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Last month I had a sinus infection. Yuck. Anyone who has ever had one knows how yucky those things can make you feel. Then, about two weeks later I got bronchitis. My chest was on fire and I felt horrible. Not even a week later, something else begins.
I drove to my Aunt and Uncle's from my parents' house, a five minute drive, and by the time I got there, I had taken what I thought was stiff neck. I felt sick and like I was going to pass out. I had that feeling just the day before. I visited for a couple hours, and by the time I got home, I was in quite a bit of pain. My neck hurt, my shoulder, and even down into the top half of my right arm. My husband tried to get me to go to the ER. The next day, I was sore and hurting all the way up behind my ear. OK, so I'm thinking I've pulled a muscle or something. In the back of my mind, I'm hoping I'm not having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic or the steroids I was on for bronchitis. I had taken my last steroid on the same day the neck pain began. This began on Tuesday, the 7th. Thursday, I'm convinced I need some Icy Hot, and I picked up some at CVS after the egg hunt at school. I used the Icy Hot Thursday night and Friday night. Saturday morning I woke up with a rash on my neck/shoulder area. So, I think I could be allergic to the Icy Hot. Why would I break out two days later and not the very next day? Also, why would it be confined to one area and not everywhere I put the Icy Hot? I'm not sleeping, I'm in a lot of pain, and I decide I'm definatley going to the doctor on Monday because my shoulder, back, neck, and arm are hurting like crazy. Motrin, Tylenol, Aspirin do NOT help! I am up all night in pain....And the rash is odd, and I've begun to get a little worried. Let it be known that when I was a little kid, I had a very minimal rash that the doctors didn't know what it was. They said if I never had chicken pox, that that was what it was. So, I never took chicken pox. While pregnant I was tested for an immunity to chicken pox, which I don't have, so we decided that meant the rash I'd had as a kid was NOT chicken pox. WHO KNOWS!? I've obviously had them at one time or another because I now have SHINGLES! You have to have chicken pox first. So, why I had no immunity to chicken pox is beyond me. Before yesterday, I knew same as nothing about shingles. I wish I still knew nothing about them. I know too much! The rash itself really isn't painful, not yet. It itches some, and I think it may begin to itch more later. We'll hope not. However, the other pain is bad. Yesterday, my doctor told me I had a pretty good case of shingles. She also told me that the rash would probably spread more, it would blister, itch, scab over in big, yellow crust, TURN BLACK, and probably scar. She also said that in some cases, the pain stays...forever. I wonder what's next? ------------------------------------------------- We are building two rooms onto our house. The next to last thing hubby did was put on shingles..........so, you know the joke around here. I should've stayed away from his shingles. :roll: :roll: |
Oh you poor thing. I hope you can find something for the pain at least.
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You poor thing! Both my husband and my best friend have shingles, and they both talk about how painful it is. There is a medication, Acyclovir (sp?) that you can take as soon as you start to get an outbreak. You may never get it again, but then again you may. Next time you'll know what to look for. You should see if your doctor will give a a prescription that you can take if another outbreak is imminent.
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Originally Posted by Harmony
You poor thing! Both my husband and my best friend have shingles, and they both talk about how painful it is. There is a medication, Acyclovir (sp?) that you can take as soon as you start to get an outbreak. You may never get it again, but then again you may. Next time you'll know what to look for. You should see if your doctor will give a a prescription that you can take if another outbreak is imminent.
So, what is it, Shingle season? |
Originally Posted by reneebobby
Oh you poor thing. I hope you can find something for the pain at least.
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Originally Posted by ButtercreamCakeArtist
Originally Posted by Harmony
You poor thing! Both my husband and my best friend have shingles, and they both talk about how painful it is. There is a medication, Acyclovir (sp?) that you can take as soon as you start to get an outbreak. You may never get it again, but then again you may. Next time you'll know what to look for. You should see if your doctor will give a a prescription that you can take if another outbreak is imminent.
