Today I found out I have herpes!

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.