swamp
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Post by swamp on Sept 11, 2015 9:30:45 GMT -5
Anyone ever had them? How long did it take to resolve? Any flareups since then?
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justme
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Post by justme on Sept 11, 2015 9:31:29 GMT -5
My mom did. She took the antiviral for it though. I forget how long it took, but I know the meds helped.
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flamingo
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Post by flamingo on Sept 11, 2015 9:36:51 GMT -5
My DH had them. Last for like 2 months. He was the biggest baby ever with them! He was on pain meds for 6 of those 8 weeks My mom had them and she said her's hurt, but nothing that she needed pain meds for. My mom has had a couple flare-ups and she said that the initial time was the worst. DH has not had any flare ups, and God help me if he does have one. I don't think I can handle it!! LOL
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Sept 11, 2015 9:37:31 GMT -5
I haven't but SIL did. She went to the doc right away and got meds for it and it cleared up pretty quickly. She hasn't had any further flare ups either.
We had a neighbor at our old house who got them but didn't go to the doctor. They spread and even got into his eyes and lasted for months. He was a real mess!
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Sept 11, 2015 9:38:56 GMT -5
Me; last November.
I was very lucky and had a mild case. Saw a weird rash looking thing on my shoulder (actually thought it might have been a tick bite and possibly Lyme disease).
My doctor recommended that I get the vaccination once it cleared up. I think it took about a month to finally go away but I didn't get the vaccine until last Friday. No flare ups between.
ETA: I didn't get any pain meds. As I said it really wasn't that painful; no worse than a big bruise.
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janee
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Post by janee on Sept 11, 2015 10:01:49 GMT -5
I had a milder case two years ago. I was on a business trip manning a trade show booth for our company. I didn't know what it was, but it was quite painful. I tried creams until I was home and saw my own doctor. For those of you that haven't had it, shingles can be very painful. If you get any rash that is painful, run to the doctor. If you start meds within 3 days, it can really shorten the severity and length of the rash. Unfortunately, I was outside the 3 days so it lasted about a month (with less and less pain as time went by). It left a scar for about a year. Occasionally, during that year, I would get a small twinge on the scar--I think from the nerve endings.
My doctor said I could get the vaccination after one year and I think I made the appointment to the day! The shot does not guarantee you won't get shingles, but from what I understand, it will make a case much less severe.
I learned a lot about shingles when I got it. Apparently 1 in 3 people will get it in their lifetime. You can only get it if you had chickenpox. Typically insurance will pay for it after age 60. I got shingles at 55. I paid for the shot out of pocket and it's expensive ($250) but SO worth it. If you get shingles (especially a bad case) you will pay anything to make it go away. I feel like a walking public server announcer sometimes as I have convinced many family and friends to get the shot! I think at last count I am responsible for about 15 people getting the shot.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Sept 11, 2015 10:18:53 GMT -5
I never went to the doctor for it, but I'm pretty sure I had it about 10 years ago. It was a line on one side of my back near to where my bra strap would sit. I kept thinking my bra was poking me somehow. I don't remember how long it lasted--maybe a month before it completely cleared up?
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Sept 11, 2015 10:31:40 GMT -5
Get the anti-virals.
I had a full blown bad case of shingles once. I still get flare ups every once in a while (generally when I am over stressed and getting sick - my immune system loses its ability to suppress the virus), though my doctors' office gets mad when I call those "shingles" because they are really on "herpes". (For the record, exact same virus. Shingles is the more severe outbreak. But you treat them exactly the same - with anti-virals.)
Shingles pretty much only occur along major nerves/nerve clusters, so they can be really painful. I get mine in my forehead, feels like a constant headache. C developed a case last year, at first it was just the pain and it was thought to be a pinched nerve in his hip. And then a week later, the rash showed up.
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greeniis10
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Post by greeniis10 on Sept 11, 2015 10:33:22 GMT -5
I had a really severe case in my mid-20's. I had no idea what it was and I was going through a really stressful time in my life. Finally went to the doctor and they wanted to hospitalize me because I had let it go for too long, but I just started taking meds, slathered on some sort of balm (can't remember what) and went to work every day as normal. The rash was all on my right side of my mid-torso, front to back. It was extremely painful and I have long-term nerve damage. Nothing hurts now, but if anyone touches me in that area I jump because my muscles spasm there involuntarily. Weird but not impossible to live with. Surely my issue was letting it go without treatment for too long. Stupid, I know.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Sept 11, 2015 10:39:42 GMT -5
My dad's wife did, but fortunately we recognized the symptoms before it went full blown and got her to the doctor. She got anti-virals in her system and it REALLY alleviated her symptoms. She was feeling like crap for several days until they kicked in.
