Shingles; not the roof kind.

[simple_gifts]

Living the dream, going into week #4

Had a small rash a few weeks ago, headed down to Western VA on a Friday to visit my parents; by the time I got back and went to the doctor it was 5 days (too late for anti virals) and a few days after that, my entire left side torso, front and back is covered.

I will spare everyone the day by day, but will encourage anyone in the age range of getting the immunization to get it. I'm not in the age range and my outbreak was probably a result of recent stress. Check with your medical plan if you have one, the shot is $$ and might require a Dr. to administer it to be covered. Seems my plan doesn't cover a pharmacy's administration of it (moot @ this point so I haven't investigated further)

Probably dealing with a case of postherpetic neuralgia as the rash is gone, but the entire impacted area feels like a big case of frostbite (i.e. very little sensory feelings, but a fair bit of pain)... Makes any activity that might move my shirt over that area painful. (e.g. driving walking, living working etc)

 

[Mr Nice]

Hope you feel better.

My mom had it and looked like someone poured battery acid on her.

 

[Doc8404]

Good luck, my best. My grandmother had it many years ago, a very tough Italian woman, never seen her in so much pain.

 

[redbone3]

Had the same problem A silk undershirt helps a lot.

 

[abycat]

That's a horrible thing to have to go through. my buddy had severe psoriasis but now be is on remmicaid and almost 100% rid of the horrible condition. I don't know if it works with shingles but it does with many other things. It's worth asking your doc for sure. It's expensive but an amazing drug. Good luck bro.

 

[Bud]

My Father had it many years ago and it was pretty bad. I got the shot as soon as I turned 65.

 

[Donald]

The key is to get to the doctors in less than 2 days for an antiviral drug. If you get some type of rash that is only on ONE side of your body then it might be the shingles. Shingles is never on both sides.

I got it, went quickly to doctor and it was not too bad. I was about 53 I am guessing. I have also had the vaccine after everything cleared up.

 

[Sayjac]

Sorry man. Turk had thread about getting them not too long ago. I'm of that age and it's covered by insurance and can be done at pharm. I should do it.......

Hope you start feeling better soon.

 

[demarpaint]

My wife had it a few years ago. I ended up catching chicken pox from her, not fun for an adult.

 

[daves87rs]

Yikes! Hope you feel better soon...

 

[Old Mustang Guy]

I got the shot at 55 even though I had to pay for it. My insurance would have covered it at 60. I see so many people getting it at a younger age. My Dad had it and it is terrible.

 

[totegoat]

My wife suffered with it. I got the shot. So far no shingles.

 

[buster]

ughhh that is rough. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[JennyHemi]

I'm sorry you have to deal with something so awful.

I know someone who had it at about 40... it was SO painful for him and seemed to carry on forever. As soon as I'm eligible, I'm getting the vaccine.

 

[Blaze]

My wife battled it for several months....VERY painful but almost as painful was her getting off of the nerve drug "Gabapentin"...It is HIGHLY addictive if taken for extended periods. Despite her cutting back very slow with a tapering method this drug was a nightmare for her to get clean of.

 

[stockrex]

you can get the shot early, most insurances cover it 100%, ask pharmacy to check your prescription drug coverage.

Sorry op, hope you feel better!

 

[Bladecutter]

I had shingles 2 years ago, at age 40.

Here's the thing, it's hard to identify the initial symptoms before the rash develops.
If you can figure out the initial symptoms before the rash develops, you can get to the doctor quicker.

For me, I was outside, in the winter using the snow blower on the driveway, clearing snow.
As I was doing that, I felt a pulse in my chest (left side), as if I had pulled a muscle.
I took it easy for a couple minutes, and the pain didn't really change, so I finished the snow-blowing, and called it a night.

The next day, the pain started to increase a bit, and was causing discomfort.
Strange little pulled muscle, I thought, so I started icing it, and heating it.
That didn't help.

The third day, it literally felt like someone had stabbed me through my chest with a sword, and pulled the sword out.
My wife and I had dinner plans with our friends, and I suffered through the night.
When we got back home, and I removed my shirt, I then saw the rash, and had my wife inspect it.

The next day we were in the doctors office, and with barely a glance, they said that's shingles.
I was in pain for several more weeks, but I did get the anti-virals fast, and it did keep the horribleness that other people experience to a minimum.

A couple of my coworkers also have had the displeasure of shingles, and a couple of them are still suffering from long term symptoms, months later.

I do worry that since I had it at such a young age, that I might be one of the unlucky ones who may experience it again a little later in life.
I keep an eye out for symptoms, all the time.
I don't want to have it be worse than it was the first time, that's for sure.

BC.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: Blaze
My wife battled it for several months....VERY painful but almost as painful was her getting off of the nerve drug "Gabapentin"...It is HIGHLY addictive if taken for extended periods. Despite her cutting back very slow with a tapering method this drug was a nightmare for her to get clean of.


Little off topic but wondering anyway.

Whats the problem with just staying on Gabapentin? I've been on it for years, 2 in the AM, 2 in the PM.

 

[Mr Nice]

Bloody bisters are very painful when you have shingles.

 

[Blaze]

Originally Posted By: jcwit
Originally Posted By: Blaze
My wife battled it for several months....VERY painful but almost as painful was her getting off of the nerve drug "Gabapentin"...It is HIGHLY addictive if taken for extended periods. Despite her cutting back very slow with a tapering method this drug was a nightmare for her to get clean of.


Little off topic but wondering anyway.

Whats the problem with just staying on Gabapentin? I've been on it for years, 2 in the AM, 2 in the PM.



Really not off topic since Gabapentin and the various copies are to "go to" drugs for nerve pain (Shingles)....Google "Gabapentin withdrawals"... its an extremely nasty drug to get off of. My wife had severe "brain zaps" on/off all day yesterday. Brain zaps are a VERY typical withdrawal side-effect of the various nerve drugs like Gabapentin or Lyrica. Seems like drugs that have a very short half-life like Gabapentin can be harder to get off of.