I worked part time for a pediatrician who had a phenomenal memory for all sorts of trivia. I came to work one morning with the tingle of a beginning cold sore and was not happy about it. He told me not to bother buying expensive medications for it, just to get an ice cube and hold it to the sore spot for a few seconds, till it got too cold. Then, when it warmed again, repeat on and off for about 5-10 minutes. He promised it wouldn't get any worse.
He was absolutely right. Ever since then, on the rare occasion when I get one, it never grows any bigger than it was when I first started treating it with the ice. I used to get huge old sores that took forever to heal but not any more. My friends have had the same results.
Be careful to take the ice off every few seconds so as not to damage your skin. Keep it on for about 10-15 seconds, then allow your skin to warm before applying the ice again and never longer than 5-10 minutes all told.
By Tina from Ventura, CA
About three months ago, my relationship of four and a half years picked me up from the airport and he welcomed me with a kiss on the mouth and that day we kissed several times. Then the day after that, I noticed that on his bottom lip he had a blister, which I instantly recognised as a cold sore, because my mother gets them quite often so I knew what it was. He answered "yes, I think so" like nothing was going on. Because I knew how infectious this is and that kissing is forbidden while it's active, I was furious in fact of how reckless he could be, since he kissed me and he gave me oral sex that day, before I had noticed that.
So after discussing this with him, the reason he didn't tell me he had that was because he didn't know I could get infected by kissing, because his mother had it and he thought it is something normal. Also, he never got treatment in the past because he thought it's not important. He adviced me too, that I shouldn't worry because he, in his 30 years of life, only got it a couple of times so I should assume I would too. My mother however gets it many times a year, I told him that. 3 months later, I got my first cold sore on my bottom lip and he is the one who gave it to me.
Apparently, this happened because he was uninformed about it (his family didn't tell him to be careful, he never asked a doctor about it, etc.), he also paid for my medication and I shouldn't be mad about it because he didn't know. But I am seriously upset. I will have this for the rest of my life. And me like my mother, and unlike him, get frustrated very often (one of the factors cold sore gets activated). Also I am anxious that it might be transmitted onto my genitals since that day he gave me oral sex.
Q1:Is there a test that will show if he gave me genital herpes (of the same form as the lip herpes, not the other one) through oral sex?
Q2: Do you think I should be mad with him forever? I want to forgive him, but I can't imagine how somebody can be so irresponsible.
The cold sore he gave you is herpes simplex. It is contagious and annoying, but won't hurt you. Genital herpes is different. He would have had a sore on his genitals. While he did not use the best judgement,
You can get tested at Planned Parenthood. Do forgive him, it's not an uncommon situation.
there is a blood test which can tell if you have type 1 or 2, either or both. a cold sore could give you genital herpes type 1. i wouldn't be too mad about it, but i would remember his lack of smarts in future situations
WEBMD-
Genital herpes is a disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), of which there are two types. Type 1 (HSV-1) usually causes oral herpes, an infection of the lips and mouth. Symptoms are commonly known as cold sores or fever blisters. In the past, HSV-1 was not known to cause genital herpes, but that is changing, especially among people who begin having sex at a young age. Still, in most cases, genital herpes is caused by the second type of herpes virus (HSV-2).
About one-fifth of all people ages 12 and up in the U.S. are infected with the HSV-2 virus that causes genital herpes, but as many as 90% don't know it. (By comparison, experts estimate 50% to 80% of adults have oral herpes.)
HSV-1 is usually passed from person to person by kissing. HSV-1 can also spread from the mouth to the genitals during oral sex (fellatio, cunnilingus, analingus). If this happens, it becomes a case of genital herpes.
HSV-2 is most often passed by vaginal sex and anal sex. But just as HSV-1 can infect the genitals and cause genital herpes, HSV-2 can pass from one person's genitals to another person's mouth, resulting in oral herpes.
There is no cure or real treatment. They always seem to come back again and again to the infected place, over time. My dad carelessly gave my brother and I cold sores (herpes) when I was young and I also wasn't educated on their seriousness. I gave them to my husband at some point when we were dating and we have been dealing with them ever since.
I have used Abreva to shorten the healing time and ice or isopropyl alcohol at the start of an outbreak (tingle) to sometimes prevent them from breaking out entirely. My husband holds a cloth with rubbing alcohol on his lip until it is numb. But be careful because it is easy to infect another part of your lip.
You are correct about keeping calm. I almost always get a cold sore when I'm stressed out. But it also seems to have to do with abrasions. If I'm good about using lip balm and very soft tissues when I blow my nose, I'm often able to avoid them but I have been on many special dates and outings with a horrible blister or scab on my lip or nose.
It is possible to give someone oral herpes on their genitals but it is a different version. Definitely avoid kissing and oral sex when you are having an outbreak. The herpes virus is related to chicken pox and the virus that gives people mono. It is the most common virus that people are infected with.
Good luck and don't be too mad at your boyfriend. However, he should definitely become educated about it. Someday, perhaps they will discover a vaccine, like they did with HPV, and we will be able to eradicate it.
I have successfully been using a simple and small application of Campho-Phenique gel mixed with a few granules from an L-Lysine capsule when I have the first indication of a cold sore.
When you first start to feel the uncomfortable tingle start applying ice to the infected area on and off till the cube has melted. Afterward pat dry.
I am a Dental Hygienist and was told this by a Dentist. It worked great for me and many people I have informed.
For a home remedy for fever blisters on your mouth, make a paste with a drop of water and meat tenderizer. Dab the paste onto the blister.
What's the best thing to to treat fever blisters?
By shannon from Philadelphia, PA
I used to get fever blisters (cold sores) at least every 2 weeks and bad ones too. I read in Prevention Magazine that you should take Lysine 500 mg each and every day and I have done that for at least 20 years. I do get cold sores but they never erupt and they never spread. If I feel a tingle I double up on the Lysine and I tell everyone about this treatment.
Dry the area with a blow drier as hot as you can stand. Do this three or four times a day. This what I have used whenever I feel one starting and they never develop. Listerine applied to area seems to help too.
When you feel the first tingle of a fever blister starting, wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and hold it against your lip. Hold it until your lip gets numb, then take it off for a few minutes. But if you can keep this up for about 30 minutes or so, your fever blister will go away. I know this from experience.
Years ago, I got cold sores a lot, in fact for over a year I had one someplace constantly on my lip and then got an ulcer and started taking Tagamet. During the time I took it, I didn't have one. years later there is a medical white paper that says Tagamet for cold sores. Start taking when you feel the tingling and then I take one 2 times a day for several days, sometimes I don't get one and if I do, it never lasts as long.
First sign of a cold sore and I reach for my Tea Tree Oil! dip a Q-tip in a diluted solution (5-10%) of water and tea tree oil and apply 2-3 times a day a more. try like mad not to touch the sore and if you have an accompanying fever, use Tylenol as directed. you can also use liquid band-aid over the sore as well. remember, fever blisters are cold sores and they are contagious. wash your hands often and don't touch your cold sore! Tea tree oil works much faster than anything else I have used.
Fever blister? I've got a big one on my lower lip. Does anyone have a good home remedy? It never tingled or hurt.
Apply to fever blister/cold sore 4 times per day with a Q-tip at first sign of a tingle. The active ingredient in Bactine is benzalkonium chloride. It works wonders.
For a cold sore to heal faster, use the tip of your finger, lick it or wet it lightly under a faucet and dip it in alum, which is a common seasoning (spice).
