It was the call I had been expecting. Until that point there was still a chance it was all a big mix up and this was actually happening to someone else. Then as the cheerful sounding lady on the phone declared 'You have type 2 Herpes' I saw all hope of delusion fall to pieces. I reeled as I hung up the phone but there was nothing I could do but keep smiling - I was half way through a conversation with my colleague on the train home from a meeting in Basingstoke.
That was earlier today. Having spent the last few months anticipating that moment I have decided that I would like to share my experiences. I know from research in the last few months that this is a common virus and I also know I have found it hard to find real life information from people who deal with this everyday. I would like to share the story of a 'normal' guy who enjoys his life most of the time and who also happens to have herpes.
I am 26, I am single, I have a degree and a good job. I like salsa dancing, cycling, drinking too much with my friends on the weekend, long holidays to weird places with a small backpacks, eating and cooking good food. I have had sex with 7 people and until recently I didn't think I counted as a sexually 'risky' person. Generally I prefer lasting relationships to one night stands although I have had a mix of both.
I was diagnosed symptomatically with herpes by my GP late last October. I had been showing symptoms since May. I went to the GUM clinic for a test in December but it was a swab from symptoms a couple of weeks ago that today confirmed the inevitable. There are a few other twists to this tale (which will be revealed in due course) and I still have many unanswered questions. I do however have an appointment with the SHAC (sexual health advisory clinic) on Wednesday and more importantly a date with a girl on Sunday. Both of these things raise interesting and slightly scary questions about how this diagnosis will change my life.
More soon.
Monday, 21 January 2008
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4 comments:
Shit man, that's harsh. Keep positive, you'll be cool. D
I hope that you will be okay and that you will take good care of yourself.
fucking fuck! there is no god
i just want to say your blog is fantastic i am a 23 yr old recently single female who caught herpes from my ex parter five years ago (he choose not to let me know about it) now im single im finding it harder to cope with as i think "who would want to date me" my outbreaks have got eaiser to cope with over the years but are still very regular about 1 a month sometimes more im about to try a remedy called dynamiclear have you heard of this and would you recommend i try it? thank you so much for sharing your life
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