Any Body Had Shingles More Than Once?

[mamabear]

I'm going through my second episode and was wondering if anyone else has had it more than once. I'm thinking of getting the vaccine, but ya'll know how celiacs make antibodies !!

[kschauer]

I don't know for sure, but I think it's possible to have them multiple times. Someone jump in if I am wrong, but shingles is in the herpes family of viruses and can re-occur. And they come back in times of stress/sickness right, like a fever blister.

Hope you are better soon.

[darlindeb25]

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Will Shingles Return?

Most people get shingles only once. But it is possible to have it more than once.

My daughter had shingles at 15 yrs old, and her doctor said it can come back. I do know she has pain in her ribs, which is where her shingles appeared.

[Mother of Jibril]

My mom has had shingles twice. My grandfather also had it twice before he died. It comes from the chicken pox virus, which can lay dormant in your body for decades and be re-activated during times of stress.

There is a medication you can take the lessen the severity of symptoms (Zovirax), but if you think you have shingles you need to get it RIGHT AWAY. After a few days it won't help and you just have to suffer through the attack for however long it takes to clear up.

[Viola 1]

I have been fortunate enough not to have it, however, there is a new vaccine out for shingles. If you had chicken pox when you were a kid, it might be wise to get one. I totally forgot to ask my doctor for one last time I was in. Hopefully I will remember next time

[nb-canada]

Hi mamabear,

I am living proof that you can get Shingles (Herpes Zoster) multiple times. I just came back from the doctor with my prescription for the "5th" bout of shingles in 16 years. I seem to get it in pairs. The first 2 times were about a year apart & the second 2 were 4 months apart. It has been about 2 years since my 4th episode. I was just reading an interesting site

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that explains everything very well. "Shingles can recur, but the risk is low (1 - 5%)." From what I understand, people with immune diseases are more likely to get Shingles multiple times because their resistance is down.

Each time that I have had Shingles it is at times of stress at work. It has been only 1 year since I found out about celiac disease when my son was diagnosed. I did not have positive test results or biopsy but I had all the symptoms of celiac disease so went gluten-free 8 months ago. I have had positive results - all the symptoms have gone except for extreme fatique. I am being tested for hypothyroidism at the moment. So between the stress & the fatique I am a great candidate for Shingles.

As "Mother of Jibril" said you need to start the medication within 72 hours of the onset of the rash - 48 hours is better. I am fortunate that I get it on my neck & notice it right away. Those that have it on their back may not notice until too late.

I may be wrong but I think if you have already had Shingles you don't need the vaccine. The link above talks about the vaccine also.

Hopefully this is the last time for me - I think I will retire to get away from the stress.

[Prudence]

I've never had shingles. However, one of my clients just recently had his 3rd episode. He tried accupuncture this last time, and swore by it. He was telling me, that he never would have believed it, but was in so much pain he'd try anything. He mentioned that before it took 6 months to recover, using "traditional" therapy. This last time he tried accupuncture and said it greatly reduced the pain within 1 week, and went away completely after 6 weeks of treatment. I am not sure if you are still suffering or not, but it may be worth looking into, esp if you are concerned about taking the vaccine. I hope this helps, and you feel better soon.