So, what is it, Shingle season? |
Take care of your self and don't let the stress get to you. My mom had shingles around her eyes. She just looked like she had chicken pox.
My boss had them in her eyes the doctor said it was do to stress, the itching just about drove her nuts. |
Originally Posted by PamH
Take care of your self and don't let the stress get to you. My mom had shingles around her eyes. She just looked like she had chicken pox.
My boss had them in her eyes the doctor said it was do to stress, the itching just about drove her nuts. I had a nuclear stress test done in November because I'd had an abnormal ekg...I was having a lot of chest pain. The test showed it wasn't my heart. |
I'm very sorry to hear you are going through this. My mother had shingles and she was in a lot of pain. She, also, thought maybe she had pulled a muscle, but it kept getting worse and worse. Take care of yourself! Seems to me that shingles was something we never heard about much a few years back, but now it's all over the place!
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Oh Miranda you poor thing, I know how painful they are. Hoping for a speedy recovery. Take care!
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OH MY!! You poor lady!! I am so sorry to hear you are in pain. I have been battling a sinus infection and ear infection the past week. I get sinus infections all the darn time! I hate them! I can only imagine the pain you are in to have broncitis and shingles too!! I hope that you feel better soon. Best Wishes!!!
I wonder what causes shingles? Is it just something you can get because you had chicken pox in the past, or is it something you get from people who have chicken pox virus and instead of getting the chicken pox you get shingles? |
Originally Posted by leona07
OH MY!! You poor lady!! I am so sorry to hear you are in pain. I have been battling a sinus infection and ear infection the past week. I get sinus infections all the darn time! I hate them! I can only imagine the pain you are in to have broncitis and shingles too!! I hope that you feel better soon. Best Wishes!!!
I wonder what causes shingles? Is it just something you can get because you had chicken pox in the past, or is it something you get from people who have chicken pox virus and instead of getting the chicken pox you get shingles? |
Thanks, everyone! It helps me to talk about these things. :D My kids will probably have chicken pox, now. I only hope I get better first!
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Miranda, sorry to hear of your shingles, my son had them in Nov and it did
give him alot of pain and took a few months to get over them completely. Hubby and I recently got the shingles shot, its fairly new. You and my son are very young to have shingles, usually they say older folks get it. They won't give my son the shot as he is to young, they say, he doesn't want them again. Feel better. Nancy |
Originally Posted by sewmuch
Miranda, sorry to hear of your shingles, my son had them in Nov and it did
give him alot of pain and took a few months to get over them completely. Hubby and I recently got the shingles shot, its fairly new. You and my son are very young to have shingles, usually they say older folks get it. They won't give my son the shot as he is to young, they say, he doesn't want them again. Feel better. Nancy I'd say stress brought mine on. |
Yes, 60 is right, my son is 47 and trying to talk them into giving it to him. No
luck yet, I understand you can get them again. My Mom and Aunt both had them years ago, terrible cases both of them. |
Oh you poor girl. I feel for you. YES, stress is awful and can trigger the virus. Or, it decreases the immunue system and that triggers..... Regardless, I hear that shingles is incredibly painful and I hope you get over it quick.
I have "only" made it to hives stage (due to stress) and DH had a case of Bell's Palsy. Same virus, different outcome. Be calm, be relaxed, and be well. |
My DH had shingles about 18 years ago at age 32. From his shingles, dd#3 got chicken pox and then my other three got the pox and then it went through their entire school, I think all from DH's shingles. I had it about 8 years ago at age 40. I thought I had pulled a muscle too. They didn't give me that med and I was miserable and in a lot of pain. Hope you get to feeling better soon!!! I did not have any permanent pain, though the spot where I broke out has a little bit of nerve damage and the skin does not have as much feeling anymore.
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Thanks for the info on shingles. I have known folks who have had them. I don't want 'em! :?
