Yes, this could be herpes, and an actual sores may or may not appear. Not everyone who gets herpes has symptoms, or has symptoms that they recognize. Do you have a way to get antiviral therapy quickly if you do get a cold sore? If it is a cold sore, you'll probably get redness first, then swelling, then blistering, at least, most people do. It is always most effective if you can start treatment immediately those symptoms show up for the best treatment.
There is another factor here. The traditional antibody test for herpes that you likely got misses HSV 1 infection one of 10 times (that is, the test shows negative but you are really infected), so it's difficult to know, in your situation, exactly what is going on.
Terri
Thanks Terri. Quick Follow Up. I can get anti viral meds if I need them but I don't want to take them unless a cold sore appears. Could the tingling in the upper lip area be something completely unrelated to herpes? If so, what could it be? Also, given that I have a bad head cold, tired etc and occasional tingling in the upper lip area, if this is in fact herpes, is there a relatively good chance a cold sore will appear? Thank You
I believe that if you have contracted oral herpes, and the tingling is related, you will likely develop a cold sore, If you take medicine, it could alter testing that you have done in the future. My advice is no meds if you don't actually have a cold sore.
Terri