Shingles

[ravenwoodglass]

Anyone have shingles and be able to give me some ideas for pain relief? Other than cutting off my head. Thought I had a reaction to a new shampoo but it was only on one side of my head. Doctor confirmed today it is shingles. Must say I'd much rather deal with a bad DH outbreak any day.

[Jmg]

It's horrible! Sorry its happened to you. 

This was the only thing which did any good: Open Original Shared Link

Not sure if it has different name state side...

[cyclinglady]

Oh no!  I am so sorry.  No advice.  I hope you recover FAST!  Hugs!  

[Gemini]

2 hours ago, Jmg said:

It's horrible! Sorry its happened to you. 

This was the only thing which did any good: Open Original Shared Link

Not sure if it has different name state side...

I am so sorry you are suffering with this, Raven.  I agree with jmg.........I hope you were put on an anti-viral because they really work well to dampen the severity of shingles.  I took Acyclovir myself when I had shingles 8 years ago and it worked great. Knocked it down so the pain was not bad at all. You have to start the drug within 72 hours of first symptoms for it to be really affective.  I took the generic version because it was gluten free.  I never needed anything for the pain.

Hope you feel better soon!

[ravenwoodglass]

Thanks for your replies. The doc gave me Valacyclovir. So far no difference but it hasn't spread any more since yesterday.  Have to take it every eight hours. thanks for the link since it appears to be important that I take these every eight hours so will figure out a dosing schedule today. I'm hoping we got it started early enough since symptoms started Sunday but didn't have the rash till Monday.  She also gave me Prednisone to try and prevent any nerve pain after it heals.  I hope this heals quickly.  A vacation from work is always nice but not like this.

[Jmg]

12 minutes ago, ravenwoodglass said:

I'm hoping we got it started early enough since symptoms started Sunday but didn't have the rash till Monday. 

It's over 20 years since I had it but from memory you started sooner than I did and it still made a difference to me, so be positive! There's some more potential treatments listed here: Open Original Shared Link but some of them look a bit superfluous to me. The advice on the eyes is good though, a friend of my father had it there and it was not a good place to have it*

Hopefully they've identified the nerve in your case? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*note there isn't really a good place to have it...

[ravenwoodglass]

47 minutes ago, Jmg said:

It's over 20 years since I had it but from memory you started sooner than I did and it still made a difference to me, so be positive! There's some more potential treatments listed here: Open Original Shared Link but some of them look a bit superfluous to me. The advice on the eyes is good though, a friend of my father had it there and it was not a good place to have it*

Hopefully they've identified the nerve in your case? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*note there isn't really a good place to have it...

I'm hopefull we caught it soon enough and keeping my fingers crossed. The 'somebody is slamming my head into the pavement' feeling is a bit better this morning. The rash that was just beginning to spread onto my ear hasn't spread any more so that's a good sign.  I don't remember what she called the nerve but it runs up the back of the skull. She did say to call them if it spread onto my face as we don't want eye involvement.  My boss was really nice about the news and hopefully I will be able to go in Sunday. Really don't want to miss more than 2 days work. Thanks for the link going to check it out..

 

[Jmg]

Honestly I think yr vigilance and speed will pay off. If you get it early enough this is very effective. In my case it still helped even a bit later. You may be able to google the nerve and work out where it starts and ends, the virus typically follows this path.

With me it was on my torso and I didn't realise initial burning sensation was a sign of things to come, just that i was sore. Of course a 20 yr old student isn't 'supposed' to get shingles, which I later realised was just one more sign of a compromised immune system... At the time I was most gutted I missed a big party!  Nowadays I'm far more attentive to what my body is telling me.

Hope you're soon feeling better

 

 

[GFinDC]

I am sorry to hear about the shingles Ravenwood.  I don't have much to offer but sympathy.  I hope you feel better soon!

There is a vaccine for shingles (Zostavax) but it has to be taken before the disease appears.  They say it doesn't help after getting shingles.

Open Original Shared Link

[ravenwoodglass]

1 hour ago, GFinDC said:

I am sorry to hear about the shingles Ravenwood.  I don't have much to offer but sympathy.  I hope you feel better soon!