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Originally Posted by ButtercreamCakeArtist
Last month I had a sinus infection. Yuck. Anyone who has ever had one knows how yucky those things can make you feel. Then, about two weeks later I got bronchitis. My chest was on fire and I felt horrible. Not even a week later, something else begins.
I drove to my Aunt and Uncle's from my parents' house, a five minute drive, and by the time I got there, I had taken what I thought was stiff neck. I felt sick and like I was going to pass out. I had that feeling just the day before. I visited for a couple hours, and by the time I got home, I was in quite a bit of pain. My neck hurt, my shoulder, and even down into the top half of my right arm. My husband tried to get me to go to the ER. The next day, I was sore and hurting all the way up behind my ear. OK, so I'm thinking I've pulled a muscle or something. In the back of my mind, I'm hoping I'm not having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic or the steroids I was on for bronchitis. I had taken my last steroid on the same day the neck pain began. This began on Tuesday, the 7th. Thursday, I'm convinced I need some Icy Hot, and I picked up some at CVS after the egg hunt at school. I used the Icy Hot Thursday night and Friday night. Saturday morning I woke up with a rash on my neck/shoulder area. So, I think I could be allergic to the Icy Hot. Why would I break out two days later and not the very next day? Also, why would it be confined to one area and not everywhere I put the Icy Hot? I'm not sleeping, I'm in a lot of pain, and I decide I'm definatley going to the doctor on Monday because my shoulder, back, neck, and arm are hurting like crazy. Motrin, Tylenol, Aspirin do NOT help! I am up all night in pain....And the rash is odd, and I've begun to get a little worried. Let it be known that when I was a little kid, I had a very minimal rash that the doctors didn't know what it was. They said if I never had chicken pox, that that was what it was. So, I never took chicken pox. While pregnant I was tested for an immunity to chicken pox, which I don't have, so we decided that meant the rash I'd had as a kid was NOT chicken pox. WHO KNOWS!? I've obviously had them at one time or another because I now have SHINGLES! You have to have chicken pox first. So, why I had no immunity to chicken pox is beyond me. Before yesterday, I knew same as nothing about shingles. I wish I still knew nothing about them. I know too much! The rash itself really isn't painful, not yet. It itches some, and I think it may begin to itch more later. We'll hope not. However, the other pain is bad. Yesterday, my doctor told me I had a pretty good case of shingles. She also told me that the rash would probably spread more, it would blister, itch, scab over in big, yellow crust, TURN BLACK, and probably scar. She also said that in some cases, the pain stays...forever. I wonder what's next? ------------------------------------------------- We are building two rooms onto our house. The next to last thing hubby did was put on shingles..........so, you know the joke around here. I should've stayed away from his shingles. :roll: :roll: I haven't read the entire thread, so someone else may have already told you this. Acupuncture often relieves the pain of shingles, and some MDs don't believe in it, so they may not tell you to try it. |
Bless your heart -- shingles are awful!!! Had chicken pox when I was a baby and shingles when I was 12. I can still remember how much it hurt... :cry: :cry:
Take it easy, rest as much as you can, and get well soon! :-) |
I've got nothing to suggest, sorry.
You take care of yourself. ((hugs)) |
Please take the shingles seriously!!! You can get permanant nerve damage, my Aunt has had it. There is a new drug that helps with nerve pain, Lyrica. The Dr. gave it to me for fibromyagia, but I had too many side affects from it to stay on it. Try to read up on it if you can. The nerve pain can easily last 6 months.
I hope that you have a nice mild case.... Feel better! |
Poor thing! Hope everything gets better!
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Hope you are feeling better soon.. I also had the shingles when I was about 12, got me out of school for two weeks :lol: that was the only good thing ..LOL take care of yourself
Sharon |
Bless your heart, Miranda!! I hope you are feeling better soon.
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Oh Miranda....what luck :roll: Well..as they say, the good new is that you now know what the problem is...the bad news is what the problem is!! Take good care of yourself...hope they leave soon! Hugs!
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Sending big hugs your way, Miranda, and hoping
you feel better real soon......(I thought only old people got shingles...guess not!) |
Oh goodness. I had them at age 24--but not a terrible case. There was a round spot on my back. It's so strange how it hurts all the way to the front--but only on half the body. I'm 48 now and haven't gotten them again--yet.
Now I've heard they are contagious. I was a waitress at the time I had them and the doc said since my spot was covered with a shirt, it was okay to go to work. But when the blisters pop--the fluid is contagious. A teacher had them last year and was told the same thing. It's worse to be near any woman who's pregnant. Good luck.... it's no fun at all. :( |
Aww, I sure hope you feel better soon. I had shingles on my legs in 5th grade, right before my sister's wedding. Not fun. I still have minor scarring from them.
I don't have any advice, but I'll pray that you heal fast and dont have the pain anymore. (((Hugs))) |
Sending you hugs and telling you that you will be in my heart and prayers. Do your best to take really great care of yourself. I know that is easier said than done.
You deserve the best. Keep in touch on this board and we will continue to offer support ;-) |
1 Attachment(s)
Maybe you want to see...maybe not. Have any of you looked at the pics on the internet? There are some nasty scary pictures. My DH was looking. I told him not to show me more. This was taken today. Day 5 of the rash.
Day 5 of the rash [ATTACH=CONFIG]32267[/ATTACH] |
Call your doctor and have him refer you to a pain specialist-- may be a CRNA or an anesthesiologist in your area. Get an intrathecal block. It will make the pain go away. This really works-- is a documented medical therapy- most docs don't recommend it because the family practice docs don't know about it. I know because I am in anesthesia and we do these all the time. You will be so relieved.
Good luck. Cheryl |
Thank you for the info on this, Cheryl. I imagine this procedure is quite expensive. Hopefully the pain will subside soon. I have no insurance and already owe the hospital $2,000 for a stress test last fall.
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Thank you so much to everyone for their posts, care, and concern! It makes a large difference to have so many friends sending their wishes! :D
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Miranda I am so sorry you are going through such a bad time. My prayers are with you for a quick recovery.
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It already looks so much worse than it did Sunday!!! :( I hope it goes away really fast. I hate it that you have Shingles. I swear you have the worst luck. You need to slow down, all of this stress you've been under has brought these on, I'm sure!!! If you need ANYTHING at all...the kids can come out and stay with me and PJ anytime, if you need me to come out and do your laundry or cook and clean, let me know. Both of my great-grandma's have had Shingles and said they are extremely painful and both of them still have pain where the Shingles were sometimes. You be sure and try to rest and get your immune system built back up. If you feel like it, you could post daily and show us what the rash looks like. I've never seen actual Shingles...well I mean I could look online..but you know what I mean.
We're sending you love and hugs and hoping you get better SOON...VERY SOON! |
Originally Posted by ButtercreamCakeArtist
Thank you for the info on this, Cheryl. I imagine this procedure is quite expensive. Hopefully the pain will subside soon. I have no insurance and already owe the hospital $2,000 for a stress test last fall.
Cheryl |
I always thought if you HADN'T had chicken pox you would get shingles.
Alas! In my case, I was over and through the whole event before I knew what was happening to me. But, I will never forget the itching, and then the extreme PAIN when I would scratch, and the internal pain ... that was really strange! I recall a lady who talked about singing hymns, reading the Bible, praying to the Lord, and when she couldn't do any more of that, she would just sit in her chair and let God just love her. Maybe ... God just wants to love you some more. I know idleness is not in your job description, but sometimes ... we need to slow down. WIll be praying for you and your treatments. |
So sorry to hear that you have shingles. I know how painful it can be as my mum had it too and hers was brought on by stress..poor thing not only did she have rheumatoid arthritis severely she also got psoriasis and then shingles. Mum just worried about everything so the only advice which other ladies have given as well is for you not to stress which is easier said than done so take care of yourself and rest whenever you can. Her shingles did go away with no lasting pain so hope that is also the case with you.
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