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...
Join Now
|
Just came down with Shingles
|
Watch this |
| View More Posts Ignore |
Hi, I just joined this forum for help and support in dealing with shingles. I have been reading some of your stories. I'm so sorry to hear some are dealing with it chronically.
I just realized it earlier this week. I had been feeling really fatigued and noticed that my muscles were aching and feeling inflamed. I was really worried because I was experiencing sharp, stabbing pains in my back and side. They're like when I had a kidney stone attack - ouch. It feels like someone is stabbing me when the pain is intense. So, when I was changing Thursday morning I glanced in the mirror and saw a rash on the right side of my abdomen. Shingles!?! I got online and started doing some research. I have to do alternative treatment because I don't have insurance and I would rather not take drugs unless I absolutely have to. I talked to some folks at the health food stores I go to and got some helpful info. Also got helpful advice from a health forum I am a member of. I got on L-Lysine right away -an amino acid that helps to reduce recovery time and prevent more breakouts. Its also used to help with other forms of the herpes virus. Also, am taking Apple cider vinegar as well to help speed recovery time. I've read on a number of sites about L-Lysine and Apple cider vinegar being recommended. You have to be careful with the L-Lysine or any supplement I think. It could interact with prescriptions. I can't take it too close to Ibuprofen because I get pains in my head. Could be related to the shingles, hard to say. I was on anti-biotics for bronchitis and sinusitis a month ago and should have started taking probiotics as soon as I got off them. My immune system was already stressed. Also, I don't always remember to take my supplements so I'm going to be more diligent about taking them. Does anyone else's stomach burn and hurt? Also, my knee feels stiff and inflamed now too. Ugh, I just don't need this right now. I did find a gel that is helping the rash. It hasn't spread so thats helpful. Its called Shinglederm plus, and its anti-inflammatory, anti-herpetic and anti-viral. It was a little pricey but I need it and I figure I saved from not going to the clinic. (about $34 but cheaper online) I've been keeping a small gauze pad over the rash to help prevent it spreading. Also, as it heals it oozes so I figure it will help to keep it clean. One of the things I read was if you touch it and touch another part of your body it can spread. So I wash my hands before and after I've had to touch it. I don't know if thats true or not, but I'd rather be safe than sorry at this point. I can't believe I have this, I remember my grandma having it when I was younger. I thought only elderly people could get shingles. Reading some of the stories and side effects of shingles are kinda scary. I don't want to be sick with this for months..... Thanks for letting me ramble. Posted on 06/20/09, 07:06 pm |
| 3 Replies | Add Your Reply |
| View More Posts Ignore |
Hi there
Hope you are feeling a bit better by now. Seems like you've already got a lot of stuff figured out, but just thought i'd add a couple of things. I get shingles on a small coin sized area of my upper arm and have been getting it repeatedly for the last five years every few months or so (i'm 28). The biggest factors I have noticed that seem to contribute to having an outbreak are exposure to sun, being stressed or run down, and after a big weekend! I find that if I make the effort to eat healthily, drink sensibly and try to keep relaxed, the time between outbreaks gets longer. I have experimented with keeping it covered with a dressing or gauze in the past and have found that rather than helping to keep it clean, it actually prolongs the outbreak - stopping it from drying out and scabbing over. Now I just make sure I wear clothing that covers it loosly to get some air to it. Also I find that calamine lotion helps with the itching and also with drying it out. Sometimes I take anti viral medication (acyclovir) as luckily I live in the UK and don't incur any charges by going to my doctor. However, unless you start taking them as soon as you notice it coming up I have found that they don't make a great deal of difference in the length or severity of the outbreak. I don't know about other people but I usually find that the outbreak doesn't last too long - about two weeks from it starting to the scabs starting to come off (sorry for the detail!). It will go away, don't worry! Good luck and I hope you feel better soon. Jenni xx 
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Thanks for your helpful response, Jenni. I am feