JLFB1

Hi there, I was just wondering if anyone had had a similar experience to mine as I don't know what to do anymore. I just had my first cold sore outbreak in mid-late April and it lasted for 3 weeks - large scabs beside my mouth, cracked and swollen upper lip and an outbreak behind one ear. The doctor took a swab, but nothing came of it. A couple weeks later, just when i thought the scab was gone, another outbreak happened. This one was less severe (I think because i used Zovirax on it immediately) but nonetheless very uncomfortable. It had been gone for about 2 weeks but then it just came again and now I am really feeling run down. I have all the same outbreaks and a couple new ones - there are two behind my ears now, one along my jawline and one on my chin in addition to the ones near the side of my mouth. The doctor had done a blood test but I guess it was inconclusive. I had also asked her to test my thyroid levels because I am getting a thyroidectomy in August for a nodule goiter (But my levels have always remained normal). I am 22 and have always been very healthy but now it seems like so many things are going wrong with me and that my immune system is very low. I just feel really run down and terrible whenever I get the cold sores. I also have a rash on my stomach (not a herpes outbreak) and my eyes have been so dry or something that I cannot drive at night anymore because i have to keep blinking so much that I will start to fall asleep. I dont' know why that is happening - it never did before. Do cold sore outbreaks happen as often as every 1-2 weeks? I don't think I can deal with this if I don't get better treatment because it is such an ordeal every time I get one. I have had 3 in the past month and a half! I am going to my doctor tomorrow to tell her all the symptoms. She had sent me to an infections disease "expert" before but he was no help and told me to come back when/if the rash on my stomach and cold sores got worse. This is really a concern to me because my summer job involves going around to local schools and giving presentations and sometimes the cold sores get so bad that my face looks really gross. I feel like i always have a cold sore. Anyway, sorry for the long rant - it is nice to know that there is a resource like this though where you can talk to people going through the same thing.