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EClaire

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Hello everyone, I'm new obviously.

I joined this forum because today (well, technically yesterday) I got another cold sore. I've been getting them since probably before I can remember, the earliest time I recall having one was in 6th grade. They are always on the right side of my lower lip and today I'm having one of my worst breakouts ever.

I look like I got punched in the lip :madd:

Anyway, I'm so fed up with them that I started taking Lysine today, I printed off a free diet guide, and I joined this forum to "air my grievances."

Since I'm not supposed to let my skin condition define me, I won't do it here either. So more about me and less about my virus...

I'm a 21 year old college girl. I love hockey more than anything and I also enjoy collecting stuff. When I have the chance, I love to surf. I speak a tiny amount of French, trying to learn more and more. I'm always cooking and crafting, they're probably my callings but I'd much rather get into the business of hockey for a living.

That practically sums me up!

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Hello EClaire and welcome to you. I have had oral herpes for over 8 years now and it took me a very long time to figure it all out, what it was, what I could do about it, treatment and triggers.

Lysine is good to take, a lot of members here use that with a lot of success. Some people take kelp, olive leaf extract and all kinds of things. Top of the list for me is a supplement of vitamin C. My new doctor put me onto that. She also said to always wear sunscreen with a high SPF content. Since then, I am very happy to say I have not had an outbreak. I take 3 vitamin C tablets a day and other members here also swear by it. What works for one person though may not necessarily work for another, but there is certainly no harm in trying these things. My moisturiser has a built in sunscreen and I don't go anywhere without that on. As you get cold sores on your lips, also invest in a lip balm with sunscreen and be sure to apply it always. How regular are your outbreaks? I was having at least 3 a month so eventually had to go on suppressive therapy. I would also suggest eating well, exercising and getting plenty of sleep. They will help you build a strong immune system and that is our best defense against herpes.

You have the right attitude as far as getting on with your life is concerned :D It was nice to read that you have many interests and even know what you would like to do when you finish college. Strive for that and don't let a thing like cold sores stop you doing anything!

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Hi AquariusAngel!

I'm thrilled to hear more suggestions! Right now I think I'll see what the Lysine does for my breakouts... Honestly they are relatively infrequent, but I hate them so much that I would always prefer less of them. The last time I had one before today was so long ago that I don't know where my Abreva went... I would say I went nearly a year between my last outbreak and my current one. I can also practically pinpoint why I got this one. My holiday stress levels were high, I didn't moisturize my lips enough, and I had lots of chocolate for Christmas... which I guess is a no-no :(

Adding a daily lip balm with sunscreen is definitely going to be my next step. I think I found a great one today, if anyone else can attest to it, I'd love to know... It was Blistex Five Star, I'm not sure I'm allowed to post a link but it apparently defends your lips against dryness, cold, wind, heat and sun. It's also SPF 30! I just want to see if I can find a coupon then I'll probably pick it up tomorrow :)

Your last 3 bits of advice are all on my list of New Year's resolutions... I know I should be eating better, sleeping more, and exercising. It's stuff I've known I need to work on for a long time, but the best medicine for sticking to resolutions is having support. Luckily I have that in my life and hopefully in this great community :)

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I am new to this as well and am anxiously waiting for the results. Is it possible to have herpes without blisters? I have seen none rather I have a single sore on the shaft of my penis. Any input would be helpful.

Thanks

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EClaire: that is good to hear that you aren't a frequent sufferer of cold sores. I would definitely have to agree with you there - that a combination of stress, not enough UV protection and lots of chocolate gave you your last outbreak. Some people here react to chocolate really badly while others could eat it for breakfast, lunch and tea and it wouldn't trigger an outbreak. I just try to keep my intake to a minimum. Everything in moderation as they say!

I hadn't heard of the Blistex 5 star, but being blistex it has got to be good. Don't worry, I don't do enough of those last 3 bits of my advice either lol. I tend to preach it but not practise it enough myself!

dnoodle: welcome to you also. Yes herpes can certainly present without any visible symptoms such as lesions or blisters. It is called being asymptomatic. Regarding the test results you are waiting on..how long ago were you exposed to the virus possibly? Were you blood tested or swab tested?

