Shingles

Got "The Shingles". Anybody out there who have had Shingles w/Crohnes? I'm assuming that being on Imuran won't make it better. How long do they last? Dr. said it was due to low immunity. Great! in the middle of hot summer too.

Thanks!

I have crohn's and I have had the Shingles 15+ times in my life....and I'm only 23/male. I first got chickenpox when I was 5 and my first shingles outbreak when I was 7. I was dxed with Crohn's last year shortly after having my last shingles outbreak (before that it was less than 6 months ago). I always get them on my forehead too. I also have had numerous blood tests done to test stuff like the level of varicella virus (chickenpox virus) and NOTHING was abnormal! My doctors have been completely baffled on how I keep on getting this (I haven't had shingles since mid-08 right before I found out I had crohn's). I have no idea why I have not gotten the shingles since though, neither have my doctors. I've been treated for shingles with many different drugs ranging from prednisone, topical gel, antiviral, etc. I wish I could give you some better answers but, I just really seem to be the oddball of the bunch and my docs are just confused . Wish I could help out more, shingles usually last 2 weeks to a month depending on how bad they are (1 week if you catch them early), stay away from people who haven't chickenpox when you first get shingles as it can be contagious in its early state. Expect headaches, itching, fatigue, nothing too bad especially if you have endured the pain of crohn's. Oh and chamomile lotion FTW! Best of luck to you I know it can suck.

Yea its usually almost always in the exact same area (left side forehead above eyebrow to hairline, one time it was a little higher though) although it may spread a little bit. I have a decent sized scar there too. Diagnosing it early is the key! I know the symptoms so well I usually go to the doctor before its even visible (one sent me home saying i was just to worried, then I walked in a week later with "I told you so" shingles on my forehead ). No doctor has come up with any explanation as to why I get it so often, now that I have crohns I'm guessing it has something to do with my haywire immune system (which is really weird because since I was dxed with crohns I haven't had it since, which is a new record for me), stress may be a part of it too as I have also been on anti-anxiety (valium) medication since my last outbreak. I wish I had better answers for you but, I'm just as confused as my doctors (I was even in a shingles study and they were baffled).

AllHailDietmar,
Wow 15+ times...sucks! Been runing atemp of 100 the past few days. I'm in my third week and I usually get them abdomen around to the back. (bra strap area) I thought at first I broke my ribs because my sister and I had a bit of a fall on a 3 wheeler. Then started the pain. I've had chicken pox 3x's and this is my second time with shingles. First time with shingles was in 2000 but never broke out...it just stayed under the skin and in the same place. Just wondered if they get worse every time you get them? Thanks for sharing your story! My Dr. always looks at me funny when I tell them how many times I've had pox and shingles. Good to know I'm not alone in the frequent times of this crazy thing! :)