topic Shingles in Wellness

Shingles

Dancing Barbara — Wed, 07 May 2014 20:41:57 GMT

I got shingles March 15, 2014. It has now been almost 8 weeks. The pain and rash are gone but I have extreme fatigue, weakness and shakiness. I went to my neurologist and since I had Guillian Barre Syndrome four times I was thinking the shingles went into this disease. He could not confirm it but did give me IVIG three times to boost my immune system. I have read of others on the forums that have had extreme fatigue as well. I wonder if this is just the shingles or I do have a recurrence of GBS. I don't have the numbness that I have had with GBS before. I am 74 so this has really laid me low.

Re: Shingles

jojo12 — Wed, 07 May 2014 20:49:49 GMT

I had shingles a few years ago and for about a year I experienced fatigue and chills on and off, especially later in the day. I was about 54 yrs old at the time. It felt like I was coming down with the flu. This friend of mine also experienced the same thing when she had shingles. Hope this helps. It will pass, it just takes time. Good luck; be well!

Re: Shingles

scotnovel — Wed, 07 May 2014 21:30:56 GMT

You should ask your doctor if you are a candidate for the shingles vaccine? With your history, you certainly wouldn't want to get it again.

Re: Shingles

Perkup — Wed, 07 May 2014 21:58:32 GMT

I had Shingles last year about this time. I am still experiencing extreme fatigue, requiring at least a short nap every day. In addition, I still have some obvious nerve damage where the main rash was on my back - still stings and the itching is awful. I have also had an off and on occurrence of Vertigo, leaving me able to sleep in only one position - on my left side. If I turn on my right side I wake up right away with the room spinning. It's awful.

I have not had the Shingles shot. I have a niece in Texas and a cousin in California who have both taken the shot, and still have recurring shingles at least once a year, sometimes much more often. I feel sure it has helped some people, but I don't have much faith in it.

I hope that your symptoms ease quickly. Don't know much about GBS, but I am glad you are seeing someone regularly. Good luck and God bless.

Re: Shingles

Hooty — Wed, 07 May 2014 22:02:24 GMT

On 5/7/2014 Scotnovel said:
You should ask your doctor if you are a candidate for the shingles vaccine? With your history, you certainly wouldn't want to get it again.

The vaccine "does not" prevent you from getting the shingles, it just helps make it easier on you if you get them, just like the flu shot doesn't keep you from getting the flu.

Re: Shingles

RedTop — Wed, 07 May 2014 22:15:45 GMT

It has been almost 2 years since my mother developed shingles under her left breast, radiating around to her back. She was absolutely miserable for several months, and was left with residual neuropathy for nearly a year. Mom did indeed complain of fatigue and weakness, but since she was 78 at the time, we weren't sure if her complaint was actually shingle related, or age related. She remained on the Gabapentin for nearly 10 months, and eventually declared she thought she was finally over shingles, which ended her complaints altogether. Wishing you better days ahead.

Re: Shingles

ID2 — Wed, 07 May 2014 22:22:52 GMT

On 5/7/2014 Hooty said:
On 5/7/2014 Scotnovel said:
You should ask your doctor if you are a candidate for the shingles vaccine? With your history, you certainly wouldn't want to get it again.

The vaccine "does not" prevent you from getting the shingles, it just helps make it easier on you if you get them, just like the flu shot doesn't keep you from getting the flu.

You are half right. The shingles vaccine will prevent shingles in 50% of those vaccinated. It will reduce the severity in the other 50%.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-vaccine

Re: Shingles

spookyghost — Wed, 07 May 2014 23:48:10 GMT

On 5/7/2014 Dancing Barbara said:
I got shingles March 15, 2014. It has now been almost 8 weeks. The pain and rash are gone but I have extreme fatigue, weakness and shakiness. I went to my neurologist and since I had Guillian Barre Syndrome four times I was thinking the shingles went into this disease. He could not confirm it but did give me IVIG three times to boost my immune system. I have read of others on the forums that have had extreme fatigue as well. I wonder if this is just the shingles or I do have a recurrence of GBS. I don't have the numbness that I have had with GBS before. I am 74 so this has really laid me low.

My nineteen year old son had shingles when he was 16 and 17 both times on his head. Im sure he didnt have it as bad as most but it was bad enough. Unfortunately he cant get the vaccine till he's at least 50. I guess stress and your body just being worn out can bring it on or I guess make you more susceptible and both times he got it he was trying to place for states for wrestling. And even though he is a pretty layed back kid his body reacts the way it wants I guess.

My sons problems during the shingles was well the pain of course and since it was on his head it came with really bad headaches. After it was gone he still had that semi-painful numbness that drove him crazy. That lasted at least a couple months. As far as being tired he probably wouldnt have noticed because he has a sleeping problem so if he was tired he probably just assumed it was his lack of sleep.

Right now he is in his first year of college and he has had mono, pink eye, and strep. Its not been fun for him and as soon as I saw this thread about shingles my first thought was please dont let him get that again on top of everything else he has had this year. Im going to call his dr and see if there is anything that can help his immune system.

