From being on cloud nine I now had three ugly cold sores on my top lip. My new boyfriend who had given them to me was not sympathetic. In fact he thought that the sores were horrible and he dumped me for my friend!!
It turned out that what I thought had been just an innocent cut on his lip was actually a cold sore. From this one kiss I caught the cold sore virus which still plagues me nearly ten years later. Although I can barely remember what my first boyfriend looks like now, I can still remember his name; I am reminded of it every month when a new cold sore breaks out.
I hate getting the sores as they make me feel so unattractive. Once they are there I never want to go out and socialise or see anyone, people can’t help but stare at them.
But it’s when I am in a relationship that it is so much worse. Not only am I frightened that a new boyfriend will leave me as they will think the sores are horrible but I feel so unattractive that I do not want to be seen or touched. I become so self conscience and unconfident and have been known to try and avoid boyfriends for a week so that they do not see me with the unsightly sores. This always puts a strain on my relationships, because I then have to lie about why I don’t want to see them. It’s actually caused a few of my relationships to break down.
However, what happened to me recently was so much worse than anything else that had happened to me in relation to my cold sores in the past. Boyfriends come and go, but when it began to affect my new job, it became a more serious problem in my life. I had just finished three long years of hard work at university studying to become a physiotherapist. After successfully completing my degree I went for my first job interview and got my first job. I was so excited as I had been working towards this moment for so long. I went out to celebrate and the next morning I woke up with two cold sores.
I was so looking forward to starting my job but when I got the outbreak I was so mortified that I began to dread my start date in case I had another outbreak just beforehand. This should have been an exciting and proud time for me but it was ruined by the painful and unsightly blisters coupled with the dread that they might come back just as I started my new job. I was so worried what my new colleagues would think, never mind what the patients would think.
I felt it was time to seriously look into something that could help me control or at least lessen the amount of outbreaks I was having. I could not have a job and still carry out my habit of going into hiding when I got an outbreak. I normally use products that contain Zoviraz. I have raided all the shelves in pharmacies and tried all the products but the sores still take up to ten days to clear up and I know they are never gone for long.
So when, three months ago, I was asked to trial a new natural cold sore treatment by a friend who is working as a researcher on health products, I jumped at the chance. The fact that the new Liquorice Balm is natural is a bonus because I hate using endless chemicals on my skin as I am worried about the long term effects. But for the most part I was just so relieved to try something new as nothing else was working for me and the start date of my new job was fast approaching. I read the research on the effects of liquorice on the cold sore virus and it seemed very convincing. What encouraged me was that it claimed to reduce the frequency of outbreaks, which was the key thing I needed in a treatment.
My cold sores are normally triggered by stress and tiredness and I tend to get them roughly once a month. However, in the run up to starting my new job and since starting work, a period of over three months, I have had no signs of cold sores since starting to use the new balm. I felt sure I would get another attack soon as working in a new job is always stressful and exhausting. I am so relieved that I have finally found something that really works to keep my cold sores at bay.
The balm has been a life-saver for me and not only has it reduced the frequency and severity of my cold sores but it is a real treat to use. I use it everyday, which you can do because it is a natural product, as it really moisturises my lips. In fact it has now replaced my regular lip balm! I will definitely carry on using the balm – I now wouldn’t be without it – and I would strongly recommend it to anyone else who gets cold sores regularly like me.”
Last updated: 19 May 2006
Acne
Acne