Cold Sore Sufferer - Help?

DaDa

I am posting this in PI because this is having a pretty negative effect on the sufferer. If this is the wrong location then please feel free to move.

My partner suffers from cold sores around her mouth and nose area. Probably about 2 to 3 times per year. However they seem to be increasing in frequency this year. We don't see anything lifestyle or stress wise that has changed, in fact her life seems to be more stress free than before.

I know there is no way to eradicate these cold sore outbreaks, but are there any better habits that sufferers out there have come across that helps keep them at bay for longer periods or any methods you've discovered to get rid of them faster or keep their size down. Better food habits?

It's seriosuly getting her down.

Jimmy Bottlehead

DaDa wrote: »

I am posting this in PI because this is having a pretty negative effect on the sufferer. If this is the wrong location then please feel free to move.

My partner suffers from cold sores around her mouth and nose area. Probably about 2 to 3 times per year. However they seem to be increasing in frequency this year. We don't see anything lifestyle or stress wise that has changed, in fact her life seems to be more stress free than before.

I know there is no way to eradicate these cold sore outbreaks, but are there any better habits that sufferers out there have come across that helps keep them at bay for longer periods or any methods you've discovered to get rid of them faster or keep their size down. Better food habits?

It's seriosuly getting her down.

I only really get them when I get slightly run down. Maybe get her to watch her diet and do regular exercise if she doesn't already.

Clink

Get her to take the essential amino acid lycine. It inhibits the production of what the cold sore virus needs to be able to survive. The minute she starts to feel a tingly cold sore feeling she should take it. Get it in any health food shop or chemist and it really does work.

Shelli

I find the new cold sore patches very good, exspensive but well worth it IMO.

Bendihorse

Lysine tables are a great way to reduce frequencey of outbreaks and when they do happen its supposed to shorten their life span. I recently went to the doc and asked to be prescribed Zovirax tablets which are also supposed to lessen frequencey of outbreaks.

I dont get coldsores very often (one, maybe two per year) except when im rundown but when they do come, i get them pretty bad thats why i asked for the prescription.

Tell her to try the lysine tablets first, 3000mg per day during an outbreak and 1000mg inbetween outbreaks. They come in 1000mg per tablet usually. Tabs are available in healthfood shops. Read up about them on the net and speak to the advisor in the health food shop too or tell her to pay her doc a visit, mine was helpful and didn't make me feel like i was making a deal out of nothing.

*NB: As far as i know you are not supposed to take any coldsore preventative medication or supplements during pregnancy. (Thats what my doc told me when i was in with her)

Believe me, i know how miserable a coldsore can make you, iv just come out of a bad virus and the coldsore was by far the worst part of the whole thing. Poor girl.

Clink

Yeah I've always found that the lysine works better than zovirax as that leaves your skin really dry and itchy. I always bring lysine with me when I'm going on holidays as strong sunlight is meant to be a trigger for the virus.

Another way to look at them is as a barometer of your current health. If you get one it's because you're run down and need to up the healthy living.

Jim

I used to get really bad cold sores (about 10 - 12 a year). I was diagnosed with Candida (a yeast infection in the blood) a few years back but decided last year to do something about it. Went on a really really strict diet to try to combat the infection and since then I rarely get any cold sores.

The only time I get them now is if I go off my diet and eat foods I shouldn't (since I've spent so long off those foods my body has become very sensitive to them). I generally get sick for a couple of days followed by a cold sore. For example, if I drink (lots of yeast, big no no) I usually end up with a cold sore on my lips where the beer bottle or glass was touching. The only other time I get them is when I have a cold or flu and I'm blowing and wiping my nose alot I get a cold sore on my nose from the combination of the a run down immune system with the irritation of the skin.

I think the best thing to do to combat them is for her to look at her overall health. Eat healthier, less drinking and look for way to boost her immune system. Maybe get checked out for allergies and avoid certain foods.

colly10

I get about 1 a year but find I only get them if im very run down. The last time I got 1 was after I got very badly sunburnt. I find the best thing for them if they are on your lip is to keep packing the aftershave on them, it dries them up very quickly and can also get rid of them before they appear.

