Shingles/ Help please. - Shingles Message Board

Nikkir · 02-15-2003, 01:13 PM

This is my first posting to the board after reading healthboards for years.
Unfortunately last wednesday I was diagnosed with Shingles after having days of these poison ivyish looking red bumps growing on the left side of my thigh and groin area. I thought I had mistakenly eaten a walnut ridden muffin the week before, as I am allergic to nuts. I thought it was just a bad case of hives before it grew and grew, and quickly.. It was also hard to get an appointment so one whole day I had to wait for a dermatologist to see me. So in essence it was more than 48 hours since the innitial onset of a small rash (they say it's best if you catch it within the first 48 hours).

This virus is heinous and hideous because it is quite contagious and extremly excruciating. It is the herpes (Zoster) not genital or oral type, and is from either catching from someone else or it is dormant in your system if you had chicken pox as a child and can be brought on by stress or and an jury.. I had a bad bout with chicken pox as a child. Not only do I get deep muscle aches but the rippling, buzzing effect of the blisters themselves come in waves and keep me up at night. The blisters fill up and they ooze so I am continually doing laundry and sleeping on fresh sheets and towels, layering the sofa with a white sheet and so on. Very high maintenance! They gave me a steroid/cortizone shot and set me up with a prescription of Valtrex 1gm. to be taken 3 times a day. They say the side effects are a few including headaches but luckily I haven't had any. They say if you don't get rid of this now completely it can return or cause alot of muscle pain for years to come.

I'm on my 3rd day of medication and so far they are getting redder. Apparently they are supposed to sluff off eventually. At least the pains aren't as intense. I do take ibuprofen.

I was hopeing if someone had any knowledge or experience with this in the past,that you could share it with me to help me get through this. Any gems of wisdom of how you made it easier or little tips and what not would be greatly appreciated. It's been hell and I'll be missing alot of work also.

Thanks in advance!

Nikkir

Nikkir · 02-15-2003, 01:17 PM

By the way, I'm in my forties. I usually hear of this affecting alot of seniors who have had injuries and bone breaks.

MikeGinny · 02-15-2003, 05:28 PM

Nikkir,

Shingles, or "Herpes Zoster" is causd by the Herpes Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). VZV is also known in the community as the Chicken Pox Virus.

After you are infected with chicken pox as a child, VZV lays dormant in bunches of cells called ganglia which lie just next to your spinal cord. When you get shingles, the virus in one of these ganglia reactivates and gives you a horrible case of chicken pox...except just in the place that is supplied by the nerves coming out of that ganglion.

As far as contagion, this is a concept that patients often have a problem comprehending, so let me make it simple:

Chicken Pox begets Chicken Pox.
Shingles begets Chicken Pox.

So stay away from anyone who hasn't had chicken pox or the vaccine.

As for the prognosis, you should of course go with what your doctor tells you. In general, the earlier you can get on Valtrex, acyclovir, or Famvir, the better. The outbreak will be expected to last 1-2 weeks, but the drugs can shorten the duration.

After the external rash goes away, I'm afraid that it will still probably hurt for some months. This is a result of the damage done to the nerves and it is called "post-herpetic neuralgia." Medications may be used to help you manage the pain. I'm sorry to bring bad news like that, but you might as well know the truth. Again, there is evidence that treatment with Valtrex, acyclovir, or Famvir may shorten the duration of this symptom.

The good news is that shingles serves to "re-immunize" you against chicken pox and you will likely not have another outbreak.

------------------
-Mike
Certified Mad Scientist

"90% of people are
caused by accident."

Nikkir · 02-15-2003, 10:01 PM

Hi Mike!
Thanks for your quick and informative reply. I really appreciate it! I have been asking everyone I know for info as well as downloading every page on it that I can find. Basically all have said the same thing that you have said, except for one thing. You said that having it can serve to 'immunize' you from ever getting it or chicken pox again. That I have not read. What I have read however is that in certain individuals, you can contract it again and again depending on your immune system/ stress or other causes. So I've been really digging down deep to pull up the history of what may have triggered this, as I am a very healthy female yoga instructor who leads many health and stress reduction related workshops and conferences. I know that I was under alot of duress from some things at work, plus the added background stress of the world possibly going to war and the Space Shuttle exploding. Can you elaborate please about the 'immunizing 'affect.

Also, what soaps to use and the like? Also, if a blister breaks on myself, can I reinfect myself? I've been washing my hands a million times a day and when one breaks I take a shower just to be sure.

Thanks again Mike!

Nikkir

MikeGinny · 02-15-2003, 11:49 PM

First, it is possible to get shingles more than once. It's just rare. It's possible to get chicken pox more than once, too. But rare. In people with compromised immune systems, it is more common to see multiple recurrences. If you get several of these, you should get blood tests done.

As for what soap to use, use something gentle like "DOVE" or another moisturizing brand. But just about anything is going to hurt anyways.