Corentin, infected with monkeypox, tells us about the pain “very difficult to bear”

Corentin Hennebert, 27, author and director for a young theater company in Paris, is one of the 552 people affected by the smallpox monkey in France. Before contracting the disease and experiencing symptoms terrible, he knew almost nothing of this virus which has been spreading like wildfire in North America and Europe for several months now.

Its first symptoms are not very specific: I didn’t suspect it was the disease at all. “He feels fever and aches. ” First reflex, in 2022, I thought of Covid-19, but the test is negative. He then thinks he caught a cold because of the air conditioner running at full speed in the face of heat which suffocate France. ” I am very sensitive to temperature differences “, he says. And then, on June 21, 2022, the first skin lesions appeared on his anal mucosa. ” I thought it was hemorrhoids. I chained sleepless nights because I could no longer lie down, not too much to walk, public transport, it was complicated. »

A painful disease that does not only concern the homosexual community

The messages about his experience, which he posted on Twittercost him a vague of homophobia, since monkey pox first affected the gay community – but not only. The young man was contaminated during an intimate relationship with a partner who showed no signs of the disease, five days before the onset of his symptoms. ” It’s not a gay disease and there’s no shame in being sick. »

Today, three women and a child have been infected with the disease in France. Corentin’s messages also freed up speech: monkeypox virus infected people dare to speak of their experience and all describe pains caused by very difficult to bear skin lesions.

After three days of ordeal, Corentin decides to go to the proctological emergencies (specialized in the symptoms of the anorectal sphere) on June 24, 2022. I had come to the end of my rope, I couldn’t take any more pain. They gave me a pill of tramadol (a powerful painkiller) to wait. The doctors did not immediately recognize Corentin’s symptoms as being those of monkeypox. They take samples and several screenings for sexually transmitted diseases towns like the chlamydia or the gonorrhea. ” They added monkeypox to the list, as the virus is currently circulating. »

The sample taken, Corentin returns home with no other instruction than to avoid sexual intercourse. In the meantime, the young man calls the hospital to get a prescription for tramadol – the paracetamol that he was prescribed does not relieve him. On June 28, the result falls. ” On Tuesday they called me to tell me I had monkey pox. I was instructed to self-isolate for three weeks from the day of the sample. I can go shopping, but with a mask. I have to wear long clothes to cover the pimples and then just wait, watch the healing total buttons. there is no treatment. »

Patients with monkey pox are considered cured when their pimples have healed at the end of the three weeks of isolation. They are left alone to judge their state of health and make the decision themselves whether or not to come out of their isolation. ” One person I am in contact with, who is among the first 50 cases, had still positive results on the eve of the end of the isolation. It inspires me species of caution. »

Questions still unanswered

As of July 8, 2022, Corentin remains in solitary confinement for eight days and his state of health has improved. ” It’s much better, I’m at the stage of healing. I still have some discomfort but it’s not painful. I lost seven kilos because it was difficult to eat. The monkeypox did not leave a mark on Corentin’s body, but after this experience he planned to wear the mask outside again and limit contact with others. Corentin deplores the cruel lack of information and prevention around monkeypox. And after having it, he is left with questions: “Am I immune forever? Is it like Covid, you can catch it every three months or six months? Answers that research has yet to provide.