Shingles!

Not me, Hubster. The rash appeared on his chest Sunday night,
blisters Monday by night, pain by noon on Tuesday. Doctor loaded
him up yesterday with valtrex, percoset and prednisone (a short,
tapering course). It's going to be a rough few weeks for him.

Do any of you have experience with shingles, or caring for
someone with them? I had a very mild case a few years ago, which
never got beyond annoying; his is much worse, so I'm looking for
more information about what it's like, what to expect, care tips
that the doctor doesn't tell you.

FurPaw

--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dog.

x-no-archive: yes

FurPaw wrote:
> Not me, Hubster. The rash appeared on his chest Sunday night, blisters
> Monday by night, pain by noon on Tuesday. Doctor loaded him up
> yesterday with valtrex, percoset and prednisone (a short, tapering
> course). It's going to be a rough few weeks for him.
>
> Do any of you have experience with shingles, or caring for someone with
> them? I had a very mild case a few years ago, which never got beyond
> annoying; his is much worse, so I'm looking for more information about
> what it's like, what to expect, care tips that the doctor doesn't tell you.


My FIL had painful shingles a couple of times, it's no fun.

Did the doc give you topical valtrex/anti viral, too, or just oral?

I wouldn't touch the Prednisone on a dare, but that's me. I don't think
you need your immunity shut down when you're fighting an infection.

Hope it's fast and less painful with his meds.

Susan

Susan wrote:
> x-no-archive: yes
>
> FurPaw wrote:
>> Not me, Hubster. The rash appeared on his chest Sunday night,
>> blisters Monday by night, pain by noon on Tuesday. Doctor loaded him
>> up yesterday with valtrex, percoset and prednisone (a short, tapering
>> course). It's going to be a rough few weeks for him.
>>
>> Do any of you have experience with shingles, or caring for someone
>> with them? I had a very mild case a few years ago, which never got
>> beyond annoying; his is much worse, so I'm looking for more
>> information about what it's like, what to expect, care tips that the
>> doctor doesn't tell you.
>
>
> My FIL had painful shingles a couple of times, it's no fun.
>
> Did the doc give you topical valtrex/anti viral, too, or just oral?
>
> I wouldn't touch the Prednisone on a dare, but that's me. I don't think
> you need your immunity shut down when you're fighting an infection.
>
> Hope it's fast and less painful with his meds.
>
> Susan

I had shingles when I was in graduate school. My greatest relief came
from baths with Epsom Salts dissolved in the water and putting
Campho-phenique ointment on the rest of the time. My doctor didn't
prescribe any medications, just told me to do these things for topical
relief and take pain relievers as needed (Tylenol, not aspirin).

It's a myth that shingles only happens with older people. In fact, a
little 6th grade girl in my daughter's school had a terrible time a few
years ago. Her doctor said there seems to be an increase in cases in
children, and the thinking is that children who received the chicken pox
vaccination (my daughter received it in 1992; it wasn't available for my
son in 1990, and he had chicken pox when he was almost one year old) are
more likely to develop shingles at an early age.

Anne

x-no-archive: yes

Anne Greene wrote:

> It's a myth that shingles only happens with older people. In fact, a
> little 6th grade girl in my daughter's school had a terrible time a few
> years ago. Her doctor said there seems to be an increase in cases in
> children, and the thinking is that children who received the chicken pox
> vaccination (my daughter received it in 1992; it wasn't available for my
> son in 1990, and he had chicken pox when he was almost one year old) are
> more likely to develop shingles at an early age.


I think it's also much more common when some sort of immune compromise
or uncontrolled diabetes is present.

Susan

On Nov 28, 9:17 am, FurPaw <furrealpaw...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Not me, Hubster. The rash appeared on his chest Sunday night,
> blisters Monday by night, pain by noon on Tuesday. Doctor loaded
> him up yesterday with valtrex, percoset and prednisone (a short,
> tapering course). It's going to be a rough few weeks for him.
>
> Do any of you have experience with shingles, or caring for
> someone with them? I had a very mild case a few years ago, which
> never got beyond annoying; his is much worse, so I'm looking for
> more information about what it's like, what to expect, care tips
> that the doctor doesn't tell you.
>
> FurPaw
>
> --
> "Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
> every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
> a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
> those who are cold and are not clothed."
> - Dwight D. Eisenhower
>
> To reply, unleash the dog.

