Cold sore sufferers - I tried the heat thing and it works!!

[LittleSnakes]

So on the back of a recommendation on here a while ago, I tried the heating up thing that you put on your lip when you get a cold sore. I’ve done it with three cold sores now at first tingle and it’s stopped them all developing into a huge one. Combined with cream. It’s called the HerpoTherm Heat Treatment. It’s a bit ouchy when you do it but definitely worth it. I know it doesn’t work for everyone but thought I’d put it out there in case anyone wants to try. Costs about £25-£30.

Thanks OP this sounds great, I will check it out.

Although you realise that we will now both be shunned by Mumsnet for admitting to getting cold sores. I dare say a cannibal would get a warmer welcome on Mumsnet then us dreaded coldsorers (despite something like 80% of the population having the herpes 1 virus)!!

I use Compeed patches and find them very effective.

Haha, getting cold sores is so horrible. I bought this in desperation after getting 5 at once one time from being out in the sun all day. It didn’t work that well for this because I’d already had them a day or two before I got to a shop. I tried compeed patches once but didn’t find it worked that well.

Since having my baby I get a flair up every month to coincide with my period arriving so I will try anything. I’ve not had much success with the patches either

Someone on another thread recommended a hot spoon pressed on it, which i still need to try

I've just looked at it, if it's just heat would a teaspoon dipped in hot water not work the same?

@Sapphirejane

Thanks OP this sounds great, I will check it out.

Although you realise that we will now both be shunned by Mumsnet for admitting to getting cold sores. I dare say a cannibal would get a warmer welcome on Mumsnet then us dreaded coldsorers (despite something like 80% of the population having the herpes 1 virus)!!

What?! I've been on MN for 18yrs and have never seen this. Just lots of advice/help.

Sounds like a waste of money to me, just buy a tube of acyclovir for a few quid, job done. If you’re getting them frequently your GP can prescribe the oral version. And for god’s sake don’t scald it with a hot teaspoon, this isn’t the Middle Ages, we have actual treatment that works 🙄

minorwomen do you think I’ve not tried aciclovir? Why on earth would I spend all that money on something if the cream worked?

Not thought about hot teaspoon. Same principle I guess if you can get it to the correct temp. Which is 50-51 degrees

@ShowOfHands - I have seen it lots, people disgusted at the idea of ever dating someone with cold sores. I have also seen people not wanting family who suffer from cold sores near babies even when they don’t have a flare up. There was one mother in absolute bits as her child got a cold sore and it must have been the childminder as her family certainly didn’t get them. People were saying she should fire the childminder. A thread crops up every now and again about them and there is always a lot of disgust over them.

@Sapphirejane I have seen it lots too. Reading some threads on Mumsnet you'd think we're all running wild desperately seeking out newborns to kiss and small children to infect every time we get cold sores. It's completely mad. The absolute ignorance about them that I often see on here combined with the near hysteria is a shitty combination.

Thanks for the recommendation, OP. I get them quite badly every couple of months, will definitely be getting this to try as Acicolvir doesn't really touch them - although I'm amused by anyone thinking that those who suffer from cold sores haven't heard of it!

@toastfiend - I know, I think everyday how lucky I am that my “pure” husband deigned to marry me . It’s been 15 years and he still hasn’t had one.

Acicolvir doesn’t work for me either.

@MinorWomensWhiplash1

Sounds like a waste of money to me, just buy a tube of acyclovir for a few quid, job done. If you’re getting them frequently your GP can prescribe the oral version. And for god’s sake don’t scald it with a hot teaspoon, this isn’t the Middle Ages, we have actual treatment that works 🙄

I wasn't planning on scalding myself ffs

If you spent a bit of time reading about the product before perfecting your snippy post you'd see it works better than the cream as it prevents blistering.

[quote Sapphirejane]@ShowOfHands - I have seen it lots, people disgusted at the idea of ever dating someone with cold sores. I have also seen people not wanting family who suffer from cold sores near babies even when they don’t have a flare up. There was one mother in absolute bits as her child got a cold sore and it must have been the childminder as her family certainly didn’t get them. People were saying she should fire the childminder. A thread crops up every now and again about them and there is always a lot of disgust over them.[/quote]
My Dh gets them ,despite being married for over 30 years I've never caught one from him and he never gave one to our precious child either

I use a combination of the various creams and the patches, and usually manage to kill them off reasonably quickly. Thankfully they are a rare occurrence for me now, but did have an outbreak recently while ill.

Hope it works for other people too. It has stopped the blistering for me if you get it straight away. And maybe someone can report back on the hot teaspoon too!!

I've seen plenty of awful things said about ppl with cold sores here on MN. Misinformation too.
I don't even get cold sores myself but I've clocked it. People can be so ignorant

My Dh takes lysinne supplements now and has t had an out break since he started taking them.

I heard about lysine too but never tried it. Does he take it every day?

Dab a spot of perfume on at first tingle - always works for me and much cheaper

@LittleSnakes

I heard about lysine too but never tried it. Does he take it every day?

Yes

[quote Sapphirejane]@toastfiend - I know, I think everyday how lucky I am that my “pure” husband deigned to marry me . It’s been 15 years and he still hasn’t had one.

Acicolvir doesn’t work for me either.[/quote]
It does not work for me either and I, too, am so grateful to my 'pure' husband - we have been married 39 years and he has never had a coldsore.

Interesting! I do the cold spoon from the freezer thing instead. I get them on my nose and lips!
I didn't realise I should be shunned though!

@OppsUpsSide

Dab a spot of perfume on at first tingle - always works for me and much cheaper

Tea tree oil also works well at the first sign.

A friend of mine used to take lysine, it helped her. Lysine also comes in a cream form, and I find it good. I could write a book on treatments but I don't suppose anyone would read it

Yeah, I've seen people on MN frothing about how it's disgusting and dirty and should be disclosed on a first date, like hepatitis.

I've had coldsores my entire life (my parents both get them, so I guess they kissed me as a baby) and had absolutely no idea that not only do some people NOT get them, but there is a massive stigma around it in some circles. It makes me feel embarrassed when I did nothing wrong - I obviously couldn't prevent it, being a baby when I got the virus

Anyway, thanks for the tip. Zovirax cream does absolutely nothing for me but, like a pp, I have found the Compeed plasters to be a godsend. Not only does it make the coldsore pretty much invisible, it takes the pain away, too. I always find my whole face feels achy and swollen when I get one but the plaster means I can't feel it at all.