She went back later and got the shingles vaccine.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Sept 11, 2015 10:57:50 GMT -5
I haven't had it... a friend had shingles and it was bad - he had lots of 'patches' of rash - which he said hurt like heck. It took him about 2 months to recover. I'm sure he got to the doctor in a timely manor - he's the kind of guy who goes to the doctor for sniffles. Another friend had it - she had a patch of rash on her shoulder and then a big patch on one leg - around the knee and up one side of her thigh. She said it was painful and she felt like crap. I know she went to the doctor - not sure what kind of meds she got. She was taking OTC pain relievers. It lasted about a month...the first week was the worst.
I think it depends on how much "shingles" you get as to how bad it will be... kinda like chicken pox - some get really sick (fever that lasts for days) and covered in pox - and others get sort of sick (fever that doesn't get really bad) and a handful of pox.
I'd get vaccinated if it's offered. In a heart beat. I had chicken pox as a kid, and haven't been around any "pox-y" kids in years (to re-activate/remind my immune system) - I'm thinking the vaccine is the way to go - even if it's effectiveness wanes with time and I'd need to get a 'booster'.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Sept 11, 2015 11:01:08 GMT -5
I think it is a cover story so you don't question why he is taking herpes meds....
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Sept 11, 2015 11:15:55 GMT -5
My MIL and SIL have both had it over the last few years (early 50s/early 20s). I think MIL had a worse case, but both went to get the antivirals fairly quickly and were only really down and out for a couple of weeks. (I hope this is a hypothetical and you don't have shingles! )
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Sept 11, 2015 11:22:08 GMT -5
...:::"My DH had them. Last for like 2 months. He was the biggest baby ever with them! He was on pain meds for 6 of those 8 weeks":::...
Come on. I heard a sufferer describe them as "2 months of being hit constantly with hammers". Outbreaks vary in severity, but yes, it CAN be that bad. Short of sitting in a pool of still water at all times, everything hurts. Another sufferer, who had a much milder case was more humiliated by needing herpes meds (because as was said, they are the same treatments) than by the pain.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Sept 11, 2015 11:23:19 GMT -5
You and me both. I filed a complaint with the State Board of Pharmacy here. They have sent out a recommendation to pharmacists NOT to even provide the shot to those under age 60, even though we have to self-pay. The reason? The case studies that were done were performed on those over age 60, not under age 60, and therefore the shot does not need to be provided to anyone under age 60, even if they've had chicken pox.
Yes, you read all of that right. I checked six pharmacies/walk-in clinics and got the same stupid story. Passport Health, a company that provides immunizations for travelers, decided to ignore the state's mandate and give the shots anyway. I also paid $250. Dumbest, sorriest state of affairs ever. I literally cannot even hand a pharmacy cold, hard cash and beg for a shingles shot. They will not provide it.
FWIW, I've not contracted shingles, but did have chicken pox. I got the shot because I am at risk.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Sept 11, 2015 11:25:51 GMT -5
I had it when my youngest was 6 months old. Then baby got chickenpox, despite the fact that pediatrician said he was too young. then other 2 got chickenpox.
If you suspect shingles go to the doctor. Antiviral a help.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Sept 11, 2015 11:27:53 GMT -5
...:::"My DH had them. Last for like 2 months. He was the biggest baby ever with them! He was on pain meds for 6 of those 8 weeks":::... Come on. I heard a sufferer describe them as "2 months of being hit constantly with hammers". Outbreaks vary in severity, but yes, it CAN be that bad. Short of sitting in a pool of still water at all times, everything hurts. Another sufferer, who had a much milder case was more humiliated by needing herpes meds (because as was said, they are the same treatments) than by the pain. They can vary. And some men also think they are dying from a cold. I had a headache for 10 months straight and migraines thrown in for good measure. You won't get much sympathy from me.
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Sept 11, 2015 11:34:03 GMT -5
...:::"They can vary. And some men also think they are dying from a cold.":::...
Depends on the cold?
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Sept 11, 2015 11:55:33 GMT -5
My aunt had a full blown case of the shingles and she said she wanted to die, she hurt so bad.
