This is what i believe may be my first recurrent outbreak since being diagnosed with hsv-1 two years ago. I had a small blister forming yesterday and thought maybe it was was just a bump from chapped lips, but today the bump is much larger and fluid filled and looks like several smaller ones forming around it. Based off descriptions and photos from online i think I'm at a stage 2 cold sore. I put abreva on right away but wanted to know what others experiences were with duration of their cold sores with/without topical medication. Abreva site says if caught in stage 1 it can reduce the duration to 2-3 days. I know everyone's experience will vary but just wanted to get a sense of what normal. I know the first OB i had lasted 2 weeks. Can i expect the same time, maybe less?