Cold sore so bad my lip is swollen in one side and I go back to work tomorrow!

[Sk999]

Is this type of swelling normal?! I have never had selling with it before m!?

It started about 6 days ago. I always had cold area but directly on my lip and when I had them in my lip, my lip never swelled. This time it appeared above my upper lip and the next day I woke up with this swelling. So I been trying to get rid of this swelling but it won’t go down, instead looks like it’s getting bigger.

I’m supposed to go back to work tomorrow. I’m a teacher. This looks horrible. You can’t even hide it. I wouldn’t care if it was just the cold sore. The swelling is the problem.

I been using Vaseline, lots, ice compresses, a cream I baught from Amazon. I couldn’t talk to no gp and still can’t as they all close again since last Friday. I also have been taking paracetamol because it is uncomfortable and painful.

Is this swelling normal? I need it to go down?

Are you using Zovirax or the no brand equivalent? I’ve had them swell up
like that if I’ve not caught them early. It only lasts a few days but may not disappear over night sadly

You need zovirax, mine have been known to do that in the past when I've not used it.

These patches are better than the cream as you don’t have to keep reapplying. https://www.boots.com/compeed-cold-sore-patch-15-pack-10061760?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwSH5gUdz4vJ_1ffTun8MR9l3&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtpLABhC7ARIsALBOCVoj6qmJO3S7D4Wd8H8i7N5SnzTRp0UWm0RuQU-Sbm_sV5ltcgE4hxQaAsY8EALw_wcB

Agree with compeed patches. They're really great.

When I've been unable to speak with a GP I've also used an online pharmacy to order aciclovir tablets as they work really quickly but I've had them prescribed before so was quite comfortable ordering without a GP.

How long does it take for swelling to go down for you ?

Yes I've had this kind of swelling. Cold sores are awful, you have my greatest sympathy. I use acyclovir tablets now as nothing else works 😞 have you tried putting perfume or alcohol on it? Old colleague of mine swore by that as it dries them out - it's worked once or twice for me in the past.

Applying coconut oil can help too. It’s anti viral and helps with dryness/cracking. Whenever I feel the dreading tingling, I dab tea tree oil on and it helps prevent it coming up. Doesn’t always work mind. Also, take zinc - helps with healing. X

For me the sore itself seems to be healing but the swelling is getting worse. My upper left side has gone so big it looks scary and doesn’t match the rest of my lips 😭

Hi op,

If swelling continues getting worse I would worry about infection. Can you contact ur GP for an appointment after school tomorrow (realise you don't finish when the kids do but perhaps you could leave early). My gp would give me an appointment but I also realise most people aren't that lucky so I would visit pharmacist in meantime.
Nhs website recommends visit to gp if cold sore are particularly big.www.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/ Looks very sore and really not ideal when you have work tomorrow. Big hugs and fingers crossed it goes down. Can you tell the kids you injured your lip on a car door or something to explain the swelling?

If you can find a pharmacy open today, you could always go and ask the pharmacist to take a look and see what they recommend?

Omg, take a picture and send to your boss and don't go in. I assume it's also contagious?

Update: managed to get through to someone on 111. They given me antibiotics and cream. Said it’s contagious and called it Impetigo. She said I should t be going in. She saw on camera I’m assuming she saw it right.

When I was younger I would get extremely bad cold sores that would spread rapidly and my lips would swell horrifically. When I worked in nicu, if I got cold sores I couldn’t enter the wards. Yours does look angry and as you’re a teacher I would advise maybe calling in sick. Even if just for yourself, this is also valid. I felt awful when mine got so big. Fluctuating hormones played a role as did stress - what triggered yours? Maybe a couple of days r and r not such a bad idea?

Late to the party! Looks like you’ve been given sound advice. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Sofa, Netflix and chill 😁

I would go to a walk-in centre or out of hours asap. Looks infected and I’d be worried. Antibiotics probably needed. Please don’t wait especially if you start getting a fever or other symptoms x

Sorry didn’t see update! Hope it improves soon and as it’s viral totally valid to miss work.

Oh op that's bad you poor soul! I take lysine every day now and haven't had a cold sore since. My lip swelled like that, it would spread i side my mouth and felt like it was up inside my nose. Horrible viral things. Xx

I've had them like that before, one particularly bad one was in the middle of my upper lip and I looked like I had a beak 😭

It reduced after a couple of days but was still slightly swollen for a few weeks - actually looked like I'd had fillers for quite a while!

Hope yours dies down soon, I know it's miserable.

I know it won’t help for this but get yourself on to lysine tablets. I used to suffer so badly and now hardly at all - I double the dose if I feel the ‘tingle’

Hope you're feeling better soon op 💕