OT: Shingles?

[UConnChapette]

Like I don't have enough problems. I now have shingles, at least according to the medical staff at work. Seems like it was caught early, and I am on the antiviral meds. But, having never had them before, I really don't know what to expect. Any Boneyarders with first hand experience? Will it really take MONTHS to go away?

 

[EricLA]

Get well soon... sorry to hear about that!!

 

[OneTrickPony]

Like I don't have enough problems. I now have shingles, at least according to the medical staff at work. Seems like it was caught early, and I am on the antiviral meds. But, having never had them before, I really don't know what to expect. Any Boneyarders with first hand experience? Will it really take MONTHS to go away?

I had it last year...I realized what it was after about a week and took the meds and it cleared right up with no further symptoms...I think about a week...so you should be OK...it didn't leave any marks either...

This year my doctor told me they have a vaccine which I took, so there shouldn't be a recurrence. Anyone who's had chickenpox should get the vaccine...it needs to be refrigerated, but the local Walgreen's pharmacy at the hospital had some.

 

[UConnChapette]

I shouldn't complain. Really, a bad back and shingles (and overworked and under paid, doo-dah, doo-dah) is nothing compared to those suffering losses from Sandy. I just had to vent. I'm sure the long hours and stress from last week wore down my immune system. This too shall pass.

 

[FlaRay]

Like I don't have enough problems. I now have shingles, at least according to the medical staff at work. Seems like it was caught early, and I am on the antiviral meds. But, having never had them before, I really don't know what to expect. Any Boneyarders with first hand experience? Will it really take MONTHS to go away?

I've had shingles twice. The first time it went away after about a week. The second time it occurred during a visit to Connecticut and I had to go to a local ER. When I got back to Florida a week later, I saw my doct0r when the shingles was not going away. He thought the the ER did not treat it "aggressively" so he gave me more meds. This went on for over a month, and I got "sick" of the meds so I stoppped taking them. The shingles symptoms continued for about another 2 months but did eventually go away. So my second experience with shingles lasted 3+ months. But I learned during this period that in some situations, it can last up to a year, so hopefully you got the best treatment the first time, and caught it early like you indicated. Best of luck.

 

[grizz36]

Like I don't have enough problems. I now have shingles, at least according to the medical staff at work. Seems like it was caught early, and I am on the antiviral meds. But, having never had them before, I really don't know what to expect. Any Boneyarders with first hand experience? Will it really take MONTHS to go away?

That's what led to my downfall, Chapette. I was hit with shingles in the form of Ramsay-Hunt in my inner ear, eye, throat and face. It, in turn, triggered Guillain-Barre which spread to paralysis of my vocal chords and throat muscles. I lost 35 pounds before it was brought under control. Following physical and speech therapy, I worked too hard in the yard and had a relapse where my whole body broke out in a strange rash. I'll be on huge doses of antiviral drugs the rest of my life and be thankful I have them. Stay with those drugs religiously ... and the best of luck and I hope they will help you.

 

[meyers7]

Like I don't have enough problems. I now have shingles, at least according to the medical staff at work. Seems like it was caught early, and I am on the antiviral meds. But, having never had them before, I really don't know what to expect. Any Boneyarders with first hand experience? Will it really take MONTHS to go away?

Not to be a bringer of bad news....but my dad had it years ago. He said it was quite painful and caused his face to swell considerably. Not sure how soon he had caught it though. Best of luck .

Hate that commercial on TV about shingles.



Yea of course you don't want to encounter it, but it never tells you about how to avoid it, counteract it, what to do for it. Just says you might get this and you don't want to. Duh.

 

[Man-Man]

"lost 35 lbs" give me some of that!!! Seriously from what I studied it doesn't actually go away it just goes into remission. It may or may not return after its treated and allowing your immune system to lower by lack of sleep, unhealthy eating, cold/flu can trigger it comming back but even then it may not. Also learned that if you can feel the symptoms coming on before the outbreak you can usually start antiviral and suppress it. It's contagious but not sure how it's transmitted. SINCE THEN THEY HAVE A VACCINE, don't know if it is preventive where as you need to take it before you catch it or if it's a cure, I would recommend everyone look into it, even though it tracks along your spine it hitting other areas can cause serious no shingle related problems. The good news is its treatable and shingle in its self is not really that bad.

 

[pap49cba]

Believe you have to be over the age of 60 to get the vaccine and it requires a doctor's prescription. It is preventative and not used to treat the disease once it appears.

 

[UCinsider]

Like I don't have enough problems. I now have shingles, at least according to the medical staff at work. Seems like it was caught early, and I am on the antiviral meds. But, having never had them before, I really don't know what to expect. Any Boneyarders with first hand experience? Will it really take MONTHS to go away?

