HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Shingles.... I'm scared!

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/6/2008 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
My right side had been bothering me terrible.  I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Shingles....  I already have panic attacks, and this is scaring me.  The doctor prescribed Valtrex, which he says will help tremendously.  I have such a fear of meds, but he said I need to take it to feel better.  As if I'm already not on enough!!  I took the Valtrex 2 1/2 hours ago, and am extremely nervous. I'm having terrible panic, but the pharmacist said it shouldn't be from the Valtrex, that it is generally well tolerated.  Maybe it's all in my head?  I don't know.  Please help.  Blessings, Julie
Posted 5/6/2008 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Julie, I think you're feeling nervous because of your knew dx: I will admit I don't think I would tolerate that too well.
Try and hang in, the valtrex should give you at least some relief from your shingles. I wish all the best....
Posted 5/6/2008 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck!

Shingles isn't something to worry too much about (and the more you worry the more they'll probably bother you) :-) I got them when I was 16 (on my boob of all places!). We didn't know what they were so we got to the Dr too late for me to get any oral medication. I got a cream to help with the itching. I still get little nerve twinges in that spot (9 years later) and I worry that it's coming back but it never has.
Posted 5/6/2008 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Megera (I got them on my bra line back to boob when I was 15, which it could be just hormonal shifts at that age that activate them) Shingles, while painful, are not all that bad comparatively to crohns, granted they can get very bad if untreated, but you caught it in good time. It is just a nerve erupting to the surface...like a painful blister but it is due to an inactive virus that has been reactivate from chickenpox (so it can scar you like chickenpox). I think meds are a VERY good idea.
Posted 5/6/2008 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for the replies. You are all a wonderful source of support. Julie
Posted 5/6/2008 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
You definitely need to take the anti-viral med!! I had a horrible case of shingles starting on the side of my face and the anti-viral stopped it cold in 24 hours. I still have a bad scar but I don't want to think about what it would have been like!! Half of my face was close to breaking out in those deep ***** sores!! The sores stopped developing in 24 hours and healed in a couple days.

The virus is in a nerve branch and it is irritating it. It could take months to clear up on its own and really could hurt and leave painful scars. Please take the meds!!
Posted 5/6/2008 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
I got shingles during (and because of) my last prednisone treatment. It hurt alot for a couple weeks, and produced nasty scabs (that healed totally). I started valtrex too, and had no problem with the med.

you are FAR LESS LIKELY to have any lingering pain or tingling after the outbreak resolves, if you take the valtrex. so take it - period.

dont panic, IT WILL GET BETTER. sometimes it may be hard to sleep at night or feel like your laing on bricks. there may be electric shock like pains, or burning or just a deep gnawing ache during the day - but it will all go away. in a 2-3 weeks, you'll be as good as new.
Posted 5/7/2008 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
about 20% of people get shingles
Posted 5/7/2008 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
I got them too (on my boob too! and around my back up to my shoulder blade - UGH!) and I also found out too late to take any medicine for it. The valtrex will help you a lot. I'm sure you're just feeling anxious because of this, but really, it's like "Adult chicken pox" - it comes from the same virus. So you have nothing to worry about. Take good care of yourself. You'll be good as new in a few weeks.
Posted 5/7/2008 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
My Aunt got over shingles recently. I wouldn't be scared of getting treated, shingles can be quite painful, so I'd want to be trying to help it some how! My Aunt seemed to get over it quickly once she began treatment. Take care!
Posted 5/7/2008 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
My mother had them terrible about 5 years ago. Due to a delay in the DX she had the aftereffects.. Terrible chronic pain. Take the Valtrex. Post herpatic neuralgia is not something ANYONE would want to experience!

Matthew
Posted 5/7/2008 9:30 AM (GMT 0)
I took my second dose of Valtrex last night. I am also taking Tylenol for the pain, because I don't tolerate anything stronger very well. I'm still a little scared, but reading all of your posts have helped me TREMENDOUSLY. I can't thank you enough. Sometimes I wonder how all of us Crohnies can handle so much..... Blessings to you all, Julie
Posted 5/7/2008 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
Julie, I'm so glad you caught your shingles Dx so early in the game. I also had a case of shingles several years ago now. Fortunately, the pain was enough to tell me SOMETHING was going on for some time before the rash broke out. In fact, I was w/a nurse when the first few small eruptions occurred! Now how fast is that to get a Dx? Just a half hour before there had been no indication of a rash! The anti-viral worked fast and so I never did get more than 5-6 very tiny "pimples" on my back at the waistline.
Posted 5/7/2008 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
ChronieToo, I believe I caught it fast enough also. The pain is pretty bad, but hopefully it won't get any worse. I'm glad yours went away quickly. Blessings, Julie
Posted 5/7/2008 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not much of a one for pain meds. God has blessed me w/a good response to Tylenol! But I gotta tell ya, no matter it made me sick, Vicodin was a blessing the first few days! And for shingles the docs were generous w/pain management!
Posted 5/8/2008 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, wish they were as understanding for Crohn's but you cannot have everything. Maybe bacause many people experience shingles as they get older. Nasty bug, plus all of us who had Chickenpox are at risk. That is ALMOST everyone in my generation. Never realized the stuff hung out in your system forever until Mom's little attack..

