Shingles!

[minkydog]

DH noticed one painful bump on his side last night and woke up with a line of blisters and a lot of pain--classic shingles. Since he is also immuno-compromised I sent him to the doctor first thing this morning. They put him on Valtrex.

DH has felt run down and tired all afternoon. I'm not sure if it's just that he didn't sleep well last night or if the Valtrex is making him feel bad. If he had a normal immune system I'd tell him to just stop the med, but in his case I think the potential benefit outweighs the side effects. This is not my area of expertise, so here is my question: Do anti-viral drugs make you feel bad or is it just the shingles?

 

[monkeyboy]

Not a roofing thread?

sorry for the problems

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

The shingles can be awful to deal with. My mom had them and the pain lasted for several months even with meds. A friend had them last spring and he was wiped out for weeks. Had no energy and pain.

I would suggest calling your care provider and asking the questions but as far as I know the med will maybe shorten the outbreak and there might be other meds available to handle other symptoms.

Wishing you both the best.

 

[minkydog]

sorry to disappoint you, Monkeyboy.

 

[PADISFAM]

I would suggest following the Valtrex script, N/V & headaches are more common side effects of Valtrex............but shingles will knock one for a loop & the post herpatic pain tends to be worse w/o the anti-virals & the shingles last a bit longer as well.

I hope he feels better soon. Was he given anything for the pain?

 

[Miss_Mouse]

I came down with an awful case of the shingles this summer. My sympathies to your DH - it is NOT fun to have.

I would definitely recommend continuing with the Valtrex, especially if he is already immuno-compromised. According to my doc, their is nothing that will cure a case of shingles. It simply has to run it's course. However, the Valtrex will keep the shingles from spreading and becoming worse. Did DH's doctor prescribe an anti-viral cream as well? I used that, in addition to the anti-viral pills and painkillers, and found that it really helped. Once I ran out of topical ointment, the remaining shingles I had flared up again.

I also found myself feeling sluggish when I had them - I think it's mainly from the shingles themselves. Your immune system is down and you're in a lot of pain - it's bound to affect your mood and energy level.

Hope he feels better soon! Also, I hope that you've already had the chicken pox. If not - keep your distance, because you could catch them from your DH.

 

[minkydog]

Nothing extra for pain. He takes Mobic for arthritis pain and he has naproxen. so far that's holding him. I have some percocet here if it gets too bad.

 

[minkydog]

I came down with an awful case of the shingles this summer. My sympathies to your DH - it is NOT fun to have.

I would definitely recommend continuing with the Valtrex, especially if he is already immuno-compromised. According to my doc, their is nothing that will cure a case of shingles. It simply has to run it's course. However, the Valtrex will keep the shingles from spreading and becoming worse. Did DH's doctor prescribe an anti-viral cream as well? I used that, in addition to the anti-viral pills and painkillers, and found that it really helped. Once I ran out of topical ointment, the remaining shingles I had flared up again.

I also found myself feeling sluggish when I had them - I think it's mainly from the shingles themselves. Your immune system is down and you're in a lot of pain - it's bound to affect your mood and energy level.

Hope he feels better soon! Also, I hope that you've already had the chicken pox. If not - keep your distance, because you could catch them from your DH.

Yeah, we've all had chickenpox here. We've also notified all DD's friends parents so they can decide if they want their kids to be over here, though it's my understanding that the virus is only contagious through direct contact and only for those people who are not immune to chicken pox.

ETA:not that I want my friends to expose their kids on purpose, but some of DDs friends have chronic illness.

 

[PADISFAM]

Nothing extra for pain. He takes Mobic for arthritis pain and he has naproxen. so far that's holding him. I have some percocet here if it gets too bad.

try to keep the pain under control, send him to bed, I'm sure the lack of sleep is not helping matters, plenty of fluids to keep his strength up (if there is no fluid restrictions for other health reasons).

 

[lisaviolet]

Just the word makes me shudder!!!

I was out three plus weeks with it last year. I read a post where one woman said she preferred childbirth to shingles.

Oh boy like a bad flashback to the pain.

I absolutely understood the moment the pain meds came - how one could become addicted to them. Sleep instead of constant moaning. So lovely those pills were.

Sorry OP for being so selfish with the memories!!!!

All the best to your husband. I was too late for meds. So I'm no help but I was wiped out.

 

[allicat]

I had shingles last year and I felt run down and miserable, my whole body hurt. I think its the shingles making him feel bad-not the valtrex. Id say to continue with the valtrex.

 

[PADISFAM]

Yeah, we've all had chickenpox here. We've also notified all DD's friends parents so they can decide if they want their kids to be over here, though it's my understanding that the virus is only contagious through direct contact and only for those people who are not immune to chicken pox.

correct, however exposure to the virus can be harmful to a developing fetus, so I would suggest if you have pregnant friends or relatives they show extra caution.

If the lesions begin to break, weep, cover them with clean gauze & change when soiled or at least daily.

 

[luvtogo12]

DS had them when he was 8 y/o.....it was awful.

I think it might be the shingles itself that makes you feel so bad. DS was very worn out, poor baby.

 

[Miss_Mouse]

Also, if you find the lesions breaking or weeping, I'd have DH check back with his doctor. Since his immune system is low to begin with, his doc may want to put him on something additional to keep the open sores from becoming infected.

This was another problem I had with mine and, trust me, you don't want an infection on top of everything else.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

My mom had shingles in 2002 and they lasted for 4 months. She took Valtrex for most of that time, but she found some relief by using Neosporin Pain. I don't know if they make it anymore, but it made the blisters easier to deal with and less painful. She was diabetic, so it was difficult for her. I don't remember her having any side effects, except for the pain from the blisters.

Suzanne