i'm pretty sure i'm having an out break. i was pretty sure i was clean, and have been safe, but i started to notice these things forming (three little small things that look like herpes photos i've seen). i wasn't worried until it kinda hurt. kinda like a prickle, is that what they mean by the tingle feeling. i'm going to the doctor asap but with my schedule it won't be till friday night.
here's is my biggest concern:
i've been with my gf for a year and 3 months. i love her and i would never cheat on her, and vice-versa... how did i get this? i got checked before we went out. not sure if she did though. she couldn't have given this to me that long ago and me just noticing now could she? the sun is starting to shine now that winters passed, which is my guess too the sudden appearances. the things started forming a couple weeks back, so i'm trying to think if around that time i got really drunk and blacked out.
OR around the fall and through part of winter i started feeling really nauseous occasionally in for the first few hours of the day. it hasn't happened in a while. it may be something else (sleep dep, nutrition). i'm worried that that might be the flu feeling and maybe i didn't show symptoms till now. does any of this seem right!? could it be something else? is there any other way get herpes?
also... i don't want to tell her till i know for sure. that could be 12 days though. it would be odd if we didn't get it on for 12 days (i realize i have to though)... when i first i thought i had herpes i wanted to ask if she cheated on me cause i was sure i didn't. i know she wouldn't though. so i didn't, plus i'm the guy that drinks and goes out all the time.
now if i do have it, it may already be too late as i noticed them a week and a bit back. i'm worried she might be furious and leave me. How do i tell her?
does anybody have any advice to any part of this?
it would mean so much.
thanks.

There are a lot of possibilities here...she may very well have herpes but she doesn't know it and just because someone has herpes doesn't mean that "BAMMM" you are going to get it from the right as soon as you have sex with them. She may not have been contagious until just recently. She can have symptoms that she doesn't recognize as herpes...thinks she's having a yeast infection/bacterial infection/bladder infection/ etc....or she may know and is scared to death that she will lose you if she says something. She may have had an OB and thinks that since she's not having them anymore that she's not contagious...You see, what people think about herpes and what people know about herpes are two different things. I think when a lot of people have a sore...well it went away so it's just nothing. Or they think "I couldn't have herpes" only nasty people get herpes so it couldn't be that!

The other possibility could be that you've had it and didn't have an OB until just now...maybe being run down...lack of sleep...drinking too much etc. has caused you to have a sudden OB. Even as little as doctors do actually know about herpes...even they will tell you that it can remain dormant and all of a sudden break out. Or you could be really lucky and it's not herpes at all. The way the lesions feel on me it's like they go way down under the flesh and hurt deep down to the bone and then after about a week or so they start to itch...also they will ache long after the sore is gone. Another characteristic of a herpes lesion is to peel and to ooze and sometimes they will turn into a cluster of itchy blisters but not always. I'd say if the sore is a postule and it pops...it's probably not herpes...if it oozes clear when you squeeze it it's more likely to be a herpes lesion. But don't mess with them too much so you don't spread it!

OOPS...I forgot another possibility...does she get fever blisters/cold sores? This is herpes (usually type 1) and this can be spread to your genital area through oral sex.

could i have had it from a long time ago, never showing symptoms till now for some reason?
still can't figure out how i got it. that would make more sence. when i got my test done before i didn't get test specifically for herpes.

Yes. Herpes can lie dormant for years, with no symptoms, unfortunately, and outbreak at anytime. I was told by my doctor there is no way to find out "when" you got it. If anyone has info to the contrary, please clarify & thanks. You need to get the Herpe Select Test, or IgG.

thanks everyone.
this really helps.
i can't stop thinking about this. i'm so worried.

I know how you feel, we all do, that's why we are here. Feel free to vent. You should really go get the correct tests and then you can deal with it either way. It's not the end of the world. The more you read, the better you will feel. It is written that up to 50% of college students have the virus and 1 in 5 adults. You are so NOT alone!! It is not a DISEASE it is a virus. If we all spoke up & told the truth, there would be no stigma, but that's not gonna happen! These are the worst days for you...it will get better.

thanks.
just thinking about my g.f.'s sex life. we haven't used condoms for about a year are we always going to have to use protection now? when i feel an outbreak coming no sex at all?
can i still go down on her even if i only have genital herpes?

helpmehelpmehelpme,
hello and welcome to the board. this herpes virus can be very tricky and it can treat everyone differently, keep that in mind - at all times. even symptons can be quite different, I have herpes genitally - but mine surfaces as tingles/sting/burn type of feeling, with no visible marks. I don't get lesions or blisters. I would suggest both you & your gf go and get tested, asap. I'd mention your symptons to her and ask if she's ever felt anything strange going on down below. My bf was initially diagnosed some 17yrs. ago and had a 2nd. ob about 3 yrs. ago - guys seems to have lesser signs of this virus - than women do (for some reason). So, herpes can lay dormant - for a very long time, only until it is triggered. Ob's can start if, your immune system is weak, stress, lack of sleep, alcohol and various food "triggers". (ie: peanuts & chocolate, caffeine) With us - females, hormones/menstration can also be a trigger But, like I said before - it affects everyone differently...I'm not trying to overwhelm you, I'm just trying to show you the differences. Good Luck, -shinyOrn
P.S. Got to go - I'll answer in a bit.

thanks.
every answer makes me feel better!

HelpMe~
Ok, I'm back - sorry was at work and just had to go....(everyone showed up) ok, back to your ??/'s....Good news - if you both have it - relax, can't be re-infected in the same area....But, rough sex can "trigger" (word - used here often) ob's, in either one of you - IF YOu Both have herpes. Ok, Bad news - condoms DO NOT PREVENT the virus from tranmitting - lovely, why in no high school sex ed. films, beyond me!!! Why isn't this viewed accept in society, how come standard std tests don't test for herpes! You have to ask specifically - ask for it, how CRAZY is that!!1 Anyway, don't get me started on public std. ignorance....Hence, the herpes- stamigna....So unnecessary - education is key!!!Don't get me started,,, gotta go again...Kids are here!!!
Sorry, -shinyOrn