Oral Herpes Support Group

The herpes simplex virus is a virus that manifests itself in two common infections, each marked by painful, watery blisters in the skin, mouth, or lips. The disease is contagious, particularly during an outbreak, and is incurable with present technology. Stress, increased exposure to the sun, viral infections, and facial injuries may increase the chance and severity of...

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Infectious Diseases
/ Oral Herpes Support Group

I passed it along

deleted_user
deleted_user
Okay so this may seem silly, but I didn't realize until just recently that cold sores could be such a serious thing. I guess I always knew that they were a form of herpes, but I didn't realize I should be so concerned with them. My doctor knew I got cold sores and prescribed me a suppressive Valtrex treatment, but never talked about precautions or made it clear to me that I have Herpes type 1. I wasn't taking my medications regularly and was with a partner. I recently found out that I gave type one to him, and it wasn't just orally. I am so depressed about this. I got tested to be sure it didn't transfer back to me genitally, and thankfully it didn't. But now I have to live with the fact that I gave someone Herpes type 1. Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you deal with the guilt? I feel dirty. Now I am terrified for the next time I am dating someone. How do you go about being safe with your cold sores? Would you tell a partner that you have given someone herpes?
going2bok
going2bok
It isn't your fault that your doctor did not inform you! Society has so much stigma directed toward herpes that people don't want to talk about it, which leaves people like us who are infected clueless until that lightbulb goes off and we realize what it actually means to have this. Just remember that you didn't intentionally hurt this person and that everyone makes mistakes. You're probably just a good person who didn't know enough to act the way you'd ideally want to now that you have the info.

To answer your last question, taking your medication regularly is important if you're sexually active. But again...you didn't know that before.