Tips and Tricks and General Advice

So I started experiencing what I thought was a yeast infection about a week and a half ago, I was put on medication for that but then I noticed some painful bumps around my vulva, it was then I was sure that I had contracted herpes. I had unprotected sex with someone and started developing symptoms almost immediately. 

I called my doctor and she said she was sure it was herpes (she had seen a bump down there when she had checked me for a yeast infection, I thought it was an ingrown hair because there was no pain to the touch), she immediately sent a prescription for valtrex which I started taking the very next day. 

Suffice to say, I lost my composure. I cried, I played the blame game, and thought to myself “if only I hadn’t had sex with that one person!” The truth is, I might never know when or how I got herpes, it might have been with that steady long distance boyfriend I only had sex with twice or it might have been a week and a half ago. The thing is, you now have it, there’s no getting rid of it so there’s no point in looking back and feeling guilty or ashamed. Now is the time to read and inform yourself of how best to deal with this cumbersome skin condition which just happens to affect your genitals. 

My symptoms have not been as bad as some people, I have sores but they don’t hurt as much, I can walk and I can sit with relatively little to no pain. For me, the ITCHING was the worst, it was unbearable the first two days, I could hardly sleep. I have read everything I can on the internet and these are some things that have worked for me. 

First of all, the day I started getting symptoms is the day I got my period, so yay for feeling double bad. The most important thing I think is to keep the area affected as dry as possible, when you’re at home take off that underwear and wear your comfiest pair of cotton pants. If you happen to get sweaty at night or at work buy baby powder and sprinkle that on your vagina. I bought mine at cvs for $2, it’s the small travel size. Be sure to buy fragrance free, as certain additives can further irritate your skin, mine is hypoallergenic, pthalate free, and for sensitive skin. 

DO NOT WEAR RESTRICTIVE OR TIGHT CLOTHING. You want to avoid rubbing, chafing, close contact with anything until your sores have sufficiently healed. 

DRINK NOTHING BUT WATER. It stung like hell the first time I peed with sores, but that’s because I had been chugging apple juice like crazy. Water will make your pee less acidic therefore it will not hurt as much if any when you do pee. 

EAT YOGURT, FIBER, ANYTHING TO MAKE YOUR STOOL SOFTER. If you’re like me, you probably have sores around your anus, and by now you probably know that it hurts a lot to poop, make your stool soften and it will go out much easier and less painful, yes it will still sting afterwards but do not hold in your BM’s, it can cause complications. 

TAKE VITAMINS, IMMUNE BOOSTERS, HEALTH SHAKES. Take anything designed to make you healthier, the better your immune system is the better chance you have at fighting the herpes virus, just like fighting a cold or the flu you want to be in tip top shape. 

Lastly, I know how you feel. You probably think your life is over, no one will ever want you, your friends will reject you, but let me tell you, you are so very wrong! You can still enjoy an active and healthy sex life, disclosure is important and anyone that will not take a chance is not worth your time (but still, be respectful of other people’s choices) your friends will stand by you as they have for years, and most importantly you are still YOU. You still like the same things, you still have the same sense of humor, and there’s definitely nothing wrong with you. I know it’s uncomfortable and painful but it’s not a punishment, take it as a learning experience and go out there and educate those around you, be STRONG and know that this is as worst as it will be, it can only get better from here on out. 

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