I have shingles (Varicella zoster)

Yikes! Shingles is NOT FUN.

I know 2 people who didn't get it treated right away and have ended up with permanent nerve damage (read pain). I also have a friend whose elderly father took about 8 months of daily debraiding treatments to get his under control. Really nasty stuff. I sure hope yours heals without any further complications.

PS. There is a shingles vaccine now, I've meant to ask my rheumy about it next time I visit.

It's recommended for people over a certain age -- 65? -- but with all the strange fevers, etc we Lupies have (that often set off my fever blisters, herpes simplex 1, very similar to the shingles virus) -- I'd like to get the vaccine now, if they'll let me do it. If it's a live vaccine, we Lupies may not be allowed!!

You have to keep getting it, it isn't a one-time deal? That's a drag.

And the website I'm looking at says it's live.

I wonder if maybe there are options for both live & not-live?

Hi Donna, wishing you a short course of it and speedy recovery. My grandmother had shingles and I've seen the pain it can cause, what an awful thing :(

Thinking of you and wishing it was just hiccups. ;)

I have post herpetic neuralgia secondary to shingles. I have found the Durogesic patch and neurontin have help me quite a bit. It's painful anyway you look at it. I found help I these meds.
I hope others can too.
Cassie

Donna:

(((Hugs))) sweetie I'm so sorry that you now have shingles. My Mom had shingles, hers went onto her face and into her left eye. She was in such terrible pain and it permanently damaged her eye. Her left eye was always dilated after getting the shingles.

I hope that your pain is being well controlled and that you do not end up with a bunch of scarring. How are you feeling otherwise? I know that you've been struggling. I see the surgeon on Thursday and I'll see what he has to say. Will update on my thread as to how I really am.

Just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you and Vickie and I are praying for you. I sure hope that I don't get shingles, I've never had the chicken pox, nor have I had the vaccine for it. Since I only have 4 T4 cells they say NO WAY to any type of vaccines

You hang in there Donna and I"m here if you you need me and I'm praying for you daily.

Hugs,
Barbara

Thanks for the support Patty and it's great hearing from you. Barbara that was a terrible thing your Mom went through. I've thought of you often these past several months. I've been so sick with Lupus, Benlysta and mentally incapable with depression it's been close to impossible to come online for anything. I'm very surprised to be on HW now, even with shingles. My new, expensive psych med is worth the money. I'll try to read your update, but know that I truly appreciate your prayers. Love, Donna

Hi Everyone. After 3 weeks my shingles was resolving, but then more sores broke out on the same arm. My infectious disease doc increased my Neurontin and Percocet. I've been wanting to see a pain specialist for over a year and it seems shingles pushed my docs to make a referral. I saw him last week and he was wonderful. Very caring and concerned about both my lupus pain and shingles. He will now be one of my regular docs and the only doc from whom I will get pain meds.

I so hate all the medical appointments I have, but I also think they're necessary. I'm going to physical therapy once a week and she is gentle, but also knows exactly what exercises help. Now I just have to make myself do them at home. Tomorrow I get my monthly IVIG infusion. The last one took 5 hours (a new record). My monthly Benlysta infusions take about 2 hours. I used to make only one appt per week, but now I sometimes must make 2 or 3. It can really wear me down both physically and mentally.

I have finally noticed an improvement in my health (however slight) after six months of Benlysta. My hubby has noticed this also and we both think I need to continue the Benlysta even though it depletes my immune system, leaving me at risk. Hopefully the IVIG will help that. Well that's enough of an update. Bottom line, I HATE all the appointments, but currently have a good medical team. Love, Butterflake

Hi Donna:

Sweetie I know how you feel about the appointments. They do wear us down and are hard on us, it's bad enough that we're sick. Then we have to drag ourselves out to our Doctor's appointments. I know that as of right now Fridays are my only day that I don't have to see anyone or do anything medically related.

I do Physical therapy on Monday and Wednesday. Pulmonary Rehab Tuesday and Thursday. I see my Therapist on Wednesday Afternoons. I seem to spend all my time either driving to or from the hospital. It's exactly 19 miles one way to the medical center I'm treated at. I had to fill out some paperwork for SSDI last year accounting for all my Dr appointments. Well, once I put them ALL into a spread sheet and my average was that I spent 22 days a month at the medical center. My Doctor saw that number and said, "Barbara, coming here is your full time job". Donna try not to let this aspect get you down okay. Try to look at it as just something you have to put up with for the time being.

I hope that your shingles improve and you get NO MORE new rashes. I saw that you think you may be feeling better and things just might be looking up for you. I can't be more than happy for you You keep up the good work sweetie.

I hope that you're sleep since I'm not LOL. I'm going to go to bed now though, since it's 2:41am. You take care and let us know how you're doing when you feel up to it . Praying for you Donna.
Hugs,
Barbara