cold sores - Herpes Message Board

Rover · 01-20-2005, 08:48 PM

I've had cold sores for as long as I can remember and just thought I would pass along my experiences. I'm a 37-year-old male and usually have 3-4 out breaks around the lip per year. Since the introduction of Valtrex I have only had two episodes when a blister actually formed.
Valtrex will abort the cold sore, i.e. no blister, if I can catch it soon enough. Valtrex has to be transformed into acyclivor in the liver and then get into the blood stream. So there is some delay between first downing the pill and having enough meds in the tissue for control of the replicating virus. If enough of the virus has already been replicated it will still travel down the nerve into the tissue and form a blister. I think this is one reason some people expeience mixed results from Valtrex. I also use Denavir cream when I first feel the tingle. Using this combination I can usually abort the sore, or least have only one small blister.
If I have a small blister I keep Denavir cream on it until it develops a crust, then I clean with peroxide and leave it alone. No chap stick or other goo, I think this just causes the wound to heal more slowly.
Before these new drugs were around, I tried everything. Herbal stuff, lysine, zinc, you name it. Never really helped me. Save your money for the doctor.
I could never pinpoint any cause of the out breaks: stress, sleep, and foods, ECT. Mine just seemed random.
Lastly, I've been married for over 9 years and have not seemed to pass along the virus. Of course I avoid kissing, oral sex and using the same dinnerware until the sore has disappeared. Of course she may have been exposed and doesn't have break outs.
I hope this helps someone, sure is nice not to have huge scabs on my lips for days.

Pigeons · 02-12-2005, 06:21 PM

Does Abreva work? I get cold sores about once a year, usually from a sunburn or from a pretty heavy sickness like the flu. I don't think I can get Denavir or Valtrex without perscription.

I agree with you about lysine, etc., they never seemed to work for me. I also agree with you that putting goo on your lips while they're healing is a bad idea.

zorba · 02-13-2005, 01:11 AM

I've recently tried garlic oil pills (daily) and it appears to be working. I've not had a cold sore for approximately 4 months now (knock-on-wood). Usually, I get one every 2-3 weeks or so.

I recommend trying it. They're relatively inexpensive. Hopefully, I've found an alternative to my valtrex treatment for cold sores. I know it's still too soon to say for certain; however, so far so good, and i'll let everyone know months down the road.

Thanks to backpacker for the tip!

Pigeons · 02-13-2005, 07:17 AM

I have an outbreak on my lower lip right now, and I hit it hard w/icecubes right when I felt the first tingling. No idea if it'll help them heal faster, but the ice didn't keep them away. My lip is pretty swollen this morning. Usually it takes less than a day for the swelling to go down, and by then the sores are "dead" and they just need to heal up. That can take a week or so, but it's not painful like when the sores are new.

This is the first time I've used Abreva exclusively; I'm am curious to see how well it works.

Gainup · 02-15-2005, 09:36 AM

I've been having a hard time getting my Dr. to let me take Valtrex once a day. Anyone else have this problem? I get cold sores once every 2 weeks these days. I think it's stress related (stared my own business), but what do you think about heat? I've been doing Bikram (hot) yoga for about 5 months now, every day. It's a very heated and humid room. At first I just figured I was releasing toxins and bad energy, but now I'm not sure. Does heat add to cold sores? Also, now their moving around my lip area, never in the same place anymore.