Anyone bothered by frequent cold sores?
It seems like I get them at least once a
month. They're little blisters that break
out on my upper lip. Sometimes I get them
in my nose too, near the inside of my
nostrils. Sometimes i'll get a sore
inside my mouth, on my gums. Usually
lasts about three days. The ones on my
lips last longer. They go through a
cycle. Day one is usually itching and
redness. Then day two, little blisters.
Then day three, seeping. Day four drying
and then scabbing over. I hate them. I
used to get them every once in a while
(two or three times a year). Now, I have
them all the time. My kids even tease me,
"you always have cold sores mom." if
they're contagious you'd never know it.
My husband of 27 years has never gotten
them.
Hey tallwoman...
Whenever I go see the rheummy they always
ask if I get cold sores. I did before I
was diagnosed, since then though, nope.
One of my rheummys gave me prescrip for
some kind of gargle that helps them go
away. I didn't ever use it as I didn't
need to. You may want to ask about it.
Hope it helps.
Why they come I have no idea. I'm
someone will be very bright and say
"stress".
Clarebear
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Tallwoman
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 59 Location: US
Hey Clarebear Posted: 07-17-04 22:57pm
Thanks for your reply. You know, the
rheumy I see now has never asked me about
cold sores. He's more interested in his
test results and my neurological symptoms.
He doesn't ask me for things that point
to a lupus dx like, "do you experience
excessive hair loss?" the answer would be
yes. "do you experience problems with
sunlight?" the answer would be yes. "do
you experience cold sores?" "unexplained
fevers?" the answer would be yes. And so
on.
Well, I try to be patient with him. He
does do his best. And I have to trust he
knows what he's doing.
You do ***not*** have to trust that he
knows what he is doing. You can
***always*** get another opinion.
I know you are having a hard time getting
an answer to your symptoms but if he is
more concerned about things ***other***
than you then I feel there may be a
problem.
I didn't like one of the doctors at the
hospital when I was first admitted in 2002
and requested a change. It was done
instantly and the new doctor was much
better and also more informed on what was
going on with me.
Clarebear
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danyul74
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 11 Location: Los Angeles
Posted: 07-19-04 12:08pm
Hi there -- I also get cold sores and my
doctor prescribed me a really effective
medicine called acyclovir (i think that's
how it spelled?). As soon as I start to
feel the tingling coming on I immediately
start taking the medicine and it almost
always prevents a sore from forming. Of
course you'd need to talk with your doctor
to determine if it would be a good fit for
you, but it works really well for me.
Dan
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Tallwoman
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 59 Location: US
Thanks Dan And Clarebear Posted: 07-19-04 22:49pm
I see the rheumy again in august. You
know, i'm going to be assertive and ask
him about the cold sores and other
symptoms. I really don't want to change
rheumys because he's really the best
doctor i've seen so far for my symptoms.
And i've seen five (yes, 5) neurologists.
And he beats all of them! I didn't
mention before but he found a disease (a
parasite actually) that I had, that no one
had tested me for before this. So, I took
the treatment for that, and right now
we're waiting to see if this has helped.
I think he's got his work cut out for him
where i'm concerned. Because i'm a
regular at the lab (always giving blood
for tests) I have short conversations with
the lab techs about my ordeal. They speak
very highly of this doctor and assure me,
that if anyone will find out what's wrong
with me, it will be him. They say, "he
won't give up." i'll also ask him about
the acyclovir. I've heard of that.
