Struggling to come to terms with genital herpes :(

Hi, I found out I had B12 deficiency around the time I got the news I had GH. I have B12 injections every 3 months, I don't know if this is the reason I don't get any outbreaks, but just to let you know, having a vitamin deficiency can make you quite ill and it might be the reason some people have outbreaks and some don't. You don't have to be mega healthy I still drink alcohol, eat junk food but I don't over do it and I do a lot of walking and also try not to get stressed but that's impossible in my house. If you Google - B12 and Herpes, and look at the hits 1. Supplements for Herpes - Herpes - coldsores

2. Halting the herpes virus - news - Jamaica Gleaner

I think you would find them very helpful.

I started having outbreaks about three months ago. I am in college it just really sucks that this happened to me when I am all of 21 years old I got "it" from some stupid guy I dated for about seven months who didn't tell me that he had it even though he knew and we used protection. Now I feel utterly disgusting!! I do not want to tell any of my friends I don't know how they would react. I too now feel like I have this dirty little secret. Also this current outbreak is really painful-_-

@char

I have recently found out too and I'm near your age. I haven't told anyone but one person whom has been in my life for at least a decade. My boyfriend knows too since he gave it to me most likely.

Point is, if you're not comfortable, you shouldn't feel compelled to tell anyone anything unless you're having sex with them. No one here will judge you, because the reality is that lying to others and concealing it during sex is what's really disgusting-- DEFINITELY not you. I used protection also, I got landed with BOTH.

@MVThames

Thank you that kind of made me feel better! Lol I am afraid to even kiss someone now. I don't have it on my mouth, but I do not want to take the chance of giving it to someone else. I have googled it an what not, but still can not find a straight answer as to weather or not I can spread it to someone else through kissing when an outbreak is not present. This guy that I really like tried to kiss me and I turned my face away... He probably thinks I friend zoned his ass. I feel bad lol. I finally told my best friend of 8 years yesterday which was convent because he was telling me about an STD that he contracted which is "curable" but it still made me feel a hell of a lot better getting it off my chest! I would love to punch the little shit who give it to me in the face I think that would also help me cope^!!!!

I contracted Herpes on my first sexual experience when I was 15, actually from oral contact. There is very little difference in Herpes 1 and Herpes 2 except where they are located and the impacts. To date I have spent 37 years living with Herpes. A lot of focus on my diet and health has meant I now rarely have a significant breakout, however the first 5 years were almost constant. I have not used antiviral drugs. These things I have learnt:

1) Avoid foods with LArgenine, there is a lot of debate about this but observationally eating chocolate, beans and nuts in particular always made me breakout. LLysine taken in conjunction with megastrength B vitamin at the first tingly hint of a breakout helped.2) Feeling anxious and depressed may not just be a psychological response to herpes, I believe the virus effects your nervous system so you feel terrible, sometimes the only hint of a coming breakout was a negative mood shift. Conversely pmt can generate the emotional space that herpes manifests in. This is demonstrated by actually feeling less angry/anxious/unhappy AFTER the blisters erupt.

3) Once upon a time the only treatment was topical ointments but these used to contain sulphur and as i am allergic to this made the whole situation worse. Instead Iodine (stingless) based ointment was another thing that stopped big breakouts. 4) I had two vaginal births without problems, you just need to be swabbed and tested for active herpes once a week in the lead up to the birth. Remember someone who is really interested in you will be accepting of the situation, those who are not are not worth bothering with. 5) be careful with hygiene and avoid rubbing your eyes, they say herpes 2 can not be transferred to the eyes unlike 1 but in the almost 40 years I have had herpes many things that Doctors believed have shifted.

It's nice to hear positive stories on here so thanks cfit!! What kind of foods are good for keeping outbreaks away??

Sarah xx

So ive been having burning and pimple like marks on my vuvla, not only that it was very itchy and irritated. After about three days dealing with this pain & reading on websites of what I could have I decided to go to my gynecologist. I haven't had sex in almost 5 months and have been with my sons father for 3years, but are no longer together because it just didn't work out , but have been under a lot of stress. More stress then a normal 20year old should be going through. I told my Dr what has been going on and he told me I have herpes. I'm not sure which one but I have it. My first reaction was tears falling from my face because I know have a std and have to live with it for the rest my life. As a million thoughts ran through my head on where and how I got it , I'll never know. My Dr. Told me not to point fingers that I could of had it before and never knew, someone I had sex with in the past could have ¬ even know or long term stress and poor eating habits. In my case he believes I have a lot of stress built up and having my first outbreak. As he told me "its not the end of the world one out of six people I walk by have and don't even realize. When I see someone with a cold sore on their lip or mouth just think you know what they have. That I'm not alone" I've spent all day in tears and still can't bare with the pain , shocked , scared , uncomfortable , pissed , shame and how the rest of you are feeling. After reading some of the post i can say I honestly feel 10x better and hopefully one day someone will understand me.

God is with me.

