topic Re: Shingles??? in Wellness

Shingles???

Nightowlz — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:36:20 GMT

I think I may have Shingles again but not sure. I only have 1 itchy red blister area. Last time I only had about 6-7 places. I had excruciating pain last time but not now. I just feel like krap with headache, achy, left side hurts but not like last time. My ribs are sore.

Not going to the doctor so that's not an answer. They were not help this time so not wasting my time.

Don't I need to stay away from babies if I think I have Shingles?

Re: Shingles???

Laura14 — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:40:30 GMT

Yes. Anyone who is not vaccinated against chicken pox will be vulnerable.

ETA: Babies can't get vaccinated until 12-15 months so please keep them safe.

Re: Shingles???

Nightowlz — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:41:20 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
Yes. Anyone who is not vaccinated against chicken pox will be vulnerable.

@Laura14

Thanks for the quick reply. I thought that was the case.

Guess I will have to stay home Christmas.

When I had Shingles last time my doctor told me I was not contagious?

Re: Shingles???

ID2 — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:42:47 GMT

@Nightowlz What are you expecting us to do?? You won't go to the doctor? You are infected everyone that comes close to you, you know. Sorry, but until you seek medical help I'm sure none of us will be able to help you. Wow.

Re: Shingles???

Laura14 — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:43:23 GMT

@Nightowlz Shingles is caused by the varicella aka chicken pox virus reactivating in your system. If you are not vaccinated against it, you'll get chicken pox which can be difficult for someone so young.

I hope you don't miss Christmas but grateful you've thought of others who can't protect themselves yet. Feel better!

Re: Shingles???

Krimpette — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:43:56 GMT

I always thought you should get to the doctor immediately, if you suspect Shingles, for the best chance of minimizing complications.

Re: Shingles???

Nightowlz — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:44:39 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
Yes. Anyone who is not vaccinated against chicken pox will be vulnerable.

ETA: Babies can't get vaccinated until 12-15 months so please keep them safe.

@Laura14

Not sure how old the baby is now but not that old. She's maybe 6 months.

Re: Shingles???

Laura14 — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:45:24 GMT

@Nightowlz I went and looked to see what the contagion period is and, if your blisters have scabbed over, you should be safe but only you can be comfortable taking the risk.

Re: Shingles???

Carmie — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:53:55 GMT

You cannot give another person your shingles, but if you are having a shingles outbreak, the liquid from the blisters can cause an outbreak of chicken pox if someone hasn't been immunized or had the chicken pox in the past and they come in contact with the liquid.

I got shingles when my husband and I were on a week vacation with the three grand children. The baby was around one year old at the time. My blisters were on my right thigh, so I kept my thigh covered.

All of my Grands were vacanated at the time. No one got Chicken pox from me. It is not an airborne disease when you have shingles. You have to have contact with the blisters.

If you get pain and are sure you have shingles, see a doctor for an RX of Valtrex. That medication makes a BIG difference. It was a godsend for me.

Re: Shingles???

Nightowlz — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:46:28 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
@Nightowlz What are you expecting us to do?? You won't go to the doctor? You are infected everyone that comes close to you, you know. Sorry, but until you seek medical help I'm sure none of us will be able to help you. Wow.

@ID2

I just wanted to make sure I was correct about being around babies. I'm sure my grand niece does not want me around her baby.

Doctor did not help me last time so why should I bother?

Re: Shingles???

Nightowlz — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:49:00 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@Nightowlz I went and looked to see what the contagion period is and, if your blisters have scabbed over, you should be safe but only you can be comfortable taking the risk.

@Laura14

The one place I have has not scabbed over. The places I had last time did not either. I think it was because I rubbed down with straight tea tree oil. LOL!!!

I have not been out so have not infected anyone. Not going out. I feel like krap. I don't care if I miss Christmas I just don't want the baby to get sick.

Since DH has been around me is it ok for him to be around her?

