Hello! Not new to cold sores, but new to the website!

[Omnomnom]

Hi! Earlier this week I developed a cold sore, and as usual I just looked in the mirror and went "DARNIT!" lol I haven't had one in well over 2 years, seeing as I seem to break out every 2 years. Fortunately my breakouts have become tiny to the point it seems like it's a tiny blister on my lip. I've had cold sores since I was little, and they never seemed to bother me besides being embarrassed about going in public with them. Haha.

The reason I found my way here was about two years ago (when I was roughly 16-17) I did some research on cold sores because I had just gotten one, and while I had experienced them before I was aware I didn't know much about them. I discovered they were indeed a type of herpes, although not the same strain as the kind that is generally associated with the genitals. =P That horrified me on it's own, but I soon got over that. Now two years later I developed another, and the reason I began researching again was due to my worry that I had given it to someone else 3 days prior to breaking out from kissing them. Not only did I discover information on that, but I learned about "asymptomatic shedding". Never before had I read about this, and it really really shook me up. I'm a hypochondriac, and while I can see from other peoples point of view how I'm freaking out too much about this new information, I still felt immensely depressed about the concept for reasons such as oral sex, which I highly enjoy! Not to mention it astounded me how almost nobody else I knew was aware of this information! I immediately told friends of mine with histories of cold sores to watch out when being intimate with their partners; 2 out of the 3 were very appreciative for letting them know, the other for some reason was all "meh we'll be fine!" My own mother was surprised, someone who kept telling me "oh it's just a cold sore, just leave it alone and it'll all be fine". =/ Not quite, mother.

Anywho, I finally decided to actually make an account here because I'd like to try and live my life as cold-sore free as possible, and perhaps I could get a few tips here. =) My doctor prescribed me an ointment already, we talked about all the stuff I learned and she said it was just a part of life, taking risks. I use abreva on my current cold sore (which started on Monday and today on Saturday it's barely noticeable and already has a flaky yellowish scab). I'm wondering how much longer I should have before it finally disappears, it's almost been exactly a week since it sprung up. =P I've been super careful to not spread it, I only touched it when applying the creams, and immediately after washed my hands (my knuckles are almost raw from all the washing =P). However, i noticed this morning a little...weird thing on the other side of my mouth kind of inside the lip. I couldn't tell exactly if it was inside the lip or on the lip, but it seems more so inside. I'm worried it's another cold-sore, however it doesn't sting or hurt and it hasn't swollen (maybe because i immediately put abreva on it). It's very small, flat, and looks like it might be a canker sore or just a cut from when my lips were chapped and the skin peeled a little. I'm not sure. Any guesses? Like I said, it doesn't feel necessarily like a cold-sore, as it's not hurting or burning or tingling or anything.

That's another thing, I don't really..catch on that I'm getting a cold sore. I can recall maybe once or twice in my lifetime feeling that "tingling" feeling, but otherwise I usually just wake up with the little monsters. Does this happen to anyone else either?

Sorry if my post was too long or I went to the wrong part of the board to discuss this. =P Hoping I'm welcomed warmly. =) Should I tell you all more about myself?

[elmerette]

Omnomnom,

Welcome to the club! You've actually been a member forever, you just now realized it! I was diagnosed in the middle of March, both oral and genital. I dont get the tingling on my facial area like I do genitally. My giver caught it from her giver who had a cold sore. BINGO! When I notice a bump on or near my mouth, I cleanse it with rubbing alcohol, which kills the surface virus on contact. For down south, I cleanse the EXTERNAL area with purell with aloe, or with rubbing alcohol. I make sure I dont get it internally in my nunu.

No, your post wasn't to long, thats the beauty, you say what you need to say. After you make two posts, come into live chat. You will meet alot of nice folks with good info for you and also to bs with and get your mind off it. Hope to see ya in chat! And most definitely tell us more about you..

elm

[Omnomnom]

It's a shame that's happened to you. It's now a new fear of mine, somehow contracting genital herpes from someone giving me oral. _-_ It makes sex life and dating a scary scary thing that I've now seriously contemplated just remaining single and celibate for the rest of my life.

Yay! I'm assuming this is my second post so now I can join ya'll in the chat room? Sweet!

