Question:
I first got a sore back in the fall of 2002. it was HORRIBLE because it was right inside my vaginal opening. It was the largest and worse one I've ever had. i had only had sex with one person during the last 3 months before that .... and he says he never had a sore. That is still the case 3 years later for him. Well, lucky him.

I went to the doctor and had the sore tested and it came out negative. They did tell me that even though it says negative that it could still be herpes. They gave me some pills (don't remember what they are) and it went away in about 2 weeks.

I have fairly long stretches between ... i don't really refer to them as outbreaks. Once in a while I'll get an itsy bitsy little sore under the skin ... that doesn't really even blister .. it's just a little itchy and sore and then goes away in a few days.

I have never been diagnosed with this, i think that is why it's difficult for me to deal with. I had no issues (thank god) when I was pregnant.

It's weird cuz we had sex anyway even after I told him I thought he gave it to me ... and he never got it from me, obviously, either. Does that mean maybe it's not herpes? Maybe it's something else? Because I usually get a small sore during my period ... or right after I shave. I used to think they were ingrown hairs or irritation from shaving .... but I'm just confused. Since I've never been diagnosed w/it it's hard for me to figure things out for myself.

None of my sores ever get "crusty". This one that I have now ... when I pat it dry after I go to the bathroom ... does seem to have a little "stickiness" to it .... kinda like a scab on your arm right before it scabs. This has never happened before. I figure the itchiness just means it's healing, right? I have also noticed that if I scratch myself while, inserting a tampon, for example ... I'll get a sore there a day or two later. Coudl this mean that it's not herpes that I just have a sensitive genitalia area or something that doesn't respond well to small "injuries" and reacts in a way that "mimicks" herpes? Cuz wouldn't my ex have gotten herpes if that's what I had? I've been with about 3 or 4 people .... embarassingly .... since then ... never told them about herpes ... i know that is stupid and I feel horrible but nobody ever told me they had it .... but i never had sex during an outbreak except for with my ex who i thought gave it to me so it was "ok" ... plus he wanted to anyway even after I told him. And he knew the sore was there then. Confusing. Anyway ...

I have noticed that around my period is when I get the sores. Sometimes are worse than others, but I don't think I've had more than 5 or 6 in the last 3 years. Now I get one that is actually blistering (It's been about 5 days since the first sign of it) ... and my boyfriend gets out jail tomorrow! (DUI related) --- what the hell?!?! I guess i should be used to that kind of luck by now, huh?!

Anyway ... I was actually introduced to him through his sister since he's been in there. I have never said anythign to him about this. Since so much time goes by in between lesions I figured that I "got lucky" and it went away. yeah I guess i'm pretty naieve sometimes. okay a lot. Okay extremely. I get the point.

Anyway .... my first questtion is .... is there any way to speed up the healing process? I read that it is good to keep it clean & dry ... and blow dry it with the setting on cool after a shower, etc ... so since air is good for it woudl it be okay for me to let air run onto me for a while? Like with the air from my air filter in my room or something? Will drinking a lot of water help?

Second question ... is there any way to keep the sore from really "becoming a sore" once you notice the little bump?

Third question ... How the hell do I talk to my boyfriend about this?! I don't even know for sure how I got it, or who I got it from! It's not something you want to start a relationship off with ... then when you grow close, it's not something you want to say because you don't want to RUIN the relationship with it!!! What the hell how do i deal with this?

Thanks in advance.

~B~

Answer:
I first got a sore back in the fall of 2002. it was HORRIBLE because it was right inside my vaginal opening. It was the largest and worse one I've ever had. i had only had sex with one person during the last 3 months before that .... and he says he never had a sore. That is still the case 3 years later for him. Well, lucky him. Yes ~ but unless he has had proper std testing how does he really know for sure?

I went to the doctor and had the sore tested and it came out negative. They did tell me that even though it says negative that it could still be herpes. They gave me some pills (don't remember what they are) and it went away in about 2 weeks. False negatives are pretty common if you wait more than 48 hours to have the doctor do the herpes culture.

Did you have a follow-up type specific antibody test later on to double check your herpes status?

I have fairly long stretches between ... i don't really refer to them as outbreaks. Once in a while I'll get an itsy bitsy little sore under the skin ... that doesn't really even blister .. it's just a little itchy and sore and then goes away in a few days. Herpes outbreaks vary from person to person. Some people get them and some do not. Some can recognize their outbreaks and some can not. Some have been properly tested and others have not only to assume that they had. Herpes is not part of the routine std testing process.

I have never been diagnosed with this, i think that is why it's difficult for me to deal with. I had no issues (thank god) when I was pregnant. Are you planning on finding out for sure if you have herpes or not?

It's weird cuz we had sex anyway even after I told him I thought he gave it to me ... and he never got it from me, obviously, either. Does that mean maybe it's not herpes? It very well could be something else. You won't know until you have proper testing. Is your boyfriend planning on getting tested?

Maybe it's something else? Because I usually get a small sore during my period ... or right after I shave. I used to think they were ingrown hairs or irritation from shaving .... but I'm just confused. Since I've never been diagnosed w/it it's hard for me to figure things out for myself. So when is your next doctor's appointment?

Angela :wink:

Answer:

Herpes is not part of the routine std testing process.
Angela :wink:


Why isn't this the case? That I don't understand.