Nasty

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Jorgie Posted: Wed, Jul 8 2009 3:39 PM

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So much for a lot of exercise, i found out today that I have shingles. Fortunately I went to the Doctor right aaway.

jorgie

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jen1229 replied on Wed, Jul 8 2009 5:09 PM

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Jorgie:

Sorry to hear you have shingles. Shingles is not caused by exercise.  It is a zoster virus, which affects people who have had chicken pox.  It follows the nerves and can be quite painful.   I hope you feel better soon.

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Spirit replied on Wed, Jul 8 2009 6:11 PM

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Nasty indeed!  I can see why exercise is not going to be part of your life for a while.  The condition is painful and sweating is NOT a good idea!  Isn't there a medication out now specifically targeting shingles?  Good thing you went to the doc early.  Saved yourself even more aggravation.

Spirit

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Jorgie replied on Thu, Jul 9 2009 10:07 AM

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Yes, they do have meds. Valtrex is an anti virual thing, and they also give you an ointment that really cuts down on the dis comfort. Then of course Tylenol 3 so that you can sllep at night.

Thanks for your concern!!

jorgie

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Jorgie replied on Thu, Jul 9 2009 11:27 AM

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I forgot one other thing. They also have a shot to hopefully prevent Shingles, so my Wife got that today. It's very expensive, but worth every penny if it works.

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Spirit replied on Thu, Jul 9 2009 12:48 PM

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And did the doc warn you to stay away from children?  They can get chicken pox from you (and the vaccine does not provide 100% immunity from shingles-borne chicken pox virus).  I thought I had shingles, but it turned out to be a different viral strain, which is how I know about the children thing.  Turned out I didn't have shingles, but a different viral strain.  Extremely painful, though, especially when the lesions went down my throat and inside my ears.  Bg went to pot, too, until it cleared up. 

Hope you feel better soon.  Good thing your wife got the shingles vaccine.  You're right.  Worth the money!

Spirit

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Jorgie replied on Thu, Jul 9 2009 2:02 PM

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Nope, not necessary if they have had their Chiken Pox shot which the Grandson's have had fortunately.

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Spirit replied on Thu, Jul 9 2009 5:38 PM

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You might want to double check that grandson has had the two injection chicken pox vaccine.  My doctor explained to me that sometimes only a single injection for chicken pox is given and that does not confer total immunity without the booster.  When he was thinking it was shingles he strongly advised me to stay away from children and anywhere children can be (like attending church services) as long as the blisters were still oozing.  Once every blister has crusted, the contagion factor goes way down.

Spirit

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Jorgie replied on Sun, Jul 12 2009 2:48 PM

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On the battle goes, some slight improvement, and also a little more spreading. The meds seem to be helping. I go back to the Doctor tomorrow afternoon. Bg is on the rise.

jorgie

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Spirit replied on Sun, Jul 12 2009 8:59 PM

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Jorgie:  Although my blisters turned out not to be shingles, but another infection, my diabetes control sufferred until the infection was under very good control.  There really wasn't much I could do about that except be patient (and try to stop it from getting worse!)  I felt so misearble that exercise was difficult.

I'm glad the meds seem to be helping.  These things seem to just want to run their course. 

Spirit

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Jorgie replied on Mon, Jul 13 2009 5:24 PM

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The Doctor is adding an antibiotic for ten days in case there is an infection too. Other than that, he said taht he saw some improvement.

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Spirit replied on Mon, Jul 13 2009 5:54 PM

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The antibiotic is probably a very good idea.  When I had my viral infection (a form of staph) I had open, weeping lesions very similar to the shingles blisters.  Because they were open to the air I am pretty sure that a secondary issue (bacterial infection) entered the picture.  When the antibiotic was added to the mix I noticed a decrease in how irritated and "angry" the lesions looked and felt.  They didn't go away any faster, but they seemed a tad less bothersome than before.  And ANY improvement was very welcome!!!!

Spirit

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Jorgie replied on Tue, Jul 14 2009 8:21 AM

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One yhing I forgot to add is that the Doctor also recommended sitting in a bathtub with some Dreft in the water, With my usual brilliance I almost killed myself getting in because I added the soap first. Dummy!!!!

First bath I've had in years. :>)

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Jorgie replied on Sun, Jul 19 2009 3:32 PM

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Things are improving quite a bit already, though I still feel very tired most of the time.

jorgie

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Spirit replied on Sun, Jul 19 2009 8:00 PM

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Did the Dreft help?  My SIL just called today.  Guess what she has?  Caught it early so that's good.  She wanted to get the shingles vaccine last year, but doc ran out and she didn't pursue it.  Now she regrets that!

Spirit