[Stumper]

I have just tumbled upon this discussion.
Cold sores have been the bane of my life since the age of 7-8. For the last 5 years my outbreaks have got worse, and worse. I am sitting here now with two sores, one on either side of my mouth, just under my lips. they stretch down almost as far as my chin, and almost meet in the middle. They are 6 days old. They hurt like hell, and look like hell spawn. The previous two weeks before these I had a similar sized one on my left cheek. Before that, on my right cheek, before that, in my nose, ears, and around my lips.
I have tried just about everything in the past. All the anti-virals, tea tree oil, lavendar oil, lemon oil, garlic, L-Lysine, herbal cures, blue-green algae, topical alcohol, etc, etc;
None of it works.
Today I sat down with a doctor who specializes in immunology, and has a good deal of knowledge about the herpes virus in all its guises. He has put together a very sensible sounding plan of action for me to follow. Taking into account the fact that my outbreaks have gone up and down in severity at different time of my life, he has tried to identify what may make me more susceptible. He has also identified certain things that for me are almost definite 'triggers'.
In short, here is the plan:

My diet must change so that I avoid (as much as possible) nuts, hard candy, chocolate, grapefruit, and bitter oranges. The citric fruits are a contact problem.
I must use a suncream of at least spf 20 at all times outside, and stronger in bright sun.
I have a sleep programme to follow which means bed by 11pm, and proper rest. I wont go into details, but its the kind of sleep advice thats commonly in health articles.
Prolonged Muscular stress should be avoided. This is not the same as normal,healthy muscular use. He means bad posture, and muscular strain caused by repetitive work or habits. Apparently this has put a strain on my nervous system by creating times of chronic aches and pains that literally wear down the bodies ability to fight illness.
He has also recommended that I have aciclovir tablets to hand, and start taking 400mg five times a day whenever I notice the signs of a new outbreak.

All of this was worked out after 5 interviews with him, and a lot of questions and hard work. I even have a 'map' of my history, where all the possible factors are mapped against outbreaks over the years, and it does seem as though certain factors play a large part in my problem.
I have no idea wether any of this helps anyone here, I am only just beginning this plan myself, so I don't even know if it works yet.
The reason I am posting this here is because the plan he has given me makes sense. By mapping all the things I can remember about my past, and matching it to outbreaks I can see what he is getting at.

I'll re-post in a few weeks and let you know how I am getting on. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask.

[rich50]

If you read all the forums you will often see ICE suggested. The difference between this 'solution' and all the others is that every reference to ice is in praise, while all others received mixed reviews. Some fail at all types of medication, some respond brilliantly to a particular one, some use a cocktail ... but ice remains a common 'YES'. When I tried it, I wrapped up a 1 inch square cube in tissue so that water didn't run down my arm and placed it on the outbreak till until the ice was gone in about 10-15 minutes. Then did it again with a second cube, and then again with a third. 30-45 minutes with an ice cube firmly pressed on. No dabbing, no trips to the mirror ... clamped on continuously and firmly (not fiercly). Finally a trip to the mirror - gone, gone blessed gone. Slightly tender (I just froze my lip), but no swelling, no blister, hardly noticable aside from the slight redening from the freeze attack. One thing I noticed is that ice is not just ice ! At home an ice cube from my mild domestic fridge is like glass, while at work the big fridge is more powerful and the ice is heavily frosty white ... ice works period, but heavy frosty ice is heaven. Don't be worried you'll do damage freezing your lip, I have absolutely no side effects from the freeze attack, and after 45 minutes of freeze, it only takes 5-10 untill all is as it was, except the virus has given up its attack! If the virus has made a sneak attack like after sun burn rather than stress, and the flare up happens while you are asleep (so it's well under way when you spot it), the ice will work fine but the skin may already be damaged. That's where the other tip of 'nail varnish remover' is useful. It is strong and any remaining virus activity will also be alienated from the area, but it's great in very rapidly drying out the area, almost like a sealant. Unless your cold sore is huge it should help a lot to close down the exposed area and prevent the nasty scab that is embarrising as well as uncomfortable. Bottom line is that ice and nail varnish remover are a cheap fast 'repair' not cure, that everyone that I've read about says ... 'it works'  []

[BYGEORGE]

Amazing reading all those anecdotes. I tried H-Balm (Forces of Nature) and then ChroRaphor ('once you have used it you will not get a reoccurance. Buy 1 get 1 free' !)I thought they were working, but it co-incided with a change of environment where I ate fewer nuts. Since resuming high nut consumption, cold-sore have come back.

