Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: jaycee on February 09, 2018, 10:21:36 AM
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Has anyone any experience of Shingles,i have just been diagnosed with it, after coming out in huge red itchy lumps, i did wonder about shingles, but the pictures i looked at didnt look like my rash
However they are now blistering, he has given me antvirals, but what can i do about the pain and stinging.
I hope someone can give me some advice,Dr said calamine lotion. but the chemist said not to until blisters have dried up
Finding it difficult to sleep or get comfortable at any time
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Hi Jaycee
You need teangi cream. It is basically tree tree and witch hazel with zinc. I use if all the time for everything. I gave my sister a tube when she had shingles and it worked better than the cream her DIL gave her (and she is a nurse). It's made by Lanes, so if you go to their website you can order some (it is not sold in shops).
I will PM you the web link
Shadyglade
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You can buy Virasoothe from Chemists it is for chicken pox but might be worth asking if that could be used.
Also remember to avoid anybody who hasn't had chickenpox.
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Thank you so much, will have a look at PM and link and send for some, cant believe how painful it is
I am hoping someone will tell me how long it last for, i know it can vary, but hoping its not too long
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Thank you too Tinkerbell, i will look into that too, my Dr said it is only contagious if i touch someone or they touch me when i have touched my rash
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The medication that your GP has prescribed should be given within 72 hours of noting the rash/spots/blothces. Have a talk with a Pharmacist about the best pain relief and how much you are able to take. You may find the effects last for a while which is why it is important to have good pain relief.
SHINGLES IS NOT CONTAGIOUS!!!!! it is due to being in contact with someone who has chickenpox, which is the same virus.
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From the NHS-web-site
Causes of shingles
Most people have chickenpox in childhood, but after the illness has gone the varicella-zoster virus remains inactive (dormant) in the nervous system.
The immune system keeps the virus in check, but it can be reactivated later in life and cause shingles.
It's possible to have shingles more than once, but it's very rare to get it more than twice.
It's not known exactly why the shingles virus is reactivated at a later stage in life, but most cases are thought to be caused by having lowered protection against infections and diseases (immunity).
This may be the result of:
old age – as you age, your immunity may decrease; shingles most commonly occurs in people over the age of 70
physical and emotional stress – the chemicals released by your body when you're stressed can prevent your immune system working properly
HIV and AIDS – people with HIV are much more likely to get shingles than the rest of the population because their immune system is weak
recently having a bone marrow transplant – the conditioning you require before the transplant weakens your immune system
recently having an organ transplant – you may need to take medication to suppress your immune system so your body accepts the donated organ
chemotherapy – chemotherapy medication, often used to treat cancer, can temporarily weaken your immune system
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from the NHS web-site:
Is shingles contagious?
It's not possible to catch shingles from someone with the condition or from someone with chickenpox.
However, you can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles if you haven't had chickenpox before, but this is uncommon.
The blisters of shingles contain live virus. If a person who has never had chickenpox makes direct contact with an open blister or something with the fluid on it, they can contract the virus and develop chickenpox.
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I havent been in contact with anyone with chickenpox, was told by the Dr,that you can only pass it on if someone actually touches my rash,or i touch someone after touching my rash , and its most likely stress related,which would fit in my case,had a very stressful 2017,
As the virus lives in the base of the spine and is activated by most likely a stressful event
I found the rash on monday and went to the Dr yesterday when i realised it could be shingles,he said i had seen him early on so gave me the antvirals
I dont feel ill, but had a very bad headache today, and wateryeyes
Also taking ibuprofen and paracetamol
I asked about the vaccination, as i only heard about it recently,hr said i was the wrong age
After looking it up, i cant have it until i am 78,which is ridiculous,it said people can have it at 70 the next age is 78. doesnt make sense
Another search said everyone over 60 should have it
When my sister had it she had to ask for it, Drs dont tell you like they do about the flu one,
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Woke up in agony this morning, had 2 400mg ibuprofen, with my antivirals,
I hope it doesnt get any worse than this, and doesnt last too long, also using spray virasoothe,
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Who told you that the virus lives in the base of the spine which is enclosed :-\. OK so I went on a search, as you do ::):
If you have had chickenpox the virus that caused it may live on afterwards in a dormant state in the nerves linked to your spinal cord. If the virus becomes active again, it will multiply and move along the nerve fibres to the area of skin supplied by those nerves; shingles then appears in this area. About 20% of people who have had chickenpox will have an attack of shingles later in life. [interesting! I learn something new about herpes every time I read about it!]