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    • sgt98
      Hey @WilsoInAus ok thank you, I will do my best to move on and stop trawling forums haha. 
    • WilsoInAus
      Hey @sgt98 but there is no feasible infection or outbreak to suppress and antivirals do not suppress an initial outbreak in any event 
    • sgt98
      Thanks @WilsoInAus I understand apologies for this but the only other thing I am worried about is that I did take a course of Famvir on day 1 as I felt like I was having an outbreak of cold sores and am worried that has suppressed the initial outbreak genitally 
    • WilsoInAus
      Hi @sgt98 it is not feasible to obtain a HSV-2 infection from receiving oral sex - only HSV-1 is feasible but you've already got that and immunity from any further infection with HSV-1. You do not need any further tests for HSV. You're feeling regret, try to forgive yourself and calm down, let the rational take over. You know the answer here and it won't be long until you believe it too.
    • WilsoInAus
      Hi @NerdP423 and welcome to the website. You raise a lot of points and I think the best way to address your concerns is add some comments at each key point. I've copied your note again below and added these comments in square brackets. I appreciate any insight (even speculation) as to what has been going on with me. I'm a 37y/o M. I last was intimate with a new partner on 2/11/2022, and a few days later started having a huge amount of discomfort in my face. [The first thing that happens though is that herpes causes lesions or at least some skin based disruption. Other symptoms are then related to the actions of the immune system responding to the virus. Without lesions, it is highly questionable that the ailment is related to herpes, yet testing is useful if you have concerns as you have done so.] About a month after that [herpes causes issues within days, if the first 'symptoms' are a month later - its extremely unlikely they are related to herpes], significant discomfort downstairs, however every test I have ever taken for HSV 1 and 2 has been negative. Here are the details: Face: Previously, some significant tingling and itching on the right side of my mouth, lips and chin (still there, but milder) [herpes does not cause general tingling and itching, it can cause a reasonably concentrated feeling of itch/throb from which a herpes lesion appears within hours]. Occasional hot flashes near my right eye, cheek and ear [herpes does not do this, it may be a immune response to something, or stress]. Sometimes it will feel like the skin is crawling on the right side of my face [herpes does not cause a general crawling sensation]. Never seen anything that looked like a traditional cold sore [that's extremely telling, even people with associated atypical symptoms will have experienced herpes lesions]. Occasionally, the left side of my face will have a momentary feeling of skin crawling, but it's so mild that I am not really worried about it. Downstairs: Thankfully, most of these are now milder than they were before. Occasional momentary pinch of pain at the base of my genitals. [herpes does not cause a general pinch feeling.] Aching pain in my boxer area (groin, leg folds) [nor this] Occasional feeling of cold in my boxer area, butt, or lower back. ( also in my shins and occasionally even my arms) [nor this] On 4/30/2022, I had been in discomfort for almost two months. I scratched an itch, noticed it hurt, and then checked - I did have an open ulcer down there. Took myself to the ER to get swabbed, came back negative. [If this was a PCR then this will be very conclusive.] Practitioner said it may come back negative because it was already open. However the lab report noted that it definitely didn't look like what you'd expect a typical first herpes outbreak to look like [how would the lab know??]. All blood tests negative so far. I had two western blots, the second one was nine months after exposure. [Two negative Westernblots!!! Many that's real convincing]. All other swabs also negative. I went to urgent care, because I know the timeliness of when the Swab is taken matters. One time, a swab was not done, because practitioner said it was folliculitis and wouldn't swab it (It was at my belt line). [Belt line is highly unlikely to relate to herpes.]   A blood test revealed I had low-ish B12 (technically in range, but at the very low end, especially for a man of my size). I had a series of B12 injections, and I am taking a B12 supplement. I am not taking any lysine or arginine at the moment. I was taking the Arganine to see if I could induce an outbreak. [This is irrelevant, there is no known linkage between herpes outbreaks and arginine/lysine intake - its a myth - and B12 infers nothing.] I think what I am asking is - has anyone here ever repeatedly tested negative over and over again over long period of time, before getting a definitive answer, be a positive test, or something else? [The answer to this is: Extremely few people with a HSV-1 infection and even more rarely HSV-2 test repeatedly negative on Westernblot and actually carry the virus. Of the cases that I know of that had delayed detection by a swab and negative blood tests in the meantime (and that's only 3-4 cases), they had some form of lesions within days of infection but did not obtain a swab for various reasons and then obtained a positive swab of a subsequent lesion with the record being 11 months later. A couple of the cases did have some 'background' symptoms they thought might be related to herpes but that isn't ascertained and some did not have any unusual symptoms at all apart from the lesions. Hence as you did not have lesions around your mouth or lips within days of the last sexual encounter as is exceptionally common for a primary oral HSV-1 infection, that pretty much rules out herpes orally as it is. The fact that you had no genital symptoms for a month also rules out genital herpes. I am not aware of anyone at all who has genuinely gone on to test positive by swab or blood in your specific circumstances. There are hundreds if not more than a thousand experiences on this website alone that are similar to yours that are truly negative for herpes I'm one of them!]  
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