NDR - Shingles

Blake K

Blake K

Active member
Woke up last Sunday morning with shingles so have had the shingles "belt" rash for just over a week now. The rash itself hasn't been very painful(very blessed from horror stories I have heard), but the swelling on my side is extremely uncomfortable and makes it difficult to breathe and sleep. From my limited research it appears I have what is know as abdominal psuedohernia caused by shingles. Has anyone on here had any experience with this? If so, any insights as to potential length of time this will be ongoing, ways to lessen the uncomfortableness, etc?

From what I have read and from talking to a couple friends who are physicians, the only thing that really helps is time itself.

I was fortunate enough to start Valtrex within 3 hours of the rash started last Sunday morning and believe that is what has kept the actual rash from being painful. Good news is I am past the blister stage and praying as the rash begins the final healing stage that the swelling subsides.

Not good timing for a CPA to get shingles right as busy season is kicking off.
 
No help on the complications, sorry to hear about it. I had shingles in my 40s, and got on an antiviral that day. Was quite a shock. Diagnosis was hilariously immediate.

I haven't gotten the vaccine, but I probably should.

Since this group is full of geezers a feeling of pain, burning, tingling, or itching in a band of skin on one side of the body is a major symptom. I guess it is horrible if you don't get on the antivirals and have a bad case.
 
Also can't help, but after several rough stories from friends did get my 2 rounds of shingles vaccines the last few months. The vaccine can be rough, but nothing compared to shingles itself. If you haven't had shingles or the vaccine - get it!

Tod - check with your MD, but I think if you've had shingles the vaccine would be of no/limited value.
 
HenryHawthorne said:
Tod - check with your MD, but I think if you've had shingles the vaccine would be of no/limited value.
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I did have that thought. When I looked it up briefly in the past, the current shingles vaccine is specified for both those that have not and had shingles. I don't know if anyone knows the bang for the buck that I would get having had it before. My case was about as mild as it could be.
 
RM Anderson said:
Shingles is no joke; can cause blindness if it erupts on your eyes.
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My sister had shingles erupt right next to her eye about a year ago and smartly got medical attention immediately like you did and it cleared up quickly, and thank God for that. My father had shingles many years ago and it was very painful and was before the shingrix vaccine. He had the previous shingles vaccine. I have not had it but have had both of the vaccines noiw, the old formula several years ago and just finished my two rounds with shingrix. It is not something you want to get, the vaccine has been around for a while now and is much more effective than the previous version. My understanding is that this current vaccine can give you side effects for a few days that can make you feel bad, and I appreciated that the pharmacist in town told me that, because I was scheduled to get my second dose two days before Christmas, and she encouraged me to wait until the holidays were over just in case, which I did. I only had a sore arm from the two. The first shot gave me soreness inside my shoulder joint for a few days, the second soreness on my skin for a couple of days, but that was it and it was no big deal.
Blake, your quick action is probably going to help you immeasurably, and this type of topic is actually really good once in a while because you don't want to see anybody get this.
 
I had it in my early 30s, doc was so surprised that someone my age age got it, he called in all the other docs and interns. No pain, just ugly rash.
I got both rounds of the vaccination this last year.
Hope you have a quick recovery.
 
Going to try an active campaign of Tylenol and ice packs(morning before work, lunchtime, and bedtime) on the swelling this week. Hopefully this with the rash starting to slowly go away will find some relief!!!

Yes definitely don't want anyone to get this--It is not fun.

To make this topic duck related - the only good news is that my property has been froze up over a week and will remain frozen until season ends this coming Sunday and thus I am not missing out on any duck hunting while I have shingles going on.(y)
 
I have known way to many folks that have suffered from Shingles during my lifetime. From mild cases to one that ended up in ICU. So as soon as they came out with the vaccine years ago I asked my doctor for it. Was told "Your to young. You'd have to pay for it as it's not covered by insurance." I was 50 at the time. Since then I have gotten both the vaccines, and am very glad I did. My brother inlaw had Shingles last fall, kicked his ass and he is early 40's. Thought he had poison ivy..."Nah I don't need a to see a doctor." Until he had to.

