Cold Sore!

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Specializes in OB, Cardiac.

I have a cold sore & am scheduled to work tomorrow. I work in pp. My hosp policy is that you cannot work if you have one. However, mine is scabbed over so it's not highly contagious. What do you think i should do? go or call in? I REALLY don't want to call in, esp. b/c i'm a new grad.

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

I would call and talk to the charge/supervisor, etc, the one who would have to take your call-in in any case, and ask what is expected of you. I would think if it isn't actively draining that it should be fine to go in. But every place is different, so give them a call. Hope it goes away soon, they suck severely!

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Specializes in OB, Cardiac.
I would call and talk to the charge/supervisor, etc, the one who would have to take your call-in in any case, and ask what is expected of you. I would think if it isn't actively draining that it should be fine to go in. But every place is different, so give them a call. Hope it goes away soon, they suck severely!

Thanks! I think I'm going to go into work tomorrow & I'll talk to the resource nurse. Ugh...cold sores are definitely evil!!! i just sent my husband to get me some lysine so i'll see if that helps prevent any. I'm really irritated b/c this is my 2nd in a row! i've been getting them since i was a kid & now that they pose a threat to my pts i'm even more concerned! esp the babies!

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Specializes in NICU.

For the future I would ask your dr. about acyclovir. It works great for cold sores. You take it when you feel the first tingle (or when you know you are going to get one because of stress) and the blister never emerges. If you don't catch it right away you will still get a blister, but it will stay small and heal fairly quickly. I wish I had found it sooner. I could have been saved a lot of embarrassment and pain.

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Specializes in MICU, ER.

Abreva works wonders too!

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Hi, Valtrex is great too!

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Alright, don't knock this before you try it! When you feel the first tingle cover the area that tingles with Colgate toothpaste (the white paste). I get cold-sores in the spring and going into winter and this is what works best for me. Yes, many say I have a little food on my lip (or wherever the paste is) but it doesn't bother me because I would rather have a few people comment on that then to have a cold sore.

Take it or leave it......good luck.

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Wow I wasn't aware that hospitals would have a policy stating that you can't come to work if you have cold sores. I get them every so often. (about once a month!) Do most hospitals have this policy?

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I take Famvir at the first tingle. I also sometimes get them under my left eye. They ARE evil!

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Specializes in L&D.

The Herpes virus can be fatal to a newborn because of it's immature immune system, so most OB units have a rule about not working with cold sores. Perhaps areas working with immunocompromized patients have similiar rules. NurseWannabe1129, check with your instructors to see if there are areas where it could be a problem for you.

I believe it's OK to work once it's scabbed over, but check with your infection control nurse or someone in Employee Health. If you get them often, you might ask your doctor for a perscription. If it's just stress caused, as you become more comfortable in your job they shouldn't appear so frequently. I like Abrevia as it makes them come and go much faster.

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