Kind of gross...but fever blisters

WSU_Ally_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2005

unfortunatly, it sounds like you have cold sores, which is a variant of the herpes virus. They can and usually are caused by stress, and sometimes too much exposure to sunlight or food allergies. If you are having as many as it sounds like you are, I would call your doctor and go see him. In the mean time, try Abreva, if you haven't. It's an Over the counter medicine available at many drugstores. It helps shorten the time the cold sores are around, although it doesn't get rid of them for good, seeing how once you have the cold sore virus, you always have it and they could pop up any time.

Nurse Alissa · Mar 15, 2005

Just tell your doctor.. I did and he put me on something called Acyclovir (sp) and I havent had one in 2 months.

shopgal, RN · Mar 15, 2005

I'm so sorry, they must be miserable. My mom gets them when she gets stressed out too, luckily I didn't get that gene, so I can't sympathize. She has also been on every perscription med that there is and nothing has worked. She logged onto a website that told her to get vitamine E and poke a hole in the end of the gel cap and squirt it directly on the blister and it helps her. Unfortunately, being stress free completely cures it, but whoever is completely stress free, STAY WHERE YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck! :flowersfo

SusanJean · Mar 15, 2005

There is also a topical medication that can be applied that clears up the sore in a day or two. My son has the same problem as you described - the Rx is from our dentist. (I would prefer for him to use this PRN vs a systemic medication daily for prevention.) (But then, he is not yet a teen.)

SJ

robynhood · Mar 15, 2005

I am at my wits end...I have no idea what to do....It seems when I get stressed or even the slightest cold, I get either a massive fever blister or a little cluster of them on my bottom lip. I am a extremely hygenic person so I do not understand why I get these. Can they be brought on my high ammounts of stress?
Does anyone have any suggestions of possibly keeping these away or reducing the appearance? I have tried everything and it works for a bit but then it losses its effectiveness on the blisters. I have tried bees wax, carmex, blistex, herpecin...and so on...should i go to the doctor to see if there is some type of medication he can give me everything i get one of these, they are extremely painful for me too...
It kills me because I hate going out in public. My lip gets so fat that it looks like someone punched me in the face.

Any suggestions are deeply appreciated.

I pop a couple of lysine whenever I feel the first signs of one coming on and then once or twice a day. Most of the time it goes away or at least stops it from getting bigger. Also ice reduces swelling. Anyway, it works for me.

unknown99, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2005

Oh, yes. stress is the #1 reason mine pop out! When I feel the fist little tingle, I start using Abreva. It stops them from becoming huge painful blisters, and they usually only last a few days. Abreva is a life saver, but you have to start using it pretty quick after you feel or see the first sign of a cold sore. It is over the counter, and is expensive-- about $12 a tiny tube-- but it works!

Aneroo, LPN · Mar 15, 2005

Abreva. I've been blessed the never have them. Had an ex who got them anytime we went out into sun for a few hours unless he wore a certain kind of medicated Blistex. Stress will def. make them pop up too. Be careful though. Had a good freind in college who caught genital herpes. Her boyfriend performed oral sex on her, and neither one of them knew that it could be transmitted that way. -Andrea

TMPaul · Mar 15, 2005

I am at my wits end...I have no idea what to do....It seems when I get stressed or even the slightest cold, I get either a massive fever blister or a little cluster of them on my bottom lip. I am a extremely hygenic person so I do not understand why I get these. Can they be brought on my high ammounts of stress?
Does anyone have any suggestions of possibly keeping these away or reducing the appearance? I have tried everything and it works for a bit but then it losses its effectiveness on the blisters. I have tried bees wax, carmex, blistex, herpecin...and so on...should i go to the doctor to see if there is some type of medication he can give me everything i get one of these, they are extremely painful for me too...
It kills me because I hate going out in public. My lip gets so fat that it looks like someone punched me in the face.

Any suggestions are deeply appreciated.

AcycLovir (Zovirax) 200mg po 5 times a day for 5 days at the FIRST sign (tingling on the area) of an outbreak. I prescribe this with great results.

Nurse Alissa · Mar 15, 2005

AcycLovir (Zovirax) 200mg po 5 times a day for 5 days at the FIRST sign (tingling on the area) of an outbreak. I prescribe this with great results.

Thats what I take, 1 tab a day, everyday.

As per the posts above, yes stress affects outbreaks, but being stress-free will not completely stop outbreaks. Fever blisters are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which you can get from oral contact with someone with open blisters, their saliva, or mother-baby. This lays dormant under the the skin until a stimulus triggers it. Yes, stress is one of those stimuli, however sunlight or any sickness with fever can do it too. Or if the virus just "feels like it" it can have an outbreak as well. Some people only have one outbreak and then it lays dormant forever. Some people get them all the time.

Acyclovir is the way to go :)

carrot_thief · Mar 15, 2005

If you have cold sores, Abreva definitely works. But if what you're describing is canker sores, inside your mouth, then try changing your toothpaste and eating less acidic foods. I get them about once every two weeks and they are a pain. I've heard that using toothpaste without the ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate makes them stop, but I haven't been able to find any. Even Tom's of Maine has it...

sherichance · Mar 15, 2005

thank you so very much....i have tried Abreva but i may have used it too often and it just doesnt seem like it works...i am having a huge amount of stress now..trying to move from Connecticut to Seattle...husband is in the military and stationed away from me..i have a 3 year old and trying to do all this on my own...i will definately get to the doctor...seems like stress, the winter, having a cold and so on triggers it...i feel extremely embarassed because it feels like everyone is looking at me like i am a not so clean person...but thank you for the comments