You just get out of the shower, dress and then start putting on your makeup and it stares right back at you in the mirror, a big ugly cold sore. You start to freak because you've got a date tonight with that lawyer that you just met and you know that cold sores are ugly and you wanted to impress this guy? Do you call him and tell him you suddenly came down with a deadly flu? Do you just crawl in a hole and never come out? Do you just try to cover it up or do you go get yourself some quick acting cold sore medication from the pharmacy?

My daughter, JLHanna, a 22 year old college student and I, a 48 year old out of work due to a severe back injury, had a discussion about cold sores.

1. How often do you get cold sores?
 
Me - I sometimes get cold sores a couple times per year.
 
JLHanna - I use to get cold sores once a month when I was a bit younger but I haven't had one in many years.
 
2. What time of year do you get cold sores the most?
 
Me - I mostly get cold sores in the winter.
 
JLHanna - It didn't matter what time of the year it was.
 
3. In the story above, what would you have done? Would you have called and told your date you have a deadly flu? Would you crawl into a hole and never come out? Do you try to cover it up? Do you get some quick acting cold sore medication from the pharmacy?
 
Me - I think I would like to crawl in a hole and stay there until my cold sore went away.
 
JLHanna - I would have called and made up some excuse why I couldn't see him.  I would make sure though that he knew I was still interested.
 
4. Do you get other symptoms when you get a cold sore?
 
Me - I notice that I usually get a fever first and then after that I get a cold sore.
 
JLHanna - I don't remember getting other symptoms with my cold sores.
 
5. Does any one thing trigger a cold sore?
 
Me - I notice that if I am run down and not feeling good that I will get cold sores.
 
JLHanna - I use to get cold sores right around my time of the month but thankfully I haven't gotten one in several years.
 
6. How does your cold sores start?
 
Me - I usually know I am getting a cold sore a couple of hours beforehand because I can feel a tingling in my lip.
 
JLHanna - I use to feel a sensation in my the corner of my lip and I knew something was up.
 
7. Do you have a miracle cure for cold sores?
 
Me - No, I don't. I usually just let them run their course.
 
JLHanna - No I don't have any miracle cures for them, I also just used to deal with them. Thankfully I haven't had to deal with them in years and hope I don't get another one anytime soon
 
8. Have you ever really noticed a cold sore on someone else?
 
Me - You know that is funny because we are all so terrified of someone seeing our cold sore but I've never really seen anyone with a cold sore.
 
JLHanna - I remember one time seeing a really nasty one on someone. I don't remember who but it was really disgusting.
 
9. How do you feel when you get a cold sore?
 
Me - I usually feel run down and either getting over a cold or just having had a fever when I get a cold sore.
 
JLHanna - I feel very self-concious when I get them and feel as though everybody knows I have one.
 
10. Do you believe that cold sores are contagious?
 
Me - Yes, I believe cold sores are contagious. I won't kiss anyone on the lips when I have one.
 
JLHanna - Yes, cold sores are contagious and I would never kiss anyone who has one. 
 
Conclusion
 
Me - I do not like cold sores. They hurt and they look nasty.
 
JLHanna - I hate cold sores they are the most disgusting things to have to deal with.