I found out about 2 years ago that I had herpes 1 and 2. I had been seeing my now ex for about two months when he told me he had it. At the time I was like okay we will get through it I want to be with you, no big deal. Well I ended up getting it and my first breakout was the most excruciating pain i had ever been through. Every time I had to go to the bathroom it felt like i was pissing out shards of glass and every time i cryed. I actually feared having to pee. I had so many sores and it lasted for a couple weeks. After this happened I obviously knew I had it but I went to the Dr to get tested just to be 100% sure and they said I have both (although I never get cold sores on my mouth). So for a while I was pretty pissed but really only bc when I did get breakouts it hurt really bad. I hardly ever get them now, maybe a couple times a year but the thought of having to tell someone I really like is so scary. I broke up with my ex for a little while last year and dated a guy for about two months. The first day i met him we talked for hours and i told him straight up before anything goes any further and we start liking each other I have herpes and he said I'm not going anywhere. We will just be careful, i really like you and I'm not going to let that stop us from seeing each other. Long story short I ended up back with my ex that gave it to me and broke up with him again close to a month ago (for lots of reasons). Now I'm dating someone new that I've known for a long time and he says he really likes me and i really like him but I don't know how to talk him. I asked him what the worst thing a girl could say to him was and he said "I have, fill in std" or I'm pregnant, or I was born a man. Well its not the last two obviously but this makes me really nervous to tell him. I know after him saying that i shouldn't even bother, but I just keep thinking if i can just explain it right, if he just gives me a chance and hears me out, maybe he will give me a chance and still date me anyway and we will just be careful. We had sex (not for the first time, I was with him almost 4 years ago) for the first time since I've had this disease last night. We used a condom but he also went down on me for a few minutes. I know I shouldn't have let him do that and I should have told him first before we had sex but I just was so afraid to ruin things. I know you can spread it no matter what, but I also know from research I've been doing that i have less of a chance of spreading it if we use a condom and I don't have outbreaks that often, bc the easiest way of spreading it is skin ti skin contact which would mean unprotected sex while having an outbreak. I would never do that first of all bc it would be waaayyy too painful but also bc I wouldn't want to knowingly have herpes and have unprotected sex and give it to someone like my ex did. Anyway i want to tell him but I'm so scared ill lose him. What do I do!? Help me!!!

Finding this was one hell of a cheer up for me.

It's only been a week since i found out despite trying to deny to myself that it was just thrush or a water infection. My doctor at the local GUM clinic was the nicest woman about it and has given me EMLA cream for the pain when urinating. Ask for it cause it numbs any pain and its like heaven with no pain during your first or later outbreaks. Having an excellent physician is a must when it comes to aftercare and further testing.

I still feel a bit like a lepper who will never have sex again as im so scared of when im most contagious or knowing when an outbreak it about to happen. Just hoping this will be it and i will be fine (bit too much wishful thinking there but im trying to be optimistic about it all)

I have also heard about lycine tablets or supplements being excellent in keeping it supressed, is this just rubbish i've read online or do they actually work. Not back to see my GUM doctor till friday to ask for sure.

Keep smiling, one day we will all be happy and laughing at the ones currently judging us xxx

Hi there

I was recently diagnosed with genital herpes. I must have had it for three-four years without displaying any symptoms. I've been with my current boyfriend for nearly three years, neither of us have cheated and I'm the only one who's had an initial outbreak. Luckily it was relatively mild, only a few blisters which cleared immediately after I think the nurse popped them to get a swab, so it probably only lasted about 12 days. I was convinced I'd just badly cut myself shaving and it had got infected but nope, test came back positive. I was incredibly shocked and upset, and felt dirty and as if I was damaged goods. I've told a few of my friends (one of whom has it herself) who have all been super positive. Luckily my boyfriend is being great about it and is going to get a blood test to see if he carries the virus. Part of me hopes he is the one who gave it to me as I would feel worse if it was either of my two ex-boyfriends (both total idiots). I'm slowly coming to terms with it but I still don't feel remotely sexy, it's definitely dented my confidence. I think hearing supportive responses from you guys will help me get back to my old self.

Thank you

Ok so I just found out that I have herpes. I'm reading so much different stuff. So I want to know has anyone eblvery had the blood test done and if so how long does it take to show up in your blood? And is it true you can have it for years and never have any symptoms? Please help loosing my mind because I've bn witht he same person for over 2 years and this is no joke the pain I'm going thru.

Blood tests can be done at any one but it can take up to 3 months to show up. You might get a false result. Only sure fire way of knowing is to have swabs done when you have active sores as well as a blood test and these results can take up to 3 weeks to process

@cfit,

What does l-aregenine have to do with outbreaks? Please explain or let me know of a study. Thank you.

Regarding productive tests ?

I've had three swab tests that all came back negative, the blood test did confirm that I'd been given GH from my now X husband. I have struggled with self acceptance knowing that I have a condition that is so feared by many. Being single with this is hard to say the least. I realize " this too shall pass"

I pray for the courage to believe that I will meet a wonderful honest loving man who accepts me as I am w GH