Re: Shingles???

Laura14 — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:52:10 GMT

@Nightowlz Ooh that I don't know. If he is not an active carrier, I would tend to say no but let me get into my medical abstracts they give us access to and see what i can find out.

Re: Shingles???

Nightowlz — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:52:13 GMT

@Krimpette wrote:
I always thought you should get to the doctor immediately, if you suspect Shingles, for the best chance of minimizing complications.

@Krimpette

I did that last time I had Shingles but my rash did not show up until 1 week after my excrutiating pain started. My doctor told me I did not have Shingles & sent me to the hospital for tests??? I knew it was Shingles since my sisters already had it. He would not give me anything for the pain or the anti-viral. By the times the few spots that did show up it was too late so know I have PHN.

Re: Shingles???

Nightowlz — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:54:17 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@Nightowlz Ooh that I don't know. If he is not an active carrier, I would tend to say no but let me get into my medical abstracts they give us access to and see what i can find out.

@Laura14

Guess at this point it probably does not matter. He was at his mom's on Monday & so were they. They are always over there looking for dinner?

Re: Shingles???

Laura14 — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:54:26 GMT

@Nightowlz Okay good news, no. The virus is only transmitted fluid wise which is why the blisters have to be scabbed over to be protective. It's not airborne.

If DH has no blisters, he is not contagious unless you ooze onto him and he oozes onto the baby which is highly unlikely but possible. Have him do an antiseptic wipe and he'll be fine.

Re: Shingles???

Laura14 — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:55:44 GMT

@Nightowlz I honestly think you'll be fine as long as you admire baby from afar and don't touch anyone with that rash.

Re: Shingles???

Carmie — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:56:17 GMT

@Nightowlz Your husband is safe. He cannot spread your chicken pox or shingles, unless he also has an active outbreak.

Re: Shingles???

chrystaltree — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 21:01:45 GMT

If you had Shingles outbreaks before then you know you have to stay away from babies, people who haven't been innouclated against chicken pox and people with compromised immune systems. Thanks for reminding me that I have to get the new Shingles vaccine. I had the older version about 8 years ago. I don't know what doctors you saw but there are medications they prescribe to help with the pain, which is nerve pain and there are other things you can do to lessen the pain. However, it sounds like you want to suffer with it. Good luck with that.

Re: Shingles???

Havarti — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 14:52:24 GMT

Treatment with acyclovir (or another antiviral) should be started as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms (such as tingling, burning, blisters). They often won't give it after the first 3 days of symptoms because the longer you wait, the less effective it will be in shortening the length of suffering. However, antiviral medication requires a prescription, so if you refuse to see a doctor that is out of the question. Then, research & consider taking large doses of L-lycine as soon as possible. L-lycine is an over-the-counter supplement that is an amino acid that helps with all forms of herpes (cold sores, shingles, chicken pox, etc.). L-lycine is the only thing I have found that helps and I have had shingles 4 times. It also helped my mother and several friends & neighbors with shingles. I bought 1,000 mg at Walmart and I took 2 in the morning, 2 at noon, 2 at dinner and 2 at bedtime. It dramatically shortened the time of misery. It is worth researching and making your own decision. I am not medically trained, just sharing what helped me & others. You decide for yourself.

Re: Shingles???

Nightowlz — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 21:39:36 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@Nightowlz Okay good news, no. The virus is only transmitted fluid wise which is why the blisters have to be scabbed over to be protective. It's not airborne.

If DH has no blisters, he is not contagious unless you ooze onto him and he oozes onto the baby which is highly unlikely but possible. Have him do an antiseptic wipe and he'll be fine.

@Laura14

Thanks for checking that for me. I only have one blister this time & only around 6-7 last time. They did not ooze or scab over & neither has this one. Must be from the tea tree oil.

I'm fanatic about washing my hands. I have not been touching the spot. It does itch so I just rub it through my shirt.