I understand that these are contagious so you will need gloves. Yes there are meds to help you, but you must go to your Dr. NOW. They could spread. Not fun.
It might be shingles, might not. Please find out ASAP

Thanks Marie, I DID see doctors at the emergency room. They were positive it is Shingles, ruled a lot of other things out... gall bladder, blood clots, heart attack, pneumonia etc. And they started me on the meds last night for nerve pain and the shingles.
I bought the gloves, and I am always careful when changing his bandage. I hope to get in to see my primary doc in the morning.
Thanks again for your repply.

Shingles is one of the herpes viruses, like chicken pox and fever blisters. It can spread into a cut, so it's good you're being careful when changing your husband's ear dressing.

I got it in the right shoulder area and had stabbing pains and burning along with blisters. Not fun. I don't remember how long it took to clear up, but it wasn't forever.

Now I keep antiviral medication on hand so that if I notice the beginnings of a flare up I can take that immediately and stop it before it gets going. You might ask your doctor about that.

I had it on the left side of my face, throughout my hair and in my left ear - you could almost draw a dividing line down the middle of my face. The left side was affected but nothing on the right side. Not Fun!! It was so painful that I went to the ER. The young almost-a-doctor (intern) told me it was an allergic reaction to cosmetics. I told him I didn't wear cosmetics but she was insistent. I demanded to see another doctor who also didn't have a clue what it was. The next day I went to see my own dr. who knew immediately what it was and gave me a prescription for a face wash liquid and mild pain killers. I was off work for three weeks while it cleared. I have some scarring that only appears in the summer (it doesn't tan like the rest of my face).

My friend was recently diagnosed w/them on her back,the first 2 weeks were the worst.Her doctor prescribed a lidocaine patch,which helpep her greatly and also some lyrica,which helps treat nerve pain.I hope you can get some relief quickly.

Shelley

Shelley.... Mine is on chest and back, right side only. THey said the rash does not cross the 'midline' of your body. Strange! I am going to ask tomorrow about the lidocaine patch. I can only take the Neurontin, for nerve pain, at bedtime. I have been taking Aleve during the day, not helping. THe pain eases up, then about every 1/12 hours it starts to spasm, and squeeze, and just builds up for about 15 minutes of excruciating pain.
Petaloid, mine is a squeezing burning pain that starts under the brestbone and feels like it crawls around to my back. As i said, never had this kind of pain before. Saw a brochure for the vaccine at the pharmacy today, you have to be 60 to take it. I just turned 59, and I guess too late for me. I told DH, who will be 61 that he needs to get the vaccine, if they will let him.... since he has diabetes and heart disease and now skin cancer? This is NOT a fun thing to have.

Appreciate the advice.

I had a mild bout of shingles last year. Woke, looked in the mirror, saw what looked like a cluster of spider bites on my right forehead. I'd recently had a bad time with a spider bite, so called my MD and was seen that day. One glance and the tech diagnosed shingles. They gave me anti-herpes meds. From what they said, if you catch this within the first 72 hours of outbreak, the meds can make it much less painful and of shorter duration.

barbara3 -- I was told that my outbreak would be limited to the upper right quadrant of my head and face, and it was. The herpes attacks one particular grid of nerves.

I stayed away from children for three weeks. Was told that the 'casts' (skin cells) from the herpes-affected area could cause chicken pox in anyone who was not immune. My episode was short and not particularly painful. I'm not looking forward to another one though!

I don't know whether my bout served as a 'vaccine' against more events. I know my MD wouldn't give me the shingles vaccine for a year after I'd had this case.

My doctor recommended that I get the vaccine, because I have a skin problem. After researching it I decided not to. It is only 50% effective, she said it was oral meds and later a pharmacist told me it only comes in a shot. There is aluminum in most shots, so won't take any shots unless absolutely necessary.

Jenna, the antiviral medication I keep on hand is Acyclovir. I take the tablets if I notice signs it may be coming back, to nip it in the bud.

