Possible HSV1?

[coldsoresufferer]

Terri,

I’m a 34 year old female in a monogamous relationship with my boyfriend for the last 8 years. I suffer from frequent cold sores (for 20+ years) but have been on suppressive therapy for 4+ years, which does a pretty good job at keeping outbreaks to a minimum. I’m very cautious when I have an outbreak as my biggest fear is transmitting to my partner. Recently, he told me that he had two “dots” on his upper lip that were sensitive, in that they felt full, so he expressed them right before bedtime and a “tiny bit of white liquid” came out. I didn’t see the “dots” but by the next day, I didn’t see anything suspiciously herpes-like. He’s experienced this before (~2 times) and each time he’s expressed the bumps and each time they’ve healed much faster than any herpes outbreak I’ve ever had (as in they are healed the next day, not weeks later). Furthermore, he says that they don’t tingle or itch, things that are tells for me that an outbreak is coming.

Is there anything besides herpes that could explain what’s happening here? Or are these in fact mild herpes outbreaks?

Thanks for your advice.

[Terri Warren]

These could just be little pimples. They don’t sound herpetic to me and they last only a day which herpes lesions do not. Also, herpes lesions have clear fluid in them and his have white fluid.
Has he actually had an antibody test to know if he has HSV 1 already or not?

Terri

[coldsoresufferer]

To my knowledge, he has not had an antibody test for HSV1.

What’s curious is the placement of the lesion, which is on the lip proper not on the vermillion border. To your knowledge, is this a place where pimples are possible?

I also want to note that my appreciation for you and this forum. This site has assuaged my fears many times since finding out about it!

[Terri Warren]

I definitely see pimples on the edge of the lip – I’ve even had them.
Since almost half the population in the US has HSV 1 infection, it might be worth him being tested to find out if he already has this virus so you can relax a bit more if he does.
what is your dose of suppressive therapy?

Terri

[coldsoresufferer]

1 gram valcyclovir daily. I’ll get breakthrough outbreaks on rare occassion, but those are short-lived and they don’t get as large as they would otherwise.

[Terri Warren]

What has happened with the bump on his lip since we last talked?
Remember that suppression not only reduces the frequency of recurrences, but it also reduces the amount of virus shed when you do have an outbreak and reduces the duration of outbreaks.

Terri

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