There is a vaccine for shingles (Zostavax) but it has to be taken before the disease appears.  They say it doesn't help after getting shingles.

Open Original Shared Link

My doctor mentioned the vaccine. She said we need to wait until a couple months after this heals.  I do think I am going to go for it when I can.

[squirmingitch]

I hope you do when the time comes Raven. From my research the vaccine still goes a log way to preventing a second shingles party. 

I did the vaccine last year because every single person I know who has had shingles says it's the worst thing they ever had to deal with. I am so very sorry you are having to deal with this. Oh man, when I hear you say you'd rather deal with dh than shingles any day, I can't imagine how beyond horrid it is for you. I'm sending every positive thing I have your way hoping the Valacyclovir works a very nice treat for you & SOON!

Huge hugs! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{RAVEN}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[Gemini]

The vaccine does not prevent you from getting shingles, it just keeps it from hitting you as hard.  I do not think insurance will even cover it unless you are 62 years or older.....unless that has changed.  My doc did not recommend it when I had the problem.  She had many patients who got the vaccine and then ended up with shingles down the road.  There is no guarantee with it.

Shingles are caused by stress and being run down....even if you don't feel run down.  It is becoming very common in young people and the doctor who initially saw me when it happened was very young and said it is NOT a problem of aging.  Many doctors, including herself, popped with it while in med school because of the crazy schedules they do.  The best way to prevent shingles is not to let yourself become run down.  Get enough sleep, eat well and try to mitigate stress.......ha, ha....like that is an easy thing to do sometimes.  Mine happened after I started absorbing better with my thyroid hormone.  I went hyper-thyroid so bad and they told me to stop thyroid hormone for 4 days, then they would readjust the dose.  Well, trying to find the correct dose after healing is not easy and I went from hyper to hypo and BAM! Shingles. It's been 8 years and nary a sign of them. I was lucky in that I did not have much pain with it and thought it was from taking the anti-viral so quickly.  I hope that is your experience, Raven, and the pain goes away quickly!

[TexasJen]

I'm sorry to hear about your shingles! They are so awful. There are several medications that you can take for pain- but the best ones have to be prescribed by a doctor.  Gabapentin, lyrica, and sometimes hydrocodone are often used temporarily (2-6 weeks) for the pain. Tylenol, Advil and aleve typically don't work that well....

With regards to the vaccine, it is recommended for people over 60. Medicare often times will not pay for it so getting it between the ages of 60-64 is good if your insurance pays for it. It is expensive - $296-435 usually. Check with your local health dept. if your insurance company doesn't cover it.  Sometimes they subsidize them. However, the general consensus is to wait about 1 year to get the vaccine after a bout of shingles. 

It does prevent shingles but only reduces your chance by about 30-40% and it doesn't prevent post herpetic neuralgia. 

 

Feel better soon!

[Scott Adams]

I had the same break out a few years ago on the side of my head. I took antiviral medication and Chinese medicine which helped.

[ravenwoodglass]

Thanks everyone. I hope this is over soon. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Cool compresses seem to help the most of anything. Hope I don't end up with bald spots. Just cut my hair short a little while ago so nothing left to hide any bare places.

[Jmg]

Hang in there. It's horrible but it will pass and you're unlikely to have any lasting reminder bar a lifetime dislike of getting it again! 

[plumbago]

Information from the CDC regarding the shingles vaccine:

Open Original Shared Link

"Shingles vaccine has been used since 2006. Zostavax® is the only shingles vaccine currently approved for use in the United States. This vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by 51% and PHN (post herpetic neuralgia) by 67%. It is given in one dose as a shot, and can be given in a doctor’s office or pharmacy."

Vaccine Information Statement
Open Original Shared Link

[squirmingitch]

I looked up my receipts for the Shingles Vaccine. We both got ours late Nov. of 2014.  My husband has Medicare & his bill was $236.99; he does not have Part D coverage. I have CHAMPVA & my bill was $72.29.

Here is information on Medicare coverage of the shingles vaccine:

Open Original Shared Link

The shingles shot isn’t covered by Open Original Shared Link or Open Original Shared Link. Generally, Open Original Shared Link cover all commercially-available vaccines (like the shingles shot) needed to prevent illness. Open Original Shared Link for more information about coverage.