Herpes simplex

[week2week]

I reliably have 1 cold sore each year appear at the middle of my upper lip. My gf also has cold sores, but we each had these previous to knowing one another. It fucking sucks, but life goes on. Anyway, my gf called me this afternoon to tell me that she's got 2 new ones on her lips; she was pretty bummed. I got over mine several weeks ago during which time I wouldn't kiss her for like 3 weeks just to be sure it was gone. So, she's thinking that I won't kiss her for roughly the same amount of time, which, unfortunately, is going to end up being true.

Sooo...just so that I know that I'm right on this and to reinforce to myself when she's upset that I won't kiss her...it's still NOT okay to kiss someone even though you've got it yourself? Like I could spread to another area of my lips just like it can spread to someone's penis/vagina if you have oral sex, right...same theory should apply...? We had a disagreement about the latter...dunno what they get taught here in Greece/Europe as far as sex ed, but it doesn't seem to be as comprehensive as what we get (used to get -- thanks Bush Faith based initiatives!).

[samender]

Thats what I know. I have a friend who gets them all the time but she doesnt obey that rule.

[wordsmith]

If you've already got the virus, it's not going to matter too much whether you kiss somebody else with it or not. While the virus is contagious, active sores are not. Flareups don't happen from contact with another person who's got it once it's already in your system, they happen when your system is run down, whether or not the person you're kissing is having a flareup.

But you CAN spread it to previously unaffected parts, like you said. So you're not gonna wanna do the oral sex thing, no, sir.

[wordsmith]

I feel like my above post isn't clear. I'm NOT saying that you don't spread the virus through active sores, because you do, obviously. I'm just saying that once you've already got it, exposure to it after that isn't really going to matter one way or another. You'll get flareups whether you're in contact with another person with it or not.

[summergold]

What Words said is right. Do you have any medication for your sores? That seems like a long time to have one. You can either get a prescription for some stuff or just pick up some Abreva. That's an OTC med and it works awesome!

[wordsmith]

Abreva's the only thing I know that DOES work. Too bad it's $20 for .0000007 of an ounce.

[summergold]

Abreva's the only thing I know that DOES work. Too bad it's $20 for .0000007 of an ounce.

Yeah, but a little goes a long way. Still, it sucks that it's so expensive. Acyclovir (Zovirax) is the best but that's by prescription only. I always add the doctor co-pay to the cost of the Rx and it evens out to the cost of Abreva. Cold sores are just evil. That feeling of having a lip that's the size of your forehead and has a pulse is one of my least favorite sensations.

[shimmer728]

You know what's weird, though? My BF is prone to cold sores and has kissed me while he's had them. I have never once gotten a cold sore from him. Maybe I'm just not prone to them.

[GetMeOuttaDC]

But you CAN spread it to previously unaffected parts, like you said. So you're not gonna wanna do the oral sex thing, no, sir.

But I thought cold-sore herpes and genital herpes were two different viruses?

Did you know chicken pox is a herpes virus? I think it's like HSV-6 or something.

[biodork]

But I thought cold-sore herpes and genital herpes were two different viruses?

Did you know chicken pox is a herpes virus? I think it's like HSV-6 or something.
They are 2 different ones, but it's possible to spread the main one on lips down there.

And yeah, it's a herpes virus, the chicken pox/shingles virus, i think is called the Varicella-Zoster virus?

[summergold]

But I thought cold-sore herpes and genital herpes were two different viruses?

Did you know chicken pox is a herpes virus? I think it's like HSV-6 or something.

Both oral and genital herpes are caused by the Herpes Simplex virus (HSV-1 & 2). HSV-2 is usually genital herpes, but you can have HSV-1&2 for oral herpes. Basically, they can both infect either area. Chicken pox is caused by Varicella Zoster, which is a member of the herpes family. Herpes Zoster is Shingles. The Epstein-Barr Virus (aka Mono) is also a member of the Herpes family. It's just one big happy family :green:

[week2week]

I know of Abreva, and have used it before. It does work awesome. Have never heard of Zovirax. My sore never lasts more than 2 days before it scabs up, but I use 2 1/2 to 3 weeks just as a precaution...not until the last bit of scab is gone and my lip is smooth again do I let it seek adventure. :huge:

[biodork]

It's just one big happy family :green:
super happy lol :p

[GetMeOuttaDC]

And yeah, it's a herpes virus, the chicken pox/shingles virus, i think is called the Varicella-Zoster virus?

Like I'm gonna argue with BIOdork about viruses... :green:

[tina1979]

Both oral and genital herpes are caused by the Herpes Simplex virus (HSV-1 & 2). HSV-2 is usually genital herpes, but you can have HSV-1&2 for oral herpes. Basically, they can both infect either area. Chicken pox is caused by Varicella Zoster, which is a member of the herpes family. Herpes Zoster is Shingles. The Epstein-Barr Virus (aka Mono) is also a member of the Herpes family. It's just one big happy family :green:
My sister had Mono. We quarantined her to a bedroom for a month. Seriously, We would take food up to her and talk to her through the window ( i was outside and she would sit at the 2nd story bedroom window and we'd chat that way.) When the dr deemed it safe enough for us to be around her my friend and i would sit in there with her and eat dinner and chit chat. We still didn't let her out of the room though because of my daughter. Probably overkill, but we would rather be safe than sorry.

