Aa
Need an honest answer about spreading
Good morning,
I have been a cold sore sufferer since I was a little kid, probably from my mom. Growing up I got them sporadically, but my parents downplayed it so it was never really a concern for me. Over the last several years I still get OBs some of which are horrific. Again, didn't really give it much thought, I'm not concerned about the social stigma. However, since I have been married for 10 years and now have 3 small children, I find my self overcome with constant terror that I will spread it to my children and/or wife. I know the general rule of growing up, no kissing with one, no sharing, and always wash your hands after touching it. Like an idiot, I did a lot of research on HSV-1 online and now I am terrified that those steps are not enough. I have read in several places that my saliva carries the virus and that I will spread it even without an OB. In order to prevent my family from getting these awful things I have gone to extraordinary measures to prevent it. Even without an outbreak, I don't share anything or even kiss my kids. I occasionally kiss my wife but again I am scared of passing it to her. When I have an OB I won't even talk until it is gone and then a few days after for fear that when I speak, my saliva may come out and hit someone in the eye or contaminate something that my kids will touch and then have the virus on their hands or clothes. I take Valltrex only when I have an OB which does very well in reduction. However, given that stress induces these things, I am constantly stressed about passing them which has made my OBs more frequent. it used to be once a year maybe, now it's 3 times or more a year. I take so many supplements to inhibit the virus, Lysine, multi-vitamin, B complex, D, E, everything to avoid these things. I know the majority of people get them but I hate knowing that my kids would get this and get ridiculed the same way I was growing up, and even worse, undergo the pain I have through the years from the oOBs themselves. Am I being paranoid about everything and the spreading? I am also scared to even shower with water on my face for fear it will pass to other parts of my body, even without an OB. I am tired of being paralyzed with this fear without knowing for sure. I hate these things. This is the only missing element in my life. If only I could make peace with it, everything else is perfect. I wish a cure or vaccine would be developed already. Please advise. Thank you.
I have been a cold sore sufferer since I was a little kid, probably from my mom. Growing up I got them sporadically, but my parents downplayed it so it was never really a concern for me. Over the last several years I still get OBs some of which are horrific. Again, didn't really give it much thought, I'm not concerned about the social stigma. However, since I have been married for 10 years and now have 3 small children, I find my self overcome with constant terror that I will spread it to my children and/or wife. I know the general rule of growing up, no kissing with one, no sharing, and always wash your hands after touching it. Like an idiot, I did a lot of research on HSV-1 online and now I am terrified that those steps are not enough. I have read in several places that my saliva carries the virus and that I will spread it even without an OB. In order to prevent my family from getting these awful things I have gone to extraordinary measures to prevent it. Even without an outbreak, I don't share anything or even kiss my kids. I occasionally kiss my wife but again I am scared of passing it to her. When I have an OB I won't even talk until it is gone and then a few days after for fear that when I speak, my saliva may come out and hit someone in the eye or contaminate something that my kids will touch and then have the virus on their hands or clothes. I take Valltrex only when I have an OB which does very well in reduction. However, given that stress induces these things, I am constantly stressed about passing them which has made my OBs more frequent. it used to be once a year maybe, now it's 3 times or more a year. I take so many supplements to inhibit the virus, Lysine, multi-vitamin, B complex, D, E, everything to avoid these things. I know the majority of people get them but I hate knowing that my kids would get this and get ridiculed the same way I was growing up, and even worse, undergo the pain I have through the years from the oOBs themselves. Am I being paranoid about everything and the spreading? I am also scared to even shower with water on my face for fear it will pass to other parts of my body, even without an OB. I am tired of being paralyzed with this fear without knowing for sure. I hate these things. This is the only missing element in my life. If only I could make peace with it, everything else is perfect. I wish a cure or vaccine would be developed already. Please advise. Thank you.
Yes. Do some research on how the virus infects an area. Stop reading about saliva infecting your family. It will not happen the ways you describe.
Thanks for sharing that. It sucks being this paralyzed all the time. I don't even care about the social stigma of it. People are people no matter what affliction you have. My concern is the pain of it. I need to have more confidence in myself. Not to pry but is there anything that can back that up? The saliva droplets part.
Small children are the most at risk as their immune systems are not very strong. Not talking is a bit extreme as a tiny bit of salive from talking is not going to infect anyone. Please only avoid kissing your wife when you are having an outbreak. Kissing your childrenon the cheek or fforehead when no sores are pressent is not a problem either. Just take the precautions you stated before you got overly paranoid and all will be fine.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
