shingles sucks.

**brice618** · 02-04-2008, 12:25 PM

i have a really bad case of it. i got vicodin and other drugs... anyone know of any good topical stuff?

**Brock Landers** · 02-04-2008, 12:39 PM

Shingles does suck. A lot. I got it a few summers ago- supposedly its even worse for the elderly. I didnt get any drugs or anything either. So basically Im of no help. Defintely use whatever topical stuff you can find- it will lead to scarring if you dont.

**SponsoredByDuctTape** · 02-04-2008, 12:48 PM

Benadryl is about the best thing for the itch. Cold packs help too. You got Valtrex from the doc right? The one week course of that cleared it up for me.

ZG · 02-04-2008, 12:52 PM

Vibes sent. My mom got the shingles and it was a big bummer.

**brice618** · 02-04-2008, 01:08 PM

Yes to the valtrex. I found some burn cream that is supposed to work well on shingles since it goes for the nerves. This is some of the worst pain I've had, probably worse than breaking my wrist.

YourSupremeExcellency · 02-04-2008, 01:22 PM

Shingles is herpes. Congratulations on your new case of herpes.

**Adolf Allerbush** · 02-04-2008, 01:47 PM

My gramps has been battling a case of it for the last couple of months. He's had good luck with acupuncture.

**montanagirl** · 02-04-2008, 02:53 PM

Try Vitamin E. Anyone who has Chicken Pox is susceptible to Shingles. I think most get it from stress, cause of break-outs? Usually rash across belly and face, vitamin E will soothe.

**Brock Landers** · 02-04-2008, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by montanagirl

Try Vitamin E. Anyone who has Chicken Pox is susceptible to Shingles. I think most get it from stress, cause of break-outs? Usually rash across belly and face, vitamin E will soothe.

Exactly. Anyone who has ever had Pox can get it and stress is the cause. Its kinda a rash along the major veins in the abdomen/torso (at least thats where I got it). The elderly get it on their heads and faces and is even more painful.

**Viva** · 02-04-2008, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by YourSupremeExcellency

Shingles is herpes.

No. Different etiology, different, although related, virus

YourSupremeExcellency · 02-04-2008, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Viva

No. Different etiology, different, although related, virus

Mmmm lets see, shingles official medical name is "HERPES zoster".

**irul&ublo** · 02-04-2008, 03:55 PM

Viva...might have to go w/ YSE on this one. After all, the man knows herpes.

**Viva** · 02-04-2008, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by YourSupremeExcellency

Mmmm lets see, shingles official medical name is "HERPES zoster".

No, it's called Varicella zoster virus.

**Viva** · 02-04-2008, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by irul&ublo

Viva...might have to go w/ YSE on this one. After all, the man knows herpes.

And without ever getting laid.

**iggyskier** · 02-04-2008, 04:07 PM

It does suck.

I got it Freshman year of college during spring break in Utah. It was basically right above my heart and made a line around my chest, armpit, and my back on my left side.

Thought it was just a rash, waited to long to have it go looked at, and man did it suck.

I am now a senior in college, and to this day the parts where I had it on my back regularly burn pretty badly. I think that because I waited to so long to get any treatment, the nerves got pretty damaged in that area.

They wouldn't give me any good pain killers when I went to Urgent Care in Utah either. Said just take over the counter stuff, which I did (and which did jack shit for the pain).

That whole trip consisted of skiing a ton and drinking even more, so I think I noticed it less because I was generally drunk or skiing. But sometimes the pain is pretty severe.

Sorry I cannot offer any more help on how to make it feel better. I can only say to those who think they may have it, get it checked out. The Dr. told me if I had been put on the drugs to treat it early on, the chance that it would have spread so badly and lasted so long would have significantly decreased. I know I had cuts on my chest and back from it for at least 2-3 weeks.

Good luck

**SchralphMacchio** · 02-04-2008, 05:08 PM

^ Whoa, someone else got it in college ... during spring break? I got it senior year in college on the start of my week-long trip to Mammoth. It was on my FACE. Except the nerves on the right side only, so I looked like Tommy Two Face from Batman.

Cold wind moved my hair, which hurt so much that I couldn't ski at all that week. A gust of wind was like someone lighting my scalp on fire with a torch.

Good news: after 2 years the skin settled down back to normal. There is very very minimal scarring from some places where it was bad but it's really not any more noticeable than aging effects or acne.

painkillers they gave me vicodin
steriods I think they gave me prednazone
antiviral meds they gave me the same shit they give people for herpes simplex - acyclovir.
For anti-itch I used the aveno anti itch cream.

