Hello everyone! I know this is not a professional medical consult, but I'd appreciate your opinions and input on this topic as fellow vegans.
I became vegan a little more than a year ago. Up until then, like a high percentage of the global population, I'd get occasional cold sores that would go away around the two-week mark, no fuss. I eat whole foods mostly and have cut my sugar intake naturally, I don't experience much stress, and other conditions around me considered herpes simplex triggers haven't changed either, the biggest change has been my diet.
Now, in the past I've struggled with an eating disorder, and at times I relapse with bingeing. One of those episodes happened sometime in July, and I specifically overindulged with nut butters, which apparently have high levels of arginine. Long story short, I got a cold sore on the middle of my bottom lip. It was very painful and unsightly since it spread, but a little more than two weeks later, it gave every indication of going away as usual. However, just as it was clearing up I got yet another cold sore, also on my bottom lip, also spread all over my lips (I usually get them like this, seemingly extremely chapped with a bit of bleeding). This one lasted even more. Being extremely worried, but knowing there is no cure for cold sores, I didn't go to the doctor. What I did was watch what I ate focusing on healthy, non-processed, low in arginine foods, increase my vitamin C intake, take L-Lysine supplements daily, take the recommended oral dose of Acyclovir, hydrate, sleep well, exercise, avoid sun exposure, I did everything that is usually advised. But the shedding phase took forever. Not only that, but to this day my lips haven't healed, they are incredibly sore and I need to apply a special balm to keep them from stinging as well as apply topical Acyclovir since I feel the infection is still very much ongoing.
I thought my immune system was at its prime since I don't get colds and seem to be doing okay for the most part. The last time I had exams done was well over a year ago, and my white blood cell count was low, which, according to Dr. Greger is not unusual for vegans since we have lower inflammation going on than carnists, and when under attack our immune systems should act accordingly to protect the body.
I've been doing research all this time, but there's not much on the internet about this issue. I did find a video that talked about angular cheilitis on vegans, but it was anecdotal and, again, just one point of view. It stated certain deficiencies cause some vegans to suffer from this. Honestly, I don't know what to do. I'm always afraid the herpes will spread because I'm only human and I may accidentally touch my face after touching my mouth, I use special utensils and plates, I get very angsty about reusing my own plastic bottles, I'm going through tooth brushes faster than anyone, I stopped eating nuts and chocolate, I wash my hands constantly or sanitize them with gel, and I'm in a crappy mood because it's been two months of cold sores. I'm good at not thinking about it since it's become routine, so I don't think it's the stress. In short, I'm numb to having cold sores, but I do want it to go away. I want to be back to normal.
I fear a visit to the doctor would end up in getting recommended to eat animal products, if just to rule it out, and at this point I don't know if that would actually help or not. I'm against animal products like any other vegan, but I also understand our aim is to reduce animal exploitation as far as is possible and practicable. This is my health, and I really want to believe the two things are not related, but I've ruled out everything else. I'm lost.
Please tell me what you think or if you've experienced anything similar.
I became vegan a little more than a year ago. Up until then, like a high percentage of the global population, I'd get occasional cold sores that would go away around the two-week mark, no fuss. I eat whole foods mostly and have cut my sugar intake naturally, I don't experience much stress, and other conditions around me considered herpes simplex triggers haven't changed either, the biggest change has been my diet.
Now, in the past I've struggled with an eating disorder, and at times I relapse with bingeing. One of those episodes happened sometime in July, and I specifically overindulged with nut butters, which apparently have high levels of arginine. Long story short, I got a cold sore on the middle of my bottom lip. It was very painful and unsightly since it spread, but a little more than two weeks later, it gave every indication of going away as usual. However, just as it was clearing up I got yet another cold sore, also on my bottom lip, also spread all over my lips (I usually get them like this, seemingly extremely chapped with a bit of bleeding). This one lasted even more. Being extremely worried, but knowing there is no cure for cold sores, I didn't go to the doctor. What I did was watch what I ate focusing on healthy, non-processed, low in arginine foods, increase my vitamin C intake, take L-Lysine supplements daily, take the recommended oral dose of Acyclovir, hydrate, sleep well, exercise, avoid sun exposure, I did everything that is usually advised. But the shedding phase took forever. Not only that, but to this day my lips haven't healed, they are incredibly sore and I need to apply a special balm to keep them from stinging as well as apply topical Acyclovir since I feel the infection is still very much ongoing.
I thought my immune system was at its prime since I don't get colds and seem to be doing okay for the most part. The last time I had exams done was well over a year ago, and my white blood cell count was low, which, according to Dr. Greger is not unusual for vegans since we have lower inflammation going on than carnists, and when under attack our immune systems should act accordingly to protect the body.
I've been doing research all this time, but there's not much on the internet about this issue. I did find a video that talked about angular cheilitis on vegans, but it was anecdotal and, again, just one point of view. It stated certain deficiencies cause some vegans to suffer from this. Honestly, I don't know what to do. I'm always afraid the herpes will spread because I'm only human and I may accidentally touch my face after touching my mouth, I use special utensils and plates, I get very angsty about reusing my own plastic bottles, I'm going through tooth brushes faster than anyone, I stopped eating nuts and chocolate, I wash my hands constantly or sanitize them with gel, and I'm in a crappy mood because it's been two months of cold sores. I'm good at not thinking about it since it's become routine, so I don't think it's the stress. In short, I'm numb to having cold sores, but I do want it to go away. I want to be back to normal.
I fear a visit to the doctor would end up in getting recommended to eat animal products, if just to rule it out, and at this point I don't know if that would actually help or not. I'm against animal products like any other vegan, but I also understand our aim is to reduce animal exploitation as far as is possible and practicable. This is my health, and I really want to believe the two things are not related, but I've ruled out everything else. I'm lost.
Please tell me what you think or if you've experienced anything similar.