no advice, just hope he feels better soon & that the pain pills do
their job.

ellen

In article <Ssadney2yMkp5dDanZ2dnUVZ_saknZ2d@comcast.com>,
FurPaw <furrealpawdog@gmail.com> wrote:

> Not me, Hubster. The rash appeared on his chest Sunday night,
> blisters Monday by night, pain by noon on Tuesday. Doctor loaded
> him up yesterday with valtrex, percoset and prednisone (a short,
> tapering course). It's going to be a rough few weeks for him.
>
> Do any of you have experience with shingles, or caring for
> someone with them? I had a very mild case a few years ago, which
> never got beyond annoying; his is much worse, so I'm looking for
> more information about what it's like, what to expect, care tips
> that the doctor doesn't tell you.
>
> FurPaw

Poor Hubster. :-(

The only times I've had shingles were very mild and just itchy, not
painful. The first time I thought I'd somehow gotten poison ivy on the
top of my foot, inside my shoe, when I had it nowhere else and hadn't
been near the stuff for months. Couldn't figure it out until I
complained to my mother about the horrible itching of this poison ivy.
She clued me in to what it was, I started cortisone cream, and it was
better in a week and gone in a few weeks. Itched like the devil, it did.

I think your hubster will need his favorite flavor of ice cream
available at all hours and his favorite movies from the video store.
Any other special treatments would have to be negotiated between the two
of you! (Distraction value?)

Priscilla

"FurPaw" <furrealpawdog@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:Ssadney2yMkp5dDanZ2dnUVZ_saknZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Not me, Hubster. The rash appeared on his chest Sunday night, blisters
> Monday by night, pain by noon on Tuesday. Doctor loaded him up yesterday
> with valtrex, percoset and prednisone (a short, tapering course). It's
> going to be a rough few weeks for him.
>
> Do any of you have experience with shingles, or caring for someone with
> them? I had a very mild case a few years ago, which never got beyond
> annoying; his is much worse, so I'm looking for more information about
> what it's like, what to expect, care tips that the doctor doesn't tell
> you.
>
> FurPaw
>

Is Valtrex an antiviral? They have to be started within I believe 48-72 hrs
to take effect. There's not much you can do except let the Shingles run it's
course. Pain meds and antihistamines for itch and cool clothing to ease the
itch by keeping the heat down. My hubby had them about 10 yrs ago and across
the back which left much scarring. He wasn't in all that much pain but the
itching was nasty and it took about 2-4 wks? (probably longer) for
everything to dry up. It was left too late to start the antivirals.He had no
prodromal symptoms, the rash just broke out.

Daughter #1, age 21 at university when she got hers on the abdomen across
the belt line.It took a year to clear cause she refused to change style of
clothing to ease up on the irritation of the area.Being out of town and with
a history of exzema I thought it was an exzema flare from her description,
until a trip to med clinic diagnosed Shingles. Daughter #2, age 19 came down
with it while home from school, by then I was seasoned and got her on
antivirals within 24 hrs and with the meds her case lasted only a week.Her
symptoms for about 2-3 days before the rash was complaining of a very sore
shoulder and back on the affected side.Apparently this is common. So any of
you out there, look out for this.

Shingles used to be an "old folks" disease but no longer. It's being seen in
a lot younger age group and I really think it's the stressful lives we live.
Stress is often what triggers the outbreaks by impairing the immune system.

Roseanne

"Susan" <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:5r5ddoF12pqroU9@mid.individual.net...
> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Anne Greene wrote:
>
>> It's a myth that shingles only happens with older people. In fact, a
>> little 6th grade girl in my daughter's school had a terrible time a few
>> years ago. Her doctor said there seems to be an increase in cases in
>> children, and the thinking is that children who received the chicken pox
>> vaccination (my daughter received it in 1992; it wasn't available for my
>> son in 1990, and he had chicken pox when he was almost one year old) are
>> more likely to develop shingles at an early age.

> Susan

I'm so glad my kids had the chicken pox before the vaccine came out. It
takes at leats 5 yrs before long term adverse effects show up and in the
past, time and again, immunity has worn off and outbreaks of measles, mumps,
Rubella occur in the teenage population when they are at risk for
complicating from childhood illnesses.

