Question:
I've done all the reading, I've looked at these forums, I've seen the pictures, I've been to a doctor, but I can't figure out if what I have is Herpes or something else.

Lately I've been experiencing sores in my mouth. They are small, sometimes in clusters, on the soft tissue on the inside of the mouth. At their peek they appear as small white sores with red lining and typically disappear in a week or two. This has been happening for the past few weeks.

I am sexually active with multiple non-monogamous partners, I understand this puts me at the highest risk factor level.

When I first noticed I went to the ER. The doctor there wasn't my regular doctor and she was no help at all. She saw some of these sores and at first said they were probably canker sores. When I told her I was worried it was an STD she said "Well it could be canker sores or somebody could have given you HSV-1." She actually said this to me. Thanks for nothing doctor lady!

When I was doing my research I was mostly satisfied that it was just canker sores. Specifically with things like this: "If the lesion appears inside the mouth, especially on the soft tissue, it is most likely to be a canker sore, not a cold sore."



But then it kept happening the most resent occurring on the inside of my lower limp. I've never noticed this condition before in my life so I'm beginning to wonder if its not just canker sores but something else.

I have an appointment with my regular doctor next week and I plan to bring this up and ask to be tested.

Any help or advice until then is greatly appreciated! Please don't direct me to additional reading because I've probably already read it!

Answer:
if they are in clusters, is the key* canker sores dont appear in clusters.
herpes does.

that doc is right though, u can have herpes, she should have done a test though.

oral herpes> shown here, is clusterd. so if you are having clusters, i would be concerned, and get tested asap before the sores go away- tell them its a emergency. DO NOT let them tell u oh its just a canker, demand that test.
http://podiatry.curtin.edu.au/encycl...viral/simp.jpg

Answer:
the ones in that picture look similar to what ive had only mine are much smaller. so herpes can show up on the soft tissue on the inside of the mouth like that? if thats true someone should update the website with canker/cold sore information i posted because that really threw me off.

all the sores i have since healed but i think i'll go to a clinic and get a test before seeing my regular doctor

but someone should update the website

Answer:
oral herpes> can affect the ENTIRE mouth. worst cases, usually are pretty nasty from covering your entire tounge, roof of mouth, cheeks, to even moving to the base of your lip- the info is pretty correct though, cankers will only appear in certain places. but oral herpes is diffrent(can happen anywhere in the mouth) from "cold sores" cold sores are outside the mouth.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/oral_...article_em.htm
has pretty good info on it- including symptoms, and first signs


agree theres lots of confusing/ mis matched info all over the internet.

Answer:
david, make sure to get a herpes type specific blood test, as a swab will not be accurate if theres nothing to swab, or nothing active at the time of swab.