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i think i have shingles???

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Posted 2/24/2015 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I really think so. It started out with pain in my armpit, then in my upper under arm and my elbow were tender to the touch. The next day the pain spread up to my back across in a straight line to the middle of my back. I thought a muscle was inflamed and that was it, then the pain got worse and worse, feels like deep,electric, severe pain. I had no idea shingles was this painful...but then the rash showed up. Little by little..the rash is in a band across my back to my breast. Anyone else had this??? Experience please!!
Posted 2/24/2015 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Delilah,
I am so sorry that you have to go through that awful painful disorder. Have you been diagnosed with shingles already? Shingles is an acute, painful inflammation of the nerve ganglia, with skin eruptions often forming a girdle around the middle of the body. It is caused by the same virus as chickenpox.
My daughter suffers from shingles and about every 7 or 8 years she gets an outbreak. She does not get the typical mid body girdle rash, hers is on her left cheek and it is so ugly. It starts with a couple of small red inflamed looking spots and eventually grows to the size of a silver dollar or two. It is extremely painful and she has often cried from the pain in her face. Now she has a standing order from her doctors office so when so calls in on an outbreak they will call in a med for her to pick up. She has to start the med asap on the outbreak and it does really help with the severity and pain. I can find out the name of it if you like?

I am sure someone on the forum has some good advice.
I hope your healing will be swift, I will keep you in my prayers.

Pam
Posted 2/24/2015 7:35 AM (GMT 0)
Delilah you need to get seen. The sooner you get treatment started the better the chances it works. Antiviral agents are a complex group of meds and usually virus' s don't respond as well once it gets to a progressed state. Sounds like shingles and yes they're definitely not a walk in the park.
Posted 2/24/2015 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
You need to get seen & on Valtrex ASAP. Can you go to a walk in clinic today? It will take at least a couple weeks before this outbreak/flare is healed.

I take a maintenance dose of Valtrex every day because I was having so many outbreaks.
There is also a shingles vaccine now. You can still get shingles even after the vaccine but the outbreaks are supposed to be less intense. In my experience that has been the case. I don't know why but shingles loves me. I've been having regular outbreaks for 20 years. If I take Valtrex right away I can usually nip it in the bud & it lass only a few days as opposed to potential weeks.

Valtrex is not cheap & does not come in a generic, but its really a good medication. I always keep a few on hand in the case I feel an outbreak coming, then I rush to walk in clinic. My GP doesn't take my Obamacare insurance anymore so I'm using walk in as my GP for now.

Hope this helps.
Posted 2/24/2015 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. Sure sounds like shingles. The herpes virus needs arginine to replicate. Avoid caffeine, nuts and hard cheeses and chocolate, as these foods contain arginine. L-lysine suppresses replication and can be taken as a supplement as it is difficult to consume enough of the foods that contain it. Anything you can do to boost the immune system will help. Valtrex (acyclovir) suppresses the virus. You can only get it by prescription. Oatmeal baths can help with itching. Hope you are better soon.
Posted 2/24/2015 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Zovirax works too and may be cheaper.

Also, if you can get in to your pain doc asap he can give you a facet joint injection which can cut the pain. It numbs the dermatome. Worked fairly well for me.

You can also use lidocaine gel which works on broken skin only.
Posted 2/28/2015 9:33 AM (GMT 0)
i had shingles about 3 yrs ago. cider vinegar really helped me out with the itching. give it a try even if the doc does not say to. gooogle it. bw.
Posted 2/28/2015 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Is it shingles? How are you doing now? Please let us know.
Posted 2/28/2015 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had chickenpox. I know, but I'm 44 and never had them. I was tested when I was pregnant to see if I was immune but I wasnt.

My question is I've though about getting the shingles vaccine but was afraid I would get one or the other. Kindve like people getting the flu from the flu vaccine. Thoughts??
Posted 2/28/2015 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
I was scared to get the flu shot for the same reason and this year I finally got one (I lived -- knock on cyber wood). I am considering getting the vaccine as I already have/had chicken pox, EBV and Cyto. My body likes the herpes family too, apparently. Decisions decisions...

OP, I have nothing to add other than I have kind of been there - one of my viruses gives me the same pain (feels like something driving nails over a bad sunburn), but over my eyes, it's terrible. Luckily it only lasts a week. Keeps us updated, ask for the good drugs!!

(Sorry for the absolute nonsensical typos previously. In what world are herpes = heroes?! Lol)

Post Edited (AnnaBananna) : 3/1/2015 11:24:09 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/28/2015 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
You can't get flue from vaccination. What seems like flu is an allergic reaction to the stuff in the vaccine. Vaccines are full of gelatin and preservatives, and I know, from testing with my allergist, that's what I react to. If you take Benadryl or maybe Alavert for 3 days you can get rid of the reaction. They don't tell us this anymore, but it's what I learned many years ago when my mom and I were getting the shots - and it worked for us! I've also used antihistamines for flu-like symptoms when I had the pneumonia shot.

I haven't researched getting shingles from the shingles shot, but it should be the same. Shingles is supposed to be caused by the virus still hiding in our systems. If there's no live virus in the shot it shouldn't be able to give us a reaction, except the local reaction from the other junk in the vaccine.

There are other viruses that can hide in our symptoms after the disease is gone. Post-polio syndrome hits those of us who had polio when we get older. It's not fun, and it's another reason to get immunized.
Posted 3/1/2015 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
Remember the shingles shot is good for people 50 and older, it isn't recommended or rather no studies have been done on giving it to younger people.

From a quick google search it is okay to get the vaccine when you haven't had the chicken pox.
Posted 3/1/2015 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your responses!! Have a great rest of your weekend!!
Posted 3/1/2015 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
AngelLisa, I find this really interesting. If folks can get shingles at 30+ (we have had visitors attest to this), why wouldn't it work on them? Just curious why no studies would be done. I hate when science doesn't research something just because it hadn't happened 'enough'. How isolated is isolated? (Don't mind me, I'm grumpy and randomly existential today apparently)
Posted 3/1/2015 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with you Anna, and I find it weird that no studies have been done on people younger then 50. My youngest son had shingles at 14 years old, so I know first hand that people younger get them, but for some reason they don't recommend getting the shot if you are under 50.

This is from the FDA website ......
Should Zostavax be used in people who are under 50 years of age?

No, at this time, there is not enough information from the studies to determine the risks and benefits of Zostavax in people younger than 50 years of age.

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/QuestionsaboutVaccines/ucm070418.htm
Posted 3/1/2015 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Yep...shingles. I have a rash but its not bad at all. The pain and itching is the worst. My doc gave me morphine(which I'm already prescribed) and silvadine(sp?) For itch and pain. And the anti viral of course. I guess I just wait for it to go away. Just yeah I'm good.
Posted 3/2/2015 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Delilah,
It's been almost a week, I hope you were able to get some medication which would mean that you should be feeling a little better now.

Sending warm thoughts and Texas hugs,

Pam
Posted 3/2/2015 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hey sorry...laurabelle and delilahblue are the same person, I had to start a new profile. But yes it's shingles...It hurts, and it's getting treated. Thanks for the support.
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