This is the virus that lays dormant in your system after you had the chicken pox as a kid. Well, I am pushing 50 now and had a small outbreak of them for the first time. Started as an itch on my belly/beltline and then a small red rash. Had a spot on my lower back/butt cheek at the beltline also. They aren't super bothersome although they hurt a little bit now. But the nerve pain or whatever it is makes me a sissy. I felt I had a good tolerance for pain getting fillings in teeth without numbing etc... I have pain that feels like a major sunburn up my back, into my abs, down in my groin and even my chest. It hurts to have my clothing rub against it let alone if someone touches me or I lean back against a chair back. Thing is I don't have any other spots except for the two areas I mentioned. Ibuprofin helps take the edge off but I truly have a new empathy for those who suffer from this nasty virus. I understand that there is an immunization for it. Has anyone else ever had these and can describe their pain? Can't wait till I feel better.
Ever have "the Shingles"?
- Thread starter wolfehunter
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You should probably get your doctor to prescribe an antiviral like Acyclovir.
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Got the vaccine last year.
You should see a doctor immediately. You need to get on steroids which helps to arrest the situation. You want to avoid nerve damage as that can be with you the rest of your life. Had it five years ago. Just a breeze blowing through my hair hurt profoundly. Is there a quick clinic you can go to tonight? Don't mess with it. Can get a lot worse very quickly. You should not delay. Also at this point immunization will do nothing.
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Got the vaccine last year.
+1.....I got the vaccine about 3 years ago, at age 72.
Got the vaccine last year.
+1.....I got the vaccine about 3 years ago, at age 72.
I have some sort of natural immunity to chicken pox. All my kids have had chicken pox-I never caught it, and didn't have chicken pox as a child.
Consequently-I'm not getting the shot if I'm not at risk. The only way to catch it other wise would be to touch the open sores of an infected person if I understand things correctly.
Consequently-I'm not getting the shot if I'm not at risk. The only way to catch it other wise would be to touch the open sores of an infected person if I understand things correctly.
Originally Posted By: Skid
You should probably get your doctor to prescribe an antiviral like Acyclovir.
Yes, go get it now. There's no reason not to. I had it on the right side of my head, worst pain ever. I was started on antibiotics earlier in the week to no effect. Took the Valtrex and was feeling better by the end of the day. I am lucky that we got the medicine as soon as we did, before it blistered and pussed out (becoming contagious), and before if affected my eye. This happened last year the week before Thanksgiving at age 31.
Like the others mentioned, there can be permanent nerve damage, so you should do all you can to prevent it from progressing.
You should probably get your doctor to prescribe an antiviral like Acyclovir.
Yes, go get it now. There's no reason not to. I had it on the right side of my head, worst pain ever. I was started on antibiotics earlier in the week to no effect. Took the Valtrex and was feeling better by the end of the day. I am lucky that we got the medicine as soon as we did, before it blistered and pussed out (becoming contagious), and before if affected my eye. This happened last year the week before Thanksgiving at age 31.
Like the others mentioned, there can be permanent nerve damage, so you should do all you can to prevent it from progressing.
Ever have shingles?
Nope, and don't plant to either. I have my mind programmed to conquer it. The power of the mind is very powerful thing.
Nope, and don't plant to either. I have my mind programmed to conquer it. The power of the mind is very powerful thing.
Simple_gifts want to return this one, unopened
Summary of above thread and answer to your question, "Yes"
I still have numbness in the area that was impacted; just mentioned it to a coworker yesterday.
I was beaten down and under stress when i got it.
Summary of above thread and answer to your question, "Yes"
I still have numbness in the area that was impacted; just mentioned it to a coworker yesterday.
I was beaten down and under stress when i got it.
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Man I feel your pain! I am 48 and just cleared it up I had shingles on the left side of my face and head! My whole side of my face was a swollen mess! I spent just about every day for more than a month going to the eye doctor since they thought I may loose my left eye! Thankfully I am ok now.
Originally Posted By: Camprunner
Man I feel your pain! I am 48 and just cleared it up I had shingles on the left side of my face and head! My whole side of my face was a swollen mess! I spent just about every day for more than a month going to the eye doctor since they thought I may loose my left eye! Thankfully I am ok now.
That sounds horrible. I got the shot a couple years ago hoping it keeps the virus at bay.
Man I feel your pain! I am 48 and just cleared it up I had shingles on the left side of my face and head! My whole side of my face was a swollen mess! I spent just about every day for more than a month going to the eye doctor since they thought I may loose my left eye! Thankfully I am ok now.
That sounds horrible. I got the shot a couple years ago hoping it keeps the virus at bay.
I had my first outbreak at 30. Had nagging dull sore muscle type pain for 3-5 days and a TERRIBLE itch in the same spot on my right shoulder blade. The itch just couldn't be satisfied no matter how much my wife scratched it for me. Woke up one morning to an alien looking boil under my arm pit on my right side. While examining said alien boil in the mirror I noticed the patches on my right shoulder blade. This was 7AM. Saw doctor immediately and was prescribed valtrex - yep they put me on herpes meds for 'that' type of herpes. By 7PM my back felt like someone was poking me with red hot steel and the patch on my side felt like someone was ripping the flesh off.
This continued for a few days until the anti-virals took full effect. By around the 10th day the spots were subsiding and beginning to fade. This is when the nerve pains set in. The pain was so bad in the nerve clusters of my right pectoral muscle that it would take my breath away and bring tears to my eyes for 30-60 seconds at a time. This lasted for 2-3 days. First instance had me reaching for my phone to call 911 thinking it was the widow maker grabbing my chest.
I wouldn't wish shingles on my enemy.
