Anyone Have Shingles While Pregnant?

[preppy]

I had a very very itchy rash on my belly and the OB had me come in and they said its shingles I am 33+4 weeks and SO uncomfortable already and this is just kicking me while I am down. 

Good news is I went in right away and they think its early and they started me on a round of meds. 

Anyone who has experienced this, do you have any advice to relieve the itchy/pain/rip my skin off symptoms? Cortisone is only kinda helping.

[pizzanight]

I had it when I was 35ish weeks with DS. It SUCKED. Things I used:

-Gold Bond powder
-tea tree oil mixed w coconut oil
-cold packs (rice bag from freezer)
-painkillers/fever reducers - can you take Tylenol? I was taking it on a schedule to keep the body aches and fever at bay. My OB was not into ibuprofen but apparently would have prescribed Percocet if it was getting unbearable.

So sorry. Shingles is the devil. The only thing good about my experience was that being 38+ weeks pregnant without shingles is still SO MUCH BETTER than being 35+ weeks pregnant with shingles.

[bcarp30]

I didn't have it while pregnant but I have had it and it's awful. I am SO sorry you have to deal with it!

Cool compress cloths really helped me. I had it on my back and face (basically one side that spidered) and I would lay on cool wash clothes and it helped a bit.

[preppy]

Aug 6, 2015 15:53:20 GMT -5 pizzanight said:

I had it when I was 35ish weeks with DS. It SUCKED. Things I used:

-Gold Bond powder
-tea tree oil mixed w coconut oil
-cold packs (rice bag from freezer)
-painkillers/fever reducers - can you take Tylenol? I was taking it on a schedule to keep the body aches and fever at bay. My OB was not into ibuprofen but apparently would have prescribed Percocet if it was getting unbearable.

So sorry. Shingles is the devil. The only thing good about my experience was that being 38+ weeks pregnant without shingles is still SO MUCH BETTER than being 35+ weeks pregnant with shingles.

I can take Tylenol but haven't yet. I will take some that will hopefully help. 

LOL to the bold - silver lining? 

How long did it take until it felt better?

[preppy]

Aug 6, 2015 15:54:45 GMT -5 bcarp30 said:

I didn't have it while pregnant but I have had it and it's awful. I am SO sorry you have to deal with it!

Cool compress cloths really helped me. I had it on my back and face (basically one side that spidered) and I would lay on cool wash clothes and it helped a bit.

Having it on your face sounds terrible:( I actually just ordered a cold towel from amazon for labor and it should arrive today. Dual purpose!

[achi]

I commented on the GP thread, but I forgot to mention that putting bag balm (which is an antiseptic salve) on the rash really helped speed the healing and deal with the itch.

[pizzanight]

Aug 6, 2015 16:29:55 GMT -5 preppy said:

Aug 6, 2015 15:53:20 GMT -5 pizzanight said:

I had it when I was 35ish weeks with DS. It SUCKED. Things I used:

-Gold Bond powder
-tea tree oil mixed w coconut oil
-cold packs (rice bag from freezer)
-painkillers/fever reducers - can you take Tylenol? I was taking it on a schedule to keep the body aches and fever at bay. My OB was not into ibuprofen but apparently would have prescribed Percocet if it was getting unbearable.

So sorry. Shingles is the devil. The only thing good about my experience was that being 38+ weeks pregnant without shingles is still SO MUCH BETTER than being 35+ weeks pregnant with shingles.

I can take Tylenol but haven't yet. I will take some that will hopefully help. 

LOL to the bold - silver lining? 

How long did it take until it felt better?

At least there was a bit of a silver lining, right?  

I started feeling "off" on Friday. Rash showed up on Sunday. Started antivirals on Monday (afternoon) and felt much, much better by Thursday.  I pushed it too much and tried to go to work on Wednesday and I think that set me back - I was a mess.  

[preppy]

Aug 6, 2015 16:55:08 GMT -5 pizzanight said:

Aug 6, 2015 16:29:55 GMT -5 preppy said:

I can take Tylenol but haven't yet. I will take some that will hopefully help. 

LOL to the bold - silver lining? 

How long did it take until it felt better?

At least there was a bit of a silver lining, right?  

I started feeling "off" on Friday. Rash showed up on Sunday. Started antivirals on Monday (afternoon) and felt much, much better by Thursday.  I pushed it too much and tried to go to work on Wednesday and I think that set me back - I was a mess.  

This gives me hope, some things online were saying 3-4 weeks!! I worked from home this afternoon and will tomorrow then will take it easy this weekend. I don't want to push it, I want this GONE. Thanks:)

[bcarp30]

Aug 6, 2015 16:31:01 GMT -5 preppy said:

Aug 6, 2015 15:54:45 GMT -5 bcarp30 said:

I didn't have it while pregnant but I have had it and it's awful. I am SO sorry you have to deal with it!

Cool compress cloths really helped me. I had it on my back and face (basically one side that spidered) and I would lay on cool wash clothes and it helped a bit.

Having it on your face sounds terrible:( I actually just ordered a cold towel from amazon for labor and it should arrive today. Dual purpose!

Yes! Test it out and see how it works! Also try putting some tea tree oil or witch hazel on a cool cloth and see if that helps. I think it took about a week to feel better.

Face was not good. It was mostly hidden by my hair but so embarrassing!

[Deleted]

Oh man I'm sorry. An old coworker did and it was horrible. She had it on her legs. I don't have any advice but I hope you get relief soon!

[Deleted]

There is a product called zostrix. I have no idea about safety in pregnancy and it can only be used on closed rash (not open sores)

[stretchad]

I had shingles about 20 years ago...not pregnant then, but that shit HURT. So, I'm sorry you're dealing with it! It was just a quarter sized patch on my side, under my ribs...I think to keep comfortable I used ice packs, and bag balm, and was on zostrix.