I have sent off for Virasoothe as people here say it works. I will also trial Bio Stick (30 days trial, money back guarantee) and post the results.

One hint for those in the UK, a generic version of Zorvorax is available in my local Poundland. It is called Pinewood Coldsore Cream, is identical, and costs, yes, just £1.

[Brandy08]

Ice cubes really do work, especially when used the second you feel any tingling at all.  You can often prevent the sore from developing if you start the ice early enough.  I hold an ice cube on the area until it melts, wait a few minutes and then hold a hot tea bag on the area until it cools.  I follow up with a dab of tea tree oil and then put some Abreva on it. I repeat all of that two or three times a day.  Also, the second I feel one coming on, I start taking l-lysine(about 200 mg every 4 hours).

I guess all of that is overkill, but I just had a cold sore that was gone in two days using that treatment! 

Also, very important, keep drinking water!!! It will take longer to heal if you are not hydrated.

[semperveritas]

It looks like there could really be a cure for cold sores on the way:

newbielink:http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1819739,00.html?imw=Y [nonactive]

I have put up with them now for 40 years or more and have a few scars to prove it.

But the real worry was a recent bout when they appeared around my left eye for the first time. The doctor was quite concerned and stated that if severe they could send you blind. Coincidently(?) this occurred after I had been doing some nude sun bathing to try and get a tan for a forthcoming holiday. Luckily they disappeared after some treatment and did not affect the cornea and I have not had any since around the eye.

If the above cure is successful I will be the first in line as I would say that cold sores have been the curse of my life. 

[TonyCap]

I am hearing a lot of good things about the ice method.  Next time, I get sore, I will try it and let you all know.

Thanks.

[katieh]

i heard that if your partner has a cold sore and gives you oral sex but you have the cold sore virus too. you cant get gential herpes from the oral sex. is this true?

[orange_county]

Ice helps, I wouldn't say it's the end all-be all. Really if you want to be safe and have a job or school, Valtrex 1000g a day we'll save you a lot of trouble. Also exercise in the morning. You'll feel better and it's good for your body. Also take L-lysine.

If you are broke try herplex, L-lysine & exercise.
newbielink:http://theprivatepharmacy.com/products/cold_sore_treatments/herplex.htm [nonactive]
I heard it's pretty decent.

//English isn't my first language

[orange_county]

Also let's nip the disease in the bud and stop paying these pharmaceticals zillions. Donate to herpes research.

[daniel0986]

as much as i wish it weren't so we will probably never see a cure for cold sores. It's just not in the pharmaceutical companies' best interests to make one available to the public, not when they can charge us for their treatments for the entirety of our lives. It must be a real cash cow for them and i'm sure it makes a mint for them. If they did release a cure they would lose an unthinkable amount of money over time, for all we know there could already be a cure, patented and locked away so no-one can sell it no the open market. I'm still hopeful though that some independent  genetic scientists sneak one past them. Fingers crossed   

[beckyboo2]

I'd say that Ice helps reduce the length of time of my outbreaks. I have found that there are really only two things that prevent cold sores for me. I usually don't use valtrex because I don't like to put drugs in my body but that stuff really works for me.
The other thing that I like is vygone. This one is cool because you can use it on a ton of cold sores.

[chocaholic]

No cold sores for more than a day in 2 years now.  I'd had cold sores for 40+ years usually every few months. They're even present in my toddler pictures.  Nasal ones were the worst for appearance as you can imagine.  Once when I had braces placed they made a continuous ring around my mouth.

