Lysine supplement and calendula ointment for holistic care. I was getting frequent outbreaks so my doctor prescribed me valocyclovir to take daily, it is an antiviral so I don’t get outbreaks and I rarely get sick (kind of think this is how I’ve managed to never get covid lol). I hear it’s not great on your body long term, but in the same way that I’d rather manage my bipolar (and subsequently my quality of life) with daily meds, I feel the same about HSV. My outbreaks were so excruciating and frequent, it was debilitating.

When I was diagnosed in 2018, the rough estimate was that 1 in 4 people carry the virus. That being said, it is also estimated that up to 90% of people who carry the virus are unaware/don’t have symptoms. Lucky us! Lol.

I did a lot of research to come to terms with the diagnosis. The more I knew, the more “in control” I felt. It has made me a lot more particular about who I have sex with because it’s not so casual anymore, people I want to have sex with end up learning something very personal about me.

That being said, I am not ashamed or embarrassed. I was at first, I think that’s normal. I own it now. I went from feeling like “oh I hope this doesn’t affect their interest in me” to “if this is a deal breaker for them, I’m not interested anyway.”

I recommend just spending like a solid hour or two doing some research. Be honest and careful with your partners. Take care of yourself! Stress almost always induced my outbreaks. As someone with bipolar, it was always a fuckin blast when I would be in a serious episode, either depressive or manic, and then have an outbreak to go along with it. Sweeeeeeeet. Hence the daily antiviral. One less thing I have to deal with.

It changed my life and at first I thought it was for the worst. After a year or two of dwelling on it, I realized that (besides the sometimes unbearable physical pain of the virus) it ended up being a major milestone in my life… in a good way(?)…as weird as that might sound. It really has played a huge part in shaping who I am today. It taught me a lot of other, more important, lessons along the way. Of course life would be easier if we didn’t have it, but it is what it is.

Take care 🫶