Recently diagnosed- don't know anyone who has it
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hey everyone,
I was just diagnosed last week and have been very sad and alone, as im sure most of you have felt. But have been doing a lot of research. I'm not really sure what to expect, so I was hoping to get some advice. I found these forums the most helpful because they're real life experiences.
With my first outbreak, I did get the headache and flu symptoms and the very watery discharge, but I only got a few sores. I've read that usually this is the worst one. So can i hope my future outbreaks will be minimal as well?
I also want to try and handle outbreaks naturally, is this realistic? Does anyone else not take the medicine? I used tea tree oil, but I couldn't tell if it was helping or not. What are some other good remedies?
I'm about to graduate college and am stressed about my future. I've also been thinking a lot about finding a man and getting married. I have a hard enough time with guys, without this virus and now dating seems impossible. If i did find someone, how much will this affect our sex life? I want to find someone that will love and accept me, but is it fair to put them in the situation? I dont want anyone else to feel how i'm feeling right now.. any feedback and advice is much appreciated. Thanks!
1 like, 13 replies
FelizCastus mica89260
Posted
Do you have genital HSV1 or HSV2? It matters which. No meds is possible. I don't take any. But then I'm not dating or having sex, so don't need to worry about shedding and transmission. If you have gHSV1, you don't even really need to take meds after the first outbreak.
mica89260 FelizCastus
Posted
I have type 2. But I'm currently not dating either and don't plan to be for a while.
FelizCastus mica89260
Posted
Were you diagnosed with gHSV2 by swab? Just checking, because there are a lot of people on here who were only visually diagnosed or diagnosed using less than ideal (even inaccurate) tests. In any case, if you're like me (no bf, no sex), then you can get by with no meds. I just take multivitamins and extra vitamin c, try to keep healthy, exercise, eat well, and keep a tube of acyclovir cream for cold sores to treat recurrences. No oral meds.
mica89260 FelizCastus
Posted
Yeah, I was diagnosed by swab. That's good to know though, I hope I can control it by a healthy lifestyle. Thanks for your help!
FelizCastus mica89260
Posted
I still get recurrences, don't get me wrong, but I'm hoping after my first year and now that I'm a lot healthier they'll become even less frequent, touch wood. The cream really helps hasten healing, so I do recommend that. Despite what you may read, there's no need to change your diet so long as it's balanced and healthy.
amy95318 mica89260
Posted
I know how you feel, I had a lot of mixed emotions when I was first diagnosed. I didn't understand why or how it happened and how to manage it. I have what seems to be a really drastic case since mine is pretty cinstant with reoccurances. From my experience, the first was by far te worst outbreak. Mine have been reoccuring but not nearly as bad as the frist and much less painful. I have been doing a lot of research about homeopathic remedies and how to handle it without meds since they aren't working for me. Lysine, vitamn C, B-12, pro-biotic. I have also heard that tea leaf supppliments with 20% oleuropein, reishi mushrooms, vitamin A & E, B-complex, Zinc, magnesium/ calcium, and selenium can help. I am just strarting my journey into te vitamin/ supplement relm so I am not sure what will work. Hopefully yours is a much more mild case and very manageable. My doctor always reccomends using condoms even without any soars just to protect the other person and from a personal stand point, I think it is only fair to disclose it since that is how most of us ended up in this stuation... Let them make the decision even if that means a heartbreak for you... Thats my take on it at least. Hope this helps! Best wishes to you
mica89260 amy95318
Posted
Hi Amy!
Thanks for the advice. I hadn't heard of some of those supplements. I'm sorry to hear the medicine doesn't work for you, so hopefully some of the vitamins will. Do you get the headache, stomach ache, and watery discharge symptoms with reoccuring outbreaks? Also do you put any kind of oil or cream directly onto the sores?
