 22 now. My doctor put me on Acyclovir, and it works really well. I have outbreaks, like, maybe every few months or so. It took me a long time to actually realize that getting herpes wasn't all my fault. True...I should of known better than to stop using condoms, but he should of been a decent human being & gotten tested more often...and if he DID know that he had it, he should of been responsibleenough to tell me. I hated myself & wanted to die for such a long time, but I just knew that I couldn't let it stop me from living a normal life. I just wanna let all of you girls out there know that if by chance you DO get herpes, YOUR LIFE IS NOT OVER. You can still live a normal life & be happy. Sure, it'll take some time to start thinking that way, but you'll survive. Trust me. I finally told my best friend I had it not too long ago, and he commended me for having the courage to move on with my life after enduring such trauma. I am not ashamed of what has happened, and I know that what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger.

Comments

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Thank you also for sharing your story. :)

One thing to note -- while condoms can reduce the transmission of herpes, herpes can (and often is) transmitted outside of the area covered by a condom. So even if you had decided to continue with condoms, you may have contracted HSV anyway -- though I realize your first outbreak seemed connected with stopping condom use, and may have been, there's no way to know.

I mention that just because I know people in the past who have decided not to use condoms, contracted HSV, and then really blamed themselves harshly for not using condoms. And while I wish that nobody ever blamed themselves for getting HSV, I think it's doubly true in regards to condom use.

[sandraivette.livejournal.com]

You are very brave. Thank you for sharing and for your precocious words of wisdom.

[fiddlercricket.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing! There's so much stigma about herpes in our culture, but very little accurate information about the virus. I just wanna say, herpes are not the end of the world...so many people have them and many do not even know it. No one should be made to feel dirty or worthless because of a virus. Again, thanks.

[awriterswindow.livejournal.com]

Thank you for being so brave and educating us. I know how much stigma there is against herpes and how it's not easy to talk about it. Thanks again.