Aa
Someone please respond asap.
I suffer from anxiety and extreme OCD. My anxiety is situational which is caused by my obsessive thoughts about a fear I may have.
Long story short, when I was 13 I woke up with a cluster of blisters underneath my nose. It was awful, it looked like a flesh eating disease. I went to the doctor and she immediately said it looked like herpes, but then changed the diagnosis to impentigo because I was not sexually active. When I was 19 I got tested for all Std's for the first time and everything came back negative except for hsv 1. I was shocked because to my knowledge I had never had a cold sore or genital symptoms. Strangely enough, a week after I got tested I got the same lesion underneath my nose that was a cluster of blisters. Now looking back, I'm almost sure this was a cold sore, just underneath the nose. My fear is that I have hsv 1 genitally as well and don't know it. It's been two & a half years since I've tested positive for hsv 1 and I'm still looking for symptoms genitally. I just want to put this phobia to rest. I don't want to live like this anymore. I know That I for sure get cold sores, but only these two outbreaks I speak of. I'm not sure if the first lesion underneath my nose when I was 13, was a cold sore.. But I know the second lesion was. It looked identical to a cold sore and itched & burned. I have a series a questions that I would really appreciate if anyone could answer or at least shed some light on.
Questions:
Should I be worried about having hsv 1 genitally?
Is it likely that the first lesion underneath my nose was a cold sore as well?
Am I overthinking this?
Has anyone ever heard of someone having their first outbreak genitally years after contracting it?
The first lesion I got underneath my nose was directly in the middle underneath my nose. The second lesion was underneath my nose as well, but more to the right side. Is it common forr cold sores to fluctuate an inch or two of their original infection site?
Like has anyone had a cold sore on their upper right lip and then had a reoccurrence on their bottom right lip?
Help or advice would be greatly appreciated :(
Long story short, when I was 13 I woke up with a cluster of blisters underneath my nose. It was awful, it looked like a flesh eating disease. I went to the doctor and she immediately said it looked like herpes, but then changed the diagnosis to impentigo because I was not sexually active. When I was 19 I got tested for all Std's for the first time and everything came back negative except for hsv 1. I was shocked because to my knowledge I had never had a cold sore or genital symptoms. Strangely enough, a week after I got tested I got the same lesion underneath my nose that was a cluster of blisters. Now looking back, I'm almost sure this was a cold sore, just underneath the nose. My fear is that I have hsv 1 genitally as well and don't know it. It's been two & a half years since I've tested positive for hsv 1 and I'm still looking for symptoms genitally. I just want to put this phobia to rest. I don't want to live like this anymore. I know That I for sure get cold sores, but only these two outbreaks I speak of. I'm not sure if the first lesion underneath my nose when I was 13, was a cold sore.. But I know the second lesion was. It looked identical to a cold sore and itched & burned. I have a series a questions that I would really appreciate if anyone could answer or at least shed some light on.
Questions:
Should I be worried about having hsv 1 genitally?
Is it likely that the first lesion underneath my nose was a cold sore as well?
Am I overthinking this?
Has anyone ever heard of someone having their first outbreak genitally years after contracting it?
The first lesion I got underneath my nose was directly in the middle underneath my nose. The second lesion was underneath my nose as well, but more to the right side. Is it common forr cold sores to fluctuate an inch or two of their original infection site?
Like has anyone had a cold sore on their upper right lip and then had a reoccurrence on their bottom right lip?
Help or advice would be greatly appreciated :(
I don't mind you messaging. I already answered your message:) Glad the info helped you. It's not mostly opinion by the way. It's tried, true, and sensible. I think you got that.
I cannot express the relief you have given me persephonedemeter !
Thank you so much, and if I have any further question would you mind me messaging you? You have really helped me like no other. I cannot thank you enough!
Thank you so much, and if I have any further question would you mind me messaging you? You have really helped me like no other. I cannot thank you enough!
When I said, take care of your hands after handwashing, I mean don't forget to use hand lotion. I hope you don't have handwashing ocd.
Yes. You don't have genital herpes, and I wouldn't wait around and see whether symptoms is going to happen or not. It would be like waiting to become President when you didn't even bother to enter the race. You could be waiting for a very long time, and I wouldn't want you to feel you wasted a lot of time and energy doing so. It's time to move on.
Practice good hygiene and safe sex. When you have an outbreak or someone has an outbreak, practice prevention and be prepared. Take the time to learn what safe sex is with the different kinds of sexual activities that you are or like to engage in. Don't play vague mind games or just assume, communicate and stay clear. Stay within what you can handle, especially, because you have OCD. The last thing you need is to freak out afterwards. That is essential and basic even for consensual sex games by people who like to go "out there."
