New, need some advice

[ObsessiveAndCompulsive]

Hello there!

I was diagnosed with HSV1 Oral when I was 16. I am now 21 and have had regular outbreaks maybe twice a year at the most. However about 2 months ago i kissed a girl who ended up having a cold sore she thought was a cut. Naturally when I went home the next morning I had a cold sore on the side of my lip. So I took Valtrex and toward the middle of the day I had another one pop up where I would normally get them, at the top of my lip. Since I have OCD I kind of obsessed over how to get rid of it quickly and looked a bunch of stuff up. I tried some witch hazel, domeboro, anything that people said would work. I ended up making it worse and the sore stayed there for about 3 weeks, much longer than the usual 1-2 weeks. Once the sore healed the area where I had the sores stayed red for much longer than usual as well. I ended up getting another one on the side of my lip again a couple of days later which i thought was from not replacing my toothbrush. Again, I took more valtrex and it went away much quicker, around 10 days. The area was still red like before. About a week after the sore was gone I got another one. This time i used ice which seemed to help a lot and got on daily suppression with 500 MG of Valtrex, It went away in about a week. Usually when I wake up is when I end up seeing the sores. At this point i was taking the daily suppression when i woke up. About 2 weeks ago I tried smoking weed for the first time. I smoked again the next day before bed because my OCD started to act up, and people told me it would help. It didn't and this time was pretty bad. I woke up with a cold sore the next day. My doctor then put me on 1000Mg a week ago and my cold sore at this point is gone. Although the area is still red for some reason which is unusual considering it has never happened before. I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 9 and most people dont show symptoms till they are in their 20's. I'm assuming at this point I am relapsing. Ever since the fist two cold sores I got I have been obsessing over getting more and have been constantly checking if I have them. It's to the point where I will look in the mirror and as soon as I am done looking I have to check again right away. I am currently getting help so no need to be concerned on that part. But I guess I have a few questions!

1. )Is it possible I was given a different strain of HSV1 from the girl I kissed? And if so, could that be the reason I am having so many outbreaks? (I was tested for HSV1 & 2, and only tested positive for HSV1)

2.) Or am I breaking out because I have been obsessing over it, touching it when the sores are gone, etc. in which case, stress could be the trigger?

3.) Could the possibility of a new strain be the reason my triggers are different, or does that just happen as you age? (they used to be trauma to the area, sun burn, astringent/drying agents, and some other unknowns)

4.) Could smoking weed be a trigger since it suppresses the immune system, even though alcohol never was? Or could immunosuppresents be a new trigger?

5.) What's the deal with the constant redness (almost like a scar that gets worse in the cold)

6.) Should taking the higher dosed valtrex at night help, since I wake up with cold sores, instead of in the morning?

7.) The only other possible explanation i can think of is that I was on two antibiotics around the same time I kissed the girl. Could this in turn have lowered my immune system, causing my antibodies to poorly respond to the hsv  introduced from her?

8.) And besides chilling the fuck out, which i am trying to do lmao, does anyone have any suggestions on how to help? I really want this most recent ob to be my last for a while.

[KCookie]

Hi there,

I actually thought I was the only one on this forum with cold sores, I'm in the some boat as you, was diagnosed in 1997 and for the last 4 years been on 250mg of Flamvir twice a day, also it might be worth taking L-Lysine, I take 4000mg a day, also cut out foods with high arginine. I have written a post in the new members forum that might be worth reading. I had 3 sores in a row with only 3 days apart so 30 days with a sore. I've tried everything to help but nothing does, I even got one Xmas day which completely ruined the festive season. I have OCD as well, I actually think I worry so much about getting sores is why I get them so frequently. I live in Australia and work outdoors which really doesn't help in the summer even though I cover my face in factor 50 sun cream constantly wear lip seal and a hat. When I do get them I won't even leave the house until they have gone.  I'm going back to the doctors again to see if I can change my meds to see if that helps. I'm in constant fear I'm going to get one always touching my lips and looking in the mirror.

So try L-Lysine and see how you get on, cut out high arginine foods! there is a link in the forum and sleep well.  Forgot to mention compeed patches, these will cover the sore and stop any contamination. They are especially good for women as you can put make up over them, the packet says invisible which isn't correct, I only wear them at home, mine normally always heel in 9 days. 

take care.

cheers

Edited January 6, 2017 by KCookie