Shingles now fever blisters... related?

Question

I am just recovering from shingles (almost a month) that affected my right, lower leg. And the other day, I notice few blisters forming on my upper lip. Today, my mom told me it's "fever blisters," and bought me Abreva. My question is why is this happening to me??? Is it related to shingles or is it just bad luck? Funny thing is I'm scared of STDs, which is why I don't have s*x and I don't even kiss anyone (I'm 30 btw)! And now all this "herpes" business going on got me scared... anyway, sorry for the rant.

My question concerns recurrence of shingles and fever blisters. I browsed for info., and supposedly once I am infected, I am now susceptible to fever blisters on my lip and even shingles... is this true?

And if it is, and I get them again in the future, will I get them in the same places? That is, on my lower right leg for shingles, and if I get fever blisters again, on my upper lip? Or can it occur in different places?

Is it really proven that it's related to a weak immune system (even though I'm drinking vitamins PLUS vit. C supplement daily) or stress (I've been studying for an exam for a few months now) or my eating habits (I'm underweight and eat mostly frozen/microwaveable dinners)??

How did I get fever blisters/herpes simplex on the lip?? I don't go out in the sun, or make out with anyone. All I remembered was watching a movie in the theater (I touched the arm seat I guess, and maybe accidentally touched my upper lip). How do you get them? Does it have anything to do with hygiene (I sometimes just take a shower every other day or toothbrush once a day if I'm lazy)? Or is it hereditary? My mom said she had them before.

I'd really appreciate it if someone answer all my questions (pref. someone with medical knowledge or who has gone through this before... pls do not just cut and paste)

Sorry for writing long, I just feel depressed now... anyway, thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox starts up again in your body. After you get better from chickenpox, the virus "sleeps" (is dormant) in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant forever. In others, the virus "wakes up" when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system. It is not clear why this happens. But after the virus becomes active again, it can only cause shingles, not chickenpox

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-t...

HSV-1 infections are acquired by almost all people in all nations and countries. By contrast in developed countries, middle and upper-class individuals acquire infection later in life. Seroprevalence of HSV-1 can be as low as 20% in children younger than 5 years of age and in adolescents. The acquisition rises between 20 and 40 years to a prevalence of 40 - 60%

Transmission in households is believed to be from kissing, though it is good to avoid sharing cups, eating utensils, wash cloths, etc. when one has a visible sore.

http://www.herpesdiagnosis.com/labialis....

Yes it is cut and paste, I do however have many years of medical experience and find the best way to convey information is to give people the facts, assumptions and resources for them to educate themselves with

Answer 2

Fever blisters and shingles are both part of the herpes virus family. Neither are hereditary, both have to be caught.

The thing all herpes viruses have in common is that they never leave the body - they stay dormant in your nerve ganglions for the remainder of your life, and can reactivate at a future time.

All of us have one herpes virus or another. Mono, chicken pox, fever blisters and shingles are all caused by herpes viruses.

Shingles is a reactivation of the herpes zoster virus. This causes chicken pox, and most people catch it as a child.

Your immune system normally keeps the virus in check, but if you are tired, stressed or your immune system is weak, it can cause you to get an outbreak of shingles when your body loses control of the virus and it is able to surface.

Some people never get reactivations of shingles, some get many. Sugar, lack of sleep and bad diet (low in fresh vegetables and fruit) all lower the immune system, as does alcohol and stress over a long period.

The fever blisters are a completely separate infection. They are caused by an infection with oral herpes. Oral herpes is very similar to genital herpes - in fact, the virus that causes your fever blisters can also cause genital herpes. Oral herpes is usually caused by herpes simplex type 1 - I have herpes simplex 1 genitally.

Once on your mouth, though, it will only recurr round your mouth area, and maybe the nostrils. It will not recurr genitally or in another part of the body. If you have oral herpes, you can give someone else genital herpes if you give them oral s*x, or give them fever blisters if you kiss them while you are infectious.

Oral herpes is at its most infectious when you have a fever blister, but can also be infectious when you do not have one for short periods of time.

Oral herpes can be triggered, causing fever blisters, by all the things that can trigger shingles - bad diet, stress, exhaustion, low immune system. It can also be triggered by the sun.

Both are opportunistic and reactivate when your immune system is low because you are fighting something else off. Hence the old names for oral herpes - 'fever' blisters and 'cold' sores - it is common to get outbreaks when you have had a cold or flu or are fighting off another infection.

Your fever blisters probably cropped up because your immune system is low from fighting the shingles.

No, neither has ANYTHING to do with hygiene. And the only relationship between your fever blisters and your mother is that you definitely caught them by being kissed by someone else with them - usually as a baby or small child. It is often a parent who has a history of fever blisters that accidentally infects you.

Fever blisters do occur in the same place for some people, as do shingles, but actually you can get fever blisters anywhere round your mouth and shingles is commonly found on the chest and back.

Answer 3

You probably got the fever blister because your immunity from the shingles is down.  You can get herpes simplex by kissing or touching someone that has the virus, and then touching yourself, in this case your lip.  And no it is not hereditary, although your mother could have passed it to you through touching.

You do need to try and eat better to combat the viruses in your body.

Answer 4

I'd blame it all on stress.  You need to lighten up a bit, sometimes a kiss is more than fleeting, it can heal.  Don't fear the world, embrace it.

I'm sure you know that both shingles and canker-sores (fever blisters) are related to herpes-simplex.  h**l, we all have that, some are just more resistant to outbreaks.  Don't over-analyze, just enjoy the movie.