Cold sore and pimples

I have this cold sore on a new place. When I had earlier I had it on the left side of my bottom lip. What's this new location means? New infection?

The itchy tingle is the first sign of an impending cold sore. Cold sore remedies are most effective at this time, before the blisters develop (expectant mothers should consult a doctor before using the usual cold sore medicines!!).

Home remedies may prevent the cold sore from developing past the itchy stage: holding ice on the area for a few minutes (and repeat several times), a thick paste of baking soda, or a dab of rubbing alcohol.

Prevention is the best cold sore remedy so far they say. Increased sun exposure, poor diet, lack of sleep and illness can all be the triggers. Well, with first trimester nausea it is hard to keep a healthy diet and sleep isn't come easy either.

I do not believe it!

7+6 today. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is back!! Just what I needed to cheer up my nausea!

Yesterday evening I started to feel that tingling sensation on my bottom lip and a tiny blister came out just before bed. This morning I woke up with a burning, itching, swelled, giant blister almost in the middle of the bottom lip. Unbelievable! It was only in July that I had cold sores. I did not expect it so soon as I thought the antibodies are doing their job. It's not even four months since the last outbreak which lasted more than two weeks!!

I was so worried all night. I couldn't sleep much and woke up at 4am. I hope Bunny is safe. He should be safe. Must be safe!! I do not want to loose him, again.

I called my GP first thing this morning. She said that it does not effect my pregnancy and there is oral medication for it. Is that safe I asked. She said that they usually do not give it to pregnant women. Why to mention then?? She said that I can use Zovirax as the absorption through the skin is minimum, plus the book says there is not known harmful effect. It wasn't really convincing so I decided not to put anything on it (just to ease any discomfort). Not even salt paste!!

Some forum mentioned that Abreva, Valtrex, or Blistex is safe. Who knows really!?! There is not enough research when it comes to pregnancy and the first trimester is so vulnerable. I will just wait it out as it will start to heal on its own within a few days. Not sure about lysine (an amino acid) supplement either. I may try to apply ice to the sore. Frequent hand washing, plenty of water, vitamin C rich fruits.

The virus stays in my body for life and there is no cure. Hormonal changes like pregnancy trigger a cold sore...

The blister unleashed and strikes back

Tuesday morning - Small blister on the lower lip. Salt paste (I found on the NET that this is an effective way to fight back, as I did not wanted to use strong medicine like Zovirax because of the baby-making-process we are in).

Tuesday afternoon - A second blister appears next to the first one. More salt paste!

Wednesday morning - Two blisters. Ugly and red as hell! Local pharmacy. Cymex cream (pharmacist's recommendation).

Wednesday afternoon - Two blisters. No improvement. Sore, itchy.

Thursday morning - GP. Viralief cream (Aciclovir, the active ingredient, works by slowing down the virus. If used early enough, it has been shown to stop cold sores developing and speed up the healing of cold sore blisters. To be used for 5 days.

My advice, never try the salt paste!!

Just perfect!!

Second day of my menses and guess who knocked this morning, Mr. Herpes labialis! Just what I needed!

Sunday we had a big walk on the seaside with no cloud just pure sunshine on the vivid blue sky. Thanks to that, I don't know. My immune system couldn't be down.

I had my first Herpes labialis (oral herpes) when I started to work. One of my colleague had a bad one, after her all of us got it. Since then (2002 or 2003), thanks to her it generally comes back in every 2-3 years. I can't recall when was it last time, but a good while ago, probably 3 years(ish).

Herpes labialis is an infection of the lip by herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). It brings out small blisters or sores on or around the mouth (commonly known as cold sores or fever blisters). Once HSV-1 has entered the body, it never leaves!! There is no method to eradicate herpes virus from the body. Pity! The virus moves from the mouth to quietly reside, remain latent in the central nervous system, and may be influenced by stress, menstruation, sunlight, sunburn, fever. Sun-triggered recurrence is common.