Herpes Zoster -

[tod2]

So I told you I have unfortunately broken out in Shingles....A chicken pox virus.
Funnily enough if you have never had Chicken Pox you cant get Shingles. But if you get Shingles like I have because I had chickenpox as a child, you can give it to someone who will develop Chicken pox not Shingles.

So after I started having shooting pains on my left side for about a week, my skin got tingly and sore and very hot, I then developed the rash starting at the spine and finishing at about my left boob, I started to feel ill. High fever, sweating, and abdominal pain, nausea and just wanted to curl up and die.
I then took myself off to the doc. She gave me pain tablets that had something to do with the AIDS prevention and another pill to do with a nervous condition, To help with pain and let me sleep easier.
Weeks are passing and I've swallowed a mountain of pain tablets, rubbed on creams etc. The pain was so bad I phoned my Doc who was back from somewhere, and he immediately sent the pharmacy a script for
much stronger tables. The gave me a whole box full. They are now getting low and the other night I thought I was dying. When you are thinking of waking up your husband and wanting to get to a hospital, that's the feeling.

So I decided to go and see my doc today as I have looked up my symptoms on Doctor Google. Apparently I have all the symptoms of Enteric Herpes-Zoster. Internal Shingles virus. Now I now why my left side felt numb for a few days. The virus attacked my stomach muscles and cause a false hernia by causing a lump on that side.
I honestly thought I had a hernia and couldn't figure out how I would have got one.

Let's see what my doc is going to do about it. The Google Doctor says it will go away in a few months....Or the virus could travel via my spine to my head and give me Bell's Palsy and other nasty stuff.

[mickthecactus]

You poor thing. That sounds awful. Hope it passes soon.

Yup, I was 18 when I caught chicken pox off my mother who had shingles. You name a place and I had spots. Even there.

[Kimby]

Sorry to hear this Tod. I hope your docs get it sorted and soon. And thanks for coming to the Port to let us know you’re still one of us. 💜

[kerouac2]

I was surprised when my friend from Singapore got it. He was only about 25 at the time. I never thought that people so young would ever get shingles. I remember one afternnon sitting in his bedroom in his parents' house watching his girlfriend peeling the dead skin off his back. Yuck.

[htmb]

Tod, this sounds like a horrendous experience! I am so sorry you’re having to suffer like this. I’ve heard horrible stories about shingles, including when my father in-law had them in his eye, but this seems to be the worst case ever! I hope your doctor can figure out how to lessen your pain and help you recover more quickly.

[bjd]

I think any age can get shingles. I have heard of a quite young teenager with it. Also heard that it's extremely painful so, Tod, I hope you manage to get over it soon.

[kerouac2]

When my grandmother got shingles, she was in pain but she didn't complain much. I don't know if that means that it was a mild case or if old people from back then had already gone through so much suffering in their lives that they were capable of bearing anything.

[tod2]

Thank you ALL. Your good wishes are really appreciated!
I went and got checked out again with a consultation at the doctors. I do desperately need the new pain capsules he has given me. He was very intrigued with my pseudo Hernia as I am the only the second case he has ever come across.
I felt much better in my mind that I was not going to go through this pain indefinitely as I now was armed to the teeth. And thank goodness I am because although feeling quite fine but aware of my left side being sensitive, I got home and immediately took the "In-between" pain tablet to ward off getting really sore again. Then that night the two "hitters" that were to see me through the night.....they failed. At 23.54 I awoke in pain so took the "In-between" again. Got to sleep and awoke not feeling too bad.
Time for the ritual of the "double Act" pills with morning tea.
Still feeling very sensitive but able to function at a slower pace.

MICK, I would very much like to know if you have any tingling or strange sensation on your skin somewhere when you get stressed? My doctor had Shingles on the side of his face a long time ago but the minute he feels stressed the sensation comes back on his face and that is like a Beacon telling him his stress levels are being compromised.

KEROUAC - I wonder if he had something more severe? Peeling skin sounds bad : My Doc says don't touch the little blisters even if they itch....? Have you ever tried not to attack an itch!?
I thought quite a lot about your Grandmother when you mentioned how she never complained. I can only hope she made up a mixture of her own medication to use either on the skin or to drink. She must have suffered so much just like our old people do.

BJD - Yes you can get them young....I had a mild case when 14 or 15. And in the same place as now.

HTMB-& KIMBY: Thanks for your message!

[mickthecactus]

I don’t tod but I didn’t get shingles. I caught chicken pox off shingles.

[tod2]

Mick, having got chickenpox you are a no.1 candidate for Shingles, especially at your age now. Maybe finding out about the Shingles Vaccine would be an idea because the pain is something else...

[mickthecactus]

Mar 10, 2024 8:27:38 GMT tod2 said:

Mick, having got chickenpox you are a no.1 candidate for Shingles, especially at your age now. Maybe finding out about the Shingles Vaccine would be an idea because the pain is something else...

Already had the jab....

[tod2]

You are so far ahead of me.....

[Kimby]

I have had both Shingles vaccines, the earlier one (forget the name) and the 2-shot Shingrix vaccine. My alert doctor suggested I start the series in time to finish before I went on Medicare at 65, since Medicare does not cover it.

Mr.Kimby is a couple years older and missed the window. Without Plan D coverage, he would have to pay out of pocket for this expensive shot. We both got chicken pox as kids, and he has already had shingles, a mild case though it didn’t feel mild to him.

[tod2]

I know what Mr.Kimby went through. This past week has been good as I worked out how to medicate my pain a little differently to the instructions from the doctor and pharmacist. With my method of taking my "In Between" pain tablet if I started feeling the pain getting a hold, I take the "In between" tablet before I know the pain will become very uncomfortable. This routine for the past week has given me hope that my shingles will die down sooner than later.

[kerouac2]

That is definitely good news.

I have learned over time that when you get even the slightest inkling that something is breaking out, it is time to act quickly instead of wondering if it will get worse and only acting then.