Have you ever had shingles?

[KiKi Mouse]

Shingles results from the Herpes Zoster virus. It's a different form than Herpex Simplex 1 which causes fever blisters and canker sores and Herpes Simplex 2 which is an STD. Basically, when you get chicken pox, the virus stays in your body and lives on either side of your spine. The virus can reappear as Herpes Zoster causing blisters and extreme pain. Most people get it on one side of their body- whichever side their virus lives on. I got shingles when I was 26. I had just started a very stressful job and wasn't getting enough sleep. I got a patch of blisters on my lower back, right at my waistband. My mom was a nurse and my grandma had shingles so she recognized mine right away. I went to the doctor and they said to put Calamine lotion on them to help dry them up.

One thing to be careful about - since shingles are related to chicken pox, people who have not had chicken pox can get it from someone who has shingles. My husband had not had chicken pox when I had shingles so we asked the doctor about it. He said my husband could get it only if he came in contact with the fluid in the blisters. It's not an airborne thing. He didn't get chicken pox and has since had the vaccine. Shingles sure are painful!

You couldn't have said it better. I have had shingles a couple of times. The first time in high school. It started on the back of my neck and came around to my chest. It never got really bad but it was bad enough. I got it again about five years ago and took Zovirax (can't remember the generic name) and it did the trick.

 

[summerrluvv]

Wow summer, I am so sorry to hear that you have the shingles. I have been through it was ds 19, he got them I think because of his compromised immune system with all the asthma drugs plus alot of stress. His were only little dots around his trunk. We went to the dr. a week later and he got valtrex too. We took it but they said it woulld not bee too effective. He offered to give him something to sleep at night if the pain was too bad. Of course you know not to be by anyone else who is pregnant and if there is no crust on any of the spots than you are supposedly contagious etc. I hope you have a speedy recovery. (ps - on a little side note I just spent a few days at stony brook again for surgery #7 this year, at east it wasnt for the cancer this time ptl). Take care and blessings to you. Did Emma and Nicholas have the chicken pox shots??

I've been thinking about you! How are you feeling?

They have both been immunized. My sister is 12 weeks PG, but spoke w/ her OB and he said she is fine since she has had the chicken pox and her blood tests show something (I forget the term he used).

I know quite a few that haven't been imunized (in terms of kids)...and their parents WANT them to get the pox for the natural immunity lol. Although I don't think I'll be spreading anything since the doctor said the way mine look they aren't contaigous.

 

[summerrluvv]

I don't mean to be an alarmist but there is a form of breast cancer that appears as a rash and not a lump. My cousin had a rash close to her underarm and she too thought it was either shingles or a rash from clothing or something she picked up on a trip to Florida. She went to 2 MDs who agreed it was just a rash or shingles. However, after 2 months it wasn't getting any better so she went to a dermatologist who took a sample of the area for further study and called her within 24 hours to tell her she had breast cancer.

Please just be sure that there is a firm diagnosis of shingles and that a rash anywhere near the breast is not anything else.

Wow that's scary! Fortunately mine is getting much better, but that's good to know it can happen like that. I'm sorry for your friend

 

[Praying Colonel]

I had them the last 2 Octobers--crossing my fingers I don't get them this month. Each time it was down one of the nerves from my scalp midline to behind my right ear. It was like having bad flu and a ringing headache and earache for about 3 weeks. Not fun.

 

[PaulaSue]

I don't mean to be an alarmist but there is a form of breast cancer that appears as a rash and not a lump. My cousin had a rash close to her underarm and she too thought it was either shingles or a rash from clothing or something she picked up on a trip to Florida. She went to 2 MDs who agreed it was just a rash or shingles. However, after 2 months it wasn't getting any better so she went to a dermatologist who took a sample of the area for further study and called her within 24 hours to tell her she had breast cancer.

Please just be sure that there is a firm diagnosis of shingles and that a rash anywhere near the breast is not anything else.

This is my biggest concern. I have a huge family history and actually a tag in that side for a (non-cancer) tumor. I don't go back for another mamogram for almost 6 months.

 

[airhead]

I got Shingles 2 yrs ago. My back and armpit are still numb.