Shingles :(

I've got 'em. Was worried about starting a flare before this happened. Still waiting to see my GI. If you've had them were you flaring when you got them?

Thanks. It's extra miserable since I'm nursing a little one. I'm happy as long as he doesn't get chicken pox.

I had shingles post partum for my 2nd baby. It was NASTY. But I did end up taking Valtrex - don't know if you've considered that, but it might help prevent neuralgia. I was nursing, too - my blisters started 6 weeks post partum. At that age the baby was not at risk for chicken pox because she was still protected from the immunities she got in utero. I still covered my blisters (back, shoulder, armpit) with gauze so she wouldn't come into contact with it.

How old is your baby?

Well, it's been 8.5 years since then, but my recollection is that the sores were gone within about 10 days (remember, I took Valtrex) but the shoulder pain lasted about 3 months.  Ugh, that was awful.  At the time I wasn't really treating my IBD so I used ibuprofen to deal with the shoulder pain.  I was so, so mad at my GP - I went to see him about what I thought was shingles and he refused to prescribe any antivirals because I was nursing.  It took a lot of phone calls (ped said no, too, but my OB/Gyn said yes after I talked to La Leche and looked up Valtrex on that meds in mothers' milk website) to get the prescription, but by then the blisters had formed and I was s.c.r.e.w.e.d.

At four months your baby is still protected against chicken pox I think (they say those in utero immunities last 6 months, right?).  I wouldn't be too concerned about him getting sick from your sores.  Sorry you're having to go through this!!

are you on Remicade or Humira at all?
at my Gastro's office they were doing surveys recently of all the patients coming in who had been on Remicade and Humira and trying to see if there was a link between taking those and possibly being more at risk for catching shingles.....I have no clue why, I just know they were doing it...I guess it's been noticed that Remicade and Humira make people more prone to it.