For the cold sore, fever blister or herpes lesion you have, wash your hands with soap and water after you touch or clean it or apply lubricants like petroleum jelly, abreva, medicated lubricants. Isolate the area. When I say that, I mean, when you are washing your face, use soap and water and clean the area separately from the rest of your face and body, especially when it is angry and blistery. When it starts to "dry or crust," that's a good sign it is turning the corner to being less contagious. While it is contagious, avoid the kissing and the face time. It's usually okay once it starts getting to look like healed, closed skin. I keep lubricating it until it's completely healed so I have less "scarring" or discoloration and to protect it from dry cold or hot air (and from dryness pain). Since it isn't practical for me to put a bandaid on my mouth, I rely heavily on the lip balms and lubricants. I try not to overhandle my lesion directly. I use disposable cotton swabs or a tissue to apply the stuff on my sore (or when I clean it gently with soap and water),because sometimes when I am out and about, I don't have the opportunity to wash my hands with soap and water. Don't share anything you put on your face. Throw out all that lubricant you used on it when the lesion is done healing. You don't have to be fanatical or ocd about cleanliness, just as needed and common sense practicality. Take care of your hands, by the way, with the handwashing before and after you touch the face. That is only when that lesion shows up. When nothing is happening and the lesion is gone, carry on as usual and don't fret, because it is done and over. Move on, live life and don't bother wondering about it.
Practice good hygiene and safe sex. When you have an outbreak or someone has an outbreak, practice prevention and be prepared. Take the time to learn what safe sex is with the different kinds of sexual activities that you are or like to engage in. Don't play vague mind games or just assume, communicate and stay clear. Stay within what you can handle, especially, because you have OCD. The last thing you need is to freak out afterwards. That is essential and basic even for consensual sex games by people who like to go "out there."
For the cold sore, fever blister or herpes lesion you have, wash your hands with soap and water after you touch or clean it or apply lubricants like petroleum jelly, abreva, medicated lubricants. Isolate the area. When I say that, I mean, when you are washing your face, use soap and water and clean the area separately from the rest of your face and body, especially when it is angry and blistery. When it starts to "dry or crust," that's a good sign it is turning the corner to being less contagious. While it is contagious, avoid the kissing and the face time. It's usually okay once it starts getting to look like healed, closed skin. I keep lubricating it until it's completely healed so I have less "scarring" or discoloration and to protect it from dry cold or hot air (and from dryness pain). Since it isn't practical for me to put a bandaid on my mouth, I rely heavily on the lip balms and lubricants. I try not to overhandle my lesion directly. I use disposable cotton swabs or a tissue to apply the stuff on my sore (or when I clean it gently with soap and water),because sometimes when I am out and about, I don't have the opportunity to wash my hands with soap and water. Don't share anything you put on your face. Throw out all that lubricant you used on it when the lesion is done healing. You don't have to be fanatical or ocd about cleanliness, just as needed and common sense practicality. Take care of your hands, by the way, with the handwashing before and after you touch the face. That is only when that lesion shows up. When nothing is happening and the lesion is gone, carry on as usual and don't fret, because it is done and over. Move on, live life and don't bother wondering about it.
It's been 2 & a half years since I've tested positive for hsv 1 and even when I tested positive, my value was greater than 8.0 so obviously I had it for a while.
In all of these years I've never had a genital outbreak. So should I conclude that I do not have hsv 1 genitally?
Or should I still be waiting to get symptoms?
In all of these years I've never had a genital outbreak. So should I conclude that I do not have hsv 1 genitally?
Or should I still be waiting to get symptoms?
Wow, thank you persephonedemeter ! That really helped!
Is it weird that I've only had 2 cold sores in me entire life? I'm only 21 by the way.
& can I assume since I've never had a genital outbreak, that my hsv 1 infection is only orally?
Is it weird that I've only had 2 cold sores in me entire life? I'm only 21 by the way.
& can I assume since I've never had a genital outbreak, that my hsv 1 infection is only orally?
...and before you ask, no. I don't have genital herpes. I know a few people with genital herpes, and none of them have cold sores. That came up when I was complaining about the pain of the cold sore on my lip that everyone could see, and I made a comment that, at least, it wasn't genital herpes, and it turned out 3 people in the room have genital herpes, all of them friends of mine, who I've known for years. It was almost like a comedy skit, because, although it's nothing to laugh about when you have an outbreak, it was an interesting discussion said good naturedly and very casually because we were all watching a movie, having chilli dogs and beer, and having fun.
It doesn't have to be in the exact same place, just in the same region. I get a cold sore every once in a long while on my mouth. Probably, about 4 times in my life, and I'm in my 50's. The last time was probably 15 years ago. It's not a big deal to me, other than it is annoying and I don't feel attractive, and have to stick with soothing medicated lip balms than my colored lipsticks, and I and no one else want to kiss when it's there. I forget that I even have core sores when I don't have it. It usually last just a week or 2. Your lesion sounds small like mine was. It goes away, and as you get older, they don't manifest so much. It sounds like a few years rolled by before it showed up again. I think the OCD is carrying you over with the worrying.
If I got a lesion in the middle underneath my nose & then got my second reoccurence underneath my nose but more under the right side, is that technically still the same place ?
Or do cold sores literally appear in the exact same spot?
Or do cold sores literally appear in the exact same spot?
I don't know much about herpes, but I do suffer from health anxiety and OCD like you. If you first got it when you were 13 and nor sexually active, then you are likely to get it again in the same place. Unless you made contact with someone with it genitally, you can just magically contract it. A cold sore is a normal occurence. Stop worrying, you'll be fine. Just don't think about it, I know it's hard but it's the best thing to do. Good luck friend, sometimes someone to talk to relieves my stresses the most and I hope it helps you too.
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