When I found out that I had genital herpes, I immediately started planning ways to kill myself. I shut myself down and cut off all communication with my friends and family. The notion that I would never have a healthy sex life again was a source of great frustration. My friends were out meeting people, finding love, and having children while I grew more and more isolated. I finally attempted suicide when the emotional anguish became too much for me to stand.
That was 18 years ago. I've been married for 17 years and we have two children. My last outbreak was so long ago I'm not even sure when it was; at least two years.
I only want to tell those of you who are new to this that your life is not over. It might seem that way, especially when you're young. But it gets better. Your life has changed. Occassionally, you'll need treatment. You'll need to be honest and safe with your sexual partners. If you plan to have children, consult a doctor, first. Life goes on.
Hey nice story, are your children negative ?
I really needed to see this. I was diagnosed 8 weeks ago. I've got no one to talk to and my partner of five years ended with me over it. I hope things get better and hearing your story gives me some faith.
Sorry I haven't been keeping up. Yes, my kids are negative. They were both born via C-section, which actually had nothing to do with herpes, but served to give me peace of mind all the same. In fact, at the time of my wife's pregnancy, she was still negative. We've always been careful and she's never had any symptoms.
I’m so glad to learn that my story helped someone. You know, I dated my wife for a few months before she became suspicious as to why I didn’t want to have sex. She finally confronted me, having correctly guessed that I was hiding something. Fortunately, she loved me enough that she was able to see past my disease. I’m very aware of how lucky I am to have found someone to love me for what I am. However, you might be surprised to learn that there are dating websites specifically geared towards those with HSV2. It’s more common than you think.
Hey your story is very motivational for those who need to hear something positive abou hsv2.