When I learned about my diagnosis last week, I was simply floored, as I've never had any symptoms or OB's before. Sure, I've had multiple partners, unprotected sex, one-night stands, etc.... but I've never had any reason to believe that I had herpes. I've never had blisters, or weeping, puss filled sores.

Then I started reading everything I could find online (which is how I found this great site!) and now that I've actually educated myself about the virus and know the facts, I can tell you that I've had this for awhile. The deep, searing zing that randomly appeared and went from my butt down my leg? Must be a pinched nerve. The weird sensitivity and redness on my vulva? My underwear rubbed me the wrong way. Or maybe just raw after vigorous sex. Itching? Must be another yeast infection! That really weird rash I got years ago, right next to my nose that wasn't made up of pimples, but clear-fluid blisters that itched and crusted over? That had my doctor and dermatologist puzzled and the whole thing was chalked up to a freak yeast infection on my face.
Holy cow! Now I'm really floored. I can't be sure about everything, but after learning from all of you the multitude of ways that this virus seems to manifest itself, damn if I haven't had herpes for years!

Of course, I've already stocked up on Lysine, garlic tabs, Vitamin C and Zinc. Funny, about 5 years ago, these are some of the exact same supplements my then-husband/now-ex started stocking up on when he went on a "heath kick". And that's about the time our sex life took a nose dive. Hmmmm......

Thank you to everyone on this board for your open, honest, straight-forward insight. Reading through these posts has provided so much hope and support that I'm looking at this as a part of my life that won't set me back, but will give me the strength to realize that I'm the only one who is responsible for my physical health, my mental health and my spiritual health. I take credit for where I am in my life, and at the same time have to take responsibility for my actions and the consequences of my decisions.

I hope that as I go through this, I'm able to help someone who is just stumbling upon this site in a desperate attempt to calm their fears and answer their questions just like you all have done for me so far. Thank you!

This is a wonderful post!!! It just says it all! I'm been thinking about starting a post about how herpes isn't what people assume it is...I had this vision of what I though herpes was...assumed if you had it you would know it and how wrong I was. Long long years ago, my older sister found out she had genital herpes but I never talked to her about it and I didn't really think much about it. I knew that she wasn't a bad person and only had sex with someone that she was in a long term relationship with. I just figured she had sores every once in a while and that's what it was.

You know that EX husband of yours must have known he had herpes from all those pills he bought! I guess he's never said a word to you about having herpes then since you just found out and you were shocked. Having doctors that didn't know what was wrong with you is soooooooooooo typical! I bet a lot of ODD skin rashes are herpes and doctors never get it! Those skin rashes associated with herpes don't want to go away either! Yesterday I was going around the web searching for "herpes statistics" and found a statistic about being misdiagnosis of herpes by clicicians. I think it was something like 80% are misdiagnosed!!!!!!! I mean that's crazy...80% of all herpes cases are misdiagnosed????????? UNREAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes great post....I am not sure if I have herpes 2 but im suspicious and have my appointment tomorrow.I am glad there is somewhere to go and find information such as your post even if I find I dont have herpes I sure know alot more about it then before.I had no idea about herpes I just thought I knew and I always thought if one had herpes theyd have sores well I know better now.

Agreeing with the rest--awesome post. Before I contracted herpes, I also thought that the signs and symptoms were blatantly obvious and that you had to have huge blisters. Now I know that this is not true and that herpes can show itself as a variety of different symptoms unique to each person.

~Katalina