OT: I have Shingles and it really sucks

[raisedfist]

2020 is truly cursed

[Pugsy]

Bummer. My sister is just now getting passed the shingles as well. She was pretty miserable for about 10 weeks.

[raisedfist]

Bummer. My sister is just now getting passed the shingles as well. She was pretty miserable for about 10 weeks.

I am 35 so hoping not to suffer for nearly that long...but who knows. I'm taking the anti-viral and a nerve pain medication as of today, so we shall see! It feels like the worst sunburn on earth, plus random sharp stabbing pains.

[babydinosnoreless]

I'm sorry. They are the worst! Get well soon !

[chunkyfrog]

The bullfrog had it, and his parents both did.
We got the vaccine, even though our insurance did not cover it worth squat.
Money well spent.

[Madalot]

Oh man, I am so sorry. I had them a few years ago and was miserable. Sending you good thoughts and healing vibes. Hope you're doing better soon.

[Chris8243]

I had a mild case. My husband had a severe case with complications. His face was paralyzed on one side, could not even close his eye, nerve damage and severe pain. It was horrible. 3-4 years later he still has some effects.

We have both gotten the shingles vaccine so if we get shingles again, the symptoms are supposed to be much milder. He's also told everyone we know to get the shingles vaccine!

[chunkyfrog]

My father in law had it on his scalp!
The only thing that gave him relief was tea tree oil.
That stuff is very, very strong!
Never apply it over a large area without testing a tiny spot first.
And NEVER use it near eyes or mucus membranes!
I was hesitant to mention this earlier, because tea tree oil can be risky--
But there's something you can try---CAREFULLY. I know how painful it is . . .
And after applying, wash hands as thoroughly as if you had been handling habaneros.
Seriously!

[raisedfist]

I had a mild case. My husband had a severe case with complications. His face was paralyzed on one side, could not even close his eye, nerve damage and severe pain. It was horrible. 3-4 years later he still has some effects.

We have both gotten the shingles vaccine so if we get shingles again, the symptoms are supposed to be much milder. He's also told everyone we know to get the shingles vaccine!

Wow that sounds awful. I guess I am fortunate thus far...just very painful and the only rash I have is on my chest and it hasn't seem to spread...now it's blistering which I guess is stage 2, and then it will scab up and dry out which I think is phase 3. I've been careful not to touch it except for gently "cleaning it" with a cold damp wash cloth. I put cream on it as well. The pain is quite like I've never felt, and it makes me curse like a sailor, but so far I am surviving.

[raisedfist]

Oh man, I am so sorry. I had them a few years ago and was miserable. Sending you good thoughts and healing vibes. Hope you're doing better soon.

Thank you! Luckily I have already been staying home since March...I can't imagine being forced to go into work every day.

[Pugsy]

My sister had it start with low back pain (we first thought back strain) and nothing helped and then the rash and then it went down the inside of her legs. Once she told me about the rash I told her to beat feet to the doc and get some meds because I knew she was in for a world of hurt.
She said the final healing stage with the itching was almost as bad as the first burning pain stage because nothing at all helped with the itching at all and she couldn't go around scratching her crotch.

I did tell her to be very thankful she didn't have it on her face.

[Janknitz]

My husband is the only one I know who had it painfree. He had this ugly, irregular, huge black thing on his leg. I was certain it was a melanoma and I made him go to the doctor, and I made him promise to have the doctor call me after because he likes to play macho man and minimize medical issues.

It turned out to be shingles, and it disappeared quickly with anti-viral treatment. He didn't have any pain or discomfort except his wife (me) elbowing him to get it looked at. Lucky guy!

[grega60438]

I got shingles new years day on my face and my eye completely closed. I was doing honey close to the eyes and tea tree oil on the rest of my face. Tea tree oil seemed to help the most IMO.

[jnk...]

Years ago, managed to get in to see doc same day that a few dots appeared on my brow. He diagnosed it instantly before he was even in the door of the exam room. "Shingles!" he shouted.

Got the old shot immediately, within minutes. Glad, since it was near eyes. That kept the attack from being too bad, although that portion of my brow was sensitive for many years afterward.

I used the history of that old attack of it near the eyes as a reason to argue for getting the new two-shot treatment when that first came out. Argument worked. I got priority when it was running short, even though I wasn't in the priority age group at the time.

When they said hindsight was 2020, I didn't realize it meant we'd all get bitten there.

[zonker]

When they said hindsight was 2020, I didn't realize it meant we'd all get bitten there.

again, the internet has been won.

everyone else, turn over your cards.