I have the Shingles

wotzgoingon

The past while I was extremely tired and skin sensitive. I was going back to bed during the day. A couple of days ago I was having pains in my left chest. I was joking to people that I think I'm having a heart attack and two days ago I was scratching the same spot not thinking much about it but any how yesterday I had my top off and looked in the mirror and seen the rash. Went to the doctor and got tablets.

I couldn't sleep on my left side last night which was annoying as the rash is really sore. I have it on my chest and back.

Anyone here ever catch this stupid F-ing thing?

Charles Babbage

Yep. I had it on my lower back. The tablets should clear the rash in a couple of days, but I have some tingling from time to time in the affected spot years afterwards.

Bogwoppit

Yes, dealing with it for a few years now, it comes and goes.

Have a prescription ready in case of another outbreak, the faster you get on the antivirals the better.

I just completed a low dose 6 month course to see if that could get rid completely but had an outbreak within 10 days of finishing.

Next course of action is a vaccine, 2 available. The old vaccine should be free or at least pretty cheap but is only 60% effective. There is new vaccine available that’s supposed to be highly effective but costs around €500, I’ll be getting it soon hopefully.

iamstop

Had it years ago in Singapore. Glad it wasn't some more 'exotic' disease. Ya, meds and rest. Stay hydrated. I was told I got it because I was a bit run down.

wildwillow

Had them twice, first time as a student and the rash was around my waist. Had progressed a lot before it was diagnosed. Rash eventually disappeared but, while the nerve pain got better, it flared up for years when I was overtired.

Second time round it wasn't so bad as I got tablets quickly. Nearly reaching the age where a vaccine is offered so will probably avail of that.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120741753#Comment_120741753

6 month supply? The doctor only gave me a 7 day supply.

angel eyes 2012

Had it in hospital last year all on my face, torso and legs. I spent a month in hospital it was horrific and I've had chemo, which was much easier to deal with.

I never realised how serious shingles can get. I've been left with burning, tingling feeling all down my left side that comes and goes and constant bad pain in my back. As usual, in my experience, public hospital is useless when dealing with ongoing problems due to waiting lists etc. I had to go to a private A&E to get a referral for an orthopaedic and pain specialist. Of course, they were afraid to prescribe anything due to my complex history - so back to public waiting lists. I never had back pain before and I'm mostly worried it won't get better.

I think I've seen 25 different doctors/consultants over the past year for various chronic conditions and not one of them recommended or even suggested vaccination. I will ask next time.

Sorry about long post/rant but I just wanted to highlight the potential complexities that shingles can cause!

Bogwoppit

7 day course is normal for an outbreak, the 6 month course was trying to break a cycle of regular 2-3 outbreaks a year.

wotzgoingon

Just to come back to this. I'm not sure if everyone is the same when they catch this THING. But I am serious pain the past couple of days. It has affected the nerves in my back and stomach and side. The rash has come down but the pain is still there. I have pains in my stomach in parts there was no rash.

It's one of those things you hear someone had it and your like, oh right but when you catch it yourself it's a nightmare.

AllForIt

Why does everyone refer to them as 'the' shingles. Is there just one of them going around infecting people one by one?

niallpatrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120765821#Comment_120765821

It comes from the latin word cingulum meaning belt or tiles (don't quote me on that it's from shitopedia)

greasepalm

I was forced to get it as getting Shingles is very painful and was E500 for 2 jabs.

Not got over the 2nd stab as have muscle issue in raising my left arm to get dressed or raise it up to lift things down from a press and is about 5 weeks ago and have difficulty driving car and selecting gears.

But better to be prepared against it as many i know have had it and advised me to get it.

Didn't really know anything about this. It's only if you've had chicken pox before and it happens to roughly 1 in 5 people that the dormant virus becomes reactivated when you're run down etc. Sounds shlt.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120765923#Comment_120765923

It is shít. The chicken pox is nothing. At worst you may have an itch. This affects the nerves which is a nightmare.

freshpopcorn

I got them a few years ago.

Got them on my head, forehead and eyelid.

It started off and I noticed I had a sore lump on my head and I thought I hit it. Then it spread.

Went to the GP and he knew fairly fast was given an antibiotic and a cream.

Whilst I found it sore I was expecting it to be worse. The antibiotic cleared them up the cream stung tough.

The one on my eyelid was wore enough.

They haven't been back since however sometimes when the weather gets cold I can sort of feel needles pricking me where they were.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120768167#Comment_120768167

You got off lucky so. I haven't slept on my left side in two weeks and it's extremely sore to move while in bed of sitting down. It has affected the nerves in my back, side and stomach and in multiple spots in those places too. Even walking slowly around the house my skin bouncing is really sore. Terrible thing you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy.

Tippman24

Got them twice. First time was over 40 tears ago. I went to my doctor to get a cert but then went to a quack for a cure. The cure consisted of him putting his blood on the lumps and then leaving it. Done over a few days and it cleared them up. I was off work for a fortnight but that was due to having to walk with the aid of a stick. Got the infection on the foot and leg. Second time I got them was about five years ado and got the tablets. Infection was gone in about a week.

SteM

Have had them in my mouth a bunch of times, happens when I get run down. The doctor signed me off work for a few weeks the first time, thankfully I now know the early signs like tiredness and irritability (more than normal that is).