My vaginal herpes experience (and finger whitlow) with photos

so firstly, if you find yourself here, you're probably worried that you have herpes or coming to terms with a diagnosis! I thought i would share my experience.

I am hopefully coming to the end of my first outbreak. It's been hell! no idea when i caught it but here is a recent timeline

26 jan 2020 - sex for the first time since Sept, oral and intercourse - a lot of friction, and shaved prior, felt swollen (normal for me)

29th to the 31st jan 2020 - feeling like friction irritation, or beard irritation, or thrush, ignored it but very itchy and uncomfortable

31 jan 2020 friday evening swollen glands and noticed a couple of bumps, looked like a grey burn, feel like flu

sat 1st feb realised omg now all clinics are closed and finally realising i might have HSV started applying hydrocortisone cream as itch was too much - horrid weekend shut myself in and was feeling very lonely and confused, more sores appeared looked white and flat

monday called in sick - clinic opens 8.30, called on the dot and got appointment for 2pm was seen and told looks like herpes, swab taken and started on 5 days of aciclovir 400mg three times a day - also given lidocaine to help to pee without pain. drove home and noticed my finger throbbing and red - great its spreading

tues to friday still off sick - considered asking to go to hospital for IV meds and catheter but i work at the hospital hahaha so i cant pee without screaming, can't poop without breaking out in a sweat from the pain, the HSV has spread further but some seem new blisters and some seem to be bursting. Started urinating in a bath of epsom salts, and stopped earing for 3 days (do not do this without medical advice) i did it because it was too painful and id much rather starve for 3 days then poo again!

thought i just need to focus on healing then...

BAM!! PERIOD came

could not insert tampon, well i did but i had to take it out after 5 mins, too uncomfortable, i opted for tampon first to try and keep my sores clean but nope, had to use pads. So then i was peeing and perioding in my bath... nice. whilst trying to cover my herpes hand! what has my life come to

starter to eat again but took senna to keep my poo softer

sat/sun by no means healed fully but see a light at the end of the tunnel

**now is Tuesday again , im still off sick because i cant flaunt my herpes finger around my hospital patients and i'm healing downstairs but i can now pee without the bath

MY RESULTS WERE HSV1

so my advice...

1. i spread mine to my finger, be very careful not to spread it to eyes or anywhere else. if its your first ever outbreak you can spread it to other areas easily as your body hasnt made sufficient antibodies against it yet, i wear contact lenses so i stopped wearing them immediately after i knew i had it in my finger
2. if it hurts to pee, run a warm bath or tub and sit in it with salts (epsom salts or regular salt) but dont stop drinking ever! keep hydrated
3. if you havent already, go get some antiviral meds
4. this will get better, dry your tears, your first outbreak should be your worst so you should be dealing with the worst of it already
5. pooing, lidocaine, i squirted some up my bum in desperation, wait 10 mins and it should take some sting away.
6. rest, call in sick if you can. theres no way i could have worked with this. i chose to tell my manager about the hsv and to keep it discreet
7. only if you trust them!
8. find out asap if you have hsv1 or hsv2 and research your type
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