topic Re: Shingles in Wellness

Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:05:08 GMT

I currently have it and it s#cks.

I went to my PCP last Thursday after I developed a rash on the left side of my neck 2 days prior and was told I was having an allergic reaction from a bug bite. I was put on a course of oral and topical steroids, neither of which helped. I started to get much worse over the weekend and ended up at an urgent care center on Sunday and was diagnosed with shingles; now on Valtrex.

The burning pain is brutal and now bands of small vesicles have developed on the left side of my face. I called my doctor and was advised to see an ophthalmologist ASAP as a precaution.

If you have had shingles, how long did it take for it to resolve?

Re: Shingles

lulu2 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:16:00 GMT

I had a bout with Shingles a few years ago. The outbreak was on my lower back. It was BRUTAL for about 10 days. It was at least a month before the sores were completely healed.

I feel your pain. Good luck!

Re: Shingles

momshan — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:19:20 GMT

The time varies greatly but the suggestion to see an ophthalmologist is a must since you have it very close to your eyes. This condition travels along the nervous system and not by bacteria or virus on the hands or skin. I have a co-worker who had the shingles in his eyes and it was very harsh. Please go as soon as possible to get started on a treatment to keep it out of your eyes. Your age and the severity of your case will determine how long it takes. Also, your general health and immunity system plays a part. I know you can knock this out! Good luck.

Re: Shingles

ccassaday — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:22:53 GMT

I had it on my left arm. I woke up with the red blisters and my hand swollen to the size of a softball. It is so painful. Its to bad you got a.misdiagnosis becuse the antibiotics need to be started within seventy two hours.

Re: Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:35:19 GMT

Thanks ladies for your posts--I appreciate it.

momshan: I'm only 41 and in good health, so hopefully this shingles episode won't drag out too much longer. Taking a shower while having shingles is a real joy. Feels like the affected side of my neck and face is being stabbed with shards of glass.

Re: Shingles

I am still oxox — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:38:45 GMT

My husband found out he had shingles about 3 years ago while on vacation at the beach, needless to say it was not the best vacation. Hubby really did not have a horrible time of it, but still has some phantom pain where some of the sores were.

Re: Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:41:45 GMT

On 11/4/2014 I am still oxox said:
My husband found out he had shingles about 3 years ago while on vacation at the beach, needless to say it was not the best vacation. Hubby really did not have a horrible time of it, but still has some phantom pain where some of the sores were.

Sounds like your husband has PHN; that stinks.

Re: Shingles

CalminHeart — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:43:33 GMT

My son has had shingles twice, once at age 4 and once at age 20. I really felt for him. It lasted about a month each time.

Re: Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:47:57 GMT

On 11/4/2014 lulu2 said:
I had a bout with Shingles a few years ago. The outbreak was on my lower back. It was BRUTAL for about 10 days. It was at least a month before the sores were completely healed.

I feel your pain. Good luck!

Yikes! Sitting and sleeping must have been a real issue for you.

My sleep has been greatly impaired because of the shingles, but I can only imagine how it was for you having it on your back.

Re: Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:50:15 GMT

On 11/4/2014 ccassaday said: I had it on my left arm. I woke up with the red blisters and my hand swollen to the size of a softball. It is so painful. Its to bad you got a.misdiagnosis becuse the antibiotics need to be started within seventy two hours.

I'm actually concerned that the antiviral won't be as effective because it was started more than 72 hours after the onset of symptoms. Guess I will have to wait and see.

Re: Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:53:59 GMT

On 11/4/2014 CalmInTheHeart said:
My son has had shingles twice, once at age 4 and once at age 20. I really felt for him. It lasted about a month each time.

Wow he was young.

Did he get the shingles vaccine? I'm seriously thinking about it after the doctor at the urgent care center mentioned it.

Re: Shingles

Lyn08 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:56:01 GMT

I had Shingles 3 years ago. I never had the Shingles shot, as it was expensive, and I didn't think I ever had Chicken Pox (bad mistake).

The Shingles was very, very painful, so I can definitely sympathize with you. I had it in my right shoulder, arm and hand. I still have post-herpetic neuralgia, and need to take Gabapentin to help with the nerve pain.

I highly recommend the Shingles shot. It was terribly expensive when it was first offered to me (and I turned it down, as my insurance wouldn't cover payment). That was one of the worst mistakes I ever made. I think insurance pays for the Shingles vaccine now, or at least most of the cost.

