The shingles suck

I don’t understand how a rash can hurt so much.  BTW I had the vaccine.  

Good luck, man. They do suck, and there is so little to be done about it. 

DW has a rash today and we’re hoping it’s not shingles. 

Ouch, get better. Shingles reminds me of Admiral Halsey and the battle of Midway. 

Duke said:

DW has a rash today and we’re hoping it’s not shingles. 

It shouldn’t take long to figure out.  Shingles will have icky blisters and run mostly in a line from the spine toward the front.  Some of mine is on the belt line.  

That sucks.  Which vaccine did you get?  I'm thinking about getting the new one, Shingrix. 

Dr.Linda had them hit day after Thanksgiving last year.  It was rough.  Besides some ibuprofen, what helped was Capzasin-HP, OTC from Walmart or your pharmacy.  A thick application.  Note that the stuff is some serious hot, but it did help her. Stay away from the kiddies.  We had to not attend my office Christmas party.  To many kids in that group. It only lasted like 4-5 months, so there's that.

In reply to Dr. Hess :

I had the old vaccine.  I can take the new one 6 months after this clears up.  After my wife saw me, she stopped by Target and got the new one.  

The Blue-Emu cream also helped, but I think she had the most relief from the "hot sauce", once the hot wore off. It was rough.  Treating patients with it is one thing, watching your spouse go through it is something else.

Dab with hydrogen peroxide and cotton ball. It helps.

I had shingles many years ago and I don't ever want a repeat engagement.  Mine lasted for weeks until the Dr finally gave me an anti-viral (cream IIRC).  Hope yours clears up soon.

There is a new vaccine which I'll be getting Wednesday during my annual physical. Doesn't help if you already have it. But I would urge everyone else to get it.

I had shingles several years ago and I happened to be able to see my doc 1 day after I got the rash. she gave me an antibiotic shot and said that would lessen the severity. Within 3 days of getting shingles the shot is effective, after that, not at all. I felt lucky that mine was on my chest side and back. I have heard of people having it in their eyes, no thank you! My doc also told me to put nothing on it and if I did it would be a worse pain. So I never did, it was bad enough as it was.

Good wishes for a speedy recovery!

So far I've been lucky and not experienced Shingles.  Did not bother with the first vaccination available as the efficacy was only like 30%.  The new vaccine is supposed to have 90% or higher efficacy and retain 85% for at least 4 years, but it is 2 shots 2-6 months apart.  Got the first dose a couple months ago and I plan to get the second one in a month or so.

Like Gary said, it won't help if you are currently suffering, but it can be taken once you recover and is supposed to help prevent reoccurrence.

Sorry to hear of the suffering.

What's the current thinking on relationship between childhood chicken pox and adult shingles?

coexist said:

Sorry to hear of the suffering.

What's the current thinking on relationship between childhood chicken pox and adult shingles?

The chicken pox causes is still in the body after the pox clears up.  For some unknown reason, the virus becomes active again and causes shingles.  Stress may be a stimulus.  

Today is day 12 and I feel like I may be turning a corner.  

Ive been using aspercreme with lidocaine, which feels great for a short time.  

gunner said:

I had shingles several years ago and I happened to be able to see my doc 1 day after I got the rash. she gave me an antibiotic shot and said that would lessen the severity. Within 3 days of getting shingles the shot is effective, after that, not at all. I felt lucky that mine was on my chest side and back. I have heard of people having it in their eyes, no thank you! My doc also told me to put nothing on it and if I did it would be a worse pain. So I never did, it was bad enough as it was.

My old secretary got shingles in her eyes.  She was nearly blind from it for months.  Also very light sensitive, we had to take some of the florescent bulbs out above her desk.  It caused her to retire early.

Shingles suck.  Have them hook you up with a Lyrica perscription.  It will help a lot with the nerve pain.

I got bumps on top of my head about ten days ago, I had no idea sight unseen until a rash became visible on my temple. I thought spider bite? It started creeping down my face and stopped about eye level, looks like hell.

MedExpress doc knew it right away, I was shocked. WTF.

Got a seven day script for Valacyclovir, after two days rashes are not progressing and appear to be drying up. Best treatment starts w/ in 72 hours but mine was started late.

Pain wasn't excessive but just looked damn ugly.

Had eye tested by optometrist and it's OK. Scar tissue can develop and cause some vision loss.

What a frickin' PITA.

In reply to fasted58 :

Sorry to hear this.  I wouldn't wish it on many people at all.  Mine was miserable for 2.5 weeks then subsided over the next few days.  

I read the title as Shingles Stuck. 

My first thought was. Aren't they supposed to?

Sorry you gents are going through this. 

Broken bone level pain for 2.5 weeks, nothing over the counter would dull it. Most of my enemies will not have this wished upon them.

Finished the seven day script of Valacyclovir yesterday. Although I started treatment late it did stop progression w/ in two days and the blisters started drying up. I had only minor pain, mostly ugly and annoying tho. Scabs are gone now, hopefully no scars will remain. 

It's a bitch when people stare at your face like you just got mugged. The blisters hit my temple and face the first day of my new job. Also had a 1" cut above my eye from walking into a door jamb at night after the night light burned out. Great first impression!

Gonna hafta get the vaccine, I'll see what the doc says. 

Thanks for the info guys, I had no idea.

Wierdest virus I ever had, and I got it at 23 or so. Lots of aches and pains, but I felt decent enough to attend college at the time. 

Left me with a weird hairy patch on my abs. I'm generally a hairless guy, but that patch is thick and course.