Has anyone had shingles

[pumba]

my sister has had it going on three weeks.....she is in alot of pain and it is in her back and how her left arm
they gave her meds......but still is having a real hard time.....anyone else have this

 

[Steve H.]

DW just had them a couple weeks ago. Luckily for her, the meds they gave her worked really well and within a couple days, most of the pain went away (she still had some itching for a few more days, but nothing too bad).

Maybe the doctor can try a different prescription?

 

[debster812]

DH's grandmother had them several years ago (she was 87 at the time). She could not tolerate a lot of pain meds with all her other health issues, so her Dr. reccommended an acurpuncturist. Bless her heart, she gave it a try, and it REALLY worked well for her. So much so, that she continued going every 4 months or so, just because it "made her feel so young". She passed away about 2 months ago, and her acupunturist came to one of the visitations. This is an elderly Chinese woman, who was so incredibly kind to my Grandmother-IL, and to all of us at the wake, it still makes me teary eyed thinking about it.

Wow--that was quite a tangent, huh? Anyway, my advice, acupuncture.

 

[snuggles]

I had them when I was 18 and I've never hurt so bad in my life. Back then I just had to take it easy and take Buffrin. (Guess I spelled that right) My MIL had them several years ago in her back/side area and after a few weeks began to feel better. They lasted a while though. I'd call the dr back and ask for something else. Surely they can help her feel better.

 

[Snowwark]

My father has shingles, Pumba. He's into his third week with it, mostly his back is affected, but he's starting to feel much better now. He's taking some oral medication (I'm not sure what), painkillers, and has a prescription cream for the erupted areas.


Debster, that's a great story. How fortunate for your grandmother-IL to have met and been treated by such a kind person.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

I've still got them right now as a matter of fact. I saw my doctor as soon as the blisters broke out. (Bless you mom for making me go to the doctor.) He told me that the antiviral medicine worked well if you took it within the first couple of days of it breaking out. Otherwise it wouldn't do much good. Mine never did itch much but the skin tingled and boy did they hurt.

Anyone know if they scar? To me it looks like my patch is going to scar just a little.

I would think that acupuncture wouldn't be a half bad idea especially if nothing else is working. I've done it for other things and it does work!

 

[Disney Dee]

Hi Pum, my 11 yr old niece has shingles, her mom gets outbreaks all the time, seems its a virus thats always in your system I have the virus that causes shingles in my body also, it seems chicken pox herpes, shingles, and my condition, Meneires, are all related. I probably got my virus from doing daycare and being exposed to the chicken pox vaccine. I was on an antiviral drug for 3 months, (experimental study done by the ear institute) and i felt so good, od course now that I am done the trial, i feel like crap again some days., i would much rather have an occasional outbreak of shingles then side effects i get with meneries. I think your MIL will get better faster if she takes the anti viral med, I know it worked well for me!

 

[Angelrose]

I had them a few years ago. Funny thing is I had a terrible deep pain in my back but thought it was just my usual back pain. I went to the doctor for a sore throat and asked him what the rash was under my breast. He told me I had shingles and put me on anti viral meds. Within two days the pain was gone. I guess I caught it in time just by accident.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Hope your sister is feeling better real soon Marie

 

[browneyes]

My dad and my aunt both have it. My dad thought he had a really bad case of poison ivy, so he waited a couple of weeks before he had his dr check it out. The dr said he should've come in right away. Instead of having pain that might last 1-2 weeks, he'll have pain that'll last off and on for 2 years.

I hope your sister gets to feeling better soon.

 

[momsal]

I have had them and they HURT REALLY BAD!!!

They lasted for about 2 weeks after they broke out. And I just kept taking pain meds!

My DR. told me that they aren't sure what causes them but they are thinking that stress can trigger a outbreak!

He said that even though they are basically the same virius as chickenpox you can't catch them from someone with them. Who knows??

 

[Lucky4me]

I had them and went to the doctor too late. I thought I had cracked a rib. I ended up with a condition called post herpetic neuralgia which is nerve damage from shingles. It flares up when I'm under stress or get sick.

I can only describe the pain as being stabbed with a sharp knife all the way through your body from front to back. Childbirth was less painful. Capsaicin (sp) , ice, and Aleve helped. It eventually goes away.

I hope your sister feels better soon Pumba!

 

[pumba]

talked to my sister and she said thanks .........she is still in pain and the anti viral drugs are done.....but she is on codeine for the pain..she would like to sleep one night.....I appreciate yuo all

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

What are shingles?

 

[Kelsie]

Pumba,

I had them last year on my face, neck and ear. They thought is was an infection and treated me with IV's evey 6 hours for 2 days. Once the sores showed up, they figured it out. It was the most painful thing I've ever gone through and every sore left a scar.

Tell her to hang in there, it will end.

 

[m&m's mom]

I have had them as well.
I must have had a real mild case because I never had a lot of pain.
I was going out of town so I went to the Dermatologist as soon as there was a group of bumps about 2 inches in diameter. He knew immediately what they were. He gave me what he called "light therapy" and they never got any worse.
Never heard of "Light therapy" before or since but it worked.

 

[cati]

My DD got shingles when she was 2 (She is 3 now). They think she had to have gotten the chicken pox when I was pregnant with her. My son who is 9 came down with the chicken pox when I was pregnant with her. It did not hurt her then, but they said she would probably get it as she got older and then it would be painful. They said in small children the pain does not get very bad. I hope she does not get it anymore.

 

[slimplaw]

I had shingles 2 years ago. I began feeling bad the day before I left for WDW. 2 days later, I broke out with the first bumps and within 5 days, I had about 50 sites. I took antiviral medicine for 4 months. I continued to have tinges of pain for 8 months after I broke out. I never want to go through that again. Good luck to your sister.

 

[shortbun]

I had them once years ago. I had ghost pain for a few years
and the scar faded over time. thought I had a spider bite.
Old country doctor gave me a shot of something that helped
them go away fast. Sorry, don't remember what. He told me
to stay away from peanuts or any nut product. I did for years
and recently have been eating nuts-no shingles. He also said
they were a sign that my immune system was compromised.
I was under huge stress back then.
mimi