AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

Oh, boy! I don't know about Herpes Zoster, but I do know eczema. The itch is something remarkable. My silly doctor asked me if it felt good to scratch, and I had to tell him it was better than sex. Which it was. Of course, you're not supposed to scratch because that's when it gets infected and then you not only have eczema, but you've got infection. *sigh*

Stress may cause eczema, but so does contact dermatitis and the stress may not be clear cause-and-effect, so I never get to "take it easy." Boo-hooo

Shingles! BTDT! Could take you a month to recover - it did me. :( So DO take it easy. And I'll pray you quicker and less painfully than I did!

Stress will do it; do take it easy.

My daughter just got over an attack of that. She is working supposedly part time this summer but her work was really piling the hours on after two of her coworkers got sick; she had two incredibly busy weeks, this was right after HS graduation and developed a nasty rash on her stomach. Went to the doctor and they said it was Herpes Zoster and also called it shingles. The virus 'seats' itself along a nerve and will lie dormant, sometimes for years until something triggers an outbreak. I have it also (so did my dad).

-Irene

Sympathy and hugs on their way from Australia. Take it easy, pamper yourself and try not to scratch, although I can imagine how hard that is. Maybe antihistamines might help until the itching gets under control. This might be a good time to plan your future sewing projects.

Viviane

Shingles is one of the most painful ailments I know of. It's similar to the feeling of poison ivy, only multiplied by a factor of 10. <shudder> I had a very light case of it, maybe 25 years ago, and will never forget that feeling.

My sympathies, Beverly. Here's to a swift recovery.

Karen > Stress will do it; do take it easy.

Oh Beverly!!!! Crap and double crap!!! (I thought a few stronger words but won't post them here!!)

Rest. Relax. Get better very soon. Shingles should only be on the roof!!!!

Can you do an oatmeal bath to soothe the itching?? I know that really worked well with both my kiddos when they had chicken pox. I got the Aveeno brand oatmeal bath. A friend of mine just recently went through a bout of hand, foot and mouth that she caught from her much beloved toddler niece. Ugh!!! She was going to try the oatmeal bath for the lumps and bumps on her feet. (I also, jokingly, told her to quit biting her toenails and maybe she wouldn't be in this situation. lol She said she owes me a really hard pinch next time she sees me. lol)

Take care, and know you're in my thoughts.

Sharon

Shingles....arrrggh! That's what stress (and a lack of Vitamin B) will do for you.....;[- I haven't had them..yet, probably because I never had chicken pox, but my GF had them for over a month. Hers were painful; hopefully yours won't be. Here's hoping you'll heal quickly. ;)

Thanks all of you for the advice and encouragement. I'll give the anti-viral a few days before I resort to any of the tried-and-true home remedies. So far I'm not having much pain, and the itch is bearable. The meds have only moderate side effects.

I have planned a trip to Renton, WA this Friday with older DD, we're going to Ikea and Shipwreck Beads. I should know by Thursday whether I feel up to going. She's re-doing her basement party room into a "beach cabin" themed family entertainment/media center. I have a glass float DH and I found on the Oregon beach many years ago, and I offered it to her. I will be helping her make bright throw pillows and bean bags later. Fun! :-)

Gentle sympathy from over here in the UK. I hope you feel better soon and that the anti-virals keep it under control.

Just one word of warning - if you have friends who are on high doses of steroids or are undergoing chemo keep clear of them for the duration of the outbreak. When DS2 had chickenpox a cpouple of years ago we had to keep him and DS1 away from DFIL (who was on high does of steroids) until DS2 was recovered and DS1 didn't develop it. I'm not sure what it does but I know it is bad news for the immunosuppresed.

Lizzy

Thanks, feeling fine so far.

I will certainly keep that in mind. I cannot think of anyone in my circle of friends and relatives who fits the profile at the present time, but better safe than sorry.

Hi Beverly - I'm new here but try spritzing Bactine on the affected area. It helps deaden the sensations. It won't make them go away completely but might ease them enough for you to obtain some comfort. It helped my F-inlaw

Kelly

completely but

Funny, Bactine was my DH's favorite "it'll-fix-anything-remedy". :-) for now, I'm using the ointment prescribed by the docs, and taking the anti-viral drug. So far, I'm not having much discomfort, other than a mild itch.

Thanks,

Beverly, my heart goes out to you. I, too, suffer from the HZ syndrome. Whenever I become really stressed, it visits me. Take it easy, and rest, rest, rest. I've had bouts where when I got in the bed and rested, it actually cleared up almost immediately.

Hope you get back up soon.

Thanks, I am planning on sitting back with a good book ("Jane and the Ghosts of Netley", Stephanie Barron) and some Godivas. :-) DD is driving Thursday, so I'll be able to rest on our short trip, too.

Sending my best wishes your way,

Michelle Giordano

Don't stop taking the antiviral the doctor gave it to you for a reason and it will help them go away quicker even if you don't think it's doing anything it really is.

Celeste

I have also know elderly people who were affected very severely by herpes Zoster. So far my case seems to be quite mild, and the doctor hopes that my taking Acyclovir will prevent further episodes. I took care of my elderly father and both my DH's parents at the end of their lives, this would have been awful if any of them were still living, I would not have wanted to expose them.

I found the information at this site helpful:

Thanks, I always follow the doctor's orders *to the letter*. In this case, it means taking the anti-viral Acyclovir five times a day for seven days. I meant that I would try the alternative methods of dealing with the symptoms *in addition to* the Rx.

Beverly