Good luck to you and everyone else who has had or has shingles. From what I hear people who have had it wouldnt wish it on their worst enemy.

Re: Shingles

Quiltlady — Wed, 07 May 2014 23:51:49 GMT

I just turned 60 two days ago. I have an appointment to have the Shingle shot. I hope I never get them.

Re: Shingles

scotnovel — Wed, 07 May 2014 23:55:18 GMT

On 5/7/2014 Hooty said:
On 5/7/2014 Scotnovel said:
You should ask your doctor if you are a candidate for the shingles vaccine? With your history, you certainly wouldn't want to get it again.

The vaccine "does not" prevent you from getting the shingles, it just helps make it easier on you if you get them, just like the flu shot doesn't keep you from getting the flu.

Sorry, but it DOES prevent SOME people from getting the shingles. Others may still get it even if they have had the vaccine. That info comes from sites like The Mayo Clinic, WebMD, and others, as well as from my doctor. I had shingles a few years ago, then got the vaccine, and have had no recurrence to date.

Similarly the flu vaccine for most people does, in fact, prevent you from getting the particular strain of flu that it is made for. You can still get any one of the other strains of flu for which you have no protection.

Re: Shingles

Gooday — Thu, 08 May 2014 00:09:41 GMT

My DH has permanent nerve damage in his left upper extremity and into his fingertips. He constantly drops things. When the post herpatic pain acts up, he takes Lyrica. As for tiredness, he is on several medications including anti rejection drugs for his kidney transplant but he is a trooper. If he's tired, he takes a nap - it's that easy.

Re: Shingles

Dancing Barbara — Thu, 08 May 2014 13:47:08 GMT

Thanks for the replies. I still have occasional stabbing pain but the weakness and fatigue are a big concern. Anyone else with weakness?

Re: Shingles

Ptaz — Thu, 08 May 2014 13:51:18 GMT

I had the shingles about 15 years ago and luckily I had gone to the doctor within the first 48 hours of the symptoms appearing (i.e. Flulike symptoms, rash/blisters on one half of your body, and pain) and they put me on anti-virals at that time. She told me if you do that within the first 48 hours, the chances are it will run it's course quickly and within 2 weeks it was gone. So when I turned 60 and my insurance would pay for the Shingles immunization, I jumped at the chance. Never want to feel that again.

Re: Shingles

Hooty — Fri, 09 May 2014 17:27:24 GMT

Well, I guess my pharmacist that gave me my shot, was lying to me!!!

Re: Shingles

Perkup — Fri, 09 May 2014 17:31:48 GMT

On 5/7/2014 ID2 said:
On 5/7/2014 Hooty said:
On 5/7/2014 Scotnovel said:
You should ask your doctor if you are a candidate for the shingles vaccine? With your history, you certainly wouldn't want to get it again.

The vaccine "does not" prevent you from getting the shingles, it just helps make it easier on you if you get them, just like the flu shot doesn't keep you from getting the flu.

You are half right. The shingles vaccine will prevent shingles in 50% of those vaccinated. It will reduce the severity in the other 50%.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-vaccine

I can't agree with you or the website, because both my relatives (as in my post above) have recurring incidents of Shingles and both report that each episode is just as bad as the first - in fact, sometimes worse. They have both had the shot, which has done nothing to prevent or diminish the episodes.

BTW, I BELIEVE THE AGE FOR THE SHOT HAS BEEN LOWERED TO 50 NOW INSTEAD OF 60. I AM TOLD BY A PHARMACIST THAT YOUNGER PEOPLE MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE IF DETERMINED BY A DOCTOR. NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

Re: Shingles

Gooday — Sun, 11 May 2014 04:43:48 GMT

On 5/9/2014 Perkup said:
On 5/7/2014 ID2 said:
On 5/7/2014 Hooty said:
On 5/7/2014 Scotnovel said:
You should ask your doctor if you are a candidate for the shingles vaccine? With your history, you certainly wouldn't want to get it again.

The vaccine "does not" prevent you from getting the shingles, it just helps make it easier on you if you get them, just like the flu shot doesn't keep you from getting the flu.

You are half right. The shingles vaccine will prevent shingles in 50% of those vaccinated. It will reduce the severity in the other 50%.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-vaccine

I can't agree with you or the website, because both my relatives (as in my post above) have recurring incidents of Shingles and both report that each episode is just as bad as the first - in fact, sometimes worse. They have both had the shot, which has done nothing to prevent or diminish the episodes.

BTW, I BELIEVE THE AGE FOR THE SHOT HAS BEEN LOWERED TO 50 NOW INSTEAD OF 60. I AM TOLD BY A PHARMACIST THAT YOUNGER PEOPLE MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE IF DETERMINED BY A DOCTOR. NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

I had mine at 57. DH developed shingles so, my doctor gave it to me and my insurance (BC/BS PPO) covered it. My DH has a compromised immune system so, they want to keep me as healthy as possible.