Oh, Yeah

I don't know if I already wrote about this or not.

The doctor seemed to think that the sores on my scalp/infection (and subsequent hair loss) was a result of the fungal infection I've had for years that's gotten out of control. It was a -very- expensive visit - counting my prescriptions, it was about $250, and I have to go back early January again (where i'll be getting information on what can be done about the genital warts - hopefully something that doesn't involve cutting...as I'd much prefer some kind of medication I can keep and use again if/when they show back up.)

The good part is that the warts may have showed up to begin with, or stuck around as long as they have, because my immune system has been so overtaxed. If the fungal infection got into my blood, it likely was going -crazy- trying to deal with that, and then the head sores...how would it have time to fight an incurable virus (if that's what it actually is? I won't know for sure until January when a doctor can look at it.)

It's not what you would call a -severe- infection, although there are a couple more that have showed up recently...but the newer ones are staying much smaller than the ones that first showed up over a year ago. Maybe that's a sign my body is adjusting to dealing with the virus. One can only hope.

I was reading around the web the other day, where I say some idiots on some youtube video talking about how the only people who get it are whores that deserve it. I'd really like to rip their throats out. I know guys that have slept with scores of women and come out of it clean, but I've only slept with two, both long-term relationships, and I end up with it? Give me a break. It's an incurable disease, it can't be tested for except in women, and some people who have it show no visible symptoms yet can still spread it. Eventually, you can bet the vast majority of the human race will have it simply because it can be spread without visible symptoms.

In fact, if -my- visible symptoms go away, I will feel no remorse in not telling people about it. It's not a life threatening disease, it doesn't cause any permanent damage so to speak, and if it shows visibly it is easily treated (if you have the money.) Not to mention it self-cures in 90% of the population after two years. I'd like to know if that percentage goes up after three, four years, etc. Hopefully it does.

That's it for the morning update.

Hmm

According to a 1997 American Journal of Medicine article, nearly three in four Americans between the ages of 15 and 49 have been infected with genital HPV at some point in their life.

Okay, so based on the other information: HPV is incurable, it never leaves the body completely but can achieve undetectable levels (yet still can be transmitted)

This basically means that 75% of the population can transmit HPV.

Another interesting point, I'm directing this somewhat towards you Chaos, although not entirely:
Most men do not show symptoms of HPV, and STD tests -do not- test for it. The only way it is usually detected in men is if they -show visible symptoms- and if they -show visible symptoms- they at least have a strain that doesn't cause cervical cancer in women (or penile cancer in men.)

This means that, likely, 75% of the male population has HPV and good portion have no idea. Apparently, guys like me have become some kind of scapegoat. I have the -least dangerous- strain of it, while there are probably far more men with the dangerous strains who don't even know it, think they are clean, and therefore, do not practice safe sex as often as I will.

This is really fucking unfortunate.

The more research I do about this disease, the more I realize how -prevalent- it is. Everywhere I read articles, I see things like, "Many people have this disease, do not let it destroy your sex life."

Well hell, I won't then. I'll disclose I have HPV, but at least I can disclose the fact it's a strain (as far as I know) that doesn't cause cervical cancer. How many men have it and don't know it, and therefore don't disclose it and appear to be "clean" - therefore, better than me? If 75% of the male population has had HPV, that means a -lot- of men.

This is the -only- reason I feel like disclosing is a way of -removing me- from the gene pool, while there are shit loads of people out there who spread it around unknowingly who appear to be better candidates for partners, when in reality, no better than me, and possibly worse if they have strains that have no visible symptoms.