Herpes Outbreak?

[Mann67]

I made out with a relative stranger a few times twice in the last two weeks, but she did not show any signs of an outbreak, but she had a reputation for being permiscuous.

I went to the beach last week, and a day or two later I noticed a slight redness under my lip. It has turned into a small red bump, and has stayed this way for a few days.

There is also a very small bump on my upper lip.

Is it likely an outbreak? If it is, is it likely to worsen if it hasn't already? And what should I do/take to prevent it from getting worse?

[Mann67]

Should I use a cold sore cream such as Novitra?

[Brucie]

get a blood test

I made out with a relative stranger a few times twice in the last two weeks, but she did not show any signs of an outbreak, but she had a reputation for being permiscuous.

I went to the beach last week, and a day or two later I noticed a slight redness under my lip. It has turned into a small red bump, and has stayed this way for a few days.

There is also a very small bump on my upper lip.

Is it likely an outbreak? If it is, is it likely to worsen if it hasn't already? And what should I do/take to prevent it from getting worse?

I would strongly suggest you go to a doctor for proper diagnosis of the sores before they are gone, and especially if they get worse. Don't treat it until you know what it is. Only way to ever be sure is to get a blood test or a swab culture. Blood test is the most reliable.

Take care.

[Caliope]

A dr will give you a proper diagnosis.

Summer is a time when coldsores are known to flare up and they are very contageous. Have you had one before in your life? Once you've had one they can come back at any time.

You can get a coldsore from kissing your grandma as easily as a stranger no need to be promiscuous.

Novitra or Abreva can both help to heal coldsores.

[aliveandmedicated]

Re: Blood Tests

While on the topic of blood tests, after results from a swab came back that in fact I did have herpes, I was obviously hysterical and a complete basket case, and also a bit in denial..right then and there I asked my dr if there was another way of confirming the results, or what have you..she said no. She said if she were to take a swab again it would come back as neg/inconclusive because the sores were no longer in there active state (true, yes-right?-) so i then said, well can you not do bloodwork then? and she said (which i am so angry about, now having learned all that i have...) no, it would not show up in my blood. she said only if a person was having an ob, and while the blisters were still "full" could herpes be detected...I then questioned this, because it didnt make sense...how could there be no way of knowing if you had a disease, and even then, only while symptoms are present will it acurrately manifest itself through any sort of medical test....this just didnt make sense to me! Now having read on here that in fact blood tests are available, (and accurate!) i am so frusterated and angry!!! The bedside manner was deplorable, and now the whole situation seems too coincidental...but anyways, to stay on track, does anyone know if i have a right to be tested? (how could i not, right?) and then the same for my b/f even though he has never showed any signs, symptoms or ob's...i am still worried that i transferred it to him, because as i said before, i was totally misinformed.

I live in Canada..if that makes a difference (As far as my rights)

thanks to all who can lend some helpful advice.

[Caliope]

I know that sometimes the bloodwork does not show the virus antibodies even though the patient has been exposed. I do not know the statistics on this. Usually this will happen immediately after initial exposure and after the virus being latent for a long period of time but there seems to be a window according to posters on this forum and documents I have read that states that positive blood testing can be achieved between 8 and 16 weeks post exposure.

I have read multiple times of individuals in Canada not having access to blood tests for hsv. I do not know why this is the case or if there is a standard that needs to be applied. Recently there was a post where a Canadian citizen mentioned a location that would perform testing and they indicated they would research the options and report back. I do not know what they found.

I wish I could be more helpful - I know this must be horribly frustrating.

The swab culture is a reliable testing method for hsv and what your dr said about timing is true according to what I have heard. I had one negative test and had to wait for 2 years to have a second, taken during an ob, that was positive.

[Cluelesswendy]

H Blood Tests

I am extremely confused on how the blood tests work. I got a test 2 weeks after exposure (negative)... Still had symptoms.. had another blood test about 4 weeks after exposure (positive), but it didn't show antibodies.. HOW can they tell that I have it then?????