OT - Shingles

You have my deepest sympathy. My father was hospitalized with them. It can be terribly painful and cause complications for some with other disorders. Take a look here for solid information from the NIH:

Poor you! I had it some years ago, and it lasted about six weeks - even after the rash had gone. The nerve irritation can go on for a lot longer though, depending on the area it has affected and you may need painkillers for some time.

Best wishes

Pat P

Based on the people I've known who have had shingles, the sores last a couple of weeks. The pain can last for several months. An outbreak around the eye can cause permanent blindness. Please remember to stay away from those who have not had chickenpox (or been vaccinated) since they can catch the virus from you. The vaccine isn't given until age 1 in the US so infants are susceptible. My daughter (at age 11 months) and my non-immunized sister got chickenpox two weeks after my mother's first shingles sore appeared. While we don't think I ever had chickenpox as a child, I was around all of them and had to care for my daughter during her two-week outbreak and didn't catch anything. The doc suspects I had such a mild case as a child that we didn't notice.

That reminds me of when we had young kids and used to have "Chicken pox parties" and "German Measles (Rubella) parties - so that all the kids would catch it and get it over and done with!

Pat P

First and foremost, you have my deepest sympathy. I had a classic case of shingles a few years ago and it's an experience I probably will never forget. All I know is I couldn't wear a bra, or anything that touched my skin for the whole time.

For me the real pain lasted for about six weeks and then there was a few months of residual pain. I took Famvir the day after the lesions broke out and apparently it worked very well for me. It didn't shorten the duration of the active stage, but after a couple of months the pain went away and has never returned. My doctor thought it was the Famvir that helped.

You could try using Capsaicin on the places that hurt, being careful not to get it on any opened blisters. It really did help some.

I'm sorry I can't give you a more encouraging time frame, but mine did go away completely and thats certainly a good thing because I remember my father complaining years after he had Shingles.

I'm sending kisses because if yours are around your diaphragm the way mine were you definitely would not appreciate a hug.

Lucille

No advice, I had a small lesion once and it KILLED, so lots of healing thoughts!

Cheryl

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it can last indefinately. Diane gave you a good site to check.

My DH had shingles about three years ago on the top of his head, and when we went to emerg on a Sunday evening, the incompetent idiot who examined him, said it was a bad sunburn! (This to a man who had just spent the weekend vintage motorcycle racing so that when he didn't have his hat on, he was wearing his helmet). Three days later he woke up at 1 a.m. with his right eye partially swollen shut. Back to emerg - same idiot - "oh, it's looking better! " grrrrrr.

He couldn't get an appointment until Friday with his own GP, by which time I had spoekn to my sister "da nurse", and she diagnosed it correctly and immediately over the phone!!!!

Considering he could have had partial or total blindness had the optic nerve been affected, I still get steamed.

The worst of it went away in about six weeks, but he still has some sensitivity in that area of his scalp three years later.

Marg

I know that shingles can be painful - I have a small area on my outer right ear where it constantly recurs - sometimes once a year, sometimes more frequently. What is odd is that I was always led to believe it was a one-shot deal but apparently not.

I have learned to always have a bottle of the prescription antibiotics (Acyclovir) in my possession so I can start taking it at the first twinge of pain in my ear. Does help with lessening the symptoms, the horrible swelling and blisters and seems to shorten the duration of the episode - usually to about 2 weeks. Guess I'll never have my hair cut very short the rest of my life!

I would definitely talk to your doctor to see if they can provide you as much information as you want and need to know. It helps to have information!

MelissaD

Melissa,

I had reoccurring shingles outbreak on my forearm for more than 25 years. It was the reason I left medicine as I could not do direct patient care during an outbreak. I would have 5 or 6 outbreaks a year. The nerve pain was intense and I could always tell when an outbreak would occur. My doctor put me on famvir about 8 years ago and I had a standing refill. The medication did lessen the size and duration. After five years, the shingle outbreaks were down to the size of a dime and only once a year. I have been free of shingles for about 4 years now. Still keep a current rx for famvir though.

hth Bobbie V

remove the knot with a net to reply

Handy information for patients at and

It always helps to have information; the more the better, as long as it isn't incorrect. Acyclovir is a prescribed 'antiviral' medication to treat shingles (or chicken pox) or any other virus-caused ailment, but it is _not_ an antibiotic. There is NO antibiotic that will work at all against any virus. Antibiotics can only help fight infections and diseases caused by bacteria.

It's really scarey to know that many bacteria are now quite resistant, or are becoming resistant, to many common and not-so-common antibiotics (think "super bugs"). Another scarey reminder is no new (class of) antibiotic has been developed/discovered in some decades.

Sky

Luckily, not quite true. A completely new form of antibiotic has been found, which attacks bacteria in a completely new way. It is, however, in the very early stages of research, and it will be *years* before it is available for use. I cannot give you any sort of reference. I just know I read it somewhere a few months ago.

That's wonderful! I haven't heard about this information, and it would be great to learn more. Thanks for sharing, and I'll keep a watch out for more news.

Sky

P.S. I heard an intersting blurb on the radio a few days ago -- the word "news" came from the directions of the compass (N, E, W, & S). So, "news" is "everything one wants to know about from all the directions around the world" (or something like that) .

Wish that were true, but that just one of those things that people have 'back created' because it sounds so neat. The word news is very old (according to my Unabridged Random House dictionary from old English through middle english) and is from the word niwe(s) meaning new.

Marg

Thanks for the information Bobbie - glad to know I'm not alone! The only time mine has really caused issues is that I can't donate blood during an outbreak - that's only occured once in about 35 donations.

MelissaD

Sorry - Antibiotics is such a common word I guess I mis-spoke. Antiviral is indeed correct! MelissaD