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[#1MMFan]

PS.....and just in case you weren't aware, anyone who has not had chicken pox can catch them from someone who has shingles. Dh got chicken pox right after my bout w/ shingles. Take about misery.....

Yup, but you have to touch the shingles lesions. It is not spread by droplet in this form.

 

[C.Ann]

Well, i'd consider changing doctors, because shingles (herpes zoster) is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, and lies on ONE nerve root. Given the fact that more than one nerve supplies the sensation on the arm, neck and face it would be HIGHLY improbable for shingles to move and involve all these areas in the one attack.

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That's interesting because the printed literature they sent home with her said the same thing - that it will likely follow the path up her arm to her neck and face.. Hopefully that won't be the case because she got the anti-viral med early in the game, but I guess only time will tell..

 

[C.Ann]

.........

 

[CraftyMouse]

My sister was diagnosed with shingles right before her wedding, I wonder if it has anything to do with stress?

Shingles are often brought on by stress. Also, they often occur when the body's immune system is low. DD13 got hers just a couple of weeks before the onset of her first period and the doctor thinks that had something to do with it. Her body was dealing with the changes and was open to the outbreak.

 

[MinnyGranny62]

So sorry about your DD. Hope she feels better real soon. I had them a few
years back and had a lot of pain for many months after. Being she is young,
she will be better in no time.

 

[MOMTOCUTESTDOGEVER]

I had shingles last year and it was the most excruciating thing I have ever been through. I was on Vicadin and it made it so I didn't want to die, but I could still feel them and if I touched them against anything it made me want to pass out. The first thing my doctor said was, "Have you been under any stress?" (I was. I started a new job working for the b!@#$ from hell) I still have residual pain. I am sorry to hear about your DD, and hope she feels better soon.

 

[C.Ann]

..........

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I had shingles when I was in 7th grade. They were just on the left side of my face and I swear up until a few years ago I would still get some twinges of pain on that side. I'm 41 now, so while the pain wasn't constant or too severe, it did last a long, long time. A dermatologist had to fill in some of the scarred areas with silicone. Luckily since I was pretty young, the scars healed and aren't too noticable, but I can still see them.

I hope your daughter gets better soon.

 

[Buckalew11]

Hugs to her. My mom has had them twice--bad both times but not on her face. I think I had a mild case last Nov. (around the election) on my back. It was painful and lasted a long time.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Ouch! My Mom had shingles and was in extreme pain. The doctor told her that stress can bring on a case of shingles. Also, yes, your daughter should stay out of work. My Mom wasn't allowed to work at her high school job, and was banned from seeing me because I was pregnant. I hope your daughter gets well soon. Poor thing.

 

[Lil_Tink]

Thanks for all the replies.. DD got the anti-viral med and a script for 40 Lortabs (yikes! The doc must be thinking she's going to be in some serious pain!).. Obviously she's out of work - and may have to stay out for awhile because she works in a residential group home for troubled teenage girls and the health records (which girls have had chicken pox or the vac.) are sorely lacking, so right now they're all in a tizzy calling Administration to find out how to handle it, etc.

Guess who has never had chicken pox or the vaccine though? Me!!! Neither has her father-in-law..

Should be an interesting time around here.... Ugh!

See your family doctor right away. I don't know if a vaccination will help at this point, but sure worth looking into. Shingles are contagious! I know because I've had caught the chicken pox from someone who had shingles.

 

[#1MMFan]

Normal vaccination would NOT help at this point. You would need to be given an injection of immunoglobulin specific to the varicella zoster virus, which, unless you are pregnant I can't see happening.

 

[Lil_Tink]

Whatever. She needs to talk to her doctor. Chicken Pox as an adult is not fun.

 

[#1MMFan]

Whatever. She needs to talk to her doctor. Chicken Pox as an adult is not fun.

Whatever??
Gee, how ignorant.
I am a doctor.

 

[luvwinnie]

C. Ann, have you talked to your dr. yet?? Hoping you DO not get chicken pox.

 

[hydster]

OMG hugs to your DD!!! I had them at age 5 and I stilll remember the pain involved. I remember my mom sitting on my bed with a hairdryer on cool passing the air over the shingles. I had them on my chest and they went half way around my body. I still have scars on my chest and have no sensation where the scars are. It is truly an excrutiating pain. My mom was told by my ped that it was brought on by my extremely horrible dance teacher. This was 30 years ago and they didn't have meds. My ds got them a year ago on his right side. He cried constantly and he was 9. I'd tell her to make sure if she can keep up on the pain meds to do so. It's been 30 years and I still remember that pain.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

OMG hugs to your DD!!! I had them at age 5 and I stilll remember the pain involved. I remember my mom sitting on my bed with a hairdryer on cool passing the air over the shingles. I had them on my chest and they went half way around my body. I still have scars on my chest and have no sensation where the scars are. It is truly an excrutiating pain.

The first time my DD had them, she literally screamed for hours. It was all I could do not join in. I've never seen her like that before. It must be extremely painful. OTOH, my elderly father gets them on his forehead and he doesn't complain at all. Go figure.

My DD has scars about the size of quarters in a few places and she's never commented on them being numb. I'll have to ask her about that.

 

[jel0511]

Is any one pain reliever better than another? He gave her Lortabs, but also mentioned T4's, vicodin or percocet..

You should have your DD ask her DR about neurontin. It's a drug used to help control the pain from shingles. I take it daily to help with the residual pain/tingling from my stroke. It really does help!!!

 

[#1MMFan]

You should have your DD ask her DR about neurontin. It's a drug used to help control the pain from shingles. I take it daily to help with the residual pain/tingling from my stroke. It really does help!!!

Absolutely, neurontin (gabapentin) or also amitriptyline are neuropathic pain killers and I often prescribe them for post-herpetic neuralgia/pain associated with shingles. They do have side-effects but you can talk to your doctor about them. Good luck.

 

[C.Ann]

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