My name is
Gayla Baer McCord and this is my personal
story........
Several years ago I learned that my husband was having
an extramarital affair. I began working aggressively
toward a divorce. Needing to know in my mind and heart
that I would be able to provide for our twin boys,
then age 3, and myself. Following three months of
bartending, I was prepared to take a stand and I asked
my husband to leave. That night, we had a terrible
fight, and I suffered physical and emotional abuse.
As soon as
my husband had moved, I made a doctor's appointment to
be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. The
relief that poured over me when I heard that the
results were negative or inactive was overwhelming. I
had escaped my marriage with little more than a
bruised ego and a bout with cervical dysplasia two
years prior. My life would go on and did.
met a
wonderful local man, whom I would date for a year and
half, and found myself in a wonderful career as a
buyer for a convenience store chain. This was just the
antidote for what my emotions needed at that time. My
relationship with this man was one that eventually
grew intimate. For the next year and half I would live
my life as normal because I believed myself to be
disease free, battling only recurring urinary tract
infections time and time again.
June of 1999
would put an abrupt end to that belief.
I awoke one
summery June morning and prepared for a fun-filled
road adventure to a race being held in Ohio. Being the
feminine sort that I am, I used some feminine
deodorant products that particular day, as it was
going to be sizzling hot. While at the race, I felt
pains like none I had never experienced before. At the
risk of being too blunt, I felt as if I was urinating
razor blades. At the time, I was convinced that I was
having an allergic reaction to the products I had used
earlier that morning.
First
thing Monday morning, I called my doctor and explained
the physical symptoms I was experiencing. He
prescribed a steroidal cream to alleviate the allergic
reaction he believed it to be. Three hours after
applying the medication, things worsened drastically.
My urinary tract closed off entirely, and even more
intense pains were consuming my entire body.
Tuesday
morning I phoned my local Planned Parenthood where I
could be seen right away. I drove to their office only
seven miles away, but if felt more like a thousand.
Upon examination the physician told me that I had
herpes. I sat there in disbelief as I had been tested
a couple of years prior and the results were negative.
The only explanation, in my mind, was that I was being
cheated on yet again.
As soon as
my prescription was filled I returned home. I found
myself searching for answers via the Internet. I
needed to know how to stop the pain. I couldn’t care
less about the diagnosis at this point; I just wanted
the pain to stop. I found a chat room with real
people; people who were living with the virus and who
truly knew the pain that I was feeling.
As months
passed I found myself very active in support chat
rooms for others with herpes. By helping those who
were newly diagnosed and as afraid as I once was, I
found a way to “heal” myself, both mentally and
emotionally. The founder of a major online
organization observed my efforts, which was the
largest and most comprehensive online social resource
at that time for people living with herpes,
humanpapilloma virus (HPV) and other STDs. In July of
2000 I was asked to join their team, whose mission and
goal was to educate all people affected by STDs and to
let them know that it is possible to live a productive
and fulfilling life.
The
community, HELP Groups and Social Support Groups
helped me to gain the knowledge that I needed to
empower myself to take control and live a productive
life. Everyday I, and many others in the H World, try
to help others with STDs know that support is readily
available, and we help them to become educated and
live fulfilled lives.
The most
important message that I could give anyone who might
be reading is this: realize that you are no less a
human being than you were before you were diagnosed
with herpes or HPV. You simply have a medical issue
that needs attention. Everyone in today's society has
issues. Herpes is no different. With proper
precautions, herpes can be controlled and you can
minimize (though never eliminate) the risk of
transmitting to a potential partner. Emotional
support and medical knowledge is most important and
will help you to make informed decisions affecting
your life.
Herpes is
unfortunately and unnecessarily stealing the quality
of life from many individuals in the form of social
stigma and fear. This virus will only become a
self-proclaimed prison if one allows it to become so.
I have chosen, along with the community of which I
have become an integral part, to allow herpes to
become only one of many defining factors, of who I’ve
chosen to be. You can read more about me and my
ongoing projects here:
Herpesonline
The
treatment options I have chosen and that work for me
are suppressive therapy
Valtrex to treat
the virus from the inside and an over the counter
medication for active lesions during an outbreak.
Latest news
- November 15, 2003 I married my high school
sweetheart, love of my life and my best friend. You
are welcome to read my own personal fairy-tale here: Gayla's
Fairy-tale
My
Other Sites:
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