DD has Shingles!

[hercamore]

DD (21) went to the U of M clinic today because she had a hip rash and swollen painful hip. Turns out she has shingles.

Don't know much about shingles but I guess it is leftover viral infection from the time she had chicken pox. She had pox 17 years ago.

Anyone had shingles and any advice? How long before you felt better.

DD has two jobs and is studying for her GRE plus research class she is doing. She lives alone on mpls campus this summer. She doesn't want ot have to come home.

herc.

 

[hercamore]

Ooops, LOL

Some kind moderator please move this to CB for me!

 

[SAWYERMAW1]

I had shingles many years ago. They were on my shoulder. VERY painful. The doctor prescribed two medications. He said unless treated aggressively, it could get worse. I think it was about six weeks before they stopped hurting. My doctor explained that if you already had chicken pox and you were around someone with chicken pox. you could get shingles. Also, if you are around someone that has never had chicken pox, you can give them chicken pox from your shingles.

 

[hercamore]

Thanks sawyer.

DD just bought some prescribed medicatoin and hope that helps. Viral infections are very strange, aren't they?


herc.

 

[Kathy C]

My mom currently has shingles. In order to get shingles, you have to had chicken pox. After having chicken pox, the virus is dormant in your system. The shingles can be caused by stress but normally one's immune system is depressed. My mom is a cancer patient with a very depressed immune system. Shingles are very painful and the pain can last for a very long time and in some older people can be permanent. My mom is taking Valtrex for the shingles and Neurotin for the pain. Hers appeared on the right side of her bum causing pain all the way down her leg and back up not to mention that it was hard to sit. She can't even stand the sheet to touch her right foot. Shingles are normally on one side of the body. My mom has neuropathy from chemo drugs and the shingles have made it that much worse. Needless to say, that was the last thing she needed on top of the cancer.

Kathy

 

[lmhall2000]

My 6 year old daughter had shingles last year!! I had no idea a child could get shingles...but that's what they were...it took about 3 weeks for them to go completely away and it is very painful...I don't think your daughter would have to come home but she should rest a bit and maybe going to visit her for a few days would help her out...she'll need someone to do her laundry and all the household stuff and maybe stock her fridge with easy to fix/eat foods.

I hope she feels much better soon!
Tara

 

[belsayre]

I have had shingles and the pain is horrible! the worst I have ever experianced anyway- labor was much nicer then shingles HAHA
I presented with chest pain ( I was 30 at the time) and then 2 days later got the blisters- ouch!
I was down for about 2 wks and took the valtrex and lots of pain meds to make it through-
sending you DD lots of sympathy- and wishes for a speedy recovery

 

[Darcy]

I had them also when I was around 26. They were very painful and I was never given medication. My Dr was such a dork.

DD has my sympathies and wishes to get well soon.

PS have try cool baths or a cool pool.

Also keep from older peopl and children who have not had them nor were vacinated

 

[hercamore]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I hope DD's pain isn't too bad. She still wants to work.

My Dad just had total hip replacement last week. I am SO glad now DD did not visit him in the hospital. Don't want to give him more trouble!

Kathy, sorry about your mom. That's rough.

Imhall, I also read that small children don't get singles! Like I said before, these viruses are really strange critters.

herc.

 

[kandeebunny]

make sure she eats with her meds especially if it is valtrex!

I have never had shingles (of chicken pox for that matter) but have friends who have...they had to go home from school. If she doesn't start feeling better she should.

 

[bop28]

I just recovered from a case of shingles on my face and in my left EYE! It follows nerve tracts and I had the worst pain in my eye,ear and face. The blisters are ugly too. I took valtrex and at one point I needed pain medication because the pain was unbearable in my ear. Stress is a major factor from what I understand. The good news is, you usually don't get it again. But now, my eye hurts a lot when I get a simple headache.

 

[belsayre]

she will probably need to be off work
#1 for the pain- more then likely she will be on a narcotic pain med ( or she will sure want to be)
#2 is she can expose people to the virus-
I an RN and had to be off until the blisters where scabbed over and dry

 

[hercamore]

bop28,

wow, sorry to hear about your eye.


herc.

 

[SueM in MN]

she will probably need to be off work
#1 for the pain- more then likely she will be on a narcotic pain med ( or she will sure want to be)
#2 is she can expose people to the virus-
I an RN and had to be off until the blisters where scabbed over and dry

If the blisters are localized (limited to one area of the body) and can be completely covered she doesn't have to be off work. You are exposed by direct contact with the lesions (blisters) or the liquid from them. Certain health care workers may need to be off work until the blisters are crusted and dry, depending on whether or not the are working with high risk patients (like newborns, patients with cancer or immune compromise).
If the lesions are disseminated (spread over large areas of the body), involve the mouth or nose or become infected with bacteria, the person needs to be off work until the lesions are crusted overn and dry.
Here's a link to a page about shingles from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions.
Here's some pixie dust for a quick recovery.

 

[hercamore]

Thanks for claryifying that, Sue.

DD actually works in the medical library on the UM East side campus. Her blisters are localized on one hip and completely covered by clothes. Sshe doesn't work with the public, so she's ok there.

She talked to both her supervisors today and she can keep working as long as she's not in too much pain. Her hip hurts quite a bit tonight, so we'll see.

herc.

 

[sanibelover]

If she caught this early enough and has meds, she may not have too much pain. My mother had shingles and had pain but only took Tylenol and only got a couple of small blisters. She went to the doc right away because shingles was the only thing we could come up with. Turns out we were right and the treatment worked for her. (Treatment doesn't work for everyone - being a virus and all....) I have had other friends with pretty severe pain, but they continued to work (only contagious if you come into contact with the fluid from the lesions as another poster said), although at reduced hours for a few days.


Hope she feels better soon.