AIBU to complain about my bloody cold sore ?

[Polkadotsaplenty]

Literally. I just knocked the top off and blood was dripping down my chin like something from Halloween. I feel disgusting. I hate having a big scab on my face. It hurts. I can taste the blood and it's so near the corner of my mouth that I can't get a patch to stick. I'm WFH today but office tomorrow. Yesterday was in and it was more a small red scan but it's now (well was) red/ black and so obvious.
It's draining too. Urgh. Rant over.

You have my sympathies! I suffer too and remember about 12 years ago coming out with 4 all at once around my mouth! Looked terrible, had to go to work but people didn't say anything ( at least not to my face 🤦‍♀️)

Hate them! Totally sympathise. I had one a month roughly and felt disgusting the whole time they were on my lip. Then for my 40th birthday I had FOUR at once. Went to my GP nearly in tears and he put me on a course of aciclovir tablets then prophylactic aciclovir twice daily and I've never had one since.
Maybe something to think about once this one clears up.

Omg , they are awful, I get them in and around my nose. I feel I have to tell people it's not a bogey , it's a cold sore.
The minute I feel a tingle now , I use one of these , it's amazing and has stopped some completely or has definitely lessened them .https://www.amazon.co.uk/Herpotherm-Against-blisters-Chemical-Free-Treatment/dp/B07T4XP545

I feel your pain - literally. I now take medication twice a day and [touch wood] I've not had one in many years. I have a private repeat prescription for it, something like £36 every three months. Absolute game changer - I recommend it to everyone I know that suffers from them

I feel your pain. I have a number of different remedies but I find that the Compeed patches seem to work the best. I use it as soon as I feel the tingle and they seem to "suffocate" the cold sore and stop it from blistering.

Also use a high factor lip balm in the sun and that always seems to bring them out.

Can you wear a face mask at work tomorrow and say you’re trying to avoid a bug that’s going around, or that you have a slight cold and don’t want to spread it (a half truth)?

Another vote for hypotherm from Amazon. The minute I feel a tingle, I zap it and every time, the cold sore does not develop and dries up straight away.

Who are you planning on complaining to?

It’s a cold sore, sore and a bit unsightly but that is it. No one is going to say anything because they are just going to think oh @Polkadotsaplenty has a cold sore. And think no more about it.

I used to get them very badly, since childhood multiple at a time and several times a month. I tried prophylactic aciclovir but it made me feel sick. I now take l-lysine, an essential amino acid and I only only get a couple sore every 3 or 4 months (massive improvement for me). The tablets are huge but if you get the frequently might be worth it.

@OhBeAFineGuyKissMe I'm complaining on here to the Mumsnet community for sympathy and you have alll delivered. Thank you so much. I did used to take Lysene and must get some more
And a thermo thing.
The patches are ace if on the lip alone but this beast is on the corner of my mouth and too (vomit) wet

Honestly, get yourself a prescription for the bastard, literally the best thing I've ever done! Let me know if you want the details 😊

In fact, I'll post a link as it might help others...

onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/cold-sores.html

They're bloody awful, aren't they? Really affect my confidence. The last one I had a few weeks ago was incredibly painful, turn black, and lasted for weeks.

@KickingEAP yes! Mine is going black. One advantage of face masks was hiding of these blooming things

I'd stay home tomorrow if you can

They are really contagious

You really can’t stay home with a cold sore. Practise good hand hygiene and don’t snog anyone at work and you’ll be fine.

@OhBeAFineGuyKissMe damn. No stationery cupboard snogs for me tomorrow. Or ever. I don't even think there's a stationery cupboard now. And I never got snogged in one. Guess that boat sailed.

Oh complain away, I only get about one per year and I hate them! Look & feel awful, really really painful, make your whole face hurt and give you a headache, proper rubbish!

I second L-Lysine. And tea bags (not hot ones) to take the swelling down.

I hate the little bastards.