Check out my new website!
http://womenwithherpes.com
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
News!!!
Hi All,
First of all:
- I added a widget to the right side bar of my favorite herpes products. Check them out!
Second:
I am writing an ebook on herpes for women. What would YOU like to see in an ebook? Also, would you buy an ebook on herpes? Please send your feed back to valerievaltrexx@gmail.com
Sunday, May 4, 2008
10 things everyone should know about herpes
10. If you have herpes, your life isn't over.
9. For those who don't have herpes, HERPES IS NOT A PLAUGE
8. A safe, satisfying, and healthy sexual relationship can happen between someone who has herpes, and someone who doesn't (condoms+ valtrex+ abstaining from sex when an outbreak is about to show up= 2 happy healthy people).
7. You should never settle for less because you have herpes.
6. Cold sores are HERPES, its called HSV 1
5. Herpes is contagious during an outbreak, and just before an outbreak when physical symptoms are just about to happen (never take chances with symptoms).
4. Herpes is as American as apple pie and baseball. Tons of people have it. You are not alone.
3. People who have herpes must be honest and tell their partners.
2. Herpes is not an STD, its a VIRUS.
1. People with herpes aren't gross or broken. The worst part about having herpes is the social stigma attached to it. Maybe those who ignorantly reject those with herpes should do a little research and realize its very common. You probably already know people with genital herpes and cold sores who are too afraid to tell you because they fear your bad reaction! For those with herpes...stop feeling ashamed, its a common thing. Speak openly about it, don't let the ignorance of others make you feel bad. The more open you are about it, and the less you withdraw from society, the more you help to weaken the stigma.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
My personal herpes story
This is a little graphic, if its TMI, I am not going to apologize, I gave you a warning from the jump. Like it or lump it.
About two years ago, I had a little red bump on my vagina. It hurt. I immediately went to the doctors office. My doctor ( at the time) said that the little bump was razor burn. So I dismissed it, it went away, and I didn't think of it again. Around Christmas time, there came more pain. I took out a compact mirror to check things out "down there" and it just looked a little red. I thought "okay maybe I had some rough sex and its just irritated". I also felt sick. My throat hurt, I felt like I had a fever and I had a bad headache. Not even 24 hours later, the pain was 10x as worse. I kinda felt around down there to see what was up, and BOOM, something odd was going on. I run into the bathroom and rip out a compact mirror and what do you know:
I am full of bumps and blisters and everything was oozing...it was a total horror show and I immediately launched myself into a severe anxiety attack.
Half coherent I made a doctors appointment with a DIFFERENT doctor within the same office. She inspected me, told me it looked like I have herpes (HSV 2) and swabbed the lesions to get a test run. She gave me a pap smear, it was the most painful thing I had experienced as I had lesions on the inside.
The tests came back, and she confirmed that I do in fact have HSV 2 (genital herpes). I was shocked, I immediately burst into tears. I was also angry because my live in boyfriend at the time was clearly the culprit and he clearly cheated on me. It turns out he also has hsv 2, but his physical symptoms were minimal and being the abusive batterer that he was, blamed it all on me. He was the first one I told, and he told me that I was " disgusting" and "sick" and looked at me like I just told him I have three heads. It was not the type of loving support I needed at the time. It took me a long time, but I eventually got myself out of that abusive relationship, even though I felt like i SHOULD stay with him because he has it too.
There I go off on a tangent.
Anyway, I felt broken, I felt dirty, I felt ashamed, and most of all, I felt lost. The doctor who diagnosed me with it, simply read me my test results and answered the few questions I managed to spit out in between sobs.
There are a few things you should realize from reading my experience:
- Herpes can be hard to detect. The doctors originally thought I had razor burn. The only sure fire way to get a 100% accurate dosage is to do a blood test, and get a swab sample from the lesion.
- Men can show very faint physical symptoms, because their genitalia is external. Women have worse symptoms because a vagina is a warm internal little oven that is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. No, its not fair, but its the truth, and you should never let anyone pin herpes on YOU simply because your symptoms are worse.
-The doctor put me on Valtrex, I was cleared up and back to my normal self within 5 days. I am constantly under a lot of stress, so I kept getting out breaks. I now take Valtrex daily. You should never have to deal with the stress and pain of having an outbreak. Don't try to tough it out, talk to you doctor about going on suppressive therapy.