Stumper makes a very good point about diet.  If you are feeling stressed or have the least bit of a tingling cold sore aura ABSOLUTELY swear off all chocolate especially dark chocolate until you are well out of cold sore harms way.  Peanut butter, nuts and red grapes flame the fires of a cold sore too.  If you are a dark chocolate fiend  limit your intake even on your good weeks to lessen the likelihood of a sore beginning.  These foods are high in arginine and cold sores absolutely love it.  Cheap and important is the ingestion of daily lysine to counterbalance the arginine. I also carry them with me. Salmon is a good substitute for lysine. You can't avoid arginine all together nor should you want to your whole life as it is good for your heart but it is the lysine:arginine ratio that keeps cold sores at bay.  So..if you know you overindulged with nuts or chocolate take an EXTRA lysine and save yourself a lot of grief.
ICE is indeed great, thanks for the tip from multiple contributors.
If you use Valtrex be sure it is prescribed as 2 grams the 1st dose and 2 grams repeated in 12 hours then finish. You only need 4 pills for an episode but must be pulsed in this manner.  This is the recommended dosing for cold sores but some doctors believe it can be dosed the same as for shingles; not so.  If the dose is stretched out over a few days or a week it does not work very well if at all and you've wasted money on a lot more than necessary pills.  Ask for the 1 gram pills, the highest dose it comes in, as higher milligram pills are cheaper than many lower milligram pills.  Valtrex is for last ditch efforts.
Really if you take lysine daily year round with extra for dietary faux pas, monitor your chocolate and nut intake, and if anemic - take iron to lower your stress level, you shouldn't need Valtrex except when you slip up as we all do.  But again, the ice has really saved me even in that case when recently I foolishly had no lysine (or salmon) available.
Good luck to all.

[devajimmy147]

To get a cold sore is the worst thing in the world.  now that sounds so over the top but when you get one, it really is the worst thing in the world.  I constantly bite my lips and lick over the top of them in fear of a small bump..........and 95% of the time, there is nothing there.  But on that odd occasion, usually when something I am really looking forward to is on the agenda, there is that horrible, awful, sinking feeling and the thought of 'here we go again' and then my mind races ahead for the next ten days to check the calendar in my head for any social appointments.  If there are social appointments, they will be promptly cancelled with the excuse of 'no money' or 'have got the flu'.... letting people down is the least of my worries because for the next ten days, my confidence is zero and my contact with the outside world is kept to an absolute minimum.  When that contact comes along, the wipe of the nose or the turn of the head are the things that kid you into thinking the other person cannot see what's growing on your mouth, but they obviously can because if it was you looking at you, then you would definitely see the thing and you would also think it was disgusting and vile.  So how can you expect anyone else not to notice it or think those things when you think them yourself?  So, what about being proactive? OK, so it's straight to the chemist to buy some compeed colsore patches cos they are the only thing that can prevent a minging scab from forming and don't bother with zovirax or anything like that cos it's a waste of money and time.  the colsore patches cover the colsore up so therefore prevents spreading and like i said prevents a scab from performing.  you'll still get the bump and the 'elephant man' complex but it will normally be gone in ten days flat....  can i ask a question?  why couldn't colsores be on your back or legs or something that can be hidden easily? they really couldn't be in a worse place in terms of confidence zapping inconvenience.... oh, if you wanna take some tabs to help prevent them, get 500mg L-lysine tabs, they are an amino acid and are pretty good but don't think they will guarantee not getting them but i am told they do help so will try anything myself!!  no one will ever understand the psychological effects that a colsore has unless they suffer themselves and there is no point trying to explain either. just get your colsore patch on and phone in sick for ten days and bolt the door then everything will be fine.......if only life was that simple.  If i was a millionaire i would seriously do that because i would rather not see anyone at all then let them see me with a colsore.  Maybe there should be a club where people go when they get colsores, where they go and live for about ten days and can bolt the door behind them so no-one can come in and see them.  there could be supplies and colsore treatments available along with food and beer to make them feel better....then when healed, they can be let back into the outside world where they can be themselves again.  I don't know about anyone else bu i really cannot be myself when i have got a colsore, I am a completely different person.  I am normally friendly, confident and talkative and very sociable but give me a colsore and I turn into a hermit.  Anyway, please God may I not have any colsores or any colsores forming is my prayer every nite and so it will continue for ever more.

[Hiles]

* Preventing a cold sore - MIRACLE!! *

I have been suffering from cold sores for 18 years. I thought there was no possible way of controlling them, but I have now found a way!!

I had just suffered from one a week earlier and the following week I could feel another brewing. I was so so upset as it was days before my 21st birthday.

So I began researching ways of preventin and here is how I managed to prevent my cold sore from forming EVEN WHEN I could feel the lump under the skin:

1) L Lysine tablets (3000mg)

As soon as you feel a tingle or see a lump forming take L Lysine tablets. It is an amino acid that supresses cold sores. During the outbreak take around 3000mg (I took 2 tablets, 3 times a day). Once the cold sore has cleared, take the normal amount 1000mg. It should prevent future outbreaks.

