What is Shingles
Herpes zoster, colloquially known as shingles, is the reactivation of varicella zoster virus, leading to a crop of painful blisters over the area of a dermatome. It occurs very rar...
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No one cares and I am so scared-5Q's from Newbie
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I was diagnosed by my dermatologist 1 week ago. He stood at doorway with mask on and gloves and addressed the nurse who quickly shooed me out after diagnosing me and giving me pamphlet. She then met me at registration desk and told me Dr. had not had Chicken Pox so he would not come and shake my hand (I felt like a leper and dismissed as irrelevant. I will not go back for any treatment there. I was scared (because I had a friend who had to give up nursing career due to Shingles) and had questions so I called my primary care Dr. who told me (thru secty)that I was contagious and could not come in to office because I could contaminate the staff and patients and to take Tylenol and return to Dermatologist for followup. Dermatologist put me on 5 days of Famvir (2x day) only no pain meds. My primary will not help me and I cannot change until October but, can see a specialist by referral but, who?
Please I have a few questions no websites answer: 1-who treats your shingles? (neurologist?derm?primary?... 2- I notice most of you take antiviral meds longer then 5 days Does taking longer help decrease severity of symptoms or shorten duration? 3-Is one antiviral better then another? 4-Who gives you Psych type meds? 5-Is it true Tylenol extends symptoms? 5-I developed flu-like symptoms (nasal congestion/coughing) is this related? I don't expect anyone person to answer all my questions but, any answers would be so helpful to me. I appreciate your time and am glad you are here in this very scary time. Blessings! Posted on 09/13/09, 10:09 pm |
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Wow- I can't believe all that. Shingles is painful enough without having to go through being treated like that. Why in the world would a dermatologist who never had chicken pox- not get the vaccine for it? Grrrr.
Take tylenol? My gosh. I hope you can find a new doctor soon. I have been seeing a neurologist for my shingles. It is an illness of the nerves, so that would be the specialist you should be seeing. I was referred by my regular family doctor. When my rash first broke out, I was given 7 days of Valtrex by an ER physician. That is supposed to help decrease the severity of it and also shorten the time. They say that people who have been given the anti viral also have less of a chance of developing PHN (the after shingles nerve pain). I was also put on Lyrica and Neurontin. Both are to help with the nerve pain. I was on Vicodin - I always had a prescription because of recurring lower back pain, so I took them for this. They really didn't touch the pain enough. My neurologist then put me on a stronger pain pill- Oxycodone. I am on an antidepressent at bedtime that helps me to sleep and also is supposed to help nerve pain. That is a lot of pills I take in a day and they pretty much make it tolerable for me to at least do some things for part of the day. The pain is never gone, but its managed more most of the time. You wouldn't get flu like symptoms from shingles, and no- tylenol won't extend your symptoms. I really hope you find a good doctor who understands what people with shingles can be going through. Good luck to you! 
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P.S. The med I take at bedtime is Amitriptylin.
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Thank you so very much for taking the time to answer all my questions. I appreciate your being so candid and helpful. I really need a new Primary Doctor asap. She called me and yelled at me in a loud and angry tone telling me that she didn't have to put up with my nonsense and has the right to diagnose me anyway she wants (after refusing to see me in her office for flu symptoms and shingles pain/followup) and that I was lying because no one told me I was not allowed in office because I was contagious. She said I was becoming too difficult and should find another doctor. She was livid, out of control with anger (because I reported her to another hospital) and would not let me talk and when she finished her rant she hung up on me. I really was scared and outraged. I will ask for a referal to a neurologist and hope for better care (now that you gave me a direction to go on.) Thank you again for your kindness and assistance. You seem to have a hard battle going on but, you seem armed and ready to succeed ahead. Only you can determine who's winning! Blessings!
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Fuzzymum,
Patti has given you some great advice. I am so sorry that you had to go through such a difficult (uncalled for) time with your primary. Please do not give up hope that there are caring doctors out there who try to understand the horrible pain from Shingles and the associated nerve damage it can cause. God bless, Colleen
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What a stupid dermatologist! I just got diagnosed last week, and the doc had awards for being voted best doc in Canada by his peers. I really wasn't expecting much, but he was kind, understanding and respectful, asked my opinions, and gave me many repeats. He also had terrible skin problems - burn?? so his empathy level was very high. He is probably one of the best docs I have ever seen for anything - well deserving of his award. I'm so sorry you got a bad one, because mine really encouraged and helped me.
I have heard so many scare stories since I got this. My compendium says Valtrex for 7 days, but the doc only gave me 5 days. When I phoned his office, he said to get a refull, and take it till I feel better. That made me very happy, that he trusted me. I might mention one thing - I had a 5 lb weight gain while on it, which was water, and I lost it when I went off. Anyone else notice that?
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