Question:
I have a series of about 6-8 small, white bumps on my upper lip. Prior to getting the bumps, my lips did feel that tingle sensation. Further, when I'm outside in the sun, my lips burn. Everything I read indicated that this is likely HSV-1. Well, since my doctor was completely booked, I finally got in to see her today. She examined the bumps and said that I do not have herpes. Instead, she said that I had "fever blisters" that can be caused by fatigue, stress and/or sun exposure. She said "fever blisters" are not caused by the herpes virus, and are not contagious. She said that herpes results in blisters that eventually swell up, burst, leak, and then dry up. What I have are little white bumps (blisters) that will not burst and leak. Instead, they will dry up and go away. She said there is no medicine for this, and that I should just use lip balm with sun screen. She said that it may come back again, but it may never come back.

I left the doctor's office fairly convinced that I did not have HSV-1 and that I had nothing to worry about. That is ... until I got my fingers on the keyboard and accessed the internet. Every SINGLE website I've looked at says that "fever blisters" is synonymous with "cold sores" which is synonymous with HSV-1. How on earth could my doctor say it's not HSV-1 but rather, it's fever blisters? More importantly, how could my doctor say fever blisters aren't contagious, when they're the same as cold sores, which are highly contagious.

I am now even more confused than before going to the doctor. Has anybody come across anything like this before? Could it be that my doctor is using "fever blisters" not to denote HSV-1, but something entirely different and is just using inaccurate terminology?

Does anybody have any info on this? Thanks.

Answer:
Not all herpes outbreaks are the same. Not all herpes sores, blister, break, leak and dry up. She is generalizing the herpes virus and as a "medical professional" that is showing her lack of knowledge about something she of all people should know about. Herpes looks different on different people.

Answer:
I am now even more confused than before going to the doctor. Has anybody come across anything like this before? Could it be that my doctor is using "fever blisters" not to denote HSV-1, but something entirely different and is just using inaccurate terminology? Ya know, my dad told me a story last week about ole' cousin Bertha who the doctors diagnosed with a tumor after complaining of abdominal pain. Said she needed surgery right away. Well, the tumor is now 51 years old and his name is Bard.

I swear, I really dont know what to expect from doctors sometimes. Yours is a great question and I was confused about the terminology too. But I think you are correct: either the doctor is ignorant or is for some reason using the phrase "fever blister" to refer to something that is entirely different. You might ask your doctor if she ever uses the internet. There are many links, and some have pictures.

Answer:
But I think you are correct: either the doctor is ignorant or is for some reason using the phrase "fever blister" to refer to something that is entirely different. You might ask your doctor if she ever uses the internet. There are many links, and some have pictures. Thanks for the response.

Here's an update to ADD to the confusion.

My wife has the same doctor, and went to visit the doctor this morning as a follow-up concerning a back injury. While she was there, she asked the doctor about my "fever blisters" and questioned how she "knew" it wasn't HSV-1. To my shock, the doctor's response was that SHE had HSV-1 and therefore had personal as well as medical experience involving herpes and she could tell that what I have is not "classic herpes" but, rather, "simply fever blisters." Unfortunately my wife didn't push her much further, because this explains NOTHING. Instead, it only adds to the confusion because as a doctor and someone who has HSV-1, she should know better than to use the term "fever blisters" if she is, in fact, referring to something entirely different.

This doctor is my primary care physician through my HMO. As a result, I'm kind of stuck and unable to seek a second opinion. I can wait until the next time I'm allowed to change doctors and file for a new primary care doctor, but until then I have to stick with this "diagnosis." I'd make another appointment to ask more questions, but I fear I'd only be wasting my time and would be even more confused.

Does anybody have any idea what these "fever blisters" could be if they are not, in fact, related to the herpes virus. Is there anything else that causes little white bumps to appear on your lips, along with the tingling sensation and a burning sensation while out in the sun? I've done some research and haven't found anything. Anybody?

Answer:
Just because she has hsv1 doesn't mean she knows what all hsv 1 looks like. As I said, it looks different on different people. She could be right, it may not be but she's assuming. There are no "classis" herpes symptoms per se. Peole react differently to the virus. If it doesn't get any worse, than it's probubly not. You'll just have to wait and see.