Shingles? Anyone ever had that?

[CountryWolf07]

Yes, I've been under stress; especially about college. I am just shocked that I have it. I will take good care of myself, I'm 22, almost 23.. I'm at the point where the shingles are becoming "scabs".. and it's starting to pinch.. and bubbles are being popped on its own.. I'm not looking forward to this. I have medication now. I have to take 5 pills a day for a week, including putting ointment 3-5 times a day too as well. So hopefully, it won't be that painful. I have a very high tolerance of pain.

Thanks.

[Catty1]

Maybe a baking soda bath would help too?

Hope you are feeling better soon!

[anna_66]

Yep, I had them in 2002. The worst pain I had ever felt in my life. I think it was even worse than the recent dog bite. I took pain meds but it didn't help tremendously. If your in pain don't hesitate to take them though. I think if you were going to have a lot of pain you would have already had it, so your lucky.
Hope you heal fast!

[trayi52]

My mother-in-law had them, and she was in awful pain. You take what you can get for the pain. Ruth was in the hospital for a while with them, bless her heart, it hurt me just to watch her with them, she had them around her head.

I hope your time is short with them, and you get rid of them very fast, hon.

Willie

[cyber-sibes]

I got them in the middle of my back when I was pregnant at age 29. Ugh, horrible pain. Although it cleared up, I still have nerve damage there 25 yrs later. Can't stand anything going across the middle of my back. ("convenient" for us gals, huh? )
My mom had them when she was going through chemo, couldn't stand anything on her skin. I felt soooo bad for her. She said it hurt more than anything she'd ever gone through.
Unfortunately, it is cause by a virus and once it's in your system, it's there. They can be dormant for a long time, but you can develope outbreaks again. I believe it's related to chicken pox (but don't quote me on that one)

[CountryWolf07]

That is scary to think that I'd might get nerve damage in my arm. I just brought it upon myself to get this. It is not fun; it's starting to tingle, and scabs are forming, but it's very small, not big, just the size of a nickel on my arm and the size of a quarter in the middle of my chest (you know, in between my... yeah.)

[Daisy and Delilah]

Rachel,

I'm so sorry to hear you have this. I have an older friend that has it every few years. She was in excruciating pain for quite a long time. No matter what she did, she couldn't even get any sleep. She was really in bad shape. It was on her back. I think she took Tylenol 3 and it's the only relief she got.

I hope you feel better soon! {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

[emily_the_spoiled]

Rachell,

First you did NOT bring this upon yourself. Anyone who has had chickenpox or been exposed to chickpox has a risk of developing shingles (it is the same virus). The only difference is that in shingles it is stored in the nerve endings (so that is why it is so painful) but with regular chickenpox usually the virus is contained within the skin.

By taking the pills and the ointment until they are FINISHED it will help shorten the attack.

For some people excessive stress or a compromised immune system can induce an attack of shingles. Unfortunately you are not at risk for the rest of your life. But the attacks will generally follow the same pattern, so if you get medication early enough (i.e. recognize the symptoms) then you can really shorten the length and painfulness of the attack.

Good luck (and Vicodan can help)