anyone have experience with shingles?

[triron]

Boy it's awful. Get vaccinated!

[applegrove]

1. I had a mild case as a teen. I could feather my hand lightly where the

rash was on my side and it hurt so much. I would not want a full case.

[brer cat]

2. I've had them on my back and around my waist.

They can be terribly painful. I was lucky that I realized right away what was happening and my doctor got me on medication fast, so it wasn't too bad in my case. I have since been vaccinated.

I hope yours clears up soon.

[triron]

3. I didn't realize until the rash appeared. Two days later started valtrex.

Finally after 3 weeks got a prescription for gabapentin. Nearly 4 weeks now.

[Martin68]

4. I had a friend who contacted shingles when we were in our 40s. I got my shots after witnessing what

she was going through!

[Effete Snob]

5. Inside of my upper thigh region

Right near a lot of other sensitive apparatus.

I rotated through different sorts of dressings and treatments - dry, wet, lotions, etc., instead of just any one thing.

Frequent cool baths seemed to be the best for me, but everyone is different.

[zipplewrath]

6. At 12 years old

Right across my waist. Hurt like hell. And in there somewhere I had to play dodge ball in physical education. That hurt like hell. I'll never know why I wasn't told I could be exempted from class for that. Been vaccinated twice since then. My spouse had a case when they were 60. It was mostly in their ears. Hurt like hell.

[mucifer]

7. a relative got it 51 yo not vaccinated he couldn't swallow food for months and

needed a feeding tube . Luckily his facial paralysis was temporary. All from shingles. He did get over it. But, it was bad. I hope you can take gabapentin. That can help the nerve pain.

[triron]

15. I'm taking 1200 mg per day. Helps a little.

Acupuncture helps too. Colloidal oatmeal bath seemed to help a little. Also calamine lotion.
Scabs from rash are gone now but still very sore where the rash was (from my mid back down
and around my side to my belly button (all on the left side).

[Rocknation]

8. Everyone should get the shingles vaccine for their 50th birthday

Last edited Fri Feb 4, 2022, 12:14 PM - Edit history (1)

Whether you can remember having chicken pox or not.


Rocknation

[amerikat]

9. Got my first vax dose a couple of weeks ago.

Have to wait a couple of months for 2nd dose. $200 per dose. not covered by my insurance.

[MoonlightHillFarm]

10. Horrible Shingles

I got shingles during a very stressful time. I was the medical person for two of my closest friends who were dying at the same time. So I was running myself ragged.

It started with a horrendous headache. By the time it was diagnosed, it was too late for the anti-viral. I got it on my face, on my forehead and around and in my eye. The pain was excruciating. I had a emergency appointment with an opthomologist to to see if it had gotten behind my eye, which meant I would lose my vision. Luckily it was just on my cornea.

I was not functioning for a couple of weeks because of the pain and my inability to think. I ended up going to ER three times, and even moved in with my 80 year old parents for a week.

I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. I have since had the two vaccines.

[Mme. Defarge]

12. See my reply below!

[Mme. Defarge]

11. In my right eye

while in my 40’s. I have gone through major surgeries for a ruptured appendix and peritonitis and for a twisted intestine with an NG tube for a solid week. Neither of those experiences came anywhere close to the excruciating pain of shingles, which left my with a warped cornea.

GET THE VACCINE!!!

[Frustratedlady]

13. I came down with it around midnight on an icy night. My husband was ill and couldn't help.

He had had shingles before and knew what I was going through, so he begged me to call the girls to come take me to the hospital. I declined because I thought it would be safer for them to come in daylight.

The only way I could find any comfort was to rock back and forth on my hands and knees so my body didn't touch the mattress. Finally, the day lightened enough to call the daughters.

After a short visit to ER, it was confirmed I had shingles and given meds. They took away most of the pain, but I had itching for several years across the stomach area.

Unless you enjoy unbearable pain, get the vaccine.

[PJMcK]

14. Just got my first dose of the vaccine

It’s called Shingrix and I got it at CVS where it’s covered by my insurance. Curiously, my insurance would not cover it if I went to my doctor where it would cost $600.

I’m due for the second dose is a few months. Modern medicine is marvelous and those who forego vaccines are foolish and selfish.