I Have A Cold Sore, I Am Not A Bad Person

That last part is for me… the “I am not a bad person” part. Or, if I am, it’s not because of the cold sore. But still, I feel so incredibly ashamed when I get one. Shame. It’s a powerful thing. I don’t know why, but this virus that flares when my immune system is compromised has my ego on tap and ready to party.

Two weeks ago, I fell ill in truly dramatic form – aches, pains, nausea, migraine, sinus pain, and the 102.4 fever… HOLY CRAP! It’s been a long time since I had that high of a fever and it kicked my butt. The cough came and took my breath away, and had at least semi-permanent intentions. The rest of the symptoms were gone after five or so days, but the cough is still trying to work its way out of my body today. I did the whole sick thing in record form. I surrendered, rested more than I had in years, and took all the advice I was offered to heart. I even drank hot tea. And I’m not a tea drinker.

Still, it was apparently too much for my immune system to deal with all that and still fight off the herpes simplex virus which resides somewhere in my body, waiting like a bottom-feeding scum sucker for the just right conditions to rear its ugly head. Or rear itself, making my head ugly… at least the right side of my lower lip. On day eight of this mess, I woke up with a cold sore. Damn. I really hate it when that happens.

I’ve seen other people’s cold sores; I’ve even looked at pictures online (although I don’t recommend that, as that research takes an almost immediate turn off the main road and onto some freaky, stomach-turning, nasty twist of a God-forsaken path of misery). I don’t mind other people’s. I don’t think they should feel ashamed. I feel compassion for their discomfort, physical and emotional, but mine don’t seem like the ones other people get. Yes, I already know that everybody feels that way but mine are so bad that people don’t usually even realize that it’s a cold sore.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Delaine B.

6:36PM PDT on Jul 12, 2012

Just be happy you weren't born with the virus. -__-

July 12
send a green star

Teresa M.

2:40PM PDT on Jul 12, 2012

@Tim.W.......... Good one Tim!...I have always used a dab of toothpaste,dab it on before bed,rinse off in the morning,it seems to calm it down and no nasty sore,(do it for a couple of days) Voila! gone!...for me any way. :)

Linda H.

10:25PM PDT on Jul 11, 2012

Head and Shoulders shampoo on the sore. Stops the itch. I'm going to try the Surgical Spirits though. Thanks.

July 11
send a green star

Joe R.

6:00PM PDT on Jul 11, 2012

You have a cold sore. You are not a bad person. (Get over yourself!)

pandora G.

7:51AM PDT on Jul 11, 2012

i get cold sores all the time, usually 2 or 3 times a year, but some how this year i have had 6 and we are not even close to done with it. i have tried all the tips no mater what i do i have my cold sore for at least a week, but putting ice on it does for sure keep it from swelling. I've been getting cold sores since before i am able to remember. my mom said my grandpa killed me when i was a little baby during one of his out breaks and now I'm cursed with them. I dont get embarrassed with them, i get frustrated because not only can i not kiss my fiance, i think about the future and there will be times i wont be able to kiss my little babies when i have them. The cold sores are uncomfortable and near the end of their time on my lips they burn, i have to be careful what i eat so i dont upset them. It did one good thing though, help me find the right guy seeing as the others couldn't handle a woman who gets the occasional cold sore

Laura P.

7:47AM PDT on Jul 11, 2012

they are definitely annoying.

Terry V.

5:49AM PDT on Jul 11, 2012

Miconazole, an antifungal agent it does help

5:45AM PDT on Jul 11, 2012

thanks

Mrs M.

4:54AM PDT on Jul 11, 2012

Listerine works for cold sores on tongues. They go away almost overnight.

nahia L.

4:37AM PDT on Jul 11, 2012

I feel your pain...my outbreaks are not so heavy, but really frequent: every 2 weeks more or less, since I got the virus 4 years ago. After one year of suppressive treatment with aciclovir pills and cream that didn't work, I have tried all of the natural (or not) remedies I heard of, topically and internally: rubbing alcohol, tee tree oil, peroxide, aloe vera as external treatments, and l-lysine, vitamin C, zinc, cat claw tablets, st john's wort and echinacea drops internally. I also completely stopped eating nuts and chocolate and I avoid the sun. Unfortunately, NOTHING, absolutely nothing I tried worked. I don't know what else I can do. It's really depressing.