Matthew
Posted 5/9/2008 10:58 PM (GMT 0)

I was diagnosed with Crohn's 13 years ago.  Was in remission for about 10 years, then flare ups started again.  No surgery.  Prednisone works for me when it's really bad but I am now on Mercaptopurine (6mp) once a day and it seems to do the trick keeping me in remission. I tried Asacol but had terrible headaches. Unfortunately the 6MP seems to have lowered my immune and I presently have a case of Shingles.  The pain was horrible in my right arm (only place with blisters).  Doctor knew right away from my symptoms that it was shingles.  I am taking Valtrex and Pain meds.  I believe it is working.  Rash is spreading on my arm slowly but no more blisters have formed.  I can deal with the Shingles much more than the Crohn's pain.

Good luck to everyone... I feel your pain.

Posted 5/10/2008 9:52 AM (GMT 0)
jtmom, I hope you feel better soon! I'm on day 6 of Shingles. The symptoms are lasting longer than I thought. I'm trying to stay as optimistic as possible. Julie
Posted 5/10/2008 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Julie,

I am on day 7 with the shingles (noticedthe pain last Saturday)but only day 4 of Valtrex treatment.  The rash fortunately doesnt itch at all and has kept to only my right arm.  I take Hydrocodone at night for the pain so I can sleep and luckily during the day the pain is minimal so I try to stay off the pain meds since I have a 4 year old busy boy to keep up with.  From what I have been reading, after the rash goes away the pain could last from 3 weeks to 6 months.. uggh.  But still, all in all, this pain is tolerable compared to the Crohn's pain. 

It's nice to chat with someone who knows what I am going through. 

Jill :)

Posted 5/10/2008 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Jill, I certainly understand! I feel like I'm going bonkers, lol! I've been taking Tylenol every 4 hours. I wish this healing process would speed up a little bit. I'm not keeping up with a 4 year old, though. I hope you have a good day, and pray for a quick recovery for the both of us! Blessings, Julie
Posted 5/20/2008 6:11 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Julie, 

How are you feeling? It has been just over 2 weeks now with the Shingles.  My rash (on my arm only) is finally starting to fade.  The pain is still pretty bad but at night only.  So during the day I am fine which is great but then my sleep is disrupted at night so I am still taking pain meds to help sleep.  The pain now is weird though.  Kind of like sunburn skin.  I feel a slight itch and then I just rub it lightly and then it feels like my skin is burning below the surface and is going to peel off. 

My Crohn's seems to be under control with the 6 Mp.  That is the only thing I take right now.  I am sure it caused my immune to be compromised causing Shingles to come out.

Hope you are doing better.

Jill

Posted 9/2/2010 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hello...responding to an old post. I am 51 today and in the midst of a bout of Shingles. Yes, Happy Birthday to me...sigh. Compared to the above posts, I guess I'm getting off easy! The doctor said it was a variation of Shingles (whatever that means). Mine sting and are just getting the big blisters. I'm on day 5 and I'm finding that I can keep them "calm" with cold water. I also put a mixture of Peppermint tea and Apple cider Vinegar on them several times a day. So, knock on wood, I'm doing as well as can be expected with that and the meds.

My question is about work. I HAVE to work or I don't get paid. I live hand to mouth and I can't afford NOT working. Today is Thur. and I have to work on Sat. at a child's party. Is this safe????? Plus, Labor Day weekend starts Friday thru Monday! Should I or shouldn't I work?
I'm a caricature artist so I just sit and draw faces.

I can't really hide my bumps. What to do, what to do? My Bumps start at my chest and go up my right side to my right shoulder and then to the right side of my neck and my ear. My ear is really swollen.

But I feel fine enough to work...
Posted 9/2/2010 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Julie,

I'm like a shingle Queen! I've had them 5 times and I'm 42...Had chickenpox 3 times as a kid. Last summer got them super bad all over my left back and boob area.NO bra for me last summer..haha... At first it felt like I broke a rib, then out came the blisters. It lasted all summer long. It took two doses of valtrex, and pred shots. Then, this year before my daughters wedding they decided to grace my face! Yep, and I really didn't think it was shingles so I didn't go straight to the Dr. because I never had them on my face! Must be a summer thing for me...who knows! I hate them and the pain does hurt! fyi...just to let you know your sapossed to NOT be around Pregnant people either.

I struggle with anxiety and like you am soooo ....scared of taking new med's because I'm allergic to sooo much! The valtrex didn't really bother me...didn't even notice it...The pred shots they gave me were 50mlg doses...that bothered me! It was tooo much tooo fast and I was roided out!! my poor husband! I cried, then laughed, then had rage..blah blah

I hope you can get rid of them fast! The ones on my face are just fading now..and have had them since before the fourth of July.

Good Luck to you! the key is to catch them fast I've found.

 

Posted 9/3/2010 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I know you're not supposed to be around pregnant women...you might be contagious.
Posted 9/3/2010 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Flowery,

You seem to have a bit of a problem with your immune response. Aside from the DD we all share, I mean. Have you talked to anybody about it?
FWIW, I had ChickenPox twice as a kid. We just call the 2nd outbreak the "Creeping Crud" though. LOL

Matthew
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12