Cold sores/herpes

[xx-socold-xx.livejournal.com]

I have a few questions..I hope you guys can clear these up for me!


I've never had a cold sore in my life. I've never come into contact (kissed, drank after, etc) with someone who had cold sores. Is it possible for one to just...show up? A few weeks ago, part of my upper lip was tingling and it was red. I read that those are symptoms of an oncoming cold sore? Anyway, nothing ever..turned up. No blisters, no crusting, nothing. It just went away. Today, it came back. Same place, same symptoms. It's tingling, it's very red, part of my lip is swollen, and it's hot to the touch. But, there's no blister or anything. I haven't eaten or drank anything differently, so it's not some kind of allergy. Can it be a cold sore? Any way at all? 

Also--if it is a cold sore, I want to make sure I'm safe. Are you able to pass the virus through oral sex? I'm very confused on the subject--I know they are two different types of herpes, but can one turn into the other? If I had a cold sore and gave my boyfriend oral, could he possibly get it? I've read mixed things and am not sure what is correct.

Thank you :) 

Comments

[sotepetsenu.livejournal.com]

I felt a tingling, had a reddish, slightly swollen spot above my lip, PANICKED and went and bought Abreva and everything.

It was just a pimple.

Don't worry about it, and just wait a few days. If a bump pops up that isn't a pimple, then I'd start worrying :P

[otherrootbeer.livejournal.com]

This.

I'll get random pimples on the very edge of my upper lip.

[snowmentality.livejournal.com]

Yup. I recently mistook a real cold sore for a pimple at first, because the beginning symptoms were identical -- and I'd had lots of random pimples on the edge of my lip, but hadn't had a cold sore since I was little.

I'm willing to bet the OP has a pimple :)

[sarahbear1.livejournal.com]

"I've never come into contact (kissed, drank after, etc) with someone who had cold sores."

I believe the virus can be passed on even when a cold sore isn't present. I don't know the stats, but I'm sure it's possible, as well, tons of people have the virus and never have a sore.

And yes, you can pass the virus through oral sex, I think it's less likely though since the virus usually makes its home around the mouth.

[kitchit.livejournal.com]

You can get cold sores from someone who doesn't have any visible signs. you can have the herpes virus and not show any signs until you are 30, but you have always had the virus. My mum had cold sores all the time, and I used her lipstick and never got one for 15 years, and I got one this year.

Cold sores and genital herpes are tow strains of the same virus and if someone has a sore on their mouth they shouldn't be near your genitals.

When you feel the itchy, tingly feeling on your mouth you should just hold an ice cube to it until it goes numb. This always seems to stop mine from developing any further and they disappear.

I wouldn't go down on your boyfriend if you had any open sores on your mouth or if he has any on his penis.

I hope that helps.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

In addition to what others mentioned (HSV can be transmitted even when sores aren't present), it's worth remembering too that many people don't think they have HSV because they've never had a cold sore, but they actually do have the virus -- either they never got an outbreak, or they got their first one as a small child and don't remember. This is pretty common.

If it is HSV, then yes, it can be transmitted to the genitals via oral sex.

Basically, there are two major strains of HSV. HSV1 "prefers" the mouth, and HSV2 "prefers" the genitals, but both are responsible for about 20% of infections in the other location. It's not that one strain "turns into" the other -- just that both strains can infect either location.

[hopingforrain.livejournal.com]

It's actually most contagious right *before* there is any physical evidence so it is possible you got it from someone you shared a drink with or kissed even though they appeared (and maybe felt) like they didn't have HSV.

So it sounds to me like it's possible you have been exposed (as have most people). If someone is absolutely unwilling to risk being exposed I think they should just never have oral sex with anyone. I don't think anyone could guarantee to you that they won't be exposing you-- nor you to them.