AIBU to work from home because of a cold sore?

You can’t catch cold sores from inanimate objects.

cold sores are spread by things like kissing, or skin-skin contact (eg you touch the cold sore then touch someone’s lips).

i wouldn’t stay off work for a cold sore

don’t touch it and touch anyone’s lips or bits and you’ll be fine

If it’s fine for you to wfh, then do that.

I think you’re being very dramatic to question whether it’s “acceptable” for people with a cold sore to leave the house (“is it really acceptable to be in public…?”).

I've had cold sores regularly since primary school. When I was young, they would take over most of my chin. Nowadays its not so bad. Having lived with loads of different households over the years, no one but no one has caught them. My mum used to put surgical spirit on them to dry them out. Time is the only thing that works. As a fellow sufferer you're being OTT, it's not a disease and is hardly contagious

Makes sense to WFH if you have that option, I'd do the same, I don't see the issue. It's embarrassing having to go into the office with something really noticeable on your face! I worked from home for a week when I had a gross shingles rash on my forehead, nobody minded.

I wouldn’t think twice about working from home.

I get cold sores frequently. I have never given a second thought to going into work with them. Sure, they're unsightly and I'm quite vain so they do bother me a bit for aesthetic reasons, but I'm not in the habit of making out with my colleagues so I present no risk to them at all. I just look a bit ugly for a week. The only transmission is via direct skin to sore contact. Via objects is only if whatever the item is (a cup, for example) has warm pus from the sore on it (nice). I'd never be in that position with a colleague, we have communal mugs but we don't tend to make communal drinks that we all share from the same mug, so again, no risk at all.

No one has ever commented on it to me. If I found out that someone was going into a flat spin because I had a cold sore and was sitting at a hot desk they might use later then, as someone who also struggles with anxiety, I'd encourage them to seek help for their health anxiety tbh. I don't lick the desks or phones or wipe my cold sore on the keyboard so there's no need for them to be concerned.

I'd honestly cancel the private GP appointment. It's unnecessary expense and they won't give you any additional help to what you get over the counter unless you have very severe or frequent outbreaks, in which case they might prescribe Aciclovir. The patches make my cold sores significantly worse and prevent them drying up and healing for me. Put some Zovirax on, keep them clean, don't fiddle with them, they'll clear up in a few days. Get some decent moisturiser for once they're cleared up, Zovirax dries out the skin and you can get localised flaking for a while once the sore clears up.

I have horrendous cold sores several times a year. I have about as front stage role as you can possibly imagine. I wouldn’t dream of going off sick. Get cold sore patches, take lysine and know that this too will pass!

My boyfriend gets cold sores. I don’t have it. But I don’t hide away from him when he has one. Just keep your face from touching other people! Who cares?

And start taking a lysine supplement everyday. My boyfriend started taking daily lysine about a year ago and hasn’t had a cold sore since, even when run down with a cold or flu. He used to get 3/4 a year pop up and now none.

Wow, when I get The Tingle that goes on to erupt, I just sigh slightly.

Start taking Lysine and continue what you're doing. My cold sores aren't near as bad now but before Lysine they would be on my lips, up my nose, inside my mouth and I felt like shit.
Hopefully you've nipped it in the bud, are you run down or been exposed to the sun without lip protection?

I've already said that I've a bit of sympathy for the self-consciousness but what a waste of time getting in contact with a GP!

Anyway, any fellow sufferers (sufferers may be too strong a word, I know) actively feel the bloody things tingle when they get stressed if one is already there?
It's like a direct link or something.

Definitely wfh, why not, it’s not going to cause any problems for your colleagues.

I agree you’re being a bit dramatic and if it was office or call in sick, I’d answer differently, but I understand you feel self conscious.

I dont need sun or to be run down, they just appear. Always have done

I never 'feel the tingle', they appear overnight. Zovirax never made any difference either.

Absolutely insane. I work on a supermarket checkout and have chemo every three weeks. I sometimes get cold sores as one of the many side effects of my treatment, I still go to work. You sound about 15 OP.

Say you have conjunctivitis as it’s contagious and understand why not on camera

Jesus Christ on a fuckin bike

Are you normally this dramatic or is today a special occasion?

I am astounded an adult finds herpes “awful”, “embarrassing” and ick-inducing.

I get cold sores (and genital herpes outbreaks too!) OP, I’m guessing I wouldn’t be welcomed into your friend group? Fortunately for me, most people are not as judgemental and immature as you are.

In answer to your original question, you say you’re the MD so surely you have the ability to wfh as you think appropriate. Just make sure that all staff have the ability / right to wfh for similarly trivial reasons, that you may not recognise as important but that they feel strongly about, (Acne, bad traffic, bloating, bad hair day, immediate reaction to lip fillers, etc).

TBH, your colleagues will think you're the worst wet wipe in the land, if you call in sick because of a cold sore.

2 private GP appointments because of a once-in-10-years coldsore?! Madness.

Insane overreaction

I think you're being a bit harsh.
I get cold sores. I do feel a bit icky and embarrassed by them.
It's irrational but they don't exactly make you feel great, do they?

Lysine as others have said. I suffered terribly - a couple a month until I started taking it. Now if I get a 'tingle' I take an extra lysine. Have probably had 2 in the five years since - and they have been really mild compared to the monsters in the past.

Oh OP - I actually get you. I sometimes get coldsores that spread from under my nose right over my lip and they are so unsightly that I don't want to go out. It is embarrassing as people do stare. If you can WFH I would and like a PP says, say you are run down and think you have a virus as you have a coldsore and conjunctivitis - they won't want you in the office with two sources of infection......

No - I don’t think it’s harsh to expect a grown adult not to judge me or find me icky for a minor medical condition.

Would you feel the same about someone with, for example, bad acne? Or a cold? Im asking to try to figure what makes something embarrassing and awful in the eyes of you and the OP.