Question:
Summer 2006- just graduated from college- at a weekend community camping event- took LSD- ran into a man who I had met before and got along with- ende d up sleeping with him. Two weeks later I feel a cut on my inner lips- I call my mother (nurse) and describe it to her- sounds like you have herpes she says, and i laughed in total denial. Cut to 3 days later with an outbreak so bad I could barely walk to the local medical office covered by my insurance- she looks at me, takes cultures (ow), and i agree to a number of STI tests- she never mentions the COST of these tests (i'm lucky i had great insurance and some money in the bank to cover $800 worth of tests)- she prescribes acyclovir and vicodin- both of which i take until the OB subsides (the vicodin sure helped more with avoiding the shock than actually helping the pain)- weeks later i have a second full on OB, i freak out and begin a daily dose of Valtrex for 2 months- during which no OB- just the shame, such shame- every time i orgasmed I would sob. In October I realize that taking valtrex is allowing me to not be fully responsible for my body, is allowing me to not pay attention to my body/symptoms/food intake- so I stop taking it right before going abroad. During the first month of travels I have many outbreaks, blisters/painful/itchy/fever/etc. Since then (november) i've had an outbreak each month a week before my period- they are no longer full blown OB- maybe a tiny bump or two will appear and then disappear without becoming a blister/breaking/puss/etc.- with the telltale tingling to give me warning about what's to come. But now I am in a relationship with someone I care deeply about, and although i have told him (before he touched me below the belt)- it's always in my mind, always there when we have sex- I worry about giving it to him, about giving it to myself orally or in my ear or eye- worry and shame don't mix well with my sex drive- so now when i catch myself getting worried i stop and breathe and remember we are being as safe and cautious as we can and i let the worry go and come back to the present moment.

I am taking lysine supplement, and during each outbreak since stopping valtrex i use a natural topical medicine from a naturopath I saw over the summer. It's hard for me to avoid the foods with high arginine, because i love coffee, fresh coconuts, grains, chocolate, etc.

I don't know how things will be- it's scary- but age 23 with HSV-2 and I feel like I have gained so much wisdom and caution and maturity because of this virus- sex is no longer something casual with someone meaningless- sex and sexual energy are for my partner/someone i love and care about and want to be that intimate with.

In retrospect I could have had HSV before having sex with the man in July- I had never had a blood test during STI testing- but the facts that I had an OB almost exactly 2 weeks after he and I slept together, and how slimy he acted afterwards (I told him when I found out, and strongly urged him to get tested, then weeks later called and urged him again, to which he replied that he was really busy and wiould probably forget- which is the most immature and irresponsible response he could've given.)

But it happened and it doesn't matter now who I got it from, because I have HSV-2- and that's my reality- I'm lucky i only have herpes after sleeping with a practical stranger who refuses to get tested- it may be painful sometimes, a pain in my groin and a pain in my relationships and a pain to my piece of mind- it's not deadly, i'm not sick and dying- and I am not going to risk my health again like that!

So that's my story in this very moment,
I wrote a lot more than I thought I was going to,
and I hope someone reads this and gains some bit of wisdom or compassion or understanding from my experiences.

:)

Answer:
Hi lady... Thanks for sharing your story. I also graduated the same time you did... so I can relate to your feelings. You have a very positive outlook on the whole situation. Keep it up :)

Answer:
man.. i alllllllways feel like an asshole when i read these threads.. cuz i know i'm supposed to have learned a great message about sex and how this will weed out the bad ones and this that and the third... but goddammitanyway if i dont still wish i could have some wild PROTECTED kinky CONSENTUAL casual sex...

i know it sounds shallow, but hey, i'm 21.. kiddie pools are shallow too but when you just really wanna splash someone, its everything you could ask for

Answer:
i know it sounds shallow, but hey, i'm 21.. kiddie pools are shallow too but when you just really wanna splash someone, its everything you could ask for

:lol: :lol:

Sorry just thought that was really funny. I think at 21 I'd be feeling exactly how you are. Hang on in there, I'm sure you'll find someone special.

Answer:
Lady lightness, did you use a condom when you slept with him?

Answer:
well- that's hard to say- i was tripping really hard- i told him we needed to use a condom- he had one in his hand- but did i see him put it on and then enter me- no. so, i don't know.

don't do drugs and sleep with virtual strangers, kids
i'm lucky i only got herpes