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So, I was all set to see this new guy this evening.

I guess I must be stressed out at the moment cos I'm in the process of buying an apartment. After the latest stressful turn with my estate agent I can suddenly start to feel that tingle on my lip.

That's me out of action for the next few days.

Eeeekkkk...seeing a new guy and big ole red spot on the lip ... that's not a good first impression. Sorry about that.

I dont get cold sores so I dont know what to do about them. Can you cover it up with some makeup?

It's a virus so you cant treat it with antibiotic ointment. What about hydrogen peroxide? Will that oxidize the virus and stop it? Can viruses be oxidized?

No, Caslon. Cold sores are highly infectious so no bodily contact.

They're usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) through close contact with someone who has a cold sore. Infection usually occurs in childhood when someone's kissed by a family member who has a cold sore. The virus passes through the skin, travels up a nerve and hides in the nerve root until it's activated.

When the virus is activated - by stress, compromised immune system or sometimes sunlight, it travels back to the skin, causing a tingling sensation. When the sore appears, it's itchy, painful and infectious.

After the first attack, some people never have another one but carry the virus without realising; others get them occasionally, while some get them quite often.

Ouch. My lip hurts.

I have suffered from cold sores since about the age of 7 or 8. When I was going through puberty they got so big and numerous I would have trouble eating (stress related).

I now take one pill a day to minimize their onset (I am HIV+ and herpes is one of the opportunistic infections).

My doctor says that with age the frequency and severity of outbreaks decreases. I am glad there is at least one advantage to approaching my final destination!

valtrex works. but if its only an occasional thing abreva is a good topic ointment. makes it go away faster. one of my friends had a nasty one, and he put that ointment on it and it went away pretty quick.

hsv-1 is really common... a big majority of people are infected with it. but our immune systems normally keep it in check

Yes, around 80% of the adult population have the virus and it lies dormant.

I'm using cold sore patches which are invisible strips that you place over the sore. They work really well and stop the blistering.

Valtrex is $80 a month versus Acyclovir for $11 a month and they both do the same thing. A buddy of mine told me this and that's what they sell it for at Costco. He begged me to take him to the store because he was going to Florida the following day and knew he'd be in the sun a lot. He was also aware of the very good price at Costco. I don't know what it's like at Walgreens or CVS but I love my Costco membership.

The herpes virus can be activated from:

Stress and over exposure to UV light and I think diet can influence or help discourage re-occurrences but I don't know what works specifically.

Redheadguy you are SOOO right, buying a new pad is stressful. I did so for my first time about 2 years ago and I don't look forward to that feeling ever again when it comes to moving and buying again.

I highly recommend Abreva.

I bought one of those blue spectrum lights to blast it with and it does work pretty well.

If you get them often watch out for anything that contains l'arginine so that would be:

most protein supplements
prawns
avocadoes (not to sure on that one but rings bells)

and the absolute bugger which is Aloe Vera which they put in 90% of things nowadays!!!!!

The first time I got the infection I ended up in the hospital from dehydration, I wouldn't eat or drink 'cause of the pain.

It's something you'll always have. But now I rarely get cold sores.

It is highly contagious. I gave it to a couple of friends.

It is highly contagious. I gave it to a couple of friends.

They probably already had it since 80% of the adult population have the virus.

Mine has gone now, there's no trace of it on my lip.

redheadguy saidIt is highly contagious. I gave it to a couple of friends.

They probably already had it since 80% of the adult population have the virus.

Mine has gone now, there's no trace of it on my lip.

Correct me if I am wrong, but it is at its' most infectious in the first 24 hours I believe. It is not hard to give it to someone when you are just starting to notice the tingling sensation. As I have gotten older the tingling sensation has started to disappear, replaced by a tremendous fatigue (rundown). Mind you I take a valtrex daily.

Technically you can pass this stuff around when you don't have a cold sore. That's why it still gets spread. Let's face it, most people with cold sores don't want to kiss someone. And if anyone tries to kiss me and I see a big ol' chancre anywhere in site I'm going to back away right quick.

They say Valtrex is known for stopping the spread "between" breakouts and recommends no contact while having a breakout. I think Acyclovir does the same thing. It's just that Valtrex spends more money on advertising and claims to do studies in order to make these types of claims.

