Shingles!

[rosiebear]

This board just gets happier and happier, lol. Diagnosed with shingles today after ruling out a heart attack (symptoms were pain and tingling down arm and behind shoulder blade). Wheeeee!

The pain is bad. Bad enough to get me into urgent care but luckily it's an early stage. So: yay?

Anybody else in the shingles boat?

[Pom]

One of my friends recently had them. So sorry, it sucks and can be very painful.

[dorothyinAus]

I had shingles a few years ago. I think I had a very mild case, or caught them quite early because I remember the pain, but it was pretty bearable. The itching was insane! I could not stop scratching. People at work commented on it because I could not stop scratching my right breast and under my right arm.

My older brother had shingles at the same time I did, but his was on his face and in his left eye. So I think I made a bit better there.

I hope your case resolves itself quickly and easily.

[flex]

My parents had them. Then my little sister had them last year when she was 45, so shortly after that, I got a shingles shot.

I'm sorry you're going through this, but from what I understand, catching it early is the best thing. ((hugs to you))

[sweetcheeks]

Jun 10, 2016 16:50:04 GMT -5 rosiebear said:

This board just gets happier and happier, lol. Diagnosed with shingles today after ruling out a heart attack (symptoms were pain and tingling down arm and behind shoulder blade). Wheeeee!

The pain is bad. Bad enough to get me into urgent care but luckily it's an early stage. So: yay?

Anybody else in the shingles boat?

Hope you feel better soon  (rose)

Are those your only symptoms?  I've had those same symptoms for over a month now, and thought it was just a pinched nerve.  Took advil to help with the pain (which made my ulcer flair up, so now I'm taking medication for that).  I've had no rash or itching, and the pain has pretty much subsided, though I still have tingling in my arm and finger tips.

I'm not even sure I've had the chicken pox. Both my sisters got chicken pox when I was a 3 month old baby. I got three pox on my belly and the doctor, who was shocked that I got them at all, said it wasn't enough to create immunity. Was going to get a blood test to see if I have anti-bodies or not. If not, then I was going to have to get the chicken pox vaccine instead of the shingles one. 

[mrsukyankee]

Oh, no. My H got shingles and he was in some serious pain. Hope you recover quickly!

[rosiebear]

Thanks, guys. sweetcheeks, the pain was causing some mild nausea and a feeling of weakness, too. I thought it was a pinched nerve but it kept getting worse. Heart attack did cross my mind, although I have no real risk factors.

The doc found two very small lesions in a perfect line down my back. I never would have noticed them.

[flex]

P. S. You can development shingles even if you've had chicken pox.

[mags]

I'm sorry
I'm going to ask my dr about the shot when I go on monday

[seabitch]

I understand it can be quite painful. Hoping it goes away quickly. This aging thing is not all its cracked up to be sometimes....

[MixedBerryJam]

Jun 11, 2016 12:50:43 GMT -5 flex said:

P. S. You can development shingles even if you've had chicken pox.

I think you can only get shingles if you've had chicken pox. rosie, I'm sorry you're having to deal with it. I'd send a hug but I don't want it to hurt! I hope catching it early means a mild case for you. My doctor only gives it to over 62 I think, but I had the nurse for one random visit and she asked me if I wanted it and gave it to me a year or so ago. I'm terrified of getting them, even though I know in my brain 99.99% of cases are not the worst case scenarios presented in drug ads. 

[frannyr]

I've known two people with shingles. One is my sister and she had a mild case. It was a rash on her shoulder which wasn't painful and went away with some treatment or other. The second is a friend who had a rather painful bout. The good news is neither have had a re-occurrence.

[mrsukyankee]

How are you doing, rosiebear?

[rosiebear]

Jun 14, 2016 3:06:56 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

How are you doing, rosiebear?

You're sweet to ask! I appreciate it, and all the sympathetic thoughts here.

I'm better than most with this condition- I caught it very early. The pain is intermittent, not constant. I think the intervals are getting longer and hopefully the pain will be gone within a week or so. If my luck holds, I won't have any recurrence and I'll be fine with this forever!

[ECB]

I had them a few years ago. A small patch at my hairline on my neck and then a spot or two on my cheek and shoulder. So- small but OMG.... the pain. My jaw in particular. I was taking any and all combinations of pain pills. Advil is supposed to be every 6 hours? After 3 hours I was in so much pain.

It was horrible.

[aMrsin09]

I'm late to this thread, but has anyone heard anything negative about the shot? I think I can get it at 50 down here.
Although I have asthma so I may be able to get it now.

[dorothyinAus]

Jun 18, 2016 19:18:00 GMT -5 aMrsin09 said:

I'm late to this thread, but has anyone heard anything negative about the shot? I think I can get it at 50 down here.
Although I have asthma so I may be able to get it now.

When I had shingles, my doctor said it was rare for people to have an outbreak more than once.  And he mentioned that it is less likely for people prone to fever blisters to develop shingles (it's the same virus).  At the time, the was about 50% effective at preventing shingles, but it may have changed; it's been a few years.

I'm not planning on getting one, because I've already had shingles, but if I had not I would consider it.

[aMrsin09]

Jun 18, 2016 19:50:29 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Jun 18, 2016 19:18:00 GMT -5 aMrsin09 said:

I'm late to this thread, but has anyone heard anything negative about the shot? I think I can get it at 50 down here.
Although I have asthma so I may be able to get it now.

When I had shingles, my doctor said it was rare for people to have an outbreak more than once.  And he mentioned that it is less likely for people prone to fever blisters to develop shingles (it's the same virus).  At the time, the was about 50% effective at preventing shingles, but it may have changed; it's been a few years.

I'm not planning on getting one, because I've already had shingles, but if I had not I would consider it.

I looked it up.  If you're under 70 you have to pay $200 (ish) for it and it lasts 10-12 years.  So, $400 over the next 20 years to try to not get it?  I'll make my appt ASAP.

I already get a weird skin rash down here 

[Deleted]

rosiebear, how are you doing?
I had them. Started with a very different kind of pain. Hard to describe. Then in a couple of days, I noticed some lesions in my armpit. Fortunately, the light bulb went on and the urgent care diagnosis was shingles. They were very painful and spread all over my armpit and trunk. I feel for you!

[rosiebear]

Thanks for asking, CL. I took the full course of anti-viral meds, and I'm on the mend. My arm and shoulder had it the worst, but the pain is intermittent and much milder, now. I was lucky. I'm so sorry for all of you who've had it much worse!

[Gato]

I'm sorry rosiebear. I hope you get better soon.