Would you judge someone negatively for having a giant cold sore?

[Intensiv14]

I really suffer with these, and got prescription acliclovir yesterday but the thing is still developing and is about 2 cm long travelling down my chin.

I need to go in the office tomorrow and genuinely dreading seeing people face to face with this awful thing. Can’t really wfh tomorrow.

Would you be disgusted at someone with an enormous cold sore or should I just front it out?

No I wouldn't judge someone for it as I also suffer with them, I don't get them often but when I do they're absolutely massive and usually on my nose.

I wouldn't judge but I would feel very sorry for you!

(As long as you don't pick it and touch things like someone I knew, she just couldn't leave her cold sore alone!)

I get normal sized ones on my lips and then also ones up my nose which are incredibly sore.

If it's really bothering you, why not put a loose plaster over it? They do look horrible but no-one will judge you!

In your situation I know I'd choose to wear a mask, despite how hard I find them. But that's me being very sensitive and self conscious. As long as you're medicating it and washing your hands while not touching it or snogging your colleagues, it's fine.

No i understand they are painful and people that have them find them embarrassing.
Yours sounds awful, I am glad you are getting something for it.

It won’t look anything like as bad to others as it feels to you.

I would be very sympathetic, I get them occasionally, but my poor DM suffered really badly from them.

No.

Though if you have them every time you go into the office someone will think that the something in your life which may be the workplace is stressing you out.

Oh ouch. You poor thing. I suffer also and there dreadfully painful.

Yes it’s bothering me. I’ve seen them referred to as facial herpes, which I know it is.

I too get them in my nose, and just had 2 consecutive ones up there and now this monster.

Im immuno suppressed so prone to them, very disappointing that acliclovir hasn’t worked, although it might have lessened it. I got prescriptions as soon as I could and took first pill within 5 hours of suspecting a cold sore was about to start.

yes and I’m thinking of a loose plaster for tomorrow as it’s starting to look cornflake-like 😢

I was judged :(

Menopause ended mine thank fuck.

I take Acyclovir every day now and it has almost completely stopped me from getting them so long as I take it regularly and don’t miss doses, but I used to get huge coldsores every couple of weeks which made me feel like I had the flu almost all the time.
I don’t think that people are particularly judgemental about coldsores, so don’t worry about what they’re thinking. Almost everyone is carrying the virus anyway.
This is really really important though - STAY AWAY FROM YOUNG BABIES. My friend’s newborn contracted the herpes virus from a relative with a cold sore and died when they were just a few days old. Never kiss a baby, particularly when you have an active cold sore.

No. I’d sympathise with the person because of the pain/discomfort.

Nope. I’d have sympathy

I can sympathise. But a friend recommended vitamin B complex and I've gone from having them constantly to maybe 3 a year. It's really improved how often I get them and I don't feel as conscious of them when I do get them.

I am one of the lucky ones, never had one.
My sister OTOH, gets monsters.
They are so painful. I would feel sympathy

Hi op. I have suffered all my life with cold sores. I’m currently on holiday abroad and my whole bottom lip is a giant weeping cold sore. It’s so painful and I think I look disgusting with it.

Worse thing is it bleeds whenever I eat. Seriously thinking of never going abroad again as it always happens. Nothing I have ever tried has stopped them.

I just keep thinking of the little fecking virus hiding at the bottom of my spine to pop out at any chance it’s bloody given. Stress, heat, cold, illness. I hate it!

So no, I wouldn’t judge you. I’d feel for you!

I wouldn't judge you either , I hope you heal soon

I wouldn't judge at all, I'd just assume you're run down and stressed and feel sympathy for you. I hope it gets better soon.

I was gonna say just put a mask on if you feel self conscious. If anyone asks just say you can't afford to get covid, you've got to see a vulnerable relative at the weekend.

No, I wouldn’t. My mother gets them terribly and is very self conscious about it.

Well I wouldn't kiss you..! 😉

I'd feel sorry for you and think it must be painful, and consider myself fortunate not to have them.

Have you ever tried the compeed patches? I had a huge one on my cheek a few years back- it took about 4 patches to cover it but it really sped up the healing process.

No I wouldn't judge you.
I suffer them myself, currently have one that is fortunately hidden up my nose. I'd just got over one up there and another one broke out.

@boobearandme that sounds awful for you. Is there any pharmacies where you are that may sell cold sore cream just to try to stop it cracking when you eat?
I know it sounds like a daft suggestion and something that you've probably already done.

I get them badly too and that was the one bonus of wearing masks for a year. I was going to say the same, pop on a mask and if anyone asks you are about to visit a vulnerable friend or similar.

The poster who is on holiday - sunlight is a known trigger. Don't let it ruin every holiday, get aciclovir from GP to take either the second you feel it coming (stops them in tracks) or pre-emptively (I've done this for important events). Also use a full sunblock on face. But you need to have the aciclovir at home, the time it takes to get a GP appt and presentation filled then it's too late to prevent the worst.

Nope. Would give sympathy x