Shingles is not caught from someone who has shingles, but follows an earlier attack of chickenpox. However, a person with shingles can infect someone who has never had chickenpox, causing an attack of chickenpox but not shingles.
It will be painful for a few days .......... and the nerve endings may well aggravate with painful spasms for a while after the rash has gone away.
NHS advice It's not possible to catch shingles from someone with the condition or from someone with chickenpox. However, you can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles if you haven't had chickenpox before, but this is uncommon. The blisters of shingles contain live virus.
Are the shingles contagious?
Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer infectious. Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered. ... Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of varicella zoster virus.
To activate shingles the immune system has to be stressed, both Mum and MinL developed it at different times, both after a heavy fall. About 3-4 weeks following their accidents. A friend had it continuously during chemo therapy, in that after the initial rash the nerve ends were burning.
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From a US-based site:
Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, the varicella zoster virus, can spread from a person with active shingles to cause chickenpox in someone who had never had chickenpox or received chickenpox vaccine.
The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters caused by shingles.
A person with active shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase. A person is not infectious before the blisters appear. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer infectious.
Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered.
If you have shingles, you should:
Cover the rash.
Avoid touching or scratching the rash.
Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of varicella zoster virus.
Avoid contact with the people below until your rash has developed crusts
pregnant women who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine;
premature or low birth weight infants;
and
people with weakened immune systems, such as people receiving immunosuppressive medications or undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, and people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
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Are you keeping a note on how much pain relief meds you are actually taking and when?
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Only just seen all these replies, and have kept checking,i knew the shingles virus [herpes zoster] was dormant in the base of the spine, as i had bells palsy about 15 years ago and that is from the same source,and was told then
My Dr told me again this time, everyone carries but it lies dormant until its activated, often by stress
I have had a very stressful year one way or another,
As for painkillersi kist take when it gets painful an ibuprofen and a paracetamol,
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How R U this morning, any relief yet?
Interesting thread though sorry that you are suffering :-\
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Thank you for asking, feeling much better today, not as painful, but still a bit more tired than usual, supposed to having a few days away with, partner next week,[we dont live together] so a bit worried as he has a low immune system,
Posted about him before [prostate possible cancer still having tests]
I am hoping any contagious stage will have passed then, as i cant risk him getting it, although i have explained to him about how it can be passed [or not]
Still sore to touch, although i have got a spray i can use instead of putting gel on it,so not touching rash
Also very careful with hand washing anyway
He has had chickenpox so shouldnt get it anyway, but i can understand his worry
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Have now got a kidney infection, and stomach pains,was up most of last night, also numb ribs and flesh on same side as shingles
Dr has given me Gabapentin for the pain
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If I were you I would postpone the trip with your OH! Travelling is tiring at the best of times. Keeping his immune system as health as possible is important.
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Yes will definitely be postponed now, cant be bothered at the moment anyway to do anything
Hoping the ABs kick in soon too
Wasnt going far anyway, but i dont want to risk his health either and i wont be much fun if still feeling like this
I was hoping i would feel better,the rash doesnt feel too bad now at all, but back and under ribs aching and numb and stomach feels bloated
He gets his results on thev 5th Marh ,so will know what is what then, keeping fingers crossed , that its just been a scare after all
Serves me right for boasting that i never get ill ;D
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Hi Jaycee - just catching up with your thread and so sorry to hear you have shingles.
My best friend had this at the end of 2016 and she learnt that it is important not to stress yourself more than necessary and rest as much as possible. Hopefully the anti virals will have worked. She didn't realise it was shingles until it was too late to have those. You have to be careful if you want to avoid developing complications. She didn't listen (we are SO alike ;D) and went on to develop post herpetic neuralgia which is where the pain from the rash remains. Gabapentin is the usual drug given for this so it sounds as if your doc is on the case.
Hope the kidney infection soon goes. What antibiotic have you been given for that?
Taz x
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How R U today?
