coldsores and skin infections

[Mutingzoom]

Anyone with multiple coldsores on aciclovir how did you feel within yourself? I had my COVID vaccine on Monday and a nurses appointment on Tuesday as coldsores, which I had had before the vaccine had continued to spread. After seeing a photo they have prescribed aciclovir with a follow-up in a week. I had fevers after the night of the vaccine but this morning am feeling quite shivery (no actual temp). I have also vomited and do not know if its the vaccine, the coldsores or something else.

I have a cyst on the scalp which is a bit sore but they did not think infected from the pics. However I am concerned that my face is itchy and I seem to be scratching at night, not really sure if there is anything I can do to stop myself making it worse.

It's hard to tell. I do think that the vomiting is extreme. I'd check back with the GP as very occasionally herpes can slip into sepsis.

Thanks, will try and speak to a GP and monitor things in case they get worse. I don’t think it is sepsis currently as temp normal and fitbit showing a normal resting heartrate, which it wasn’t after the jab.

I am thinking that I am probably just quite rundown and its a bit of a reaction to the stress of the last year. I have eaten breakfast and not been sick. I think maybe the coldsores, vaccine and questionably infected cyst have all been a bit much at once and maybe I need some more rest.

Aciclovar has never given me any side effects at all, but I only get sores when I am run down so I tend to be feeling off anyway. I would imagine the combination of that plus a reaction to the vaccine could make you feel pretty rubbish.

acyclovir makes me vomit - every time I tell the GP this they say how rare it is that acyclovir gives people side effects but I've been prescribed it a few times (they thought I had shingles at one stage) and it's made me sick every single time. So it's possible it's the meds (plus being run down etc.)

Thanks, it makes sense that feeling generally run-down does lead to the outbreaks of cold sores. I have only ever had very localised sores before so did not know what to expect.

I suppose my concern is the nurse was not really sure from the photos if it is coldsores or something else so agreed after showing to GP’s to try the antivirals. Its obviously harder to get seen in person and don’t really want to have to if its just a combination of things which will go with rest. It was brilliant to be able to share photos on a telephone consult though and I hope this continues after COVID as having to wait have a telephone consultation, then them need to see it so a journey there an hour in the waiting room for a 30 sec look feels to be a waste of everyones time and resources.

where are the coldsores?

I was misdiagnosed with shingles for a year or so before one canny doctor said they were coldsores (they weren't on my face and were in a typical shingles spot which is why they had got them confused!)

I get shivery every time I get an outbreak btw (they come on my shoulder)

Interesting to hear that the meds can sometimes cause vomiting even if not recognised.

The sores are on my lip, under my eye, and by my ear.

Did the treatment change once they diagnosed as coldsores?

poor you with it near your eye - I think they normally give you treatment because it can be serious if it gets in there

no, I don't have any treatment at all. I know when I'm getting them as I get shivery and feel under the weather for a few days. You start to learn what your triggers are - mine are sun on my skin, my period....not sure if there are other ones

I saw a dermatologist as I have another skin complaint (eczema/psoriasis) and asked her about them and she said unless they are widespread or coming more than 9 times a year, they generally don't treat them as they are self limiting. I can't reach where mine are to put cold sore cream but on the odd occasion where I've managed to persuade dp to put some on, it does shorten the time period I have them. I probably get them 6 times a year.

they took a swab from mine as they looked so similar to shingles and apparently appear on the same nerve line shingles do (and didn't cross my midline) that they had to swab to tell the difference. I just have to be careful they don't infect the pre existing eczema/psoriasis that I have - in that case it's apparently a medical emergency but I haven't had anything like that as yet. Do you know whether the thing on your head is a cold sore too?

I hope you feel better soon - they are horrible things to get. I didn't get my first one till 2018! btw the worst symptom for me is the itchy skin too - I know when I'm getting them as I feel itchy all over my back and shivery too.

The sores are on my lip, under my eye, and by my ear

From how you are feeling and where they are it sounds like it could be Shingles.

How quick do coldsores normally take to heal on antivirals? Finishing my treatment today and have a couple of new sores. The old ones have mostly healed.