I'm not quite old enough for the vaccine, but now that you mention it, I may try to talk my doc into approving me for it anyway.

Petaloid.. the doc at the ER said she was giving me acyclovir but the pharmacy filled it with Valacyclovir, (valtrex), take one gram twice a day for two weeks, but no refills. I guess i should ask my doc tomorrow about keeping it on hand too?
Did you use any ointment or anything on the rash itself? mine is small, maybe 3 inches wide, and doesnt itch or anything.... yet.

chisue, I could draw a line starting between my eyes,down the bridge of my nose and down to my chin. I was affected on my chin area below my lip, all over my left cheek, and then into my ear and up into my hair line around my left ear. I was teaching at the time and was put off work for three weeks. That became 5 weeks when, upon returning to school, one of my more "outspoken" students saw me and shouted, "Eeeeewwwww, what happened to your face!?!" I didn't go back until it was all cleared up.

Glad you did get a good diagonis from the Dr. I am sorry about jumping in so quick, but it looked like the ER Dr. just avoided it, not sure what it was.
I asked the Dr about the vacine, but DH cannot take it due to diabetis and cancer treatments, along with a heart condition. But I was told if you ever had Chicken Pox you will not get shingles. The vacine is iffy for many people.

If you have had chicken pox - you can get shingles!

Here is a link that might be useful: Chickenpox & Shingles - read all about it!

"But I was told if you ever had Chicken Pox you will not get shingles." Not true.This is from WEB MD website.
"Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, a type of herpes virus that causes chickenpox. After you have had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in your nerve roots and remains inactive until, in some people, it flares up again. When the virus becomes active again, you get shingles instead of chickenpox.
Anyone who has had even a mild case of chickenpox can get shingles."

My mother had shingles and like you she said she had
never had anything to hurt so bad. Someone told her to put some of her own urine on it. She said that she hurt so bad that she would try anything so she tried it and said it worked wonders. Then a few years later my 12 year old nephew had shingles and also tried it and says it works. I'm not sure how fast it works and it sounds icky but wouldn't cost anything to try.
I asked my doctor for the shingles shot but Medicare turned it down and it would about 300.00 dollars.

My younger daughter had a small red rash on her leg. She was convinced it was some kind of parasitic thing so went to a dermatologist, who recognized it was shingles. Strange, in an otherwise healthy 19 year old.

My friend had shingles in the same place where you had them and hers cleared up in a couple of weeks but the odd one pops up now and then. She stopped wearing a bra. LOL

On the other hand my SIL's father has had shingles for a couple of years and is constant extreme pain. Morphine doesn't even relieve his pain! He isn't going out much anymore because anytime he wears trousers it aggravates the rash. Nothing seems to help him and when the shingles seem to abate a bit it isn't long before they are back again.

Good luck. I have heard you can get shingles in your eyes. Ouch.

Anne

Anne, I read that you can get it in your eyes and could cause loss of eyesight. I thank the Lord I didnt get it there, I am already blind in one eye. Not sure if it can move (the rash i mean)from one place to another, hope not. THe morphine didnt help me last night either.
Patruth... urine on the rash? Hey, I will try anything. Had a really painful episode this evening. It seems to ease up for an hour or two, then it just starts building up to almost intolerable. I am pretty tough normally, (see my original post about different injuries, I handled all those a lot better than I am this). Still feel like a big baby.
DH is a good man, worried about his own issues right now, and not very responsive. So thank you all so much for listening and helping me.
I know this too shall pass, it has to quickly so I can get him through his surgery, but darn inconvenient time for this to pop up.

June

My Doctor ask if I wanted to get the shot. She said I should check with my insurance to see if they covered it, they do so I'm scheduled to get it on June 30th. My DH did have shingles and it wasn't an easy thing for him. We used Capzasin-HP, it deadens the nerves so it doesn't hurt as much. If you have gloves use those this burns when you first put it on..and wash your hands very good..if it gets your eye it really burns.