Rest. Listen to your body! Treat yourself to feet up with TV on ;)
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Celafexin ABs, but the gabapentin made me so dizzy and spaced out, cant take anymore, the shingles rash isnt too bad now,but the numbness worries me, and discomfort under my ribs ,
Wondering if that is wind pains, the antivirals gave me the runs, now feel constipated,
I am not doing much,but had to go shopping today,left it as long as possible,but needed some food and dog and cat food, but got a lift into town with my daughter on her way to work and taxi back, didnt hang around,just got what i needed
I felt better after going to town, but not done much since,poor dog hasnt been for a walk,
Going to have a warm bath soon
Had a lot of stress last year with one thing and another, so probably what has caused this
I wonder if i could take half a tablet each time?
Thanks both for replies
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Have a chat with a Pharmacist today? Give lloyds a ring and ask the question about the medication?
If possible, a gentle walk with the dog. Get some VitD. Then rest. This won't go away quickly.
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| I have had a word with my local chemist where i got the meds, apparently the Dr gave me a high strength, she said ring him on monday and see if he will give me a lower one
Cant halve them as they are capsules, but she said just take the nightly one for now,but a bit earlier so it doesnt affect me as much in the morning
Also i was thinking, i am only just under 5ft tall and slim, they might affect someone of my build more than a bigger person
Just going back to the Ibuprofen and Paracetamol for now
Woke up again at 5 this morning, the numbness apparently is not unusual, saw it on a website about shingles
Suppose to have an appointment with an eye specialist on Wednesday might have to cancel that,already hgad to cancel dentist
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As a recovering anorexic since age 3 I've had this thought that being under-weight and 5 ft tall, that medication prescribed to me, must react differently to people who are larger. Pharmacists however thought otherwise, however: my private anaesthetist talked long and hard about this prior to surgery, she told me after that she didn't have to give as much due to my weight and was bearing this in mind for future use.
If the shingles isn't in the eye area then I would postpone the appt.. We've had to put all ours off this week due to The Germ ::)
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My appointment was with eye specialist with regards to checking for Glaucoma, but eyes are a bit watery at the momebt so probably wont want me to go,
I might try the Gabapentin tonight, again,but take it earlier,
The rash has almost gone and not bothering me much now, got the antivirals in time
Took the dog for a short walk, but as i woke up at 5 had a doze after that
Thanks once again CLKD for your reply
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Sleep tight!
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Any improvement?
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Thanks for asking,yes feel so much better,i think the worst thing was the tiredness, the rash has gone, just a slight red mark where it was,
I couldnt take the Gabapentin the Dr gave me first, as they made me very dizzy even the morning after taking one at night, i rang him and he faxed me another prescription through to the chemist for a lower dose and been fine on them
Also had a kidney infection, so ABs for that cleared it,
I think i had a very mild dose of it really
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Don't rush into anything, it can take a while to feel 'well' again!
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Thank you for asking,i feel much better, just a bit of pain under ribs, but not too bad, mainly feel more tired than usual,the weaker gabapentin are much better, taking them 3 times a day, and no dizziness
I think i have been lucky,and had it quite mildly,
My sister is having really bad pains that feel like shingles pain, shes had it twice,her Dr just keeps giving her stuff to rub in and co codamol which isnt doing any good at all
I have suggested she asks him about the pain that can carry on after having shingles
I am still numb by the way,it feels very weird, i am still using the chickenpox spray ,although the rash is very faint now
PS,was going to write update on my partners prostate.but can find my post, any idea where it might be ?
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I'll have a look for you
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Thank you, found it now x
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Good, it worked ;) - we make a Good Team, thee and me :D
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Pleased to hear that your feeling better jaycee, I had to go to the Doctors today because of a tender and sore crop of spots that have broken out on my side - turns out I have shingles. :( He's started me on a course of antiviral tablets and at the moment I'm sitting here with a hot water bottle on my back to try and stop the stinging pain.
The dr hold me that I could go back to work as soon as the spots have dried up, hopefully by Monday as I really can't afford to be off work too long.
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Oh poor you! Take some pain relief too! and do NOT hurry back to work. This can be very tiring.