- Your doctor may not provide all of the support you need, but resources are out there. Don't let your questions go unanswered, don't feel like you are suffering alone. Take it upon yourself to research and connect with others with herpes.
That's my story. If you want to share yours, e-mail me at valerievaltrexx@gmail.com ( Please note, everything you share that is personal, will not be posted unless you specifically, in writing, give me permission).
Much love,
Valerie
About two years ago, I had a little red bump on my vagina. It hurt. I immediately went to the doctors office. My doctor ( at the time) said that the little bump was razor burn. So I dismissed it, it went away, and I didn't think of it again. Around Christmas time, there came more pain. I took out a compact mirror to check things out "down there" and it just looked a little red. I thought "okay maybe I had some rough sex and its just irritated". I also felt sick. My throat hurt, I felt like I had a fever and I had a bad headache. Not even 24 hours later, the pain was 10x as worse. I kinda felt around down there to see what was up, and BOOM, something odd was going on. I run into the bathroom and rip out a compact mirror and what do you know:
I am full of bumps and blisters and everything was oozing...it was a total horror show and I immediately launched myself into a severe anxiety attack.
Half coherent I made a doctors appointment with a DIFFERENT doctor within the same office. She inspected me, told me it looked like I have herpes (HSV 2) and swabbed the lesions to get a test run. She gave me a pap smear, it was the most painful thing I had experienced as I had lesions on the inside.
The tests came back, and she confirmed that I do in fact have HSV 2 (genital herpes). I was shocked, I immediately burst into tears. I was also angry because my live in boyfriend at the time was clearly the culprit and he clearly cheated on me. It turns out he also has hsv 2, but his physical symptoms were minimal and being the abusive batterer that he was, blamed it all on me. He was the first one I told, and he told me that I was " disgusting" and "sick" and looked at me like I just told him I have three heads. It was not the type of loving support I needed at the time. It took me a long time, but I eventually got myself out of that abusive relationship, even though I felt like i SHOULD stay with him because he has it too.
There I go off on a tangent.
Anyway, I felt broken, I felt dirty, I felt ashamed, and most of all, I felt lost. The doctor who diagnosed me with it, simply read me my test results and answered the few questions I managed to spit out in between sobs.
There are a few things you should realize from reading my experience:
- Herpes can be hard to detect. The doctors originally thought I had razor burn. The only sure fire way to get a 100% accurate dosage is to do a blood test, and get a swab sample from the lesion.
- Men can show very faint physical symptoms, because their genitalia is external. Women have worse symptoms because a vagina is a warm internal little oven that is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. No, its not fair, but its the truth, and you should never let anyone pin herpes on YOU simply because your symptoms are worse.
-The doctor put me on Valtrex, I was cleared up and back to my normal self within 5 days. I am constantly under a lot of stress, so I kept getting out breaks. I now take Valtrex daily. You should never have to deal with the stress and pain of having an outbreak. Don't try to tough it out, talk to you doctor about going on suppressive therapy.
- Your doctor may not provide all of the support you need, but resources are out there. Don't let your questions go unanswered, don't feel like you are suffering alone. Take it upon yourself to research and connect with others with herpes.
That's my story. If you want to share yours, e-mail me at valerievaltrexx@gmail.com ( Please note, everything you share that is personal, will not be posted unless you specifically, in writing, give me permission).
Much love,
Valerie
Let me introduce myself
Hello blog readers,
My name is Valerie Valtrexx I am lil miss herpes know-it-all. Think of me as the "Dear Abby" of the herpes topic.
I will be adding to this blog on a regular basis. The content will always be updated. I will be adding links to helpful herpes related resources ALL OF THE TIME.
And since I am your one and only herpes go-to gal...please feel free to send blog topic ideas, questions, comments, hate mail, and so on to my personal address....
valerievaltrexx@gmail.com.
Don't be shy, speak your mind!
My name is Valerie Valtrexx I am lil miss herpes know-it-all. Think of me as the "Dear Abby" of the herpes topic.
I will be adding to this blog on a regular basis. The content will always be updated. I will be adding links to helpful herpes related resources ALL OF THE TIME.
And since I am your one and only herpes go-to gal...please feel free to send blog topic ideas, questions, comments, hate mail, and so on to my personal address....
valerievaltrexx@gmail.com.
Don't be shy, speak your mind!
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