Fever Blisters

July 2007

Question:
I’ve gotten fever blisters since i was a child, when i reached my teens they got really bad. My whole lip would swell 2 times its size and i’d sometimes get up to 7 blisters and sometimes on both lips. I would have 2 huge lips and it would hurt to even talk. I missed school everytime i got a blister because it looks so horrible and it hurt to even move my mouth. How did i end up getting herpes simplex, which is fever blisters? I dont know how it started?

Answer:
You’re right, fever blisters is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus.
Well, somewhere along the way you’ve come in contact with someone else who had the virus and passed it on to you. Since you’ve been getting the blisters since you were little, you know that you contracted the virus very early. And back then, people didn’t realize that the blisters were caused by a virus. They simply thought that some people “got” fever blisters when they had a fever or a cold. Today we know that was because the virus travels to the surface when the immune system is weak. Once you have it, the virus remains in the body, dormantly hiding in the nervous system. And sometimes, mostly during times of stress, illness, and sometimes trauma to the affected site, the virus travels back along the nerves to the original area of infection. Which is why the infected person will feel a tingly sensation, called the prodromal period, before the actual blisters appear.
So I said all that to say, you probably were infected very innocently. Some lady may have kissed you while she was having an “outbreak,” not knowing that the blisters were contagious.
Silver Lining and Advice:
In all of our yesterday’s ignorance of fever blisters and the herpes virus, at least that unsuspecting person didn’t kiss you on the eye. Herpes infections of the eyes can lead to blindness. Make sure you use good handwashing when you have an active infection (blisters). Herpes can be spread to any open area (like an open scrape, wound, sore) on the body and any mucous membrane (any area on the body that has very thin skin or stays moist like gums, lips, eyes, nostrils, nose).
Eat well balanced meals, exercise, and take care of yourself, and try to alleviate stress as much as possible. Those are the best ways to naturally decrease the number of outbreaks you have. I don’t advocate the use of herbal remedies, because some of them can have serious, adverse reactions when mixed with other medications you may be using. Speak to your doctor before taking any herbal remedies.
Your doctor can prescribe medications which can shorten the duration of the outbreak. The medication is called Valtrex. It’s an antiviral which prevents or slows the virus from reproducing. Of course every medication has side effects, so speak with your doctor and find out is Valtrex is right for you.