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*Grumpyfrancis* so sorry you have also got shingles, the rash does itch but stings too, and i have gone numb, all around that area, i dont know if it ever goes away but feels very weird, i had a lot of pain around and under my ribs, i got a spray called virasoothe from the chemist,recommended by someone on MM, they have a gel too, but the spray lasts a lot longer
My Dr recommended calamine ,which you can also get in a cream, so not as messy, but i found the spray a lot better,it it says for children with chickenpox, i really thought it was marvellous
I hope you dont have it for very long,
If you have got antivirals early enough it helps
I just have very faint pink marks now where the rash was,i think i had it very mildly , compared to some prople i know who have had it
Please keep us updated on how you are
*CLKD*yes we do thank you
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To update, Well it's still very sore and has spread from the middle around to the front and back on the left side and feels very painful, I'm sitting with a hot water bottle as I type this up. :'( This is the third day of taking the antivials since noticing the crop of spots but it's really spread now. I'm having to take Ibuprofin during the night and every three or four hours during the day and I find that this helps a lot. Don't feel ill just a bit under the weather.
Can I just ask, I was recommended from the pharmacy to buy some Aqueous Calamine Cream, which I have done. Should I wait until the spots dry up first before applying it?
The doctor seemed to think that I could return to work on Monday. I'm not so sure the spots would have dried up by then as I' m still finding new one's.
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Don't hurry back! Shingles can be tiring.
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Poor you,sounds much worse than mine was, and as far as i know you are still contagious until the blisters dry out
I got the Aqeous calamine you can use it now, but i found the virasoothe spray more soothing, and it is especially for that kind of rash. and lasts ages, all through my episode
I dont think you will fit for work on monday,i didnt feel ill as such but very tired
Dr has given me Gabapentin for pain relief, but gave ne 3oo nmg which made me dizzy so now got 100mg, much better
The pain came after the blisters had dried up.take it easy,
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*Grumpface* i have been thinking about you and wondering how you are,sounded much worse then mine was
I hope you are feeling better, and also if you managed to go back to work as soon as you hoped
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Thanks for asking about me jaycee. I'm back at work this week. I had to take the third week as holiday as I don't get company sick pay. It's been three weeks to the day, the pain has subsided and it's quite sore, but oh the itching! :-\ I do find that a cold flannel helps as well as the Aqueous calamine cream.
I do feel tired though. I don't think that work wanted me back in a hurry. I'm not allowed anywhere near the kitchen or scanner 'just in case' I pass anything on a colleague as she's expecting a baby Not a nice feeling. :'(
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Have a Google at Shingles and homeopathy. A homeopath was on TV last week and said that homeopathy is very effective at treating shingles, particularly as western medicine can't treat it so worth a go!
New research will apparently be revealed soon.
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*Grumpyface* i am not surprised to hear you were off work longer than you thought you would be
I hope you are feeling better, i thouht i had mentioned what i used from the chemist for the itching,its Virasooth,its what is used for chickenpox in children, but good for shingles too, the spray is better than the gel, but really soothes the itching,and it lasted me all the way through
Strangely i am itching again at the site where i had the shingles,hope its not coming back
Please keep us updated,
I am still feeling tired, not sure if its till from the shibles, but keep dozing off, if i sit too long
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Western Medicine certainly CAN treat shingles >:( ??? - there is a medication that if given within 72 hours of the rash appearing, helps enormously!!!! Who was this homeopath .......... research by whom and funded by ?
The affected nerve can continue to be troublesome. I have a friend who underwent chemo therapy in the early 1970s and she had shingles several times along different routes, even now when tired or poorly she has trouble with various nerves.
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Hey CLKD,
Sorry I meant meds can't cure it as it's viral, whereas homeopathy can manipulate the immune system to hit it straight on.
Not sure who he was but was on The Wright Stuff last week. Drug companies fund drug research so presume it will be homeopathic research, although as the remedies are so cheap compared to drugs it won't be comparable.
I think he said it was based on the physics of shaking the remedy and I guess will go down the quantum physics route. They need to increase research as now the Royal College of Vets are withdrawing training (following the NHS pulling out) and animals do so well with it. At least Prince Charles is still using it on his organic farm rather than injecting the animals with antibiotics.
Anyway, rambling now!
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You ramble ;D - it goes with the meno territory ::)
Homeopathy is unlikely to 'cure' it anyway as it is a virus that remains in the body until triggered. Herpes? lays dormant. Can raise it's head as shingles, cold sores [so no oral sex or it *will* spread], triggers being stress, illness, cancer treatments, shock. Both Mums had shingles 4-5 weeks following heavy falls.
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*Grumpface* did your Dr give you antivirals, which are the meds you jave to take within 72 hours,i just made it, and maybe its what hepled shorten the time i had it