Anyone ever had Shingles?

**SponsoredByDuctTape** · 10-29-2005, 07:32 PM

Something like 70% of those who get it are over 60. Nobody really knows how you get it. All I know is that it looks like I got stung by a box jelly fish - like a 6 inch long (and growing) blister right above my right hip. Apparently it's the same virus as Chicken Pox. It lies dormant in everyone who has had Chicken Pox, and resurrects itself as Shingles, traveling along a nerve, wreaking havoc on your skin and muscle. I guess some people experience intense, stabbing pains. Mine just itches like Chicken Pox does. Other than Benedryl and ice packs, does anyone have any suggestions? Or experience with this crap?

In addition to the skin lesion, Shingles weakens your immune system. Hence my swollen throat, headache, feaver, and stuffy head.......hmmmm, maybe Nyquil.

I feel like shit. Thought you'd all like to know.

**GheePup** · 10-29-2005, 09:12 PM

shingles is a herpes virus from what I can recall. Hides in the nerves and the body can't detect it until it decides to come out and play, mostly when the liver is a little over taxed.

**GheePup** · 10-29-2005, 09:17 PM

Take immune system building stuff like echinacia (sp?), nettle tea and wormwood is good at cooling the liver....and stay away from heating foods...ayurveda has a lot of info. Its an ancient eastern form of medicine, among other things. GL

**powderdave** · 10-29-2005, 10:33 PM

Shingles is indeed the same virus that causes chicken pox, specifically the varicella zoster virus. Medical folks call it herpes zoster because the virus is part of the herpesviradae family.

You are fortunate to have your hip affected, and to be relatively pain-free. Facial involvement is often quite nasty. Are you seeing a healthcare provider? Antiviral medications can be of benefit.

A common complication following herpes zoster is postherpetic neuralgia, a persistent pain most common in older patients. If your pain becomes significant it may be worth asking a provider about prophylaxis in the form of a corticosteroid.

Important note: If you have visible lesions, you are potentially contagious. Be careful until your lesions are in the healing stages. The very young and the elderly can be very vulnerable so be a good citizen and analyze where your hands have been before touching things for the next few days.

If your pain is minor and you feel OK then you are already doing everything you need to do. Eat well, rest, get good sleep, and you'll be over it in time for the next powder dump at your local stomping grounds.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

**SponsoredByDuctTape** · 10-30-2005, 05:18 PM

Thanks for all the info. The doc has me on Valtrex for a week. Reading some of the stories on-line, I feel fortunate to just have a bunch of ugly, itchy blisters, and that they're not on my face or neck.

**fineline** · 10-31-2005, 02:19 PM

I had shingles when I was 15, it suuuucked. I got it on my face/head- sooo painful. The doc I saw at first said it was poison ivy and gave me some cream that made it worse... After a dermatologist diagnosed it as shingles they gave me some antibiotics and stuff and I sat in my dark basement miserable for a few days. My forehead is still slightly scarred and the nerves are all screwed up. They told me it might have been brought on by stress and the fact that I have never had chicken pox. Nasty stuff, but sounds like yours isn't that bad- good to hear your not miserable.

**bad_roo** · 10-31-2005, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by fineline

I had shingles when I was 15, it suuuucked. I got it on my face/head- sooo painful. The doc I saw at first said it was poison ivy and gave me some cream that made it worse... After a dermatologist diagnosed it as shingles they gave me some antibiotics and stuff and I sat in my dark basement miserable for a few days. My forehead is still slightly scarred and the nerves are all screwed up. They told me it might have been brought on by stress and the fact that I have never had chicken pox. Nasty stuff, but sounds like yours isn't that bad- good to hear your not miserable.

I hope your parents had a good medical plan for you. You seem to spend a lot of time at doctors/hospitals.

**trainnvain** · 10-31-2005, 03:18 PM

I had shingles 5 years ago and still have the scars (small, notthing major. Adds character) on my face and hearing loss in one ear from a ruptured eardrum due to the swelling. They told me it was probably from physical stress on my body from overcoming a surgery gone wrong. Good luck, it's one of those things you'll just have to ride out as it travels from one nerve sector to the next. It will finally leave your system though.

**nesta** · 10-31-2005, 04:43 PM

I had it years ago in my late 20's, same place as you and symptoms. Went to the emergency at the Banff hospital and the doc diagnosed correctly and cleared it right up with a cortisone cream he prescribed, the name of which I can't recall. Good luck buddy.

**SponsoredByDuctTape** · 10-31-2005, 06:18 PM

Damn, I'm getting off easy compared to some of you. The drugs are already doing their thing. I've only been taking the Valtrex for three days now, and it's already disappearing. I've been supplementing with fruits and vegtables, and two or three big glasses of OJ each day.

I've heard that stress can be a major trigger for Shingles, as some of you mentioned, which explains a lot.

**fineline** · 11-03-2005, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by bad_roo

I hope your parents had a good medical plan for you. You seem to spend a lot of time at doctors/hospitals.

Its true. Thankfully they have a secondary insurance too. Between a back surgery (fusion), heart surgery, lots of broken bones, knee surgery, shingles, pneumonia a few times, way too many ER visits, and years of cumulative physical therapy and plus whatever Im forgetting, we would probably be living on the streets. And I am barely 19. (knock on wood)

SBDT- hope your doin ok!