[wordsmith]

Shimmer, you won't always get cold sores from exposure...it's kind of a crap shoot. My mom and dad have been married for more than 30 years, and my dad's never gotten them from my mom. I started getting them when I did high school theatre and color guard, and we all shared stage makeup. I only get them when I'm run down or stressed. I fortunately got my most recent one AFTER my brother's wedding, so I didn't have to worry about looking dumb in pics.

My first real BF in high school had mono and was out of school for nearly a semester, and had to be tutored at home after he got out of the hospital. It's AMAZING that I never got anything, for all the smoochin' we did.

[week2week]

I'm guessing there's some kind of connection between Mono and herpes??? I've never had mono and nor has anyone in my family and the people I did know who had it never said anything about a connection with herpres...probably something I've just never known until now. Is it in the same virus family or something? The only thing I know about mono is that it's called the kissing disease and you are really tired all the time.

I think my worst cold sore DID come during a wedding. I couldn't believe it and I was completely embarassed. I felt it coming on a Thursday with the wedding on a Saturday of course. I kept it covered in cream the entire days and morning prior to the wedding in the hope that it would be gone, but it wasn't of course. And, I think it was the worst one I've ever had, or at least it seemed like it. It felt like I had a big red quarter sitting on my lip, and here I was escorting people to their seats and a part of the wedding party of one of my college friends. They conveniently had set me up to pair with an absolutely scorching hot bridesmaid. I couldn't even look at her during the dance after the wedding party intros at the reception. I'm not sure if she understood, but I think she was a bit pissed that I didn't even talk to her. I just wasn't comfortable being around someone I would want to put a full-court press on while at a wedding knowing that I couldn't with a red crater on my lip. It was humiliating.

:redface:

[WeirdBrake]

Actually, I think Allison confused cold sores with canker sores (I get them confused, too). Canker sores are the painful whitish spots that occur INSIDE the mouth on the inner cheek and tongue, right? That's what I'm prone to getting. Not cold sores.

Not sure what that means, though.

[summergold]

Actually, I think Allison confused cold sores with canker sores (I get them confused, too). Canker sores are the painful whitish spots that occur INSIDE the mouth on the inner cheek and tongue, right? That's what I'm prone to getting. Not cold sores.

Not sure what that means, though.

Congrats! That means you don't have Herpes :razz: . Canker sores are caused by stress, poor nutrition or eating foods with lots of sugar in them, and menstrual periods. They actually are believed to be genetic and usually only occur in your teens and 20's.

[MetFanL]

I'm guessing there's some kind of connection between Mono and herpes??? I've never had mono and nor has anyone in my family and the people I did know who had it never said anything about a connection with herpres...probably something I've just never known until now. Is it in the same virus family or something? The only thing I know about mono is that it's called the kissing disease and you are really tired all the time.


Herpes is actually the same family as chicken pox, I think. I know that shingles are a form of the herpes virus and it's, basically, chicken pox that have layed dormant on your nerves and comes out when you're stressed out or run down.

[WeirdBrake]

Congrats! That means you don't have Herpes :razz: . Canker sores are caused by stress, poor nutrition or eating foods with lots of sugar in them, and menstrual periods. They actually are believed to be genetic and usually only occur in your teens and 20's.

Come to think of it, I have noticed that I tend to get them at the times when I'm stressed or when I've eaten a bunch of junk food. I'm 26, so it's good to know I'll probably stop getting them over the next few years.

And to think all this time I've been confusing them with cold sores! LOL

[biodork]

Herpes is actually the same family as chicken pox, I think. I know that shingles are a form of the herpes virus and it's, basically, chicken pox that have layed dormant on your nerves and comes out when you're stressed out or run down.
Yeah and from what I've read shingles is really painful so you really don't want it to pop back up for a visit. You'd think this would remind me to not stress over everything!! But no.

[wordsmith]

Canker sores aren't viral. They're caused by mouth trauma (like a rough toothbrush), acidic food, stress, etc.

[WeirdBrake]

Great! Then there was never any reason for Allison to worry about getting them from me.

[shimmer728]

Good to know! I always just thought I was immune and special. :p

[ShawnInPA]

Is there any medication that is proven to speed up the healing process of canker sores? I got them a lot when I was younger, and until recently, I would get 1 or 2 every 3 months. But over the past 6 months I've gotten them more frequently and I've barely had a chance to have oral sex with my girlfriend because you can transmit herpes to the genital area. Help!

[summergold]

Is there any medication that is proven to speed up the healing process of canker sores? I got them a lot when I was younger, and until recently, I would get 1 or 2 every 3 months. But over the past 6 months I've gotten them more frequently and I've barely had a chance to have oral sex with my girlfriend because you can transmit herpes to the genital area. Help!

If you have canker sores, you don't have herpes and you can't give them to someone else. Canker sores are inside your mouth. Do you have sores on your lips or just inside your mouth?

[ShawnInPA]

That's what my health teacher told me. I definitely don't have cold sores, as they are ulcers. They are inside my mouth, but some are on the edge of my inner lip. I've never had a standard cold sore.

[summergold]

That's what my health teacher told me. I definitely don't have cold sores, as they are ulcers. They are inside my mouth, but some are on the edge of my inner lip. I've never had a standard cold sore.

Then you're fine. A cold sore(herpes) would appear on or just above the lip. Basically, if you can't see the sore with your mouth closed it's a canker sore. You can't give this to your girlfriend. Feel free to oral sex it up :twisted: