Anyone Else Have Shingles?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Anyone Else Have Shingles?
Doubled over in UNBELIEVABLE pain yesterday, went to the doctor, he thinks I might have shingles. Is it contagious? Do I have to stay out of work? How long does it last? Any insight would be appreciated. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy......
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: NE Texas
Did you have chickenpox as a child, Jeff? My brother got shingles a few months ago and it almost took him out - out as not being able to work. 
The doctor told him that his was most likely caused by stress.
It is not contagious, but exposure to children through open rashes can (have been known to) cause chickenpox.
I know only what I learned from my brother, maybe someone else will chime in with a little more info.
I hope you can get relief soon - I know how much pain you're in.
Will keep you in my prayers.
The doctor told him that his was most likely caused by stress.
It is not contagious, but exposure to children through open rashes can (have been known to) cause chickenpox.
I know only what I learned from my brother, maybe someone else will chime in with a little more info.
I hope you can get relief soon - I know how much pain you're in.
Will keep you in my prayers.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Port St. Lucie, FL
Originally Posted by 1956MarkII
Doubled over in UNBELIEVABLE pain yesterday, went to the doctor, he thinks I might have shingles. Is it contagious? Do I have to stay out of work? How long does it last? Any insight would be appreciated. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy......
No never had them but have herd they are PAINFUL.
Hope you get rid of them QUICK
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 558
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From: Eastern, NC
I had them. Not that painful for me, but I was 36 when I got them. Its usually tougher on older folks. The doc will give you some herpes meds for it like zovirax. It lasted for about a week for me. It takes some folks a long time to get rid of them. Hope you can get rid of it quick. Oh yeah, don't scratch or it will leave scarring.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
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From: Durham, NC
My aunt had them, and said they were real painful!!
Sorry to hear you have them!!!!
Check out this URL for information on Shingles:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_...ingles_doc.htm
We will pray for you!!!!!!
Sorry to hear you have them!!!!
Check out this URL for information on Shingles:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_...ingles_doc.htm
We will pray for you!!!!!!
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,543
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From: Georgia
Sorry to hear about that Jeff.
Here I thought I was going to read & learn something about do-it-yourself home repair but was rather surprised when I got in.
Hope you get up and running soon. I did learn something though thanks to the link Bob tossed in. I personally never heard of the it until now.
Here I thought I was going to read & learn something about do-it-yourself home repair but was rather surprised when I got in.
Hope you get up and running soon. I did learn something though thanks to the link Bob tossed in. I personally never heard of the it until now.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Cameron, OK
My dad used to get them, it is typically related to stress... and gets much worse as you get older. All he could really do was treat the rashes as they broke out and let it run it's coarse, typically took about 4 or 5 days I think.
Sorry to hear it... I got chicken pox when I was 22.. that was the worst I've ever felt in my life. Just be carefull what you put on them, my wife put me in a baking soda bath, she said it would relieve the itch. Come to find out I'm allergic to baking soda, I broke in hives "EVERYWHERE"... ended up at the hospital but after a few shots of benadryl I was ok. Speaking of that I think thats what dad used, he took benedryl and used the poison ivy creams as a topical to relieve the itch.
Sorry to hear it... I got chicken pox when I was 22.. that was the worst I've ever felt in my life. Just be carefull what you put on them, my wife put me in a baking soda bath, she said it would relieve the itch. Come to find out I'm allergic to baking soda, I broke in hives "EVERYWHERE"... ended up at the hospital but after a few shots of benadryl I was ok. Speaking of that I think thats what dad used, he took benedryl and used the poison ivy creams as a topical to relieve the itch.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Buffalo, Minnesota
Hi Mark,
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. I got them about ten years ago on my neck. Many months after the open rash disappeared I would get recurring shooting pains in my neck, like I was getting another outbreak, but I never have. Since it's a nerve thing I suppose it likes to tweak a person just for spite. I hope you make a quick recovery.
regards
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. I got them about ten years ago on my neck. Many months after the open rash disappeared I would get recurring shooting pains in my neck, like I was getting another outbreak, but I never have. Since it's a nerve thing I suppose it likes to tweak a person just for spite. I hope you make a quick recovery.
regards
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Southern NH
My grandmother got them on her leg, a couple of years ago.
No one in the family knew she had them until about a week after they appeared, and she couldn't stand the pain anymore. She ended up in the hospital for a few days. And because she waited so long to get treatment, she still gets reoccuring pain every once in while even though they are gone.
I hope you get rid of them quickly. Good luck.
Robin
No one in the family knew she had them until about a week after they appeared, and she couldn't stand the pain anymore. She ended up in the hospital for a few days. And because she waited so long to get treatment, she still gets reoccuring pain every once in while even though they are gone.
I hope you get rid of them quickly. Good luck.
Robin
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Norcross, GA
Shingles come about because your nervous system is weaker than normal. Shingles is a form of chicken pox stored in your spine. After having chicken pox the virus retreats into your spine only to pop up later. If it is Shingles it will only be on one hemisphere of your body, mine was my left side from the center of my back to the center of my stomach. It IS contagious to those who have not had chicken pox and can cause a severe outbreak in them. Once you start to ooze you should probably take time off from work. Do NOT get a cortisone shot as that can make it worse and I don't have to tell you how good it feels right now. Mine was caused by stress as was my uncle's who just got over his. I was only about 24 when I got it and all I could do was hurt until it went away. Chances are you will scar, I did and I never scratched them. I now have some pretty ugly scars from them but they look a little better now after 5 years.
All I can say is suck it up and ride it out. They suck and took about 2 weeks to fully go away.
All I can say is suck it up and ride it out. They suck and took about 2 weeks to fully go away.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
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From: Eastern WA
Over the years two of my buddies have gotten them. In both cases they developed a rash on their chest. The doc attributed it to stress. As I recall, the worst of the pain was gone in 3-5 days, but the condition drug out over a few weeks (the visible part of it). If the pain is horrific, call your doc and ask for a prescription for Tylenol w/codine 3. I'll be preying for a fast recovery for you. Heres a URL with info on the subject http://my.webmd.com/search/search_re...bmd_all_filter.
Last edited by CowboyBilly9Mile; Apr 14, 2004 at 12:25 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Hampstead, NC
I had them 4 years ago on my back(left side only). Doc said it was most likely caused by stress. I had them for 1-2 weeks, though the pain wasn't too bad for most of it. The doc gave me some meds and all was fine after that. I have not gotten them again.
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Doing better, and thanks for asking. It appears that my getting to the doctor quickly, and the drugs he prescribed, helped a lot. No blisters yet, and the excruciating pain stopped this morning. Unfortunately, the spasms associated with the pain caused me to twist in a way that I shouldn't have, and my back went out on me. Even the Vicadin (sp?) the doctor put me on doesn't help with that. BTW, the prescription he put me on for the shingles- I don't know the name of it, but they are the BIGGEST dark blue pills I've ever seen. And get this: those 21 pills cost $165.90!!!