To not want to go out socialising with 5 massive cold sores on my face - trivial I know

[Spice17]

So, a big group of couples and single friends are due to go out Fri night for a meal, we see each other about once a month. Have 5 massive horrific and painful coldsores that have spread all over my mouth and also one on my chin (nice!)

It's bad enough being at work, feel like a skank but the thought of even bothering to try and look nice and go out is horrible. I'm used to it, have had them for years but a massive breakout like this makes me feel like a freak and that people are staring at my mouth.

DH says I'm letting friends down (I don't think they'd lose any sleep over it) but I think I'd would also be letting him down as I was driving because I'm pregnant.

I know this is a trivial silly thing but please don't have a go at me for it - am feeling pregnant and hormonal as well :)

You poor thing I hate cold sores- always get them when stressed out very badly. Always at the corners of my mouth so I can't open it properly. Are you feeling a bit rundown at the moment?

Stay in and have a girly evening, just you. Long soak in the bath, your favourite takeaway/dinner, paint your nails, watch a movie.... Your DH is presumably an adult so can sort out his own transport. It isn't like you're forcing him to stay in with you is it?

BTW (sometimes) spraying aftershave directly onto the coldsore helps it go away. It stings like fucking crazy but might work. Either way, hope the horrible little buggers sod off asap.

Stay home! They are a virus so they make you feel shit, it's not just the 'look'. Do you normally get them as badly as this though? May be worth a wee check out at the pharmacy or docs?

Yes, perfume works as well as aftershave. Stings like hell for a couple of seconds but does work. Iodine has the same effect and is possibly better from an antiseptic point

My friend stayed off work for a whole week cos he had one little coldsore and then pretended to all his friends and flat mate that he had been going to work because he was ashamed. He was being unreasonable, you are not.

FFS, perfume, aftershave? Maybe from an antiseptic point of view due to the alcohol content,(if the coldsore wound is infected), but it will not do anything to the actual herpes virus which causes them.

My friend exasperates me with her coldsore cures - her current one is a paste she makes with instant coffee and water! Hers last for a couple of weeks rather than a couple of days like mine - but she still insists her home remedy works!

Another chronic cold sore sufferer here, and I've also found zovirax does sod all to help. I have found a cold tea bag soothes the horrible constant ache (my theory was it helps conjunctivitus - might as well give it a go) and slathering on savlon helps clear them up. I'm sure all it does is moisturise them so they don't dry out too much, but it makes me feel better and it can't do any harm.

Tell your DH to suck it up - you won't enjoy yourself and you'll be crummy company.

scotch, yes it is the alcohol content that zaps the wound rather than the virus itself so damage limitation really. I got rid of the blistering on this one after 3 days but it's the mess under the scab that breaks whenever I eat or drink anything that is worse for me hence the antiseptic qualities.

Argh. Cold sores are just rank, aren't they. They make you feel likes some medeval crone with the pox.
And I don't know about you, but I always feel a bit flu-ey if they spread past my lips.

Strangely, I did find that blue light thing that my mum bought me from Boots pretty helpful.
In answer to it all, life is to short to be wondering if someone is talking to you or your mammoth herpy. I would stay home.

Aw ladies, you are lovely!

Still think DH will think I'm letting him down about driving and I probably am a bit as he gives me lifts all the time, so feel like a mean cow but just don't fancy that thing when people are talking to you but staring at your mouth - or boobs but that's a whole other subject :)

I do use that cream but for some reason mine always erupt overnight, so I go from nothing, to waking up with itchy lumps (pile on the cream) but still go to full scale massive blisters by mid morning. I find aftershave is quite good if you catch them at the tingle but I never seem to. Never tried Compeed but may get a supply in for next time.

They've now scabbed over, so my whole mouth looks scabby, weepy and burnt and then hey presto a new one has also appeared this morning on the small bit of lip not already affected - wow God really hates me (joke!)

Every sympathy - and feel free to say you're not up to the night out because of pregnancy if that's easier with your DH!

I've just had my brother and his wife staying and I had a painful cold sore throughout. It's amazing how much a relatively small spot can ache for days, and I feel like a moody cow because I couldn't even smile properly. I smiled without due caution this morning and ended up with blood trickling down my chin at work - not a good look.

Feverishly noting down advice on thread. It's not a quick solution, but cold sores generally mean I need to up my vitamin C.

An ice cube (wrapped in a clean tea towel which you then bung on a 100 degree wash after!) can really help ease the pain at that tingly stage too.

YADNBU!

I do feel bad about this but I actually backed out of attending a wedding last minute due to a horrendous coldsore last year. One whole side of my face was in agony & felt terrible & really couldn't face it.

I did tell the bride I was ill (didn't say it was a coldsore) & still sent a card/cheque and apology letter but haven't heard from her since :(

UPDATE:

Thanks kind ladies. You've made me realise that I wasn't BU. I might get MN to make ALL my decisions for me in future! I can be a bit of an unreasonable hormonal mess, so good to know

Anyway, I emailed DH (only because we're both working) saying I wasn't deliberately trying to annoy him but felt like I look awful and that I would pay towards taxi or try to get him a lift and he called me to say not to worry.

Have now found him a lift, so don't feel too bad now and it's good to know lots of you feel the same! Thought I was being a bit vain. Still have to lie to friends as to why not going but being pregnant always provides options:)

YANBU, sorry you're suffering. I had horrific acne for months - brilliantly coinciding with my wedding day; they're FAB photos (not) - and hated going out to social things when it got really bad. Never had a cold sore yet but anything on your face makes you feel really shit. FWIW I dont think anyone else notices it in same way you do.