2) Zovirax

Apply Zovirax (acyclovir) as you would do normally to the cold sore - every 4 hours

3) Ice cubes

Hold an ice cube against the coldsore or tingle for around 20mins every 3hours. Do this until the lump has gone. If the cold sore does break out, try still using the ice as it will speed up the healing time.

By doing these 3 things together, I did not have an outbreak! Literally a miracle!!! Years of suffering cured by pretty much natural ingredients.

* I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TRYING THIS! *

[johnnyfr]

Virasoothe is great - I used to use Zovirax but I've changed now. I really wish I'd never got my first one! I'm still on the look out for the miracle cure.

[blackcat]

herpes is a virus. just like cold and flu it will mutate and there will never be a cure. All we are doing is discussing the coping strategies.
To that end, i say thanks for all your ideas.
The antigen for the virus is passed on by the mother through the womb in child bearing. it's kind of a given that if your mother suffers you will too. because otherwise that slobbering aunt would have the potential to kill us all by virus.
I too have that 'house arrest' feeling whenever i'm 'with scab'. blow all those that don't know what it's like; they just got other nasties to worry about.

[Karissa]

My mom has cold sores, so I can attest to from the mother to the child...mine aren't nearly as bad as hers, though - she gets them when she's sick or stressed, all under her nose and on her lips.  Mine are only when I have been stressed (and usually not until the stress is over) and only 1-2 at a time.  I've taken to drying them out with hydrogen peroxide, it seems to help as long as I get to them in time.  I've thought about buying Abreva, but I just can't bring myself to spend $20 on what is essentially a tube of chapstick.

I woke up feeling the swelling on my lip this morning - I'd only gone to sleep 4-5 hours prior; they sure work fast!  Anyway, I heard about the ice treatment just this past week (I think I jinxed myself, 'cuz I said I was going to try it on the next one), and sat here looking for back-up evidence that it helps while holding ice to my lip.  I think it might feel better, but that could be because all feeling hasn't returned just yet.  So, I guess I'll see over the next day or so how it works out...I'm glad to hear it's helped for so many others though, it gives me hope that this outbreak will be short-lived!

[scarletrose44]

Like all of you - I HATE COLD SORES!!!  [!]  I have been getting them sporadically for the past 12 years. Every time I get them I want to avoid seeing people, but up until now have not let them rule my life. I hadn't had one for at least a year... Then three days ago I got rather sunburned [V] alas the devil's spawn appeared - the biggest one I have ever had. [:-'(]

I know that it has been established that sunburn is a major cause, but to be honest I didn't really know it was directly linked until now. [] I will definitely be more careful in future - now that I have identified that as my major devilspawn cause.

This morning, depressed  [:-'(] and fed up, I went searching for a home remedy on the net, only to find programs asking for lots of money so you could be told secrets about home remedies  [] - I am always very skeptical of things like that... Thankfully I came across this site  [:X]

Unfortunately I missed the blister phase to apply ice because I used Zovirax yesterday thinking it would work.. Last night I continued to put in on - every 15 mins (actually it was probably more often since I hate having them and really wanted to avoid it). But to no avail - so now today, I am in the yucky yellowy looking phase.

Thanks to all the previous posts I quickly applied a block of ice for 20mins, dabbed the area with Isocol, and rubbed in some more Zovirax, and then went out and bought the Lysine tablets - or 'LYP-SINE' as Blackmores call it.

So now I am sitting here with this horribly big and painful thing on my bottom lip.  [xx(] I have taken 4 x 500mg of LYP-SINE, held another 2 very large blocks of ice on the spawn from hell, reapplied some Isocol with a cotton tip and rubbed Zovirax in to finish.
(I've also asked my beau to bring home some tea tree oil, hoping it will be better than the Isocol  []
PHEW, I really hope I wake up tomorrow with my lip back  []

Wish me luck!  []

[DoctorBeaver]

Fortunately, I've never had to worry about that end![:0]

And, I don't think they're called "cold sores" when they're down there anyway.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.

From someone calling themselves t'weener? (that would be funny in a Yorkshire accent)  []

[Sparky1970]

The best cold sore cure, bar none, is an electronic device for sale in the UK from Boots. It costs about £35 but is worth every penny if you are a sufferer. []