Shingles!

[jourdain2]

I don't believe it! I know I'm not as young as I was, but the physical stress of my trip to Bangkok has led to a diagnosis of Shingles yesterday. I had a pain in my shoulder for a few days and then the first bit of rash appeared Fri. teatime. I managed to get an appt. Mon teatime and am now on anti-viral tablets. Told I'm a bit late to be on them, 'but in view of my age' etc..

It doesn't half hurt (4 patches of rash from spine to shoulder and a few random ones scattered around the area) and I can't manage to wear a bra - somewhat awkward. I know it will pass, but any tips and helpful advice, please. I cancelled my stint in school (helping slow readers) today just in case and I really felt quite poorly and went to bed this aft.. Don't feel too bad now, so hoping it is improving.

I've read up on it, but hope the anti-virals will help to cut the times they quote. Any opinions out there? As I said, 'It doesn't half hurt!'

[jno]

not unique, naomi (I had it myself when I was about 40; it consisted of nothing more than an itchy eye, but my smart GP diagnosed it straight away). It's just more common among the elderly. It may have something to do with immune systems getting weaker as we age.

[New Judge]

I had a bout of shingles about eight or nine years ago. I had a few nasty patches but one in particular was near to my eye which, apparently, is a cause for concern.

I actually felt quite OK in myself and Dr Sawbones at first refused to accept that I'd got shingles. I insisted she consult a colleague, who made the diagnosis. Then the problems began. The anti-virus pills I was prescribed made me feel awful and also made me hallucinate. So they went straight in the bin (after less than a day) and nature took its course.

You cannot contract shingles unless you have had chicken-pox. Some remains of chicken-pox stay in your body (in your spine, I think) and can rear their ugly head in the form of shingles at any time.

Get well soon, jourdain.

[zebo]

You can get it very young, son in law got it in his 20s. OH self-diagnosed himself a few years ago, rang the surgery on a Friday, was told that 'next Wednesday' was the first appointment, we went to a walk-in, she took one look and rang the Surgery, You'll see this man today! Because he got onto antibiotics within 48 hours of first symptoms it never really took hold. Hope you've caught it in time, it can be awful.

[jourdain2]

Thank you all so much for the advice and concern. I felt so ill today that I've spent it in bed - I'm going back there shortly. OH is shopping tomorrow & I'll list aloe-vera gel as well as the calamine. Hope these antivirals kick in soon. So tired and fuzzy. Bless you all, 'night.

[Patsy33]

Hope you can soon get rid of this awful thing. X

[pixie374]

Hope you feel better soon, jourdain xx you are right to keep away from the school- although they can't catch shingles, they can catch chicken pox from it. Take care xx

[jourdain2]

Hi, feeling marginally better this morning - managed to have a shower, which feels so nice. Cup of tea and then off back to bed. :/
Thank you pixie and Patsy. :)

[Peter Pedant]

Shingles is age related - AB strikes again

Risk factors for reactivation include old age, poor immune function, and having had chickenpox before 18 months of age.[1] How the virus remains in the body or subsequently re-activates is not well understood.

can occur in children - but is pretty rare. and you can even get shingles and chickenpox together.

and yes you were wise not to go to school or you will give them all chickenpox. You are non infectious when the spots drop off.

hope you feel better soon

[jennyjoan]

I was 39 years old when I took very severe chicken pox.

A friend had called to see me and found me in a bad state.

A doctor called and said you need to be isolated but since you live on your own - I will let you stay here.

Friend told years later - that the day she saw me - she said my face, features were all twisted with pox and I looked like a monster.

I also had it on my nose and when the scab fell off the point of my nose it left a hole.

I had them in my ears and up my vaggy. Really terrible. So I'm wondering can I still get shingles.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes you could still get shingles - I hope you don't.

Just a tip, if you are using a term for the body the real word is better than a slang one.