Shingles anyone?

[yasmina]

Does anyone have any experience with shingles? Yourself or someone you know? I was diagnosed with it today, not exactly the best thing to hear 1 month after back fusion surgery. For about 5-6 days, I had pain in the crease where the torso meets the thigh. I didn't think anything of it, figuring it was referred pain from the surgery, which is quite common. Finally last night I decided to look at it, and freaked out! With all the news recently about MRSA, that was what immediately came to my mind.

Went to see my PCP, and as I said, it's shingles. If you're not familiar with it, it's basically "adult chicken pox". You only get it if you've had chicken pox before (I had it as a baby), and it's only contagious upon direct contact - not through sneezing, coughing, or the like. If you come in contact with it, and you've had chicken pox or had the vaccine, you're ok. If you haven't had chicken pox, or been vaccinated, then you'll get chicken pox.

Fortunately, my rash isn't in an exposed area, where people can easily brush against it. It's also fairly small and localized, so hopefully it won't be too bad.

I'm ready to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly about this, so please tell me everything and anything you know.

Thank you!

 

[Beca]

I had it twice...before the new meds came out. It is definitely not fun!! I am sorry you are experiencing it.

However, with the meds available today, I hear it is much less painful than it used to be. Just be patient with yourself. You are going to be very tired, and even on days where you might feel "okay" in the morning, you will probably be running a fever by nightfall.

The pox places do leave scars, but there is nothing you can do about that, and they will fade over time.

Just hang in there, and be good to yourself.

 

[LakeAriel]

I had it at 30 because my immune system was weakened by Epstein Barr..Yours from recent surgery. There was recently another thread about this in a child. Mine followed the nerves in my upper leg also. It wasn't too bad and with the new drugs now it should be gone in less time.
PS It hasn't returned and it has been years.
Good luck!

 

[zalansky]

I've had it a few times, small areas on my back but its painful - nonetheless. Shingles happen when the chicken pox virus (that you had to have had of course) lies dormant in your spinal fluid and is somehow triggered through nerves to comes out again. Luckily like the PP said, they have great meds for it so when I feel it coming on I pop a few Valtrex....which is used for herpes patients because after all herpes, chicken pox and shingles are all in the same family sort of. That speeds the process way up and mine go right away. Stress is my trigger. Whenever I am under lots of stress is when I get shingles.

With the meds it will be gone quickly. Good luck!

 

[Wishes2you]

My FIL has it. He has cancer and is receiving Chemo treatment as well.
They say it is very painful and that it takes a while to get over it.

I wish you the best. Everyone is different with things. Hopefully you will
feel well soon.

 

[rcraw45425]

Going into the second trimester of my pregnancy with Amy, DH and I were getting all the Christmas decorations out, Kelly, about 18 months wandering around. I'm clawing at my waist, putting the itch dowwn to elastic waisted maternity pants. I finally look at DH and say: look at this, I swear I have shingles. He looks and says, Yep. I'm like , yep, what? Yep, you have shingles (he's an MD). OMG! He got on the phone with the local rep for Valtrex, who will forever be my hero. The rep contacted the company about contraindications in pregnancy. Thankfully since I was 2nd trimester I was okay for the meds, which were covered by insurance. Kelly had been given the varicella vaccine at 12 months so we were okay there. The Valtrex helped lessen the severity and I simply had a little moderate discomfort, no weeping open places or anything like I remember seeing my grandmother with. By all means take the meds if offered!

 

[yasmina]

I've had it a few times, small areas on my back but its painful - nonetheless. Shingles happen when the chicken pox virus (that you had to have had of course) lies dormant in your spinal fluid and is somehow triggered through nerves to comes out again.

I'm guessing back surgery could have caused this to happen??

 

[yasmina]

Going into the second trimester of my pregnancy with Amy, DH and I were getting all the Christmas decorations out, Kelly, about 18 months wandering around. I'm clawing at my waist, putting the itch dowwn to elastic waisted maternity pants. I finally look at DH and say: look at this, I swear I have shingles. He looks and says, Yep. I'm like , yep, what? Yep, you have shingles (he's an MD). OMG! He got on the phone with the local rep for Valtrex, who will forever be my hero. The rep contacted the company about contraindications in pregnancy. Thankfully since I was 2nd trimester I was okay for the meds, which were covered by insurance. Kelly had been given the varicella vaccine at 12 months so we were okay there. The Valtrex helped lessen the severity and I simply had a little moderate discomfort, no weeping open places or anything like I remember seeing my grandmother with. By all means take the meds if offered!

Wow, how lucky you were! A dr. for a husband who had instant access to the inside scoop!

 

[yasmina]

My FIL has it. He has cancer and is receiving Chemo treatment as well.
They say it is very painful and that it takes a while to get over it.

I wish you the best. Everyone is different with things. Hopefully you will
feel well soon.

I'm very sorry about your FIL. Hope everything turns out ok for him.

I'm optimistic that with today's drugs and the fact that it seems pretty isolated that it won't be too bad. Thanks for the good wishes.