Touched coldsore and freaking out

[funinthesun]

So this morning I woke up and my lips were resting against the top of my hand. I then went pee and wiped myself with that hand, not realizing I have a coldsore!!! Ugggggggggggggggggggg! I don’t want to transfer this to my fingers or vagina. I have had the virus for 10 years. Anything to worry about? Thank you…..I’m freaking out.

[funinthesun]

I also kissed my boyfriend this morning before realizing I had a coldsore coming in with the large bump. It was a quick peck that lasted a second or less. What are the chances of my transference to him? He has been tested and is HSV1 neg. and I am pos for oral HSV1.

[Terri Warren]

Once you have HSV 1 in one location it is extremely unlikely that you would acquire it in a new location on your body – I wouldn’t worry about that.
A small peck would be very unlikely to transmit virus to your partner in adequate volumes to infect someone else. I likely would also not worry about that one. If he is going to develop symptoms of new infection, it would be within 2-10 days of the kiss.

Terri

[funinthesun]

Thanks for your reply….I thought I read on here that auto inoculation (i.e. me transfering it from my mouth to hand or mouth to vagina) was not an issue after 4 months. I just want to insure that’s correct. Sorry to be OCD about it but the response “highly unlikely” still leaves my OCD brain a mess. Can you please confirm the 4 month rule. Thank you !

[Terri Warren]

The 4 month rule is correct – and certainly 10 years ! In 33 years of practice, I have seen on incident where someone POSSIBLY had a cold sore in the past and got genital HSV 1 infection.

Terri

[funinthesun]

So my hand and fingers wouldn’t be an issue either? I have OCD about transferring hsv 1 oral to other parts of my body. I dont touch my face without gloves and refuse to touch my lips at any point. I can’t even wash my face. I am on medication for my OCD and in therapy but hearing that I won’t transfer it to myself helps me. So if you could just say it again that I won’t transfer it to myself, that would help me to reread it in times of high stress. Thank you so much! It’s really caused a lot of issues in my life.

[Terri Warren]

You will not transfer HSV 1 from your lips to other parts of your body after having HSV 1 for 10 years.
I applaud you working on this with medication and, I hope, a cognitive behavioral therapist as that combination of those two is what studies prove is most effective.

Terri

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