Ok, a little more about myself...hmm..well I'm 19, and currently employed as a cashier at a grocery store while I try to get into an Animal Care program at a college quite far from where I live. Taking that into consideration, it's obvious to say I love animals and if my fear I mentioned up there remains consistent, I think I'd be content enough living my life alone with a bunch of pets as companions, and my friends and family too of course. =) I love video-games and reading when I have nothing better to do, and I'm usually a very out-going girl, sometimes too out-going where I'm obnoxious lol. I'm living in Ontario, Canada so the weather here at the moment is evil conditions for cold sores. I think I got this one from waiting outside a video game store from 6 pm to 12 am for a midnight launch of Cataclysm for World of Warcraft (yeah, I'm a bit of a geek).

Lollipops rock, and I LOVE cookies and chocolate. =) I feel welcomed. <3

[lillie755]

HI..I also have HSV-1 (oral herpes) and I too thought they were just "cold sores" (had them since I was around 6 or 7) and was bummed to learn all the info you discovered. I have some more info to share as well:

1. Self infection of a new body site is called auto-inoculation. It is rare in herpes, except during the initial infection itself. For instance people with oral herpes rarely transfer the infection to their own genitals. Basically you have built antibodies since you had it so long.

2. People who have HSV of either type (HSV-1 or HSV-2) are immune, or at least highly resistant, to a new infection with the same virus type, anywhere on the body. If both members of a couple have oral HSV-1, it is very unlikely that they will infect the other on the genitals. Goes back to the built up of antibodies.

3. HSV-1 does NOT offer enough protection from HSV-2 to prevent you from getting it. HSV-1 and HSV-2 are very similar but are not the same!!!! You can get HSV-1 orally and HSV-2 in the genitals. Please make sure your partners are tested and know their HSV status.

So for me personally I only date those with HSV-1 becasue it eases the burden of transmitting and allows me to enjoy sex without worry of and guilt of infecting anyone. There are many people with HSV-1 so finding dates is not a real problem..)

[Omnomnom]

HI..I also have HSV-1 (oral herpes) and I too thought they were just "cold sores" (had them since I was around 6 or 7) and was bummed to learn all the info you discovered. I have some more info to share as well:

1. Self infection of a new body site is called auto-inoculation. It is rare in herpes, except during the initial infection itself. For instance people with oral herpes rarely transfer the infection to their own genitals. Basically you have built antibodies since you had it so long.

2. People who have HSV of either type (HSV-1 or HSV-2) are immune, or at least highly resistant, to a new infection with the same virus type, anywhere on the body. If both members of a couple have oral HSV-1, it is very unlikely that they will infect the other on the genitals. Goes back to the built up of antibodies.

3. HSV-1 does NOT offer enough protection from HSV-2 to prevent you from getting it. HSV-1 and HSV-2 are very similar but are not the same!!!! You can get HSV-1 orally and HSV-2 in the genitals. Please make sure your partners are tested and know their HSV status.

So for me personally I only date those with HSV-1 becasue it eases the burden of transmitting and allows me to enjoy sex without worry of and guilt of infecting anyone. There are many people with HSV-1 so finding dates is not a real problem..)

Thanks lillie755 for the information! Yeah, I've read this before somewhere else on the web, but I've also heard people attesting they were proof that these statements were not true. I've become somewhat confused to what's right and wrong.

[lillie755]

Yes it is true many people say they are proof of something that is considered uncommon but in most cases we don't know the whole story or they without knowing leave out important details. Also keep in mind HSV (both types) can reside in the body for years before showing up so it is hard to pin point when the person actually contacted it and how they contacted it. The most important thing is also how long the person has had thier HSV becasue this determines how long the body has had time to built antibodies.

Auto-inoculation happens most the time when a person first gets HSV because of the lack of antibodies. That is why if you have a first outbreak and a test of the sore proves its HSV but when you take a blood test you show up negative. This happens due to the lack of antibodies built up. A lack of anitbodies can make spreading HSV to other body parts a real issue.

Also think most HSV-1 orally occurs in childhood..you know children pick, scratch, lick and poke at thier cold sores and then touch every inch of thier body including thier eyes and genitals...if auto-inoculation occured easily there would be large numbers of cases of childhood genital herpes and herpes of the eyes associated with cold sores. Also all this is the same reason your partner with HSV-orally can't really spread it to other body parts on you.

Lastly..just a lil more info..cats can get herpes too orally..thier cold sores look similar to our own )

[inforn]

I also always just wake up with them. It would be great to have some kind of warning, so I can pick up some Acyclovir. It would work if I was able to take it when the thing first starts. Instead it is always too late.

[inforn]

I don't think you all should be so afraid of transmission. I have had cold sores for 20 years and have been married the whole time. My husband and children don't get cold sores. 80% of the population have the virus it is just us unlucky ones that exhibit the symptoms.