I have concerns about the chickenpox vaccine wearing off in later adulthood
where complications can be severe. It's just best to come down with the
illness and get a good immune response. Same with other childhood diseases.

My 0.02

Roseanne

"FurPaw" <furrealpawdog@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:Ssadney2yMkp5dDanZ2dnUVZ_saknZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Not me, Hubster. The rash appeared on his chest Sunday night, blisters
> Monday by night, pain by noon on Tuesday. Doctor loaded him up yesterday
> with valtrex, percoset and prednisone (a short, tapering course). It's
> going to be a rough few weeks for him.
>
> Do any of you have experience with shingles, or caring for someone with
> them? I had a very mild case a few years ago, which never got beyond
> annoying; his is much worse, so I'm looking for more information about
> what it's like, what to expect, care tips that the doctor doesn't tell
> you.

I had shingles a few years ago. Mine appeared on my eyes, forehead &
temple/front of head - involved the trigeminal nerve, IIRC. But except for
the fact that my eyelid was involved (potentially nasty), I think I had a
relatively mild case. I didn't experience out & out pain - just itching & a
prickling/stinging sensation.

Is valtrex one of the meds aimed at the shingles itself? I don't remember
the name of the drug that was prescribed for me; I only remember that I
started taking it later than the desired window of elapsed time because I
had assumed I merely had some recalcitrant zits, & hadn't gone to the doctor
until my eyelid started to itch & sting. (*Then* it became apparent to me
why my cheek had been sensitive the week before whenever it touched my
pillow - I hadn't realized that it was a precursor to the shingles deal.)
But the doctor still advised taking it, since he thought it might still well
lessen the duration & severity of the attack.

I don't have any real advice, but I hope your DH isn't in a lot of pain, &
that it doesn't last forever & a day. I do remember that one area of my
scalp remained numb & tingly for quite awhile - many months - after the
shingles episode had disappeared. Guess that branch of the nerve was still
a bit stressed & took time to recover. I think this is common - that pain or
strange sensations may linger afterward.

Cathy

Susan wrote:

> My FIL had painful shingles a couple of times, it's no fun.
>
> Did the doc give you topical valtrex/anti viral, too, or just oral?

Just oral.

> I wouldn't touch the Prednisone on a dare, but that's me. I don't think
> you need your immunity shut down when you're fighting an infection.

I'm not thrilled by the prednisone, either; from what I read, the
review are mixes w/r/t its effectiveness in reducing pain during
the acute phase or reducing postherpetic neuralgia. At least
it's only a 12 day tapering course.

> Hope it's fast and less painful with his meds.

Thanks.

FurPaw


--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dog.

Anne Greene wrote:

> I had shingles when I was in graduate school. My greatest relief came
> from baths with Epsom Salts dissolved in the water and putting
> Campho-phenique ointment on the rest of the time. My doctor didn't
> prescribe any medications, just told me to do these things for topical
> relief and take pain relievers as needed (Tylenol, not aspirin).
>
> It's a myth that shingles only happens with older people. In fact, a
> little 6th grade girl in my daughter's school had a terrible time a few
> years ago. Her doctor said there seems to be an increase in cases in
> children, and the thinking is that children who received the chicken pox
> vaccination (my daughter received it in 1992; it wasn't available for my
> son in 1990, and he had chicken pox when he was almost one year old) are
> more likely to develop shingles at an early age.

The long-term effects of the vaccination are worrisome, no doubt
about it.

FurPaw
--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dog.

ellen wrote:

> no advice, just hope he feels better soon & that the pain pills do
> their job.

Thanks, ellen. Percoset seems to be taking the edge off, at
least. So far.

FurPaw

--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dog.

foggydoggy wrote:

> I'm so glad my kids had the chicken pox before the vaccine came out. It
> takes at leats 5 yrs before long term adverse effects show up and in the
> past, time and again, immunity has worn off and outbreaks of measles, mumps,
> Rubella occur in the teenage population when they are at risk for
> complicating from childhood illnesses.
>
> I have concerns about the chickenpox vaccine wearing off in later adulthood
> where complications can be severe. It's just best to come down with the
> illness and get a good immune response. Same with other childhood diseases.

A woman (~20) in my class tonight was telling me she had missed
class 2 weeks ago because she had chicken pox; she had had the
vaccination as a child. She said she was really sick, although
she only had four lesions and they did not blister.

