samlb

hello, this is my first post here, so hi to all. i have herpes simplex 1 (the one that affects the lip area). i've always had it since i was a kid (even before i ever kissed anyone). my dad had it, so it is apparent that he was the one who gave it to me. anyways, my OBs aren't as bad as i am reading from everyone else on this board. for me, i get an OB a little smaller than the size of a dime, about once a year (but everytime it was when i get didn't get enough sleep). yesterday i got 3 hours of sleep and had to wake up to take care of some business. well later that day the dreaded tingling was happening on the corner of my mouth. i immideately applied some abreva there. well today it is full blown and looks like it's gonna run it's week-long course.

i know you some of you are saying "once a year? size of a dime? STFU!!!" i guess i'd have to be in some of your shoes to experience how horrible getting OBs once a week on genitals, noses, etc can be. anyways, my little case is still very much of an inconvenience to me when it happens. i feel depressed for that entire week and don't even want to go outside or talk to anyone. so today, i decided to search the net about possible remedies that will kill the OB in its beginning stages and gone by the next day. reading here, it seems that the olive leaf extract seems to be the popular choice. i decided i'd give it a try and ordered it today. so here are my questions:

1) since my OBs happen once a year, i'm guessing it would be overkill to take the OLE on a regular basis. so should i just take it when i feel the tingle? and will it work that way?

2) i got the 500mg 20% Oleoropein kind in capsule form. how many pills and when do i take them?

3) i know topically, abreva and zinc are good choices for cold sores. any others?

4) i always get a needle and pop all the bubbles. i heard this will drain the fluids and dry the sore faster. anyways, when i do this the fluids keep oozing out, so when i put the abreva on the cream just gets all diluted with the fluids. for some reason i feel the abreva is less effective like this, so i'll dry all of it off with a paper towel and put some more abreva on there. i'll repeat this until i get tired of doing it. is this good, so should i just put it on the first time and leave it alone?

thanks for any help.