I've been diagnosed with genital herpes. I need some help!

Posted , 5 users are following.

I have been diagnosed with genital herpes after sleeping with a new partner. We'd been dating for a month and only had unprotected sex once. I started getting very painful and itchy down below and then he informed me he had also been itchy and he had spots all over his penis. He then informed me that he had these symptoms before but thought they were just friction burns and never went to get tested!  

I'd had already gotten tested for Herpes before I met him, and due to him having these symptoms before, it seemed like I had caught it from him. He blamed me for it and broke up with me! I wish I had never met him. I'm so angry at the moment and I wish I never met him. I'm not angry that he gave me the virus as he never knew he had it, but I'm angry that he finished with me over this. The first day we got diagnosed he said he'd stay with me and work through it together. However, he soon changed his mind after I said I'd prefer not to give him oral sex at that time in case his outbreak hadn't cleared up properly. I just hope he informs his future partners about him having it.

Anyway, my first outbreak was very very very painful and I couldn't walk, sit or lay down. I dreaded having to urinate and when I did go, it was so painful that I was screaming in pain. I have a very high pain threshold and this outbreak made childbirth feel like a walk in the park! Luckily my outbreak only lasted two weeks. This was one week without taking any medication, then once I was diagnosed and given a prescription, it cleared up within a week. The pain went within 2 days of taking the medication.

The only relief I got was by taking an ice cold bath or taking a warm bath with Epsom salt. I found that using any cream that I was recommended just made the pain worse and the smell was revolting! 

I'm due to finish my course of medication tomorrow and I was wondering if I should carry on taking a daily dose of suppression therapy.  I read that suppression therapy is generally only recommended if someone has more than 6 outbreaks a year, but surely taking the therapy can prevent that happening? What would you recommend and is one medication better than another?  I live in the UK.

Thank you!

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi there, I am also new to this forum recently diagnosed with Genital Herpes a month ago. I had also been seeing this “great guy” for 3 months and we’d been having sex consistently protected most of the time. One time the condom slid off and we both didn’t know it until much later.   I only found out on 10/4 when I went to my annual physical and asked to be tested for STDs since he and I had been talking marriage and he was saying I was the one. Figured I’d get the testing out of the way since they were drawing blood. Doc decided to do full panel STD testing and that’s how I found out. Not one symptom that I could ever remember but I have it. I told my guy immediately who apparently freaked out and stopped talking to me for days just to finally send an email to break it off. So now I am alone dealing with this sudden diagnosis AND subsequent break up from a guy I really adored. I don’t even know if he tested b/c he is gone..disappeared. Anyway, I just wanted to share my story to let you know that you’re not alone!! It’s rough but I try and push forward every day. Some days are better than others but I have to be strong for my kids. Since my diagnosis I’ve only added Lysine tablets daily and continue taking my regular vitamins. I take 2tbs of apple cider vinegar in the morning and at night but I’ve been doing that for years. I may be one of the luckier ones that has little to know symptoms but the emotional toll this has taken on me is far worse than the physical. Be encouraged!! 🙂

    • Posted

      Ah,  I am so sorry to hear you're going through this! To send an email to break it off is very heartless of him. I'm not really sure what to say other than I'm sorry! sad  

      I think it's comforting to know that many people live with this virus for years and years and live a full life. There are also many lovely guys in the world that will be very accepting of someone with this virus. We'll get there one day smile

  • Posted

    I think you should keep taking it I read that it keeps the future outbreaks from being painful and decrease the number of them to once a year maybe non at all 
  • Posted

    Yes continue taking the medication. Your body will learn how to better fight the outbreaks and it’s harder for you to pass the virus to a partner when your on the meds. 
  • Posted

    Thank you all for your help! I'll carry on with the medication

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