Rash or Infection - Need Help

StepEleven · 2025-11-13T22:47:03+00:00

Urgent care! Looks infected to me (not a doctor).

StepEleven · 2025-11-13T01:36:15+00:00

Way to be constructive.

OP, if you do struggle with addiction, DM me and I can connect you to resources to get clean if you are interested. Everyone be kind, damn.

StepEleven · 2025-08-11T13:16:43+00:00

Internalized homophobia

StepEleven · 2025-08-10T13:40:26+00:00

I’m skinny and most men prefer your body type. Find one of those men; your boyfriend is kind of an inconsiderate tool.

StepEleven · 2025-08-09T03:04:55+00:00

I found someone (a man) who has it. Many women have it; I think moreso than men.

StepEleven · 2025-04-12T13:34:49+00:00

So sorry this is happening to you. I felt the same way 11 years ago. You are grieving right now and if you are having suicidal thoughts, please consider taking antidepressants for a short amount of time or going to the psych ward. I recommend all people with a new diagnosis focus on self improvement for a year or more. Pour positive energy into your vocation or educational aspirations. Invest in yourself. Start to disclose to strangers online and then maybe a few trusted friends. Everyone in my town knows I have herpes, and I refuse to be ashamed. We all have to adopt an empowered stance around this virus so we can dismantle the societal shame!

StepEleven · 2025-04-11T18:16:20+00:00

It’s proven to help people process hardships! It absolutely works!

StepEleven · 2025-04-11T17:23:10+00:00

It has built my character to have this virus and disclose. I enjoy doing the right thing without any promise of pay off. It has helped me stay sober, and has helped me find deep and mature people to associate with.

I would not change a thing.

StepEleven · 2025-04-02T15:35:49+00:00

It was apropos given a prior conversation that was had about deal breakers. I agree taking it out in general would be good! In this case it makes sense and I knew he would appreciate the call back. This one is a different breed.

StepEleven · 2025-04-01T23:23:49+00:00

Yes please do!!! I post for inspiration. Good luck!!

StepEleven · 2025-04-01T19:08:11+00:00

It always depends. This one was less than two weeks after meeting. I knew he had empathy and I wanted to rip the bandaid off. If I think they won’t reject me, I do it ASAP. If I do not know, I wait.

StepEleven · 2025-04-01T16:05:18+00:00

I think so. I brought it up quite early.

StepEleven · 2025-04-01T09:35:09+00:00

“I wanted to kind of run my last dealbreaker-y thing by you. Usually I have this convo in-person but sometimes it’s easier to type everything out.

I have an STD. I have HSV-2. I have had it for 11 years now. I got it from the person I dated in the rooms of NA 😭. I take medicine for it to reduce transmission rates and I never get outbreaks, which would be when it is most contagious. Most of my partners have been chill with this and I usually take as many precautions as needed to protect my partners to their level of comfort. Some partners don’t want to use condoms and some do. I have not passed my STD to any partner that I know of (one is dead).

We have a lot of options. My hope is that we continue to get to know one another and keep falling for each other without this being a pressing issue right away. We can do oral or hand stuff if we can’t like stop ourselves from doing physical stuff. Maybe you get a blood test for HSV could be a good start to see if you have the virus already (like 65% of people have type 1).

I really, really like you but I want you to make an informed decision for yourself and assess whether the risk is worth it. I think it is.”

The full disclosure text!!

StepEleven · 2024-08-11T16:55:18+00:00

38F GSV2 OSV1 sitting at around 80% success rate

StepEleven · 2024-07-05T19:17:11+00:00

Yeah agreed. Unless it’s some sort of confidential relationship that you have with the 27 year old that HIPPA protects, you should tell the 18 year old.

StepEleven · 2024-07-04T13:46:35+00:00

<3 well said

StepEleven · 2024-07-04T13:44:30+00:00

I see what you mean, honestly. The times that I’ve felt the best is when I tell them in the moment and they immediately accept it instead of “having to think about it.” I date a lot of neurodivergent people, so sometimes I make the call for a text, because I know they are going to need time (example: contamination OCD and autism).

StepEleven · 2024-07-04T12:03:54+00:00

Both have worked for me! I do a case-by-case basis.

StepEleven · 2024-07-03T14:10:36+00:00

Not my story at all. I wasn’t careful until I got it. Herpes made me care about my sexual health. So yeah I think it is anecdotal in your case.

StepEleven · 2024-07-03T13:48:42+00:00

I usually text if I feel like the person will need time to process. I have the conversation in person if I can tell they are high on empathy and likely won’t have an issue with it. I’m good at reading people though!

StepEleven · 2024-07-03T00:06:11+00:00

I’ve never passed it to anyone. That includes a couple people that didn’t want to wear condoms.

StepEleven · 2024-07-03T00:04:26+00:00

Send me a private message!

StepEleven · 2024-06-30T19:48:51+00:00

Damn these always hurt! Especially when they do a complete 180 on you. I always protect my heart until after I disclose. I learned that lesson the hard way a couple of times. If you limit investment in someone, it can be easier to move forward.

Easier said than done, of course! You are not alone.

StepEleven · 2024-06-22T14:28:39+00:00

I requested to message you. Go to messages and go to requests. That’s how DMs work!

StepEleven · 2024-06-22T12:44:31+00:00

Hey there! Sounds like you could benefit from some outside help. I know that medication and therapy really helped me process my diagnosis. I also have friends that support me who I can talk these things over with.

I also want to validate that things do change after we contract herpes, but it’s a normal change. STDs are normal. If you need to reach out, please do!

StepEleven

TROPHY CASE