Question:
Well, I am laying on the couch and some friends come over with me and my boyfriend. I felt pretty good to be this informed and not affraid to say something to my friends. (really they are more my bf friends) anyway. My boyfriend is having a cold sore outbreak. He was saying how he was achy and such. One of the guys made the comment of you have cold sores. Then his other friend said yeah we both do. The 1st guy turns to me and said what did you give it to him. My bf said no I had it before her. Then the 2nd guy said he just got it a couple months ago from a chick telling him her cold sore was healed but still obviously there. HAHA! yeah right.

So I butt in and say So what if I do have it?? He was shocked. He said that it wouldn't be a problem. Of course I didn't divulge what kind I had. That's none of their business. But I continued to tell them the percentage of people that have it. That some don't have to have symptoms to pass along and most were exposed with it as a child.

Then I looked at them and said OKAY now that I have schooled you in Herpes STD information how about we watch this movie now.


Now if you ask me I would hope EVERYONES friends were that easy to talk with. And I actually taught them some things which made me feel better, especially the one that is newly infected.

Just had to share my uplifting story that not all will run and will support you. Some just aren't informed and may need you to let them in on a couple of things. ;)

Answer:
That is totally cool. I try to do the same....teach folks about herpes, in a really indirect way....I use to work as a counselor at a health clinic so I can sort of use THAT as my way of divulging so much knowledge about herpes, coldsores etc, without giving up TOO Much personal information.

What amazes me is how many people do not realize that coldsores IS herpes. Whether it is due to lack of education (biggest culprit), simple ignorance or just plain denial, I don't know, but time and time again,I come across people who have this monster sores on their mouth, and they are rubbing them, picking at them, scrathing them, THEN sticking the same fingers in their eyes, ears, nose and god knows where else. So I have no problem telling them how contagious coldsores are and how it CAN be spread to other areas.

But I think it is great you are having this kind of conversation with people. It helps spread the knowledge...and not the virus!! ;-)