asanders319

Hi all, thought i'd share a little story with you.

So my girlfriend and i have been together a few months now. We met when i moved here through a mutual friend who had gone to college with her, who gave me her number. Things started out friendly but began to move in a romantic direction, at which point she told me she had contracted herpes around 2 years ago. I knew very little about H but began a sexual relationship anyway. After only a few days of intimacy i got extremely nervous, basically overwealmed with anxiety about what i was doing and the implications it could have on my life.

Anyway, i came here and alot of the things that people in y'all's little community had to say eased some of my concerns and helped me realize that i wasn't necessarily dealing with some monster that was going to make my penis explode. The things i read here were largely responsible for my decision to give her a chance and commit to a legitimate relationship, which is something i haven't done for a long time.

Anyhow, i went to the doctor to get myself tested when it became apparent that i might already have H or other STI's and not know it (my sexual history is somewhat shady). I ended up testing positive for syphilis (which i thought was essentially eradicated but learned has made quite the comeback in the last two years or so). Because of what she had dealt with, she was extremely supportive. We've abstained from sexual activity for two weeks now with one more to go as i finish treatment, which has actually been interesting as it's allowed us to get a little creative.

I guess my point is, by giving her a chance, i put myself in a relationship with someone who wouldn't be disgusted by the concequences of a bad decision of my own. I'm happier than i have been in years. A recent college graduate, i moved here on the tail end of a 4 year drinking binge that had me avoiding any sort of real intimacy, and sleeping with whoever would come home with me. I finally met someone i was compatible with and thanks in large part to things i read here (especially the happy couples thread) I let her into my life. I've been drinking less, excercising more, losing weight, and have regained asperations that have me making plans to go back to school and do something with my life, and essentially been happier than i can even remember being in the past, not to mention had my eyes opened to the nasty little killer of historical figures swimming around in my bloodstream.

The only thing that really scares me is the worst case scenario: i lose her and wind up stuck with H. I realize herpes is essentially a crap shoot, but we take every percaution possible and i do beleive i am truly comfortable with the risks involved.

So thanks again to everyone here. Keep on keepin on