By the way, I love my dog(s) as well as you!
If your mom was quite sure that you had one or two cold sores as a child, then you will always have antibody to HSV 1. Why the levels are varying this much is unclear, but I have definitely see that before and in people who had cold sores as a child it has absolutely no meaning at all. I think index values (which is what these are) vary over time in the positive range depending on several things, like your general health at the time you are drawn, what the control value is, etc. The level of the index value also has no meaning, only that you are firmly positive for HSV 1. I would try to avoid reading anything else into this.
It is likely that the doctors that have viewed these lesions know that they are talking about and it is also very unlikely that you would acquire HSV 1 genitally since you have had it orally since childhood.
It is good that you talked to your previous partners as that also adds to the idea that you were infected already when you had sex with them.
Feel free to ask two more questions.
Terri