This continued for a few days until the anti-virals took full effect. By around the 10th day the spots were subsiding and beginning to fade. This is when the nerve pains set in. The pain was so bad in the nerve clusters of my right pectoral muscle that it would take my breath away and bring tears to my eyes for 30-60 seconds at a time. This lasted for 2-3 days. First instance had me reaching for my phone to call 911 thinking it was the widow maker grabbing my chest.
I wouldn't wish shingles on my enemy.
It helps to keep one's immune system functioning in top condition. That means excellent diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, etc. Tired bodies with weak immune systems are better candidates. 80-90% of Americans wouldn't come close.
Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Ever have shingles?
Nope, and don't plant to either. I have my mind programmed to conquer it. The power of the mind is very powerful thing.
I believe more in the power of the brain. My brain told me to get the shot. Seen my best friend and mother-in-law go through [censored]. Which diseases does your mind tune out?
Ever have shingles?
Nope, and don't plant to either. I have my mind programmed to conquer it. The power of the mind is very powerful thing.
I believe more in the power of the brain. My brain told me to get the shot. Seen my best friend and mother-in-law go through [censored]. Which diseases does your mind tune out?
gathermewool
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My Dr gave me a test BEFORE giving me the shot, to confirm I did have Chicken pox as a child. If I didn't have the pox, then giving me the vaccine might possibly give me the Shingles. Ed
To the OP, see a good doctor ASAP.
There are topical, and other meds that can be prescribed for it.
I had it back in 1991. My doctor thought he was doing me a favor when he gave me several tubes of a topical cream that he had on hand as samples. It turned out that those free samples were way past their expiration date and because they were way too old they only made it worse. I think over time the cream interacted with the cheap tin tube the cream cam in, and that is what made it something that made the situation worse instead of better. It got so bad that I had to get some pain pills for it, and the doctor gave me a prescription for some more topical cream that I had filled at a local pharmacy (with med. that was not outdated) and it helped a lot.
BTW, I once did some research on a temperature controlled storage device for medicines. It turns out that the shingles vaccine has to be stored at very cold temperature. There is actually a range of temperature that it has to be stored at. Too warm or too cold and the vaccine will go bad. If it goes bad it will not be effective. So to the OP, if after you recover from shingles and you never want to get it again, be sure the place you go to get the shingles shot from has stored the vaccine at the proper temperature.
There are topical, and other meds that can be prescribed for it.
I had it back in 1991. My doctor thought he was doing me a favor when he gave me several tubes of a topical cream that he had on hand as samples. It turned out that those free samples were way past their expiration date and because they were way too old they only made it worse. I think over time the cream interacted with the cheap tin tube the cream cam in, and that is what made it something that made the situation worse instead of better. It got so bad that I had to get some pain pills for it, and the doctor gave me a prescription for some more topical cream that I had filled at a local pharmacy (with med. that was not outdated) and it helped a lot.
BTW, I once did some research on a temperature controlled storage device for medicines. It turns out that the shingles vaccine has to be stored at very cold temperature. There is actually a range of temperature that it has to be stored at. Too warm or too cold and the vaccine will go bad. If it goes bad it will not be effective. So to the OP, if after you recover from shingles and you never want to get it again, be sure the place you go to get the shingles shot from has stored the vaccine at the proper temperature.
Originally Posted By: wolfehunter
This is the virus that lays dormant in your system after you had the chicken pox as a kid. Well, I am pushing 50 now and had a small outbreak of them for the first time. Started as an itch on my belly/beltline and then a small red rash. Had a spot on my lower back/butt cheek at the beltline also. They aren't super bothersome although they hurt a little bit now. But the nerve pain or whatever it is makes me a sissy. I felt I had a good tolerance for pain getting fillings in teeth without numbing etc... I have pain that feels like a major sunburn up my back, into my abs, down in my groin and even my chest. It hurts to have my clothing rub against it let alone if someone touches me or I lean back against a chair back. Thing is I don't have any other spots except for the two areas I mentioned. Ibuprofin helps take the edge off but I truly have a new empathy for those who suffer from this nasty virus. I understand that there is an immunization for it. Has anyone else ever had these and can describe their pain? Can't wait till I feel better.
Shingles are only on one side of your body. Never both sides. Immediately go to urgent care place tomorrow morning and get treated. If you get treatment within the first 48 hours it will not be a big issue. Wait and you will wish you had not. You can get it in your eye.
I had it and got treated quickly and short lived. Friends who waited got it much worse. I recently got vaccine.
This is the virus that lays dormant in your system after you had the chicken pox as a kid. Well, I am pushing 50 now and had a small outbreak of them for the first time. Started as an itch on my belly/beltline and then a small red rash. Had a spot on my lower back/butt cheek at the beltline also. They aren't super bothersome although they hurt a little bit now. But the nerve pain or whatever it is makes me a sissy. I felt I had a good tolerance for pain getting fillings in teeth without numbing etc... I have pain that feels like a major sunburn up my back, into my abs, down in my groin and even my chest. It hurts to have my clothing rub against it let alone if someone touches me or I lean back against a chair back. Thing is I don't have any other spots except for the two areas I mentioned. Ibuprofin helps take the edge off but I truly have a new empathy for those who suffer from this nasty virus. I understand that there is an immunization for it. Has anyone else ever had these and can describe their pain? Can't wait till I feel better.
Shingles are only on one side of your body. Never both sides. Immediately go to urgent care place tomorrow morning and get treated. If you get treatment within the first 48 hours it will not be a big issue. Wait and you will wish you had not. You can get it in your eye.
I had it and got treated quickly and short lived. Friends who waited got it much worse. I recently got vaccine.
I had it in November, 2015. It started out as muscle pain in my back and chest. About ten days later the rashes appeared. It was a miserable time dealing with it. It is very uncomfortable, and painful. I had no idea what was going on until the rashes appeared and I made my way to the doctor.
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