Note: I started the anti-viral medication too late. I thought I had something else before I actually got treated. It needs to be started within 72 hours of having symptoms. So the medication didn't do me any good.

Re: Shingles

Elysee — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:58:53 GMT

I too had this a short time ago. Started on my right shoulder. I work in a school and had our school nurse take a look on Monday. She initially thought it looked like a bug bite. I kept getting more symptomatic and in more pain with each day that went by, By Friday, Nurse Susie takes another look (by now, big deep sore on the shoulder where it all started, sores along the nerve going up into my hair) and exclaims, "I think you have shingles." Why I waited so long, I can not say. I should have been in the doctor by Wednesday. I google it, and of course, after looking at the photos and reading about it, I have shingles.

Immediately called the doctor and got in to be affirmatively diagnosed. I was surprised to get a prescription for 60 pain pills, thinking that the pain would not be that long lived. It was - probably about 4 weeks to a month till I woke up one day and was not aware of pain.

I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Re: Shingles

LilacTree — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:58:58 GMT

I had it on my scalp shortly after coming down with Rheumatoid Arthritis ten years ago. It was horribly painful for weeks, and is still very easily irritated. I thought I was going to lose all of my hair. As it was, I was going to let my hair grow in white anyway, I had been dyeing it for years and was sick of it. So I just cut it short, let it grow in white and it's been white ever since. I can put nothing on my scalp.

Because of its location I remember the doc being very concerned about my eyes. Fortunately, that didn't happen.

Good luck . . . it's a terrible affliction, but it does end. I have not had a recurrence.

Re: Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:00:51 GMT

On 11/4/2014 Lyn08 said:
I had Shingles 3 years ago. I never had the Shingles shot, as it was expensive, and I didn't think I ever had Chicken Pox (bad mistake).

The Shingles was very painful, so I can definitely sympathize with you. I had it in my right shoulder, arm and hand. I still have post-herpetic neuralgia, and need to take Gabapentin to help with the nerve pain.

Sorry you have PHN.

I actually take gabapentin for trigeminal neuralgia and was hoping it would take the edge off the burning sensation caused by the shingles.

Re: Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:06:54 GMT

On 11/4/2014 Elysee said:
I too had this a short time ago. Started on my right shoulder. I work in a school and had our school nurse take a look on Monday. She initially thought it looked like a bug bite. I kept getting more symptomatic and in more pain with each day that went by, By Friday, Nurse Susie takes another look (by now, big deep sore on the shoulder where it all started, sores along the nerve going up into my hair) and exclaims, "I think you have shingles." Why I waited so long, I can not say. I should have been in the doctor by Wednesday. I google it, and of course, after looking at the photos and reading about it, I have shingles.

Immediately called the doctor and got in to be affirmatively diagnosed. I was surprised to get a prescription for 60 pain pills, thinking that the pain would not be that long lived. It was - probably about 4 weeks to a month till I woke up one day and was not aware of pain.

I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Good to know I'm not the only one who was misdiagnosed. There's actually a website called: "It's not a bug bite, it's shingles"

Re: Shingles

qvcaddition — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:06:57 GMT

I got the shingles vaccine last year.

Re: Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:09:03 GMT

On 11/4/2014 Ford1224 said:
I had it on my scalp shortly after coming down with Rheumatoid Arthritis ten years ago. It was horribly painful for weeks, and is still very easily irritated. I thought I was going to lose all of my hair. As it was, I was going to let my hair grow in white anyway, I had been dyeing it for years and was sick of it. So I just cut it short, let it grow in white and it's been white ever since. I can put nothing on my scalp.

Because of its location I remember the doc being very concerned about my eyes. Fortunately, that didn't happen.

Good luck . . . it's a terrible affliction, but it does end. I have not had a recurrence.

Sorry you had it too but glad you haven't had a recurrence.

Re: Shingles

littleblueparakeet2 — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:10:51 GMT

On 11/4/2014 qvcaddition said: I got the shingles vaccine last year.

Smart. As soon as this resolves and I'm feeling better, I'm getting it.

Re: Shingles

Azcowgirl — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:32:31 GMT

Im so sorry you have shingles.....My first episode with it , I was diagnosed quickly and the medication knocked it out. The nerve sensations lasted for at least a year after.Ive had it reoccur in a different place several times but much less severely. Stress seems to trigger it, also too much sun.