When my dad's wife got them, the doctor was not sure whether or not they caught them with the anti-virals early enough so he also provided her with a prescription for narcotics along with the anti-virals. She only needed a few of them, but she was in so much pain that she couldn't stand anything touching her on her back/side.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Sept 11, 2015 13:00:23 GMT -5
Small patch on the left side of my torso 17 years ago. They eventually went away by themselves. Not much of a bother. Got the shingles shot 4 years ago.
A friend of mine, going through chemotherapy for cancer, developed shingles on her lungs.
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quince
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Post by quince on Sept 11, 2015 14:04:09 GMT -5
Yes, several years ago. Mild. Went away by itself, though it took a couple of months. Might get the shot sometime, because I know it can be less mild. Only happened the one time.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Sept 11, 2015 15:22:29 GMT -5
I was too young to get the shingles shot but went into the doctor and begged him to give it to me because so many people at the gym I was at came down with it. I paid $300. Later I found out the dr. could have sent me to the pharmacist for $90. Two friends had it. They were miserable for months with pain. It's been at least 3 years for one of them maybe 4. I haven't asked in a while if they had flare ups. Another friend has it with flare ups but will only allude to the fact that she has it. She once mentioned she was a visitor with a lonely couple who kept giving herpes back to each other. She didn't know it until she caught it. I was crept out when playing tennis she said if you knew what I had you wouldn't play with me. Maybe she's the one who set off the gym group shingles. Way back in the 1970s when I knew nothing, I went to visit a grandfather. Grandma said the family shouldn't be around him because of what he had. I just guessed it was shingles. For pete's sake, sign the door if there is a communicable disease in the house. Shingles seems to be socially acceptable while herpes is not.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Sept 11, 2015 15:28:59 GMT -5
Shingles is not normally contagious from person to person. You cannot give shingles to anyone through touch, through air or through contact with anything they've touched. The virus is contagious, however, through the rash itself, but only to a person who has not had chicken pox and have never received the vaccine. www.medicinenet.com/is_shingles_contagious/article.htm#is_shingles_contagious
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Sept 11, 2015 16:01:20 GMT -5
I think it is a cover story so you don't question why he is taking herpes meds.... It's that damn truck!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2015 16:22:44 GMT -5
A co worker had shingles in his brain. I don't know how that happens . He was very sick but did recover.
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Peace77
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Post by Peace77 on Sept 11, 2015 17:47:46 GMT -5
I had a mild case when I was about 44 or 45. I got the antivirals right away. I remember being uncomfortable and unwell for several weeks. I remember staying up home from church so I wouldn't infect any of the older, vulnerable seniors. I didn't need pain medication but I hope I never get it again.
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on Sept 11, 2015 17:54:39 GMT -5
Shingles is not normally contagious from person to person. You cannot give shingles to anyone through touch, through air or through contact with anything they've touched. The virus is contagious, however, through the rash itself, but only to a person who has not had chicken pox and have never received the vaccine. www.medicinenet.com/is_shingles_contagious/article.htm#is_shingles_contagiousMight want to correct your second sentence. Shingles occurs in people who have had Chicken Pox. The virus remains dormant in our cells, from the original disease.
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on Sept 11, 2015 17:56:47 GMT -5
Small patch on the left side of my torso 17 years ago. They eventually went away by themselves. Not much of a bother. Got the shingles shot 4 years ago. A friend of mine, going through chemotherapy for cancer, developed shingles on her lungs. LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THIS. I always thought it was an exterior skin condition. That had to hurt.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Sept 11, 2015 18:06:44 GMT -5
Small patch on the left side of my torso 17 years ago. They eventually went away by themselves. Not much of a bother. Got the shingles shot 4 years ago. A friend of mine, going through chemotherapy for cancer, developed shingles on her lungs. LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THIS. I always thought it was an exterior skin condition. That had to hurt It hurt her and she suffered. She is better and well over it now. It's not common but you can even get shingles on your brain. That has to be absolutely miserable.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Sept 11, 2015 18:09:00 GMT -5
Shingles is not normally contagious from person to person. You cannot give shingles to anyone through touch, through air or through contact with anything they've touched. The virus is contagious, however, through the rash itself, but only to a person who has not had chicken pox and have never received the vaccine. www.medicinenet.com/is_shingles_contagious/article.htm#is_shingles_contagiousMight want to correct your second sentence. Shingles occurs in people who have had Chicken Pox. The virus remains dormant in our cells, from the original disease. A person who has not had chicken pox and has not had the vaccine can get chicken pox (not shingles) if they come into contact with oozing blisters and the virus is passed to them. It's not common but it can definitely happen.
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