FurPaw


--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dog.

Priscilla H. Ballou wrote:

> Poor Hubster. :-(

Indeed!

> I think your hubster will need his favorite flavor of ice cream
> available at all hours and his favorite movies from the video store.

Yep, we have these on hand!

> Any other special treatments would have to be negotiated between the two
> of you! (Distraction value?)

Well, they won't involve contact. His chest, side and back are
VERY sensitive right now.

FurPaw


--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dog.

foggydoggy wrote:

> Is Valtrex an antiviral?
Yes.

> They have to be started within I believe 48-72 hrs
> to take effect.

It was started about 48 hours after noticing the rash. The first
prodromal symptom appeared 2 days earlier, a twinging, sore spot
on his side, then an upset stomach, and finally a backache after
the rash appeared, but before it blistered and it occurred to me
that it might be shingles. The 48-72 hour interval might not be
as critical with Valtrex as with the antivirals, according to one
abstract I read.

> There's not much you can do except let the Shingles run it's
> course. Pain meds and antihistamines for itch and cool clothing to ease the
> itch by keeping the heat down. My hubby had them about 10 yrs ago and across
> the back which left much scarring. He wasn't in all that much pain but the
> itching was nasty and it took about 2-4 wks? (probably longer) for
> everything to dry up. It was left too late to start the antivirals.He had no
> prodromal symptoms, the rash just broke out.

I'll mention the antihistamines and cool clothing to him. The
itch hasn't started, but we'll have benedryl on hand for when it
does.

> Her
> symptoms for about 2-3 days before the rash was complaining of a very sore
> shoulder and back on the affected side.Apparently this is common. So any of
> you out there, look out for this.

Yep, he had a couple of days of "odd" symptoms, which we didn't
connect to anything special - a pain on the side where the rash
appeared, upset stomach, lower back ache.

> Shingles used to be an "old folks" disease but no longer. It's being seen in
> a lot younger age group and I really think it's the stressful lives we live.
> Stress is often what triggers the outbreaks by impairing the immune system.

Stress would certainly fit. He began teaching math 6 weeks ago
in a low-income high school - lots of behavior problems.

Thanks for the tips!

FurPaw

--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dog.

Cathy F. wrote:

> I had shingles a few years ago. Mine appeared on my eyes, forehead &
> temple/front of head - involved the trigeminal nerve, IIRC. But except for
> the fact that my eyelid was involved (potentially nasty),

Oh, yeah! Good thing no damage resulted.

> I think I had a
> relatively mild case. I didn't experience out & out pain - just itching & a
> prickling/stinging sensation.

> Is valtrex one of the meds aimed at the shingles itself?

It's an antiviral drug, supposed to inhibit the virus from
replicating.

> I don't remember
> the name of the drug that was prescribed for me; I only remember that I
> started taking it later than the desired window of elapsed time because I
> had assumed I merely had some recalcitrant zits, & hadn't gone to the doctor
> until my eyelid started to itch & sting. (*Then* it became apparent to me
> why my cheek had been sensitive the week before whenever it touched my
> pillow - I hadn't realized that it was a precursor to the shingles deal.)
> But the doctor still advised taking it, since he thought it might still well
> lessen the duration & severity of the attack.

I'd be inclined to try that, too, once I got over the sticker
shock. Valtrex cost $197 for a week's supply, and that's the
prescription plan price.

> I don't have any real advice, but I hope your DH isn't in a lot of pain, &
> that it doesn't last forever & a day.

Thanks!


--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dog.

FurPaw <furrealpawdog@gmail.com> wrote:

> foggydoggy wrote:
>
> > I'm so glad my kids had the chicken pox before the vaccine came out. It
> > takes at leats 5 yrs before long term adverse effects show up and in the
> > past, time and again, immunity has worn off and outbreaks of measles, mumps,
> > Rubella occur in the teenage population when they are at risk for
> > complicating from childhood illnesses.
> >
> > I have concerns about the chickenpox vaccine wearing off in later adulthood
> > where complications can be severe. It's just best to come down with the
> > illness and get a good immune response. Same with other childhood diseases.
>
> A woman (~20) in my class tonight was telling me she had missed
> class 2 weeks ago because she had chicken pox; she had had the
> vaccination as a child. She said she was really sick, although
> she only had four lesions and they did not blister.

