I've Got Shingles

I had my case when I was 27. It is amazingly painful. The little blisters itch as well as sting as well as burn. Coolness helps a lot. Sweat really hurts. When I went to work I wore a surgical scrub shirt that fit like a tent. It was light, airy, and very loose. I had bought it at NBC Studios. It said Saint Elsewhere on the chest. I wore it while visiting a hospital once and they gave me the employee discount in the cafeteria. Find a spot that is cool, but not drafty. It's amazing that a breeze can hurt.

That reminds me, I need to go off and get a vaccination.
 
Don't laugh, but "Braggs" (i'd recommend only Bragg's) organic apple cider vinegar has some wonderful healing/health properties. Apply some on the sores a few times a day with a wash cloth or something? and let it sit, it's also great for bug bites too! Also, it's great for You to drink as well! The taste may be a little hard to get used to, I usually take it like a shot and chase it with water or something? Or for a more tolerable version you could mix it with some apple juice/tea & some honey. A good table spoon twice a day is good. :thumbup:

Good luck :)
 
After this outbreak clears up, you should ask your doc for a prescription of whatever he/she thinks will keep this from coming back. (400mg Acyclovir/day might do it.) 400mg Acyc. - that's what I've had for the last year, and it really keeps the outbreaks from recurring, at least for me. Your doc should be able to help you find a regimen that will work.

Feel better soon -

thx - cpr
 
I've never had shingles, but I've done some stupid stuff and been in long term pain, so I can sympathise. Hope it clears up soon!
 
Nerve pain blows...

I feel your pain (No kidding... I have neuropathic pain 24/7 and a pharmacy in my kitchen cabinet). Get as much sunshine as you can stand (replenish that serotonin!)

Keep your spirits up. "This too shall pass."

Prayers comin' your way!
 
I got over a case just a couple months ago. Thought I'd pulled a muscle in my ribs AND got into poison ivy on my back at the same time! :confused:

Went to the doc and got the acyclovir and some pain pills. I'd got a case when I was 10/11 and I don't remember that hurting, but this time was pretty nasty. Hope you feel better soon.
 
That is unpleasant. My Mom had that about a year ago. You will make it through, but it will not be fun. Prayed.
 
Love!!! On the way ... :eek::thumbup::thumbup:

My postman refuses to accept the slushie. :(


I know that is seriously painful. I can only hope you get through this quickly.
 
This is going to sound weird, but see your chiropractor for it. Shingles clears up well in most cases with chiropractic care. Just had a student last year with a nasty case and within a week of getting regular care the pain and discomfort was completely eliminated, although the lesions lasted about as long as normal. Shingles occurs from an "awakening" of the varicella (chicken pox) virus in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. It affects the skin supplied by the nerve root (dermatome) it is is sitting it, which is why it follows such predictable patterns. While there aren't many (any?) studies of chiropractic and shingles, I have seen it help many times, have talked to many, many patients who have had success, and pretty much any chiropractor who has been in practice for any length of time has several cases of it clearing up nicely.

Better than suffering, for sure!
 
Chiro75 said:
This is going to sound weird, but see your chiropractor for it. Shingles clears up well in most cases with chiropractic care. Just had a student last year with a nasty case and within a week of getting regular care the pain and discomfort was completely eliminated, although the lesions lasted about as long as normal. Shingles occurs from an "awakening" of the varicella (chicken pox) virus in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. It affects the skin supplied by the nerve root (dermatome) it is is sitting it, which is why it follows such predictable patterns. While there aren't many (any?) studies of chiropractic and shingles, I have seen it help many times, have talked to many, many patients who have had success, and pretty much any chiropractor who has been in practice for any length of time has several cases of it clearing up nicely.

Better than suffering, for sure!
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Sounds a logical angle to try a cure. However looking at where her shingles are manifesting any one laying hands, without using anesthetic, there for any reason is gonna get a back hander.

The day before I turned 10 my brother did something stoopid resulting in the palms of by hands being scorched and I lost the skin off my palms and finger pads. I recall pain, itchiness and lack of sleep. My folks were concerned at giving a youngster to much pain med but overcame that concern when I was banging my head against brick walls.
 
i deal with fibromyalgia every day and i know what you mean about pain. last winter i never left the house for a week from hurting so bad. i hope you get to feeling better soon.
 
For anyone confused about it, there is more than one type of herpes (8 in fact that affect humans). Chicken pox and shingles is the same herpes virus and does just what chiro said it does. The two other herpes people are most familiar with are the oral herpes commonly known as "cold sores". Never let someone with cold sores kiss your baby, or you for that matter. Then of course there is genital herpes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicella_zoster_virus

Acyclovir is not known to cause pancreatic issues. Most common is malaise (feeling crummy), nausea, and diarrhea. Drink plenty of water, as it can be hard on the kidneys.

Most people do not require prophylactic dosing after the shingles clear up.
 
Wouldn't you know it - I've got a new outbreak going on now. Actually started before I read Danelle's first post, and with all the yard work I've been doing, I thought it was just a heat rash or something.

Here's a video from Merck, it's a little technical, but informative:

http://www.shinglesinfo.com/herpes-zoster/zoster/hcp/varicella-zoster-virus.html

Zen - interesting note on how Acyclovir works over the kidneys; that might explain why I got a kidney stone after my shingles outbreak last year. :(

thx - cpr
 
However looking at where her shingles are manifesting any one laying hands, without using anesthetic, there for any reason is gonna get a back hander.
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You get in, adjust, get out, and it's very quick and nowhere near as bad as the shingles themselves. And if it helps, it's worth the discomfort, I'm sure!
 
About a year ago, a new vaccine for shingles was released; I believe the recommendation is only for those 65 and older. However, I would guess it would be given to individuals with recurring episodes. If you've ever had chicken pox, it would be highly recommended.
 
Tin Sue said:
About a year ago, a new vaccine for shingles was released; I believe the recommendation is only for those 65 and older. However, I would guess it would be given to individuals with recurring episodes. If you've ever had chicken pox, it would be highly recommended.
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Was at the local Walgreens store yesterday & they were giving those shots there on site...made me think of this post when I saw it, didn't get one though.

Keith
 
orca8589 said:
Zen - interesting note on how Acyclovir works over the kidneys; that might explain why I got a kidney stone after my shingles outbreak last year. :(
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Hard to tell orca but there are no reports of that particular kidney problem. That doesn't mean it is impossible, just that that particular issue has never been noticed.

What I meant was actual damage to the kidneys so they don't function properly. The kidneys essentially are like a filter on your gas line. When it stops working; certain chemicals show up in tests. Unless your kidneys are already malfunctioning (for example kidney failure already) then the damage will go away.

Here is the technical explanation:
Renal dysfunction due to acyclovir is the result of crystal nephropathy, which can occur when the maximum solubility of free drug is exceeded. Acute tubular necrosis, without crystalluria, has also been reported with intravenous acyclovir (Becker et al, 1993). Although renal impairment occurs most frequently with bolus or infused intravenous acyclovir, oral acyclovir has been reported to cause renal failure (Prod Info Zovirax(R) Capsules, Tablets, Suspension, 2003; Eck et al, 1991; Johnson et al, 1994). Concurrent use of nephrotoxic drugs, preexisting renal disease, and dehydration predispose to the development of renal impairment (Bradley et al, 1997). In most cases renal dysfunction is transient and resolves spontaneously after acyclovir is discontinued (Peterslund et al, 1988). Renal function should be monitored closely in patients receiving intravenous acyclovir, in those predisposed to dysfunction and adequate hydration should be maintained throughout treatment to assure a high urine flow. It appears safe to reinitiate therapy with the drug at lower doses following subsidence of renal dysfunction (Sawyer et al, 1988).
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To aid in translation renal means kidneys and essentially nephrotoxic means toxic to the kidneys.

It is possible you were dehydrated and had crystal deposits of the drug occur in your kidneys...and then this was diagnosed as kidney stones, OR a mild kidney affect from the drug helped a preexisting case of kidney stones form up, OR it was totally coincedental. (or possibly something else I don't know of or thought about).

Medicine gets quite complicated but thank progress we have what we have.
 
Zen - thanks -

I talked to my doctor, and he clarified a lot of the same info as well. After my stone last year . . . well, I never want that to happen again. My wife gets on me all the time about how paranoid I get about this stuff; my ears perk up every time I hear the subject come up.

I've got a great doctor who is one of the most helpful I've ever had. He makes this stuff a lot easier to deal with.

Danelle - hope you're doing better with your condition. :o

thx - cpr
 
Danelle O'Shea said:
Thanks all. I'm on my third day of acyclovir and it seems that the rash is a TINY TINY bit fainter, but whats even better is it does not appear to be spreading. I'll keep ya posted.
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It doesn't spread except along dermatones. Thats why its usual one side and in a stripe.

It the virus from chicken pox and becomes active.



Paul
 
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