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I don't wanna have shingles anymore

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Posted 7/11/2009 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
It is 2 in the morning and I am up already.  These stupid, stupid shingles won't let me lie for too long.  It's weird but I feel pretty good in the mornings but by afternoon they start in.  It's not a sharp severe pain but a constant dull ache that just won't stop.  The rash has now spread down my arm, it's on my chest and my back.  It's like large areas of small sores now but I'm sure they are gonna turn into blisters, break open then scab over.  Hopefully at that point I will start getting better.  Guess I just needed to whine, hmmm maybe a little cheese would help!!  Thanks for listening, I have the new Dean Koontz book, guess I'll read for awhile.

Jag

Posted 7/11/2009 7:42 AM (GMT 0)
Jag,
Do you have the cream to put on the rash? At least I thought there was some kind of topical treatment that might help it from spreadin. It sounds like it's spreading quite fast for you. Remember stress makes it much worse.

Sadly, the pain from shingles can take a long time - sometimes months or longer in bad cases, to subside. So you want to do everything possible to stop the progress now.

Don't worry about the whining! Guess there are several of us up tonight!

PaLady
Posted 7/11/2009 9:54 AM (GMT 0)
Is there a cream to decrease the rash from spreading?  It's not itchy yet and I will use something for that when the time comes.  I am on prescription Valtrex which is supposed to help it from getting too bad.  I'll try to stay calm.

Posted 7/11/2009 3:27 PM (GMT 0)

 

    Dear Jag!

*warm huggs* So very sorry. That has to be just awfully hard to deal with. shakehead

*huggs*

dani

Posted 7/11/2009 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Jag,

I don't have any ideas here.  I just had to offer my support.  I was with my dad when he got a bad case and I have never seen him in so much pain.  It was awful!!!  Pain from shingles can be terrible!!  Please get some pain support from a doctor!  That is the only way my dad got through it.  I hope you feel better real soon.  You have my blessings.

Posted 7/11/2009 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Jag,
I'm not 100% sure about the cream, but my cousin who is a pharmacist got shingles a few months ago, and she caught it early. I thought I remember her doing an oral med and a cream and that both were somewhat preventative as far as keeping the virus from spreading. If you touch it or it rubs against clothes that can help spread it, and you know how easily we do that without thinking. So I think the cream helps with those things.

I would definitely search some reputable sites, and call your pharmacist and/or doctor and ask. You may have to be proactive. But maybe I'm wrong about this. I do know I had to tell my cousin to stay away from me because I've never had chicken pox, although I was exposed as a child and never got it. Plus many years ago I used to work in a doctor's office, so when I was young my doctors thought I had a natural immunity. Still, with all the nerve problems I've got going on getting shingles terrifies me.

I absolutely know that stress is one of the causes and makes it worse.

Take care,

PaLady
Posted 7/12/2009 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jag,

I'm so sorry that you have to go through this! Shingles sound just awful! Have you talked with your PM about this (presuming you have one)? Maybe he/she can suggest something, such as another med, or maybe lidoderm cream or something that you can put on/around the lesions? I hope that you can find some relief soon!

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 7/12/2009 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
(((((((Jag))))))))

Shingles are awful!!!!!! I hope you can find some relief soon.

Laurie
Posted 7/12/2009 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Awe Jag,
like the others said, I hope you can get some relief soon!!
Whine away and the cheese, hehehe..maybe some ritz crackers for the cheese!!!!
lots and lots of soft hugz...
can you try cortizone 10 for the rash???
hugz...
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Jag)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 7/12/2009 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Shingles STINKS but I do like Dean Koontz.  Am particularly fond of the Odd Thomas series.

 

I had shingles once after getting the vaccination so I cursed the manuifacturers and inventors of it.  It felt like my spleen was going to explode out my chest most of the time.  My coworkers were scared.  They just kept gently asking me if I was alright and tellimg me I looked very grey.  I had no sick leave accrued and had just started a job.  I was afraid to say what the problem was in case they panicked and told me to take time off for fear of me giving it to others even though that's not how shingles spreads.

 

I took two antivirals...famvir and valtrex.  That really seemed to turn the tide.  Still, it took a few weeks for my spleen to stop feeling like it would bust my rib cage.  Wish I had something helpful to tell you about the rash but mine stopped spreading when I took the combination of antivirals.

 

Good luck!!!
Posted 7/13/2009 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Never had them myself but my Mom did several years ago. She only had two tiny spots, one on her rib cage and one on her back on the opposite side right about her kidney area. I can recall how much she said they hurt and it took a while after finally getting diagnosed and treatment started before she started feeling better. Not the news you want to hear I am sure, but I remember her saying that once she did start to feel better she seemed to improve in leaps.

BTW: Like you mentioned hers would hurt worse as the day wore on. In the morning she would sometimes barely notice anything...more an annoyance than anything, but by evening she would be really feeling it. Her doctor told her it was because her body was tired and less able to fend off the pain through endorphins and shifted what energy it did have to fighting off the infection which increased the pain even more.
Posted 7/13/2009 5:25 AM (GMT 0)

You have all been very sweet with all the advice and suggestions.  I am taking Valtrex, got it at the first sign of  rash.  Also called my PM and he increased my neurontin, I am already on narcotic pain meds.  That is interesting Jim1969 about why the pain increases through the day.  That's how I am, it gets definately worse as the day wears on.  I will get through this.  I am staying home so I don't infect anyone and definately have to stay out of the sun and heat cause they make it feel much worse.

Jag

Posted 7/16/2009 12:48 PM (GMT 0)

Hey, lotsadotsa, I too am a big Dean Koontz fan.  I read Relentless already and was rather disappointed by it but to each his own.  I am reading Twilight Eyes now.  I'm sure I read it many, many years ago but I don't really remember much of it.

I have an appointment tomorrow with my PM doctor.  The shingle sores, on chest, back, armpit and arm are getting better but yesterday I started having a numb, tingly feeling on my head and inside my ear is sore on that side now.  Hope the nerve pain is not spreading more.  I am going to ask for an increase for pain meds at night.  I can't sleep more than 4 hrs. then the pain in my shoulder area gets really bad.  I'll keep everyone updated.

Jag

 

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