Anyone know about shingles?

[phorsenuf]

My ds-14 has shingles. We went to the Drs. on Friday and was put on an anti-viral, 1 pill 5 times a day. The Dr. felt he was over the hump so to speak and said if he was better by the beginning of the week he could even go off the meds. Well he is worse. The rash is a bright crimson red and he's miserable. Not too much pain but he's exhausted and it does hurt some and itches. I called the Drs. office back and they said he should be doing better by now so they want to see him this afternoon.
Any thoughts? Is this normal? I'm just a little nervouse that area may have gotten infected since its just an open area of oozy rash.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Lots of info on the Internet about this.

1. Calm Down, it takes FOREVER for it to go away, literally a few weeks, and it seems to get worse before it gets any better.

2. Get an antibacterial cream like neosporin or polysporin to help avoid infection.

3. To help with the itching, use Apple Cider Vinegar, yes it does burn a little at first, but the itching will go away soon after. If this burns too much try calomine lotion.

4. Try not to bust the pimples, I know it's hard, but its best not too.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[minniecarousel]

Glad he is going to be seen. Not sure what else can be done, but at least the doctor can confirm that it's definitely the shingles.

My Mom had shingles at age 83, and now, 7 years later, still suffers from residual pain. That doesn't usually happen in young people, or in those who take the anti-viral (which only works if started rather soon after an out-break.)

Hope he starts to feel better soon. Poor guy.

 

[phorsenuf]

Lots of info on the Internet about this.

1. Calm Down, it takes FOREVER for it to go away, literally a few weeks, and it seems to get worse before it gets any better.

2. Get an antibacterial cream like neosporin or polysporin to help avoid infection.

3. To help with the itching, use Apple Cider Vinegar, yes it does burn a little at first, but the itching will go away soon after. If this burns too much try calomine lotion.

4. Try not to bust the pimples, I know it's hard, but its best not too.

GOOD LUCK!

Oh I'm calm. Believe me with the tragedies I've had in my life this pales. LOL
I know it takes a long time and I was suprised when the Drs. said it would be getting better so thats why I was afraid infection may have set in, plus the fact he's so tired. I was suspeecting something else may be going on with him because he was real tired before the breakout too. Maybe that's why he got them.

Ok, so he just got home and doesn't want to go to the Drs. Says he's felling better now. Maybe I'll give him a couple more days. I'll ask them about the cream though.

 

[Micca]

I have a friend whose adult DD has shingles and I hear it's pretty miserable. Sounds like patience, the right meds, and some taking it easy seems to help the most. Good luck to you and your DS with this.

 

[OrlandoMike]

The Dr. felt he was over the hump so to speak and said if he was better by the beginning of the week he could even go off the meds.

I'm not in the medical field, but this doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Any antibiotic or antiviral I've ever been on you always took till the pills were gone. I would double check with the Doc on this one!

 

[luvtogo12]

DS had them when he was 8, not fun. That episode is some what of a blur to me so I can't really tell you how long it took to clear up. It seemed like forever.

I am glad your DR's are going to see him though. Good luck.

 

[phorsenuf]

I'm not in the medical field, but this doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Any antibiotic or antiviral I've ever been on you always took till the pills were gone. I would double check with the Doc on this one!

I planned on keeping him on the full course of the meds, even if he had been looking better. He said the meds would help lessen the rash. Seems to have gotten worse instead.

So I looked again and it seems the ones nearest the spine are looking softer. The ones further out are crusting and bright red. Its amazing how quickly the rash changes throughout the day. It a very bizarre condition.

 

[LakeAriel]

This is very young. Did he have the vaccine or chicken pox?
I had shingles at 30, it was because I had Epstein Barr virus and my immune system was weakened. It followed a nerve on my thigh..Uncomfortable, but bearable. This was long before Zovarax and other anti-virals. I would only question why he got them so young, but he will most assuredly be fine!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our middle ds had them a couple years ago. I think because of stress and his compromised immune system. He has asthma, takes 3 meds with steroids daily etc. His rash was only a few red spots near his trunk area but oh, ever so painful. We did the antivirals too but they really didnt work since we just thought he had poison ivy and took him to the dr. like a week later. Also if the rash is oozing your son is contagious. My ds had to be quaranteened at home for a week and I told the school nurse and even one mom whose dd had a bone marrow transplant for leukemia, I just didnt want to take any chances. Our ds wanted to tough it out. I felt so bad for him seeing the tears in his eyes from the rash and pain. The dr. offered to give him a sleeping pill for at night but I couldnt talk ds into taking it. It was a while before he was feeling better and I tried to cut down on his stress level too. This happened just before our disney trip and thankful the rash was crusted over so he got the o.k. to do some swimming. Best of luck and hope your ds heals quickly.

