HELP! I have Schingles! Ugh.

[Laurajean1014]

I went to the Dr. for what is a weird rash on my body. He immediately saw it and said "Schingles!"

How contagious is this?

How long does it take the medicine to work?

Has anyone had this? Ouch! It hurts.

Please help.

 

[Laurajean1014]

 

[Serena]

I know there are some people here with experience with this. The one thing I remember is that a lot depends on how fast it's recognized and treatment started.

Goodluck, and another bump for you.

 

[KerriSue]

They are very contagious when the blisters appear. The medicine they gave you should work in about a week. From what I understand they are very painful. My husband had them. The doctor told him it was caused by stress. I remember he had to keep it covered for awhile too. Did you know they are a form of chicken pox? Adults usually get them and once it is healed it lays dorment in your system and can easily flare up again.

Its horrible I know, at least you now have medication to help any itching and pain caused from them.

Good luck
Kerri

 

[skunkvette]

I had shingles a few years back, meds (steriods if I recall) worked in about a week.

Problem came back two years later, seems that stress or a physical (body) change can retrigger the virus. I triggered it by losing a lot of weight.

That will teach me not to go on a diet....

 

[hellokitty86]

My husband got shingles a couple years ago...He was miserable!!! He sometimes has outbreaks when he gets really stressed out. I don't have any advice about treatments, but make sure you take it easy. It's very serious if you don't get it treated and keep up with your medications.

I hope you feel better!!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

A week for the meds to work? Oh no. I won't last that long. I now have two on my face! I am doing everything to stay away from them, but I can't wait a week.

I'm on Famvir 500mg.

But now I keep seeing them on my arms, my hair is itchy and now my upper back.

Does it spread easily?

Once you take the meds, when does the spreading subside?

I never thought I was stressed until I got shingles????

 

[luvwinnie]

Are you on any meds (immunosuppressants especially) or have other health problems? I've heard shingles are horrible. I hope you feel better soon.

 

[MsDisney23]

Oh you poor thing! I had them lastyear, I had them so bad, they put me in the hospital in a special room. Anyone who came to see me, had to wear a gown, gloves and face mask. I had them anywhere and everywhere on my body! Now, I had them so bad because I am a transplant patient, and it is common for transplant patient's to get them. I had to stay in all summer long, as they do not want you out in the sunlight. I was on meds for over 8 months. Yes, they are very very painful. I feel your pain. I hope you feel better soon.

 

[luvwinnie]

Here is some info

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/shingles/shingles.htm

 

[luvwinnie]

People who have had chickenpox cannot "catch" shingles from someone who has it. However, people who've never had chickenpox can be infected with chickenpox if exposed to someone with an active case of shingles. The rash sheds the varicella-zoster virus and can be contagious. A caregiver or other person who lacks immunity developed from a prior case of chickenpox or the vaccine must avoid coming into contact with the rash or contaminated materials.

 

[SillyMe]

My dd14 just had them about 2 months ago. The meds started working within a day or two. The blisters started drying up real fast, but they remained there for about 6 weeks. She's just getting over the itching now, even though the rash is gone.

It is contagious to someone who has never had chicken pox. However, she was around her boyfriend's mother (who has never had chickenpox) and she didn't get the pox. She even put cream on my dd's rash before we knew what she had. Maybe she was just lucky that she didn't end up getting the pox.

 

[holycow]

can't help but a very gentle hug coming your way.
take care!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I had them last summer on my face and started on the antiviral drug the same day I saw them. It was dried up enough that I could go back to work in 4 days. Usually the lesions follow the nerve root distributions. I find it unusal that they are on your face, arm, and back. That is 3 different areas.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

My husband was just telling me yesterday that they've developed an immunization against shingles...

 

[Laurajean1014]

I'm afraid they are on my face because I may have touched an affected area and then my face? Does it spread like that?

I can't believe I will have this all summer! YUCK.

 

[Laurajean1014]

My husband was just telling me yesterday that they've developed an immunization against shingles...

Yes, I just read about it myself. Unfortunately, I'm late on that one. I have to wait this bad boy out. Ugh.

 

[slimplaw]

I had shingles 5 years ago and broke out while at WDW. I started breaking out on a Sat and did not see a doctor until Wed. I was put on Famvir and stayed on it for 5 months. The doctor had given me a prescription good for 11 refills, because some do take meds that long. I stayed home for a week and a half and then worked a few days part time before returning full time. The doctor told me to stay away from elderly, very young and those with immune deficiency problems. You can continue to have pain for many months afterward. I continued to feel some pain up to 11 months after breaking out.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

I'm afraid they are on my face because I may have touched an affected area and then my face? Does it spread like that?

I can't believe I will have this all summer! YUCK.

No, they don't spread like that. They follow a nerve band.

The word "shingles" means zone or band. Shingles is a viral infection of a nerve and corresponding skin band overlying the nerve. The distribution of the skin lesions follows the nerve. The skin lesions are characterized by small blisters filled with pale tan fluid surrounded by redness. The skin eruption develops in an area of pain and discomfort which precedes the eruption by about three to seven days.

Shingles represents an acute reactivation of an infection by the chickenpox virus or Varicella. Since the primary attack of chickenpox, the virus has remained dormant in the sensory nerve center or ganglion.

I had them about 2+ years ago. They lasted about 3 weeks. My doctor told me they go away on their own. He said that they have treatments to help some, but no "cure." He had some concern because one blister was close to my eye, but since the blister was already drying up, no treatment was done.

 

[luvwinnie]

How are you today?