How the hell did I get herpes?

Question

I haven't hooked up with a girl in a while, and the ones I have hooked up with did NOT have herpes. I just got this sore on my outer lip, on the right side. It made that part of the lip swollen. I accidently poked it and it seems the stuff inside is yellowish. So how could I have gotten this? Last time I had something like this on my lip was about 2 years ago. And I don't drink from the same cup as others, etc.

Does having a cold sore or whatever I have mean I have herpes?

Answer 1

herpes is forever

Answer 2

You didn't necessarily get it from a girl. Most people that have herpes orally catch it as small children, often from a peck on the lips by well-meaning relatives.

You don't get it from inanimate objects. The herpes virus cannot survive for more than a few seconds outside the body, it is spread by skin to skin contact.

Although oral herpes is usually caused by the hsv1 virus which does not cause classic genital herpes, it can cause a milder form of genital herpes. Hence, do be careful about giving oral sex to someone - this is how I caught genital herpes hsv1.

You are mainly infectious when you have a sore or a tingling feeling on your lip and for a few days after the sore has healed, but also sometimes when you have no symptoms, which is why you can't tell if a girl has oral herpes. She just might not have a sore at the time, but there is still a chance she could have passed the virus on to you.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

2

Answer 5

It is probably a cold sore.

Cold sores are caused by a virus and are considered a medical condition. Cold sores are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This virus is part of the same family that causes chickenpox, shingles (herpes zoster), and genital herpes (HSV-2).

Once the virus has entered the body it is there. You can go weeks, months, even years without having a break out of sores. When the virus is in its dormant stage, there are no outward symptoms.

Apply medical cream to the infected area, trying to not spread too far beyond the infected area. I love Abreva; you can use it at the first tingle of a cold sore or when it is full blown.

Answer 6

This is a fever blister, and yes it is a form of herpes, but not the same as the type you get in the lower regions of your body. As for why you ahve one now, once you get it you don't get rid of it, you will have it for life, things like changes in life or sleeping habits or if you are sick from another virus such as flu or a sore throat may trigger it to come out, it lays dormant in your body until something comes along and disturbs it and it decides to make an appearance. Make sure you find an over the counter cream that you can apply to help keep it from spreading (sometimes you can't avoid this) or becoming larger. Be sure to wash your eating utensils and cups real well before using them again and make sure that you wash your hands anytime you touch it.

Answer 7

Cold sores are a form of herpes, but not the STD kind.

Here's some good info on cold sores: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_sore & http://www.animated-teeth.com/cold_sores/t1_cold_sores.htm#herpes.causes

Here's a good exerpt:

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. No doubt you've heard of "herpes" before, but don't jump ahead of yourself. There are actually two types of herpes simplex virus, "type 1" and "type 2."

Type 1 herpes simplex virus.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 ("HSV1") generally only infects those body tissues that lie "above the waistline" and it is HSV1 that causes cold sores in the majority of cases.
Type 2 herpes simplex virus.
Herpes simplex virus type 2 ("HSV2") usually only infects those body tissues that lie "below the waistline" and it is this virus that is also known as "genital herpes." Herpes simplex virus type 2 is not usually the virus that causes cold sores, although it can.

My boyfriend has cold sores. They are contagious if you kiss somebody with a cold sore, even if it is just forming and you can't see it. VERY contagious. For him, they seem to spring up when he drinks or eats anything acidic like tomatoes or orange juice.

Many people have cold sores.. They have a ton of products that help to get rid of it or prevent it when you see the first symptoms. Abreva is what my boyfriend uses.

Here's the top 10 things to do when you get a cold sore to get rid of it: http://healing.about.com/od/acne/tp/coldsorepicks.htm

You could have gotten the virus a long time ago, but cold sores will come and go as they please.

Answer 8

A cold sore (the herpes simplex outbreak on your lip) is not sexually transmitted. When you had your very first cold sore was probably not long after you were exposed to the virus. Well, there are no cures for viruses, once you have them they are with you for life. Under times of stress or illness virus symptoms can either resurface or the virus can shed, be passed on while no symptoms are present.

Answer 9

You had a herpes (fever blister) 2 years ago, and now it's back. (There are many different types of herpes; chicken pox is even a type of herpes). Once you have the "fever blister" type of herpes, it can recur the rest of your life. There are many over-the-counter products to treat your symptom.

Answer 10

Oral herpes is often contracted in childhood. Simply drinking from a water fountain after someone who left the virus can infect you.

Because we teach children to cover their mouths with their hands when they cough or sneeze, these types of viruses are easily spread.

Sneeze into hand
Touch doorknob
Leave virus behind

This is why people need to be taught to sneeze and cough into the crook of the arm instead.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/oral_herpes/article_em.htm

http://www.herpesonline.org/articles/oral_herpes.html

Answer 11

it is a form of herpes but its not really an STD and once u have it you have it for life and you may only get an outbreak every 2 years or so or every couple of months but its different for every person who has it. you probably got the it when you were younger and you have very few out breaks