According to the ad, if you had Chicken Pox as a child, you have the shingles virus in you. It lays dormant until your later years, when it breaks out and causes the disease. The vaccination apparently prevents the outbreak. I got the shot last year.

 

[CL82]

Sorry to hear it. I hope you caught it early enough to avoid the worst symptoms.

 

[SallyH]

Ugh! Good luck, I had it about 3 years ago and was miserable. They gave me the antiviral, neurontin and percoset. The neurontin medication affects the nerves, which is the source of the pain, but made me forgetful and kind of logy. Even percoset didn't relieve the pain at first. It took about 4 months for mine to clear up. But I've heard of people getting it on the face and even into the brain, so cheer up! Things can always be worse.

 

[easttexastrash]

I thought this was a solicitation for your roofing company.

I've hear shingles are very painful. Hope the meds work for you.

 

[UConnChapette]

Ugh! Good luck, I had it about 3 years ago and was miserable. They gave me the antiviral, neurontin and percoset. The neurontin medication affects the nerves, which is the source of the pain, but made me forgetful and kind of logy. Even percoset didn't relieve the pain at first. It took about 4 months for mine to clear up. But I've heard of people getting it on the face and even into the brain, so cheer up! Things can always be worse.

Unfortunately, it is on the face, just below my lower lip. I have to keep a close watch on it, and if I have any feeling that is is spreading near my eye, I need to get to the doctor immediately. No sign of it in my mouth, throat or ear, and the doc thinks it is probably on the lower nerve line and is unlikely to go up as high as the eye, but can be unpredictable. She does think I caught it pretty early, within days of the first itching. It was the burning today that made me say "hmmmm, something isn't right here". I thought it was impetigo, which would have sent me home. She didn't send me home today, so I can't be THAT contagious.

Thank you to all my Boneyard buddies for the moral support. I guess it is much more common than I thought.

 

[GG]

I actually had them when I was 19 years old. Not fun. Went away in a couple of weeks.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Unfortunately, it is on the face, just below my lower lip. I have to keep a close watch on it, and if I have any feeling that is is spreading near my eye, I need to get to the doctor immediately. No sign of it in my mouth, throat or ear, and the doc thinks it is probably on the lower nerve line and is unlikely to go up as high as the eye, but can be unpredictable. She does think I caught it pretty early, within days of the first itching. It was the burning today that made me say "hmmmm, something isn't right here". I thought it was impetigo, which would have sent me home. She didn't send me home today, so I can't be THAT contagious.

Thank you to all my Boneyard buddies for the moral support. I guess it is much more common than I thought.

That's right where I had it UCC...if you caught it early you will probably be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Bestiarius]

My doctor recommended getting the vaccine. It costs $200 and is not covered by my insurance, which is usually very good. (I have to call them to find out why it is excluded). It usually shows up as one ages and the immune system begins to weaken. It can be very painful and could persist for years although a month is a common duration.

You did the right thing by going to the doctor right away.

 

[Icebear]

I had shingles at the same time I had my knee surgery 3 years ago. It was my second bout, the first was in high school. Fortunately, I caught it very early recognizing the symptoms and being at the hospital for the leg I made an inquiry and they immediately put me on anti-vitals. It was over in a week.

One important thing is to tell nurses and doctors and staff that you have shingles because it is a significant risk to women who are pregnant at particular points in the pregnancy. Every woman I met for three days seemed to be pregnant. All were shocked and very thankful when this white haired old preacher kept noticing them and mentioning the issue. We all kept laughing because I was the last person they would have expected to be aware.

 

[UConnLen]

Unfortunately, it is on the face, just below my lower lip. I have to keep a close watch on it, and if I have any feeling that is is spreading near my eye, I need to get to the doctor immediately. No sign of it in my mouth, throat or ear, and the doc thinks it is probably on the lower nerve line and is unlikely to go up as high as the eye, but can be unpredictable. She does think I caught it pretty early, within days of the first itching. It was the burning today that made me say "hmmmm, something isn't right here". I thought it was impetigo, which would have sent me home. She didn't send me home today, so I can't be THAT contagious.

Thank you to all my Boneyard buddies for the moral support. I guess it is much more common than I thought.

My Mom contracted shingles last year in her eye, it spread to her brain causing encephalitis and she died at 87 last October in spite of treatments in hospital and convalescent home. Not to scare you, but make sure you are treated promptly and properly. Also, my wife had taken the vacination a couple of years ago. This is preventable, unfortunately Mom wasn"t vacinated as Medicare didn't cover it a few years ago.