Should I be upset if I've just been diagnosed with....

[catsrule]

I'm 7.

 

[KimRaye]

Oh Kitty, sorry to read this. DH had them once, before he was 40 so, it's not just for old people. He had more pain than anything else. The rash was itchy but, that was secondary to the pain. And, I have heard the same 2 things also, it can be from stress and, it's a form of chicken pox. His rash left a mild scar also.

I sure hope you're feeling better as soon as possible. Gentle {{HUGS}}

 

[MerryPoppins]

My friend's little boy had them this fall. They were on his face and in his ear. The poor little guy couldn't even open his mouth! It was horrible. He was in so much pain and his ear got a blister about the size of a marble in it. Yuck! He bounced back pretty fast, though.

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[my3kids]

My sister had them in high school. I was in middle school and got the chicken pox from her. I also had a mild case of shingles in my 20's.

You can spread the virus and actually give someone chicken pox from your case of the shingles. But luckily you can't give shingles to anyone....but if you could, I have this MIL..........

 

[EiLuvCinderella]

sorry you're so uncomfortable Kitty.

I have also had Shingles (at age 25). not too pleasant. It's caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. it could be dormant but in your body and then it just gets "activated" by having contact with that virus. I know it also happens in conjunction with stress.

I know Shingles are not exactly painfree. I had them on my optic nerve....meaning my eye, head and into my scalp. Swollen eyes for me for way too long. couldn't really open them. Shingles are contagious (you can give someone Chicken Pox) so be careful with your personal towels, etc. And stay away from Pregnant ladies! =)

Feel better Kitty!
PD coming your way

**********

 

[Kitty 34]

Thank you all for the well wishes.

Stress huh......I think 21 years of substitute teaching must be catching up with me!!!

Shannon you're 92!!!! You write so young!

MJ, isn't it Simba who's 7?

 

[Micca]

I know someone under 30 who has shingles She is someone who is otherwise very healthy and has kind of a glamorous job. I know what you mean about it sounding like something old people get. I had gout in my late 30's and I thought the same thing.

 

[WDWHound]

The good news is most people who get shingles only get them once in their lifetime. Here is an excellent webpage on the disease:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/shingles_doc.htm#What_is_Shingles

 

[Boots]

Kitty I am so sorry to hear this! DD has a friend who had shingles when she was 24. Hope that you soon get to feeling much much better! {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

 

[floridafam]

I also had shingles when I was close to 30. Very painful. I also thought only elderly people got this. Dr. said it was brought on by the stress of my brother dying.

I was told to not have a lot of contact with my children because they had not had the chicken pox vaccine yet.

I still have pain. Sometimes you can have trouble for a really long time with nerve damage, etc. If you get them on your face and near your eyes go to the ER. They can cause a lot of problems with your vision if this happens.

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Kitty 34]

For those of you that have had them.....can they spread from my lower right side all the way up to my face? I've heard the face ones can be very dangerous esp if it gets on the eyeball!!




Thanks for the link, WDWHound. Very helpful.

 

[snoopy]

Oooh, Kitty, I am so sorry to hear this. I never had shingles but I know someone who did, I remember him telling me how painful it is.

I hope you get to feeling better VERY soon!

 

[Mskanga]

Kitty;
I don't know where you have the shingles but shingles follow the path of a nerve.
I had mine in the middle of my back and it followed all around my waist to the front of my stomach and that's where it stopped, but that was like 15 years ago when there was no meds for this.
Yes they are very painful , but with meds today can be controlled.
Best of luck to you.

 

[Kimnicki]

I'm 34 and I've had shingles twice . That's correct MSKanga, they follow the path of the nerve and are very painful. Mine were on my side, by the bra line and also moved around to the front. Even though I don't have them currently, I still have residual nerve damage. Every once in a while I get a few "burning" spots that really hurt. The doctor prescribed Lidocane patches, but that doesn't help at all. I hope you are feeling better soon , shingles are not fun.


Kim

 

[EiLuvCinderella]

HI again Kitty

Yes, shingles can spread, but only from one side of your body to the other side. Not from your midriff to your eye. They absolutely do attach themselves to a nerve. That's why shingles are relatively in a straight line.

Hope your Rx is keeping you comfortable and pain-free.
Try to relax.
It will get better!

I hope it's true that once I've had shingles, I can NOT get it again!
That would be a bonus for me!

Feel better.

Remember ...... no scratching!

 

[Kimnicki]

I forgot to mention:
Most at risk for shingles:
Anyone who has already had chickenpox - Shingles is basically a second outbreak of the chickenpox virus. Since it is caused by a preexisting virus in the body, shingles is not contagious and can not cause other forms of herpes. It could, however, cause chickenpox in someone who hasn't had chickenpox before.
(I was worried about this because I have two children and my sister in law was pregnant at the first occurance)

A typical case of shingles lasts about a month. However, the pain associated with herpes zoster may continue for months or years in people who develop post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
(Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) The pain that lasts after the shingles rash is gone.)

Kim

 

[susan514]

You poor baby!!! I think that there is a connection between herniating a disc and shingles. I have herniated 2 different discs and each time I got shingles! Then I bumped into a friend I hadn't seen in a long time and she had also herniated a disc and then had shingles. So, hang in there and I'm sending good thoughts your way.

 

[momsal]

Don't feel bad it isn't an "old age" thing I had them 2 yrs. ago when i was 45!!

They were the most painful thing I have ever had!!!!!!

Hang in there and take the pain pillls!!!

 

[PatMcDuck]

my son also had shingles at age7, and it was misdiagnosed at first. they told me with kids, there is not as much pain. (He was not verbal at the time, he is handicapped)

 

[stacy2197]

I had shingles when I was 27 on the right side of my head around my eye and where my hair is. I get terrible headaches a couple times a year in my nerve right by my temple. I actualy have one of those headaces now. It took four doctors visits in one week for them to figure out what was wrong with me. I actualy thought I was dying I was in so much pain.