!@#$%^& Cold Sores

I should have acted quicker.  This morning, as a biological “April Fool’s Day” gift, I awoke to a blossoming cold sore on my lip.  I HATE cold sores, and keep vigilance over potential eruptions.  But this one snuck in without the usual host of symptoms…tingling in area, headache, numbness, redness, and feeling “off.”

Cold sore triggers for me include: stress (I’ve got that going at the moment), a change of seasons (well, Minnesota is supposed to be having spring, but so far it hasn’t shown up), menstrual cycles (iffy now that I’m in menopause), exhaustion, or even some minor bump to the mouth (getting wild with my toothbrush, for example).

Oh yeah, I’m also susceptible if my hubby has a cold sore and kisses me before I notice.  He has had two cold sores recently and I gloated that I didn’t succumb from his stealth kisses. That will teach me.

Note to self: gloating = bad.

Right now I’m upping my dose of Lysine and Selenium, popping Boswellia tablets to counter-act swelling, and slathering thick layers of Abreva onto this puppy.  If anyone else has suggestions, I’m listening!  But for now I have the luxury of hiding in the house.  It keeps people from looking at my lip while pretending not to be looking at my lip, which makes it all the more obvious they are looking at my lip.  Ah, the joys of solitude.  It is the best part of my day.