Anyone else have shingles? - Shingles Message Board

ncgal · 05-24-2005, 01:06 PM

Had the doctor look at my rash today (I thought it was poison ivy), she thinks I have shingles? Ive researched shingles & Im trying to figure out my outbreak area is so small & isolated. Everything Ive read about shingles says that the rash is generally large & spreads from your back to your abdomen or vice versa? Im trying to learn more about Shingles. I know it lies dormant after one has the chicken pox. The behavior of my rash just seems different than everything Ive researched. Can anyone share any information with me. I havent found a single thread about this?

Thanks

backpacker · 05-27-2005, 09:00 AM

Sorry I've been to busy to be online lately. I have had Shingles. It can express itself on any part of the body, usually only on one side, since it travels down one main nerve. I had it on my face. I went to a dermatologist, not knowing what I had but knowing that it was spreading and enlarging fast, within hours. He put me on a large dose of Zovirax, which knocked it out completely. Because it was near one of my eyes, I had to stop wearing my contact in that eye and visit an eye specialist to make sure it didn't spread there.

It started like a big acne pimple might--one area on my forehead was red and swollen. I expected a big whitehead the next day or so. Instead, I got a yellowish blister the next day which quickly formed a scab and spread. I also began to get another site on my eyebrow. Luckily, I went to the dr that day. I did experience some mild nerve trauma which caused some slight twinging pains every once in a while for about 2 years.

How are you now?

JCF · 05-27-2005, 11:40 AM

I have had several outbreaks in the past few years. I have researched it more than I care to admit. There is no cure. I can tell you what has worked for me over the years. Chill out!! Stress can be the greatest of triggers. I mean from one day to the next wham the blisters come in. Mine erupt just below my hip line along my back. The aches a day or two before are terrible. generous doses of vitamin b seems to work wonders, but again no cure. Make sure you get a good nights rest, during outbreaks. Valtrex 500 is the one thing I would certainly recomend, ask you Dr. about a prescription. I start to take it as soon as I start to feel the burn on my skin. I'll take Valtrex twice aday until it's gone. Zovirax creame works fairly well also. Dont burst the blisters, it makes for longer healing time. Read up, knowledge is power. If you do not have insurance to cover meds, I am almost positive your local health Dept can hook you up, if not, there are others, check around.

JCF · 05-27-2005, 11:43 AM

By the way some people have one outbreak and it goes away,never to come back gain, while others are not so lucky.

emmaemma · 05-29-2005, 08:28 AM

My daughter had shingles on her hand when she was 16. Just last week (she is 30 now) she got it back on her hand again. It has been weird over the last 13 years. It seems that whenever she would get stressed it would start to reappear very mildly on her hand. Now she has the full blown shingles again. I am not sure what is normal expectations of the shingles. Her hand is swollen and red with the blisters. There are a few red streaks going up her arm but I hope it is the path of the nerve. Now she is saying it is hurting under her arm. She was at the doctors 2 days ago and was given Valtrex. The shingles had just begun then so the doctor did not see it like this. I am trying to convince her to go to the doc. again, but she wants to wait and see. Anybody have this experience? Thanks for any help.