 

[kellyg403]

Has he had the pox or the shot? My dd 11 had the shingles when he was 9. Initially we thought he had ringworm or impetigo. Then, the doc realized he had shingles. Even doc was surprised! He did take the antiviral drug but we also had a cream we put on the spots that helped with itching. It took about 3 weeks to clear up and then 2 weeks later...he had chicken pox. The poor kid couldn't catch a break. He did have the shot also.

Anyway, it did take a long time for it to clear up. One spot on his arm did get infected but overall he didn't too badly. The itching bothered him more than the pain. And they are a little on the disgusting side when they start to crust up. From what I understand from the dr. he now will be prone to the shingles in the future.

Kelly

 

[phorsenuf]

He had the chicken pox, not the vaccine. I called the Drs. and told them I'm going to give hm a couple more days. The nurse is going to call back though so I can talk with her about a cream and maybe something for the pain.
As far as being contagious they said if somebody who has never had the chicken pox should come into direct contact with the oozy rash then they would get the chicken pox. We are keeping towels seperate an such because my DH has never had the chicken pox. Since we've been married I've had them and all 4 kids have had them (one twice in fact) and he never caught them. So either he's immune or he did have them and his mother forgot. I'm voting for the latter.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I didn't know you could get the shingles so young..I thought this was something older people who had chicken pox or herpes (same virus) years before?
My dad had them when he was going through cx treatment..they gave him a Zovirax cream to apply

 

[WDWBarb]

My DD had shingles two years ago at age 11. I was SO shocked but her doctors didn't seem to be - there had been several cases in their office that week.

It was painful for her and it lasted about 2 weeks (one bad, one somewhat mild). They didn't give her any meds at all and we just used topical cremes.

I asked the doctors about whether actually contracting Chicken Pox versus having the vaccine would effect whether or not someone would get the shingles. They said there was no data to suggest this (DD contracted Chicken Pox at age 3, BTW).

DH got Shingles about 3 months before DD said. Totally unrelated but quite a coincidence

 

[kejoda]

I just passed my 1 year ann. with shingles. Lets hope your son doesn't find out hes pregnant 10 days later

The Doc told me that you need to get on meds within 48 to 72 hours for it to be effective and that you can be hurting for about a month. Also that the rash could get worse before it gets better. I wouldn't take him off the meds. Did they give him anything for the pain?

How ironic it is that when I was in such pain that I was saying that I would rather be going through labor. Didn't know at the time I was pg. Course that could of been why I got such a bad case of Shingles. Something we will ever know.

 

[phorsenuf]

He's definately feeling better tonight so thats good. I missed the nurses call so I will call back tomorrow about a cream for him.

Is it true that once you get them you are more prone to get them again. Anyone know?

I wish I knew what caused this outbreak.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

My MIL got that in August. Her Doctor told her to stay away from Preggo women b/c she could pass it along to the unborn babies, or something.

 

[kejoda]

yes you can get them again. I was told that you have the virus in you after having chicken pox. What makes it active I don't know. I first thought I just pulled a muscle. Didn't last long since it started to spread the next day. Funny thing is that one of my rashes looked like a smiley face.

 

[Plantlady]

I had them when i was about 5. I remember not being able to walk, the pain was so bad. I also remember the doctor calling in ALL of the nurses that worked in the office, because I was the youngest patient they had ever seen with them.

good luck to your DS.. hopefully he gets over them quickly, without much pain.

I believe that shingles are caused by the same thing that causes chicken pox.

 

[LakeAriel]

My DD had shingles two years ago at age 11. I was SO shocked but her doctors didn't seem to be - there had been several cases in their office that week.

It was painful for her and it lasted about 2 weeks (one bad, one somewhat mild). They didn't give her any meds at all and we just used topical cremes.

I asked the doctors about whether actually contracting Chicken Pox versus having the vaccine would effect whether or not someone would get the shingles. They said there was no data to suggest this (DD contracted Chicken Pox at age 3, BTW).

DH got Shingles about 3 months before DD said. Totally unrelated but quite a coincidence

I think your DD got it from Dh...