Sounds like my round of chicken pox at age 17, which kept me away from
school for two weeks, too. It started with me fainting. I have never
fainted before or since. I developed very few lesions (5 in my face,
about the same on my back), and hardly itched, but I got very weak and
didn't feel like myself. Couldn't sleep, either. It was like Backwards
Day for a week. The 2nd week was better.

I was never vaccinated but I was exposed to chicken pox over and over
again in Norway as a kid and just never caught it.

I'm thinking I'd be one of those "crazy" mothers who won't vaccinate her
kid because the vaccine itself causes more problems than the disease
does, and, anyway, that's what a immune defense system for, right? Also,
it needs practice so the kid's body knows how to fight disease.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

My brother caught chicken pox twice. His first bout was mild. I had the
German Measles when I was 14...I'm glad it happened then and not when I was
pg 5 years later. I had a friend and a cousin who had German measles in
their first tri-mester. Both babies were born blind and retarded(I can't
think of another word..it's late)
Jacquie
"Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.shrinktofit@online.no> wrote in message
news:1i8bw8i.6m7d8d1a7oo38N%thinkbig.shrinktofit@o nline.no...
> FurPaw <furrealpawdog@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> foggydoggy wrote:
>>
>> > I'm so glad my kids had the chicken pox before the vaccine came out. It
>> > takes at leats 5 yrs before long term adverse effects show up and in
>> > the
>> > past, time and again, immunity has worn off and outbreaks of measles,
>> > mumps,
>> > Rubella occur in the teenage population when they are at risk for
>> > complicating from childhood illnesses.
>> >
>> > I have concerns about the chickenpox vaccine wearing off in later
>> > adulthood
>> > where complications can be severe. It's just best to come down with the
>> > illness and get a good immune response. Same with other childhood
>> > diseases.
>>
>> A woman (~20) in my class tonight was telling me she had missed
>> class 2 weeks ago because she had chicken pox; she had had the
>> vaccination as a child. She said she was really sick, although
>> she only had four lesions and they did not blister.
>
> Sounds like my round of chicken pox at age 17, which kept me away from
> school for two weeks, too. It started with me fainting. I have never
> fainted before or since. I developed very few lesions (5 in my face,
> about the same on my back), and hardly itched, but I got very weak and
> didn't feel like myself. Couldn't sleep, either. It was like Backwards
> Day for a week. The 2nd week was better.
>
> I was never vaccinated but I was exposed to chicken pox over and over
> again in Norway as a kid and just never caught it.
>
> I'm thinking I'd be one of those "crazy" mothers who won't vaccinate her
> kid because the vaccine itself causes more problems than the disease
> does, and, anyway, that's what a immune defense system for, right? Also,
> it needs practice so the kid's body knows how to fight disease.
>
> --
> Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
> http://home.online.no/~kafox/

foggydoggy wrote the following on 11/28/2007 9:58 PM:

> I have concerns about the chickenpox vaccine wearing off in later adulthood
> where complications can be severe. It's just best to come down with the
> illness and get a good immune response. Same with other childhood diseases.

I wondered about that when my son (29) was a baby and I read that the
mumps vaccine couldn't be given until a certain age (3 months?) because
the birth immunities could interfere with it. My children were all
exclusively breastfed for at least six months, and continued to nurse for
years afterward, so they still had immunities. So I delayed vaccinations.

Sure enough, when my son hit his teens vaccinated older kids and adults
were coming down with the mumps, and people had to be revaccinated.

My daughters had chicken pox a year before the vaccine came out. After
reading all of this stuff I am grateful. My son never had it, despite
many exposures -- including being trapped in the house during a blizzard
while both of his sisters had it. He has never been vaccinated for it.

Karen R.

jacquie <happikat694@earthlink.net> wrote:

> My brother caught chicken pox twice. His first bout was mild. I had the
> German Measles when I was 14...I'm glad it happened then and not when I was
> pg 5 years later. I had a friend and a cousin who had German measles in
> their first tri-mester. Both babies were born blind and retarded(I can't
> think of another word..it's late)

My mother was pregnant with my kid sister in the first trimester. My
sister was definitely born retarded and with a severe hearing loss. The
whole family came down with rubella at the time Mom was pregnant, and
that is the only good news. At least I've never had to worry about it
affecting any of my pregnancies.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/