Id avoid coldsore cream, I find that it makes the problem worse and 2 others have said the same to me

Femelade

When i get coldsores i put the patches on at night and tea tree oil at day. I find that good, way better that zovarix.

Susannahmia

DaDa wrote: »

I am posting this in PI because this is having a pretty negative effect on the sufferer. If this is the wrong location then please feel free to move.

My partner suffers from cold sores around her mouth and nose area. Probably about 2 to 3 times per year. However they seem to be increasing in frequency this year. We don't see anything lifestyle or stress wise that has changed, in fact her life seems to be more stress free than before.

I know there is no way to eradicate these cold sore outbreaks, but are there any better habits that sufferers out there have come across that helps keep them at bay for longer periods or any methods you've discovered to get rid of them faster or keep their size down. Better food habits?

It's seriosuly getting her down.

Try lysine I find it really really good, I used to get them all the time too until I started them. Also echinacea has a very slight effect I think.

Generally cold sores are a sign of being run down, is she anemic? Does she take a multi vitamin?

billbond4

I used to get coldsores very regularly around winter time and spring, then I took evening primrose capsules for 3 months and hardly get them anymore.

I need to go on a dose of the evening primrose tablets especially from september to make sure I wont get any coldsores, but it has worked a treat for me, would recommend. Prevention is better than cure !!

geminilady

a guy in my class told me when i had colesores was that i was low on vit c and to eat loads of oranges cause he use to suffer alot and thats what he done. i dont know if it works for everyone or maybe this guy was just lucky with it but it could be worth a try

hunnymonster

+1 for the lysine. A good SPF also helps as the sunlight was a real trigger for me.

Plek Trum

An EXCELLENT natural spray for coldsores is 'Colloidal Silver;. You can get it in healthshop. I have seen 2 people whoi suffer terribly with coldsores clear them up in 2 or 3 days with this. Spray it on the area, dab away any dribbly excess. Silver has natural healing properties, I was amazed how fast it worked for them. Best of luck!

DaDa

Thanks for all the replies... She's already gone out and got the Lysine.
Let's see what happens.

We'll also look into the lifestyle in terms of stress and exercise and water in take, multi-vitamins.. etc..

Thanks again!

dazberry

DaDa wrote: »

We'll also look into the lifestyle in terms of stress and exercise and water in take, multi-vitamins.. etc..

As someone who seldom got coldsores - last year I got a real bad case - so much so that it wasn't just at the corner of my mouth - but also a patch on my chin. Off the shelf stuff wasn't working and it got infected - so straight to the doctor (who happened to be the most beautiful malaysian woman I'd ever seen - and there I was with a face full of crap ). Anyway, I got some "industrial" strength cream and it worked wonders. I was back with the doctor (unfortunately the previous doctor was a locum - was I disappointed or what) and among other things I also got prescribed a nasal cream (if I needed it - never did) - 'cos apparent that's where all that badness lives. Ended up growing a beard to hide it all for a while.

I've had 5 or 6 breakouts in the last year and have all the spells and potions that can clear it up fairly quickly - the stuff off the shelve is really crap. If you partner would like to discuss these with her GP I can PM you details - these are prescription medicines.

But that's all the symptom - for me it was constant work place stress. Works place stress is a strange thing - until you experience it you think its a screwy concept or that people who "get it" are a bit unhinged anyway. Well I have a completely different perception of it now - and that for me was what drove the whole thing. Not saying its the same for your partner - but do take stress into account - even just to cross it off the list.

D.

Diairist

single most important thing is to act when you fel the tickle. Don't wait until the spot comes out. Lysine starves it from the inside - Lysine eats the stuff IT eats. Vogel's (Bioforce) Biopropolis is a better option. It will kill it no prob if you dab it on 3 - 5 times a day. Maybe 5 a day when you feel the tickle.

neacy69

LYSINE LYSINE LYSINE

I swear it is brilliant...I used to get cole sores about 6 times a year and I hate them been taking lysine every day (well almost every day) and haven't had one since!!

Splendour

Ditto, ditto, ditto to the last and other posts with regards to Lysine.
As a severe sufferer of cold sores in my chilhood, I discovered Lysine in my mid twenties and I've never looked back.

I can't remember the last time I had a cold sore....