Shingles, anyone?

Country4ever wrote:And please don't call me a fool. You don't know the facts about me.

I didn't say you. I said, "antivaccination people," meaning the Alex Jones - autism/vaccine conspiracy - government conspiracy, etc. people.

Back to the Shingles... I got shingles in 2007. I notice about a week before Thanksgiving a shooting pain in my right eye, which went away. About 3 days later, I experienced itching above my right eye. Then 2 days before Thanksgiving, I got a rash above and around my eye. It itched horribly. I didn't know what it was at the time. I tried anti-itch creams, which didn't work. Finally the only thing that would calm the itch and allow me to sleep was to put a cold compress on it. Then I went to the Urgent Care clinic for our medical clinic. Drove myself, saw the Doctor. The Doctor told me I had shingles and that I couldn't leave until I saw the Ophthalmologist. He explained that it is a dormant Chicken Pox virus. That it attaches to a nerve, any nerve, and then follows that nerve to the surface, wherever that may be. Because the nerve that was involved in my case was or was near the eye, he wanted to be sure that it wasn't affected because it could cause vision loss or blindness. While I had a long wait for the Ophthalmologist, I did wait. I was given a medication to take that while would not cure it, would lessen the outbreak.

He said that I was fortunate because I came in very early in the outbreak but did advise that it could happen again and again. Doctor told me many outbreaks are caused by stress. Over the last few years, I have been exposed to a very stressful working environment and I am doing my best to not allow it to overwhelm me. One good thing is that being on CPAP therapy has actually help me be more calm and patient. That goes along way to help my stress levels.

I hope this information helps. FYI - I was under 50 when my outbreak occurred.

Terri, did you ever get a vaccine or discuss it with a doctor?

Just curious Cruz Terri.......when you made the appointment with the ophthalmologist, did you tell them you had shingles around your eye? Seems like that would have been a high priority for them.

archangle wrote:Terri, did you ever get a vaccine or discuss it with a doctor?

Never got the vaccine, nor have I discussed it with the doctor. However, my doctor is part of a large medical "foundation" so I know the information is in my chart. That's what allowed me to go from Urgent Care straight to the Ophthalmologist's office as it's all one place.

Country4ever wrote:Just curious Cruz Terri.......when you made the appointment with the ophthalmologist, did you tell them you had shingles around your eye? Seems like that would have been a high priority for them.

Yes, they were aware I had been referred to their office due to the diagnosis of shingles. That's why I had to wait they were so busy, they had to really squeeze me in, instead of coming back, which at that time would have had to be after Thanksgiving.

hey Jim, just checking in on you to see if you are doing any better? Keeping you in my thoughts. (Mom goes again today for another round of shots)

Why thank you for asking, Mimmie. Mine still hurt a bunch but they have stopped spreading/enlarging. Only a few patches have formed blisters and that may wind up being a good thing. I have no idea how old you are but I did see what you said about your mom and sisters having had shingles - I just read where the FDA had approved the shot for the 50-59 age group, in addition to the 60+ bunch. You can bet that when my doctor gives me the go-ahead I'll have the shot. Call me "a believer." There could be a genetic connection to these things as my father had them when I was a boy. If so, bless your heart, you may be predisposed to having a bout with them in the future. I hope not. I always thought men weren't a match for much pain and now I'm believing it even more since I've had these things. At times, if crying would have helped I'd have done some.

Mine cover the right side of my upper chest and run a line down under my arm pit to the upper right back, where they are much denser. This has pretty well dictated lying on my left side while in bed. I have found the most comfort in my recliner (semi- reclined). That way not much weight is put on that area and I have moved my machine there. No use getting up and down and disturbing the wife doing so. It's my ninth day and I just hope the pain subsides a little more each day.

Note: I've had some of my best AHI's in my recliner and am wondering if part of that isn't due to NOT being fully supine - guess that's another thread. I know I owe part of that success to this wonderful, new nasal mask (Mirage FX) and the recliner situation seems to be deal for using it.