I agree about disclosing to potential partners, it wouldn't be fair not to tell them. It's just very scary to think about and something I don't wanna have to do for a while so I will probably be avoiding the dating world, at least until I figure out how my body will react to this. I hope the vitamins help your outbreaks!
amy95318 mica89260
Posted
Yea I hadn't either. My mom found a homeopathic book with the recommendation so I am going to give it a shot. FIngers crossed that it will help! No, I actually do not get any symptoms at all other than the open soars. I keep a close eye on it since I am trying to figure out what helps and what makes it worse for me. I did get a yeast and bacterial infection after being diagnosed which gave me abnormal discharge but I took a course of meds from my gyno and now it is back to normal, well for the most part... My gyno gave me a gel that has lidocaine in it for the pain of the soars and it also keeps it moisturised with the hope it heals quicker and doesn't make the teasr larger.
Yea it is definitely not a conversation I am looking forward to... I recently started seeing somebody (a mutual friend set us up) and it has been going really well. I am terrified to tell him for obvious reasons. I feel like I finally met somebody I can see myself with who is ready for a serious relationship but now I have to deal with this... and with it being so constant, hard to pitch a condom silverl lining.
I hope yours clears up so you can start feeling normal agin and resume living life to the fullest!
mica89260 amy95318
Posted
I tried the tea tree oil, but with it being my first outbreak I couldn't tell if it was helping or not. It did seem to minimize the pain though. I've also read lemon balm and even manuka honey! Have you tried either of those?
I got lots of water discharge to the point where I had to wear a pad and would soak thorough my pants, so I'm hoping that symptom is not reoccuring!
How long has it been since you were diagnosed? That is definitely scary to bring up! But I'm sure the guy will like you just the same. And if he doesnt, his loss. Everything happens for a reason. But could you try a different prescription perhaps? That would make it very hard constantly having an outbreak. You'll have to let me know how it goes when you do talk to him!
amy95318 mica89260
Posted
I am trying the pill supplements but I will definitely let you know! I tried a mix of coconut oil and raw honey, they seemed to help but hard to apply unless you're at home since it has to be melted to apply and gardens quickly.
I was diagnosed in early November of 2016 so about 3 1/2 months now. Yea I didn't get too bad of discharge. It wore panty liners because of the ointment (greasy like Neosporin)
Yea that is the hope! I know it is just a condition, just hard to convince others it's not such a terrible thing like it is made out to be because of the stigma. I mean we aren't the first to have it and won't be the last... I tried switching mess but it made it worse (no "clear days" where before I would have at least a few clear days between outbreaks) I will let you know as things develop.
mica89260 amy95318
Posted
Yeah it seems a lot of the remedies can be kind of messy and almost impossible to apply if youre not at home! But wow, that's really too bed the medicine doesn't work for you
i thought that would be a for sure thing!
My first outbreak just cleared, so I'm not sure how my body is going to react to things now. It's a scary thing, not knowing when it's going to come!
But yeah, everyone seems to be afraid of it and it's hard to imagine telling someone you have it. To be honest, before I got diagnosed I knew nothing about it. I had just heard of it before but that was it. And I don't know what I would have done if someone I was seeing told me they had it.
davellew69 mica89260
Posted
Hi, hope your well
I have had genital herpies for about 18 months, and to be honest it hasn't really made any difference in all forms of day to day life.
I get blisters about every two months, in time outbreaks have got smaller.
I find cleaning with salt water the best help, for me it helps the healing of sores and I find they go with in a few days.
My local clinic suggested standard cold sore cream to help with sores, I have a tube at home just in case, but find saltwater the best.
I was down at first, but I promise that you can lead a
Perfectly normal life, just try and life healty, avoid stress.
Now 18 months on it really hasn't much difference to me, just find the best way for you to treat any outbreaks and enjoy life .
mica89260 davellew69
Posted
Do you take salt water baths or use a cloth to put salt water directly on the sores? Also what kind of salt do you use?
I'm starting to realize that it shouldn't affect me as much as I originally thought. I just have to keep a positive attitude. Thanks for your advice!