Bad Pain

[Barry]

Fever blisters are also Herpes (Herpes I). I used to have them all the time and they eventually just quit (age maybe?)...

Herpes infections - whether shingles, cold sores, or genital herpes - generally diminish over time. You're never really cured. Friends and lovers may come and go, but herpes is forever.

What happens is that over time the virus increasingly isolates itself in neural ganglia, coming to the surface and causing an infection only when your immune system is low (i.e. you're sick and/or worn out).

I've had genital herpes since 1964 (battle wound from the sexual revolution), very very seldom is a problem any more, didn't resurface after open heart surgery. Alas, downside of genital herpes is that romantic chat during a hot date sounds very much like a public health advisory.