Things could always be worse and I'm happy to be alive!

J

Well, you are apparently in pretty good spirits considering your situation.I hope the rest of this bout w/shingles passes quickly for you! NOT FUN, I know.

Yes, the recliner is one of my favorite sleep spots too. I finally got a BackMax Back Support System with Massage for
my bed. I had to stop sleeping on my back because of back problems a long time ago and then apnea came along and completely stopped any thought of back sleeping for me. I really like the backmax. I can toss it in the floor and watch TV too. It's really nice.

Mom is doing really well since her second round of shots the other day. We are very pleased. She had 6 injections this time. 3 below the ribs and 3 along the spine. She is almost like her old self again. We go again next week and then once monthly. It has made a remarkable difference. It has also improved her appetite! Mom is just a little tiny thing and the steroid part of the shot is making her eat everything!

I hope that your blisters stop spreading and go away quickly. Your doctor can get you the lidocaine patches and they will help a lot. Mom used them at night to help her sleep. She said that it made the little devils get quiet. They aren't messy either. Just cut them to the size you need and they stick right on to you. When the blisters are gone you can get Capsaisin cream, over the counter. It helped mom more than anything else that we tried. If someone else puts it on you, make sure they wear a glove. Any little cut will scream in agony if that cream gets in it! It's made from peppers and she loved using it.

One of my sisters swears that Lysine pills helped hers not be so bad. She went to the health food store and got them. Her shingles were on her leg, the top of the thigh. It was odd cause most people get them on the trunk of the body. Hers even went down to the sole of her foot. All of the sisters are getting the shot. Mom too. My doctor is getting me lined up for it as soon as possible. I DO NOT want this stuff. After seeing what everyone has gone through, my goodness.

You're in my prayers. Hang in there. Did we have this much trouble when we had chicken pox?

jimnsc wrote:Just the facts: ...
Summary: Gettin' old ain't for sissies!

Yeouch! I was going to say "No, thanks! I'm trying to give them up." ... But ouch!

I sure hope you are able to get things settled down. It's bad enough when you hurt from lack of sleep. It's MUCH worse when you hurt from shingles!

It's why I am considering asking for the Shingles vaccine. It's not 100% effective, but any chance is better than no chance. I worry with my diabetes my ability to fight off the chicken pox virus will be diminished.

Hey, Jim. Just checking in on you to see how you are doing. I hope that the shingles have run their course with you by now and that you are pain free. I took mom this morning to have an alcohol nerve block done. The shots should last about 6-12 months, we hope. I am so hoping this works and if it doesn't then it will be to completely cut the nerves that are causing the problems. I got my vaccine too the other day! I hope that I don't get them . . . . EVER!

This thread inspired me to not take any chances, so I finally got my shingles vaccine today.
I've had shingles twice and the pain was unbelievable. That second time I got it was comparable to having kidney stones unable to pass!
I thank GOD that I have decent health insurance, because the shot only cost me $37, out of pocket. The full cost without insurance is nearly $250!

Hopefully I won't get any reaction from the injection, which they say is *possible*, but unlikely.

Thanks for the reminder(s). Although I don't generally do other vaccines, the thought of shingles gave me the creeps. Just got my vaccination today. I was surprised to see I had to pay $90 copay (Medicare) but I think the aggravation of shingles would have cost me more than that.

Mimmie - They are almost invisible now but I cannot yet say, I "HAD" the shingles. However, I would rate them now as a mere aggravation. Feeling much better and due to some great OSA treatment, I have had the energy to get outside the last two days and try to get caught up on my yard work. Thanks for pulling for me.

Jim

Yes I had it about 4 years ago. I had just dropped my wife off at the airport and I noticed the pain. For the next two weeks I was home alone and in pain. I actually spent one night sitting at the kitchen table asleep on the table as it was too painfull to lie down. I remember a hot bath helped.