I'm old enough to remember the first Polio Vaccine that we lined up for in grade school for and were given it. No questions asked. My neighbor a young girl my age had Polio. What it did to her broke my heart. I thank God for that vaccine and some others that have worked just fine for me.

my 2 cents
 
Former Respiratory Therapist --- DEEP BREATH and Cough!! at least 5 times an hour..... Pneumonia is a common secondary complication!!! Sounds like you are on the back end of this so keep doing what you are doing... Form of the Herp Virus plagued mankind for 1000's of years!! Get better!!
 
tod osier said:
pain, burning, tingling, or itching in a band of skin on one side of the body is a major symptom.
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Mine started with what felt like something trying to bore out of my leg. Not a pain, just a weird sensation. That went on for about 3 days. I thought it was a nerve doing dumb stuff and ignored it. Then, a rash started appearing, and then the pain and itching set in. I assumed I had poison ivy (for the umpteenth time) and went to the local doc in the box for a steroid shot. The CRNP laughed at me, and told me I didn't have poison ivy this time, but shingles. I laughed right back at her and reminded her that I was 40. The rash wrapped around my leg, side and back within hours. No sleep to be had for a week. Doc said it was likely stress induced from work. I changed jobs not long afterward.
 
Mine was stress induced, from a long drive back and forth from Mobile to Michigan to go duck hunting and see my twin sis and my new niece. 6 day non stop trip, 3 days after I got back exhausted, chest and back were rash wrapped!
 
Steven Alexander said:
Mine started with what felt like something trying to bore out of my leg. Not a pain, just a weird sensation. That went on for about 3 days. I thought it was a nerve doing dumb stuff and ignored it. Then, a rash started appearing, and then the pain and itching set in. I assumed I had poison ivy (for the umpteenth time) and went to the local doc in the box for a steroid shot. The CRNP laughed at me, and told me I didn't have poison ivy this time, but shingles. I laughed right back at her and reminded her that I was 40. The rash wrapped around my leg, side and back within hours. No sleep to be had for a week. Doc said it was likely stress induced from work. I changed jobs not long afterward.
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Maybe this is just a sign that I should retire? Man that would be fabulous! Unfortunately probably not going to happen in the near future.
 
Blake K said:
Maybe this is just a sign that I should retire? Man that would be fabulous! Unfortunately probably not going to happen in the near future.
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Retirement wasn't an option for me, either. But if your job is causing you enough stress to induce shingles at a young age (I don't know your age), it's also causing enough stress to have other effects on you that may or may not be so evident. I'll never tell another man what to do. I just know what I did, and overall, I am happier for it. I do miss traveling the world and supporting soldiers in the field sometimes still, but my stress level dropped off quite a bit after making the swap to my non-traveling role.
 
tod osier said:
We have quite a crew of young shingles cases here.
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I had it on vacation in Maine when I was in my 40s. Sucked! Didn't realize what it was until it was too late. The pain was terrible. The only thing that helped was floating in the cold lake water or capsaicin cream to overload the nerve endings till it stopped. I've had both doses of the current vaccine.

I felt pretty bad after the second shot. Swollen lymph nodes, flu like symptoms etc. But it's still better than another case of the shingles.
 
Steven Alexander said:
Retirement wasn't an option for me, either. But if your job is causing you enough stress to induce shingles at a young age (I don't know your age), it's also causing enough stress to have other effects on you that may or may not be so evident. I'll never tell another man what to do. I just know what I did, and overall, I am happier for it. I do miss traveling the world and supporting soldiers in the field sometimes still, but my stress level dropped off quite a bit after making the swap to my non-traveling role.
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55 yrs old.
 
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