Reply To: Ex Boyfriend tested positive for HSV2

[MissEducated]

Hello and Happy Holidays,

I have one final question because I had no idea that HSV1 was so common and easy to catch. I had a friendsgiving and two of the women there were experiencing a recent HSV1 outbreak. I mean, I actually saw the cold sores on their lips. They were both overcoming colds and we are all teachers. I know this school year has been stressful. They looked like their lips were healing. My issue is if they did not wash their hands and were setting the table, i.e. touching glasses and utensils, what are the odds of transference.

I did take a sip of a drink to taste a wine beverage, but it was before I noticed the cold sores. I was served a plate of good food and I ate off the silverware. Within 2 days, I facial tingling in my cheeks and around my lips. I also started feeling achy like a cold was coming on.

I just returned from NYC and I noticed on the plane, a bump developed right on the lip line. It was red and swollen, however not noticeable to all. I have smaller bumps about my lips, but they seem like hair bumps from hair growing back from waxing, and I use a lot of chap stick, which may have clogged the pores. I applied benzoyl peroxide and swelling went down. It could be a pimple, there did not seem to be a cluster of blisters.

I told a mutual friend about the dinner and she believes that I am just stressed out from the ordeal with my ex boyfriend. She also said you cannot get HSV1 from utensils because the virus can not survive. She also said, the odds of taking a sip from their glass is whether low.

I am doing my best to keep my hands washed and not share utensils with people. My lips just feel like more bumps are popping up.

Can you explain what to do to lower my chances of getting HSV1 in a non-sexual way and if it sounds like I am having a primary outbreak? I apologize for being a worry wort.

Thank you