DH was diagnosed with shingles at 55. I tried to get the vaccine but the insurance won't pay until you hit 60. After hearing these stories about the extreme pain, I think I'll pay the $300.00!

Strangely, DH said that his was only mildly itchy, not painful at all. He had it on both sides of his chest. I wonder if he was misdiagnosed...

I had shingles about 3 years ago, I don't know who said they wont be on both sides of your body, for me it started behind my right ear, went up over my head (like a headband) and ended just above my left ear. from the band of little "blisters" was the feeling of spiderweb brushing my face (pins and needles numbness and tingling,like when your foot falls asleep, only more pulsing) I have a high pain tolerance level, and I spent a lot of time almost in tears. At first I thought I was having a reaction to a new formula of my old favorite shampoo, so didn't go to the doc right away.

For me the "blisters" were gone in about 2 or 3 weeks, but the tingling lasted almost 2 years, it just went away around Christmas this past year. I am not typical in how long that lasted though, so don't worry, just keep your doctor informed.

Hope you feel better soon, will think good thoughts for you and DH and his treatments as well.

I don't remember where I heard it, but that shingles can be brought on by a lot of stress. With the situation your DH is going through, it may have stressed you out enough to make you suseptable to the shingles. Like I said, I don't know where that came from, but I just wanted to share it just incase there would be a way to relieve some of the stress in your life.

I hope that urine works for you. Who cares if you smell like you wet your pants, it you can smile at the same time.
I hope it clears up fast for you.

Shingles is caused by stress.

It is very painful so don't feel bad about whining, crying.

I had them once and it was under my left breast. Only 5 bites and thought it was flea bites but the doctor said no, its shingle. Nothing you can do about it, nothing to take for it.

I was working and looking after a baby and toddler and the mom was so concerned especially with the baby and the nurse on the call line told her as long as I didn't touch it and then touched anything at all or the kids it was fine, they won't get it. I told her I have it under my breast and can't touch it and then the kids or anything in the house. And sure enough they didn't get it and I was very careful even though it was in an area where it couldn't be touched during the day working.

My grandfather I remember had it on his legs alot of the time and he wasn't happy with it. I didn't know how painful it was until I got it. I went oh, my goodness he had it so many times and his legs, the pain he must have suffered and he wasn't young either.

I feel for you.

Just be careful not to touch anything at all that your husband can touch, even your clothes, make sure that only you do the laundry.

My whole family has had it and I dread the thought of getting it. My aunt had it the worst and lost the vision in one eye and had to be hospitalized. My SIL had it a few months ago and my husband had it last year. His was a mild case.

Sorry to hear you have them, were you given a cream that begins with Z, I forget the name. It works very well. One cautionary note to you. Do not go near a pregnant woman as she can catch the shingles and it can harm the fetus. I know the pain, I hope its gone from you in quick time.

My sister had it last year on the left side of her face,up into her hair and in her eye.The eye dr had her come in almost every day each week for awhile for eye treatments,so she wouldn't lose her sight.She said it was the most painful thing she has ever gone thru in her 77 year of life.

I got the shot a few years ago,i had to pay for it initially,220.00,but was reimbursed about 6 weeks later by my insurance co.

2 of my other sisters have had it also,i don't remember all the details of theirs except they all said it was very painful
Kathi

I sure do feel for you, June. I was fortunate to have had it only once, and a mild case at that. However, I was told I was contagious for a week or two so I didn't go out for awhile. I wouldn't worry so much about passing the chicken pox to kids, but I would worry about pregnant women and others whose health is already compromised. So if you are able to stay home, please do. I think you're being so careful with your husband and I send him my best wishes for a good outcome. I hope your shingles is soon greatly diminished and that the pain disappears as well!

I had shingles on my scalp and neck. It started out painful, then became unbearably itchy. My doctor prescribed an anti-viral and Prednisone, but I called him the next day to get something for the itching and something so I could sleep.