So, Wysiwyg60, are you still getting outbreaks even though you're on Valtrex? That would be unfortunate.

So, Wysiwyg60, are you still getting outbreaks even though you're on Valtrex? That would be unfortunate.

Very rarely, and they are very minor. The lesions are tiny. If you had seen me in my teens and twenties, there is no comparison (I used to get sores inside my mouth as well as on the lips).

The doctor also prescribed valtrex because the herpes virus is thought to be linked to opportunistic diseases such as CMV. By taking it daily he feels I will be less likely to develop them (mind you my immune system is pretty robust).

the last few times I've gotten depressed. It's not too pain anymore.

Wysiwyg60 said

The doctor also prescribed valtrex because the herpes virus is thought to be linked to opportunistic diseases such as CMV.

Hey there. So is blindness the only concern when it comes to CMV?

I think people should be educated more in schools about simple little things. People are not aware of spreading cold sores or herpes to the eyes.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with how some people like to be affectionate and kiss someone on their eyelids while closed. This is a HUGE NO NO. Getting this virus directly into someone's eyes can lead to blindness in theory. I don't know of many instances where I've heard of this happening. But I don't want someone with a chancre on their lips kissing my eyes.

I am extremely cautious with my partner when I have a cold sore, as well as myself. A guy who plays softball with me gets cold sores in the eyes very painful.

CMV can cause blindness but can also other problems. The hepatitis I had in 1995 could have been due to CMV according to my brother.

Damn, sounds like you've been through a shit load of problems in terms of your health.

Here's to wishing you good health and fewer or no complications from this day forward.

muchmorethanmuscle saidDamn, sounds like you've been through a shit load of problems in terms of your health.

Here's to wishing you good health and fewer or no complications from this day forward.

Thanks, you are right I have always been prone to depressed immune system infections. I am the only male I know who suffered from thrush in the mouth before AIDS came along. That was in 1980 and resulted in me subsisting on water for 10 days. My mom says I spent the first two weeks of my life taking my lungs and tear ducts for a test drive due to a bout of the mumps!

Thank heavens for modern medicine, ever since I have started taking anti-retroviral drugs my health has never been better.

That's good. Glad something is giving you relief.

You sound like you have a very good attitude about things. Impressive!

Abreva works for me, and it seems that since I started using it my outbreaks have been further between and not as severe.

bfg1 saidI bought one of those blue spectrum lights to blast it with and it does work pretty well.

i've never seen the blue spectrum one, what company makes that?

I know there's the red laser one.

Wysiwyg60 saidSo, Wysiwyg60, are you still getting outbreaks even though you're on Valtrex? That would be unfortunate.

Very rarely, and they are very minor. The lesions are tiny. If you had seen me in my teens and twenties, there is no comparison (I used to get sores inside my mouth as well as on the lips).

The doctor also prescribed valtrex because the herpes virus is thought to be linked to opportunistic diseases such as CMV. By taking it daily he feels I will be less likely to develop them (mind you my immune system is pretty robust).

--------------------------------------------

My experience was similar: Worst in teens and twenties, sores on lips and inside my mouth. Over time they appeared less frequently, less intense, and not as long in duration. Now it's been so long that I can't remember when I last had an attack--but probably more than 30-40 years ago, and without ever using/taking any medication.

My outbreaks are less frequent now in my old[er] age. I learned many years ago that heavy doses of Lysine were helpful. Lysine seems to make the outbreak shorter in time and much less painful for me. I remember reading a book that was a compendium of all kinds of remedies from ice to ear wax. I don't remember trying any of those remedies except, perhaps, using ice occasionally. My doctor, too, prescribed acyclovir, but I don't think it's as effective for me as simple Lysine.

Hey everybody. Let's welcome Everhorn. It's his very first post. And what a memorable post it will be.

Of all the posts to get your feet wet, you chose cold sores.

Welcome, newbie.

Welcome Everhorn, I agree with yoou that cold sores get better the older you get. One of the few things in life that does get better! I take valtrex once a day to minimize the outbreaks. But I am also HIV+ and the Doctor wants to counteract the possibility of getting an opportunistic disease.

So, Surreal. Assuming that your blood work is good and your viral load is zero does your doctor still feel that this is a possibility?