Lots of sun-blocking and oatmeal moisturizer should help I think. Keep it moist with creams and force yourself not to touch. After the burning stops (1 week) it itched for 2 months.

GET LOTS OF SLEEP for the next few weeks. Your immune system is shot and your body needs all the energy it can to recover. Think healthy thoughts and be healthy and you'll be skiing in a few weeks!

Vibes mate, vibes.

YourSupremeExcellency · 02-04-2008, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Viva

No, it's called Varicella zoster virus.

That is an even more specific name and guess what it is? Yep you guessed it...

"The Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is one of the eight herpes viruses known to affect humans (and other vertebrates)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicella-zoster_virus

I'm always right, you're always wrong. Deal with it.

**Adolf Allerbush** · 02-04-2008, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by YourSupremeExcellency

That is an even more specific name and guess what it is? Yep you guessed it...

"The Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is one of the eight herpes viruses known to affect humans (and other vertebrates)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicella-zoster_virus

I'm always right, you're always wrong. Deal with it.

Hey, you may be right but wikipedia as your source? Really?

YourSupremeExcellency · 02-04-2008, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by Adolf Allerbush

Hey, you may be right but wikipedia as your source? Really?

You want a fucking testamonial from the Surgeon General or what? It's fucking herpes man not brain surgery. Wikipedia will suffice. Go to WebMD or something I don't care, but it's still herpes.

**Adolf Allerbush** · 02-04-2008, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by YourSupremeExcellency

You want a fucking testamonial from the Surgeon General or what? It's fucking herpes man not brain surgery. Wikipedia will suffice. Go to WebMD or something I don't care, but it's still herpes.

You can go to WebMD homie. I'm not the one arguing about it, you are.

**Viva** · 02-04-2008, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by YourSupremeExcellency

That is an even more specific name and guess what it is? Yep you guessed it...

"The Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is one of the eight herpes viruses known to affect humans (and other vertebrates)."

Dear Fruitpie, I realize that they're related and said so already.

Tell you what, when your doctor treats your blisters again, ask him and we'll go with that.

Fair?

Thanks for playing.

**trainnvain** · 02-04-2008, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

Exactly. Anyone who has ever had Pox can get it and stress is the cause. Its kinda a rash along the major veins in the abdomen/torso (at least thats where I got it). The elderly get it on their heads and faces and is even more painful.

Not just elderly, I had it through my whole head.
I ruptured my left eardrum from it and still have facial scarring. Sucked bad.

**brice618** · 02-04-2008, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by iggyskier

It does suck.

I got it Freshman year of college during spring break in Utah. It was basically right above my heart and made a line around my chest, armpit, and my back on my left side.

Thought it was just a rash, waited to long to have it go looked at, and man did it suck.

I am now a senior in college, and to this day the parts where I had it on my back regularly burn pretty badly. I think that because I waited to so long to get any treatment, the nerves got pretty damaged in that area.

They wouldn't give me any good pain killers when I went to Urgent Care in Utah either. Said just take over the counter stuff, which I did (and which did jack shit for the pain).

That whole trip consisted of skiing a ton and drinking even more, so I think I noticed it less because I was generally drunk or skiing. But sometimes the pain is pretty severe.

Sorry I cannot offer any more help on how to make it feel better. I can only say to those who think they may have it, get it checked out. The Dr. told me if I had been put on the drugs to treat it early on, the chance that it would have spread so badly and lasted so long would have significantly decreased. I know I had cuts on my chest and back from it for at least 2-3 weeks.

Good luck

Wow... thats my exact story. In the armpit is a real bitch! I started with pain last tuesday and rash on thursday. I just thought it was some allergy or something until this weekend whilst skiing the deepness that was Wolf Creek, which coincidentally requires shit tons of poling which aggravated the hell out of it. I got to where I could barely get around I skied so hard.

Anyways, I'm an architecture grad student and this stuff crippled me enough to miss a major critic today. I hope my professor will understand.

And oddly enough my dad got it on his head a year ago.

YourSupremeExcellency · 02-04-2008, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Viva

Dear Fruitpie, I realize that they're related and said so already.

Tell you what, when your doctor treats your blisters again, ask him and we'll go with that.

Fair?

Thanks for playing.

Ummm no, nice try, it is officially listed as a herpes virus. It is officially a herpes virus. Don't like it take it up with the medical community not me. I won't debate fact with you. Fair? Thanks for playing.

**irul&ublo** · 02-04-2008, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by YourSupremeExcellency

Ummm no, nice try, it is officially listed as a herpes virus. It is officially a herpes virus. Don't like it take it up with the medical community not me. I won't debate fact with you. Fair? Thanks for playing.

You are awfully pissy today. 'Roids flaring up again?