I still have a light colored scar on my neck where the worst patch was.

My 82 year old mom got shingles 3 or 4 years ago. She had them on the left side of her face - in her scalp and her eye. Her eyesight was affected, but she was not blinded. She confirms that it is the WORST pain she has ever had. And the worst itching. And she still has pain every day. And tingling. The doctor prescribed NORTRIPTYLINE and it took a while to find the best dosage, but it still only dulls the pain, it does not get rid of it. Some people have the pain for the rest of their lives and some completely recover. It's so odd.

I wish you the best with your outcome.

I read every post on this thread, and it has made me rethink my decision to decline the shingles vaccine.

I tend to react to all sorts of things (my last--and I mean last!--flu shot had nasty consequences, for example), and I'm a little suspicious of vaccines. I'm a lot suspicious of anything new the medical profession comes up with. But I already carry herpes Type 1 (cold sores), and feel I'm probably a sitting duck for shingles.

After reading this thread, I read what Dr. Andrew Weil had to say about the vaccine on his website. He said he himself had recently gotten over a case of shingles. He talked about a large-scale study that was done on the vaccine, which showed it prevented shingles in only half the cases, but lessened the severity in those that did get it. And it also helped or eliminated the pain that can linger afterward.

So......I'll probably get the shot. I just hope it goes smoothly, with minimal-to-no side effects. Thanks for your input, June and everyone else.

Alisande: I'm like you in my reactions to so many things. I hesitated for a couple of years after my doctor recommended I get the shingles vaccine. Then last year a friend of my sisters got shingles,,,,I heard how hard it was on her. I started checking into it more and finally got it last Dec. Had to order it and it took from Sep to Dec for it to come in. The drug portion of my insurance paid all of it, and the doctor end of the insurance waived my $25 copay to get the injection.

My reaction was minimal, just a little discomfort/redness for a few days at the injection site.

Shirley

That's good to know, Shirley, thanks!

scottymam, kathi and donna loomis..... I believe the very worst place to get this stuff is on your head, near your eyes. That has to be the most painful of all, and to chance losing your sight. I hope you scottymam and kathi and donna.. your family members,are doing well now.

hayjud... the doc said today that stress can trigger it. It is a virus that lies dormant in your body. also a weakened or compromised immune system can cause it to erupt. I have a disease called toxoplasomosis that was congenital, my mother had it apparently when she was expecting me, of course way back then they had no idea. It caused the blindness in one eye. but I was very fortunate and blessed even back then for that because it could have caused very severe mental retardation or other problems for me when i was born. Which means I probably wouldn't have made it. But I did. So my compromised immune system has to have been a part of this now.
Alisande... I too am a fan of Dr Weil. I think I will look up his thoughts on it. Thank you for mentioning him.
The doctor said today that I am still a candidate for the vaccine, but I cannot take it for a year. He said this virus can come back. I think my husband is going to get it after this skin cancer surgery issue is taken care of. He already has diabetes, heart disease, etc, so I don't want to seem him get this.
I went to my family doc early today. Took my DH so he could get the full gist of what this really is. I think he thought I have been overreacting about the pain. His mouth dropped open when the doctor told me that I should have wished for the heart attack that the doctors at the ER thought I was having. That would have been easier on me. He told us that Shingles is debilitating, and very very painful. and that I would have a long course of treatment. He actually tripled the dosage of the nerve pain meds the ER gave me, gave me another one for nausea ( I woke up at 3 am with nausea and chills), gave me another prescription for pain. I am not one to take a lot of meds, just my cholesterol pill.... but I did not turn these down. I have been a little DOPEY (well okay, a LOT) all day trying to get these meds into my system. So I may not be making a great deal of sense right now.
For the ones of you that have stayed with me and read this far, thank you all again for the concern and the helpful information. This is a wonderful group of caring people and I am so glad I found you all.

Every take care,

June