How to handle herpes when you're at university
Posted , 6 users are following.
I am a female university student and I have just contracted genital herpes. My first outbreak was awful and I went into depression and it has just been a week since it begun and i had anti-virals. I am not in pain anymore but still have 2 ulcer like wounds inside my vagina lips. Any tips on how to make them dissapear (i already have salt baths)?
Also, I have accepted I have it and I am very healthy and hopefully have a strong immune system. However, since i'm at uni there is a strong drinking culture. If i drink during a herpes outbreak will it make it worse or longer to heal or does it make no difference once the outbreak has started? I also would appreciate any advice on how to avoid an outbreak even if i do go out drinking - like any vitamins i can take?
- Since wanting to literally commit suicide a week ago due to anger at myself I have already come so far and think I will be fine and not even worry about this at all if I can continue my normal acitivities and stuff (i have cut out coffee and sugar though, and eat a lot of vegetables etc) - but some help/ support would be appreciated. I am usually such a fun loving and party girl who doesnt sleep around, I was just unlucky with one guy, but I will do anything so that i can live happy without thinking about it.
2 likes, 8 replies
lauren_11973 lucy23041
Posted
You sound like you is in very good spirits now more than I can say for myself. Unfortunately I don't know much about herpes yet but that I have it to help you out. But your questions is something I want to know to.
lucy23041
Posted
Yes, i figured it is so common that there is no reason to let it affect my life or any one elses. As long as you remain healthy you are still the same person, and plus, many people are secretly dealing with other conditions and this is just a little inconvenience. I'm genuinely very healthy as it is, so hopefully I shall be fine. An outbreak may be annoying but hopefully they are easier to handle after the first. Although I think about it constantly and do want to cry often I have to remind myself that there's nothing I can do so i may as well make the most of life - it's just another obstacle life throws at you. Also, I think that this may even be a positive thing, since I may become even more healthy and by improving my immune system hopefully avoid other things like the cold etc, and become more conscious of other STI's (btw, i don't consider this an STI, despite it's definition, this is just a coldsore (or several)). So i'm going to focus on life and be happy because why shouldn't I be! With time I will hopefully just forget about it and I live in the UK and I didnt even know what it was until I got it and did some research lol so I'm not upset by this 'stigma' people talk about. I just want to live a happy and exciting life especially as I am so young (i'm rambling because this is like therapy for me) so this may bother me from time to time, but who cares! I'm embracing it! I just LOVE a drink so this better not cause an outbreak too much - I got a ton of blisters this first outbreak, but i've heard you get less after a while and I could easily deal with that and put honey or alcohol or whatever people have suggested on her. Don't let this get you down, sh*t happens, people learn, people grow and you know what, I think this might even make me a better person since I will focus more on important things in life aka, health, education and maintaining strong relationships.
lauren_11973 lucy23041
Posted
I love a good drink too.. & all of what you said is so true..From here on out I am going to try to not let it get me down & hopefully I can find a good relationship out of this..
lucy23041 lauren_11973
Posted
Yes, and I think we all will find someone if we remain positive and the same people we were before - if you got a cold sore on your lip you wouldnt be upset much would you?? NOPE! Plus, i'm thinking if i get to know a guy and felt we had a connection, me saying, "btw I sometimes get a cold sore near my you know what... i know theres a tiny chance you could get it too but we can use protection and I can take meds to make it a smaller chance but its just the same as if someone who has ever had a cold sore on their lip went down on you - you could get one then" - if they don't wanna do anything then fine, but that tells you they weren't that into you in the first place!! So, good riddance, as much as it might pain us and hurt because if we didnt have this skin thing it wouldn't be no problem, but think about it, if they cant risk catching a tiny thing to be with you then theyre the type to run later on if things get tough or they find someone else. So many people waste years dating guys that leave when theyre bored bla bla so having this might actually make our love life more genuine and meaningful - not wasting time with people who just arent that into you! We are young and most guys i reckon would risk it if they like someone- it's not a life threatening thing anyway lol i'm just gonna focus on life and being succesful and if you do too then you'll reach a point later on and be like, wow that was a bit of a sh*t time but i can handle it now and I am so happy i didnt waste any more time being down about it because life has so much to offer!! So yay for us!!
dora29322 lucy23041
Posted
Veggies are GREAT, and that is a very good start. If i were you in a university setting i would GO TO THE INFIRMARY. There probably is a resource center where you can get in touch with counseling on campus, when i was in school that's what i did.
Best of luck, learning, and love ... it Will happen
FelizCastus lucy23041
Posted
Do you have HSV-1 or 2? That can make a difference. Alcohol is known to depress the immune system, so it can certainly trigger recurrences, especially during the first few months of initial infection. For some people, alcohol is always a trigger; for others, it's not.You will have to find out which is the case with you. If you have Type 1, there's much less of a problem with recurrences generally. Vitamin C is always a good immune system booster.
lucy23041 FelizCastus
Posted
FelizCastus lucy23041
Posted
If your partner/giver is youngish, then it's more likely HSV-1. You should get it swabbed to find out, as HSV type matters, but it may be getting too late if you're already starting to heal. Recurrences are usually much milder (possibly a single lesion, which might be a bump or tear) and quicker to heal (about a week or less). If you have HSV-1, you may only recur once a year, if that. You will have to find out how alcohol impacts you, as I can't say. Triggers are very individual. Personally, if I found something to be a trigger, I would avoid it. The meds may offset triggers, but hard to say. Even if on the meds daily, it's possible to have breakthrough shedding, with or without symptoms.