u/ufo-j

The title says it all… I’m exactly 50% of the Strength of the Few and I’m super bored. I’m struggling to read it. None of the worlds or storylines have me engaged at all right now, really. I’m usually not afraid to DNF a book but somehow don’t want to DNF this one. I was bored of the Will of the Many until about 30% in then I couldn’t put it down but I’m definitely struggling staying engaged with the 2nd book. If it gets better, when? How? Why?

Does it get more engaging??!!

For the last few months I’ve been struggling with recurrent folliculitis on my vulva, the hair bearing space of my labia majora mostly. Usually it’s localized to one side but I’ve had it on the other side before. It’s usually one bump, so one follicle that’s inflamed, but at this time I have one bump in one area and a set of two in another area close by.

I do get waxed and my skin has lifted before so we use a bit of oil in the area, which is where the folliculitis occurs. It’s also summer so I’m sweating, and I do go to the gym and have frequent sex with my partner so there’s friction and sweat there. However, I feel I take very good care of my vulva. I wash with vaginal soap nightly, wipe off before I even leave the gym and change clothes/shower immediately when I’m home, and wipe with a warm wet towel after sex immediately every time. I wear cotton briefs every day. I feel like I do everything I possibly can to prevent this and it doesn’t work. This is a new pattern for me and it’s causing me some stress.

Does anyone else struggle with this? Have you made any changes that have worked?

(Note: I do have genital herpes but am on daily suppressants and haven’t had an outbreak in 4 years. These flares do not follow the pattern of outbreaks I’ve experienced but are their own pattern. I’ve been to the doctor for these bumps to clarify if it’s an outbreak and have been told multiple times it’s folliculitis. But needless to say, it does cause significant more stress due to my HSV diagnosis). That’s why I want to figure it out so bad!

Hi ladies! For the last few months I’ve been struggling with recurrent folliculitis on my vulva, the hair bearing space of my labia majora mostly. Usually it’s localized to one side but I’ve had it on the other side before. It’s usually one bump, so one follicle that’s inflamed, but at this time I have one bump in one area and a set of two in another area close by.

I do get waxed and my skin has lifted before so we use a bit of oil in the area, which is where the folliculitis occurs. It’s also summer so I’m sweating, and I do go to the gym and have frequent sex with my partner so there’s friction and sweat there. However, I feel I take very good care of my vulva. I wash with vaginal soap nightly, wipe off before I even leave the gym and change clothes/shower immediately when I’m home, and wipe with a warm wet towel after sex immediately every time. I wear cotton briefs every day. I feel like I do everything I possibly can to prevent this and it doesn’t work. This is a new pattern for me and it’s causing me some stress.

Does anyone else struggle with this? Have you made any changes that have worked?

(Note: I do have genital herpes but am on daily suppressants and haven’t had an outbreak in 4 years. These flares do not follow the pattern of outbreaks I’ve experienced but are their own pattern. I’ve been to the doctor for these bumps to clarify if it’s an outbreak and have been told multiple times it’s folliculitis. But needless to say, it does cause significant more stress due to my HSV diagnosis). That’s why I want to figure it out so bad!

Hi everyone! Basically I’m just sharing my story here in hopes somebody feels me and my experience so I’m not alone 😂

I’ve had HSV2 for about 6 years now (I’m 28F) I’ve been on daily antivirals for most of this period, so I haven’t had an outbreak in about 4 years. They were super small but I could tell what they were. Lately I’ve been getting these little infected/irritated follicles down there (gym sweat, sex sweat, tight clothes, waxing, vaginas are complex) that are totally normal, but since I have the HSV variable, I lose my shit over it. TERRIFIED that it’s an outbreak. Realistically, with all the activity I receive down there and my daily use of antivirals and the fact that it’s nothing like my previous 2 outbreaks I feel like I should be more comfortable, but I go into an anxious spiral every time. I’ve been seen for it a few times, each confirming it’s just a follicle, but I still lose it every time, gaslighting myself into “but what if it really is?”
I want to protect my partner of course, but I think I mostly still have a hard time accepting that I have herpes.

So really why I’m here is to see if anyone else has the same issue. Or especially if there’s anyone that has overcome that anxious spiral, the ongoing feelings of fear and shame of the virus. How do you guys get over that?