I am devastated by a diagnosis received yesterday. When I read about shedding even when there is no outbreak, I wonder if ever again in my life I will be able to lie in someone's arms and not worry that by his touching me I will have inflected him. You probably felt as I do when you first heard the ad news, but how do you square even a tiny chance of infecting someone with your conscience?

Hi Stillinshock,

We all have felt the same as you do now. I was diagnosed in Nov/Dec so with each OB, I am quickly reminded that I have the disease. I had posted a comment on another post to a woman who was feeling the exact same as you are right now. I don't want this to sound harsh, but until they discover a cure for HSV, we all have to learn ways to deal with it. The more you stress, the more potential that an OB will occur. First, you need to learn to except this part about you before worrying how you are going to tell a partner. I think once you become comfortable with the fact that you have HSV, telling someone might be less difficult.

I remember reading a post from a woman on another site in which she was telling the details of "breaking the news" to a guy she had been dated that she had HSV 2. She recalls practicing everything she was going to say to him. When the moment came to it, she told him how much she enjoyed his company and would like to take their relationship to the next level. As she took a deep breath to tell him, he interupted her before she could continue. He stated that he felt the same but need to inform her that he had herpes. Goes to show you how common this HSV is.

Hold your head up high sweetie. This is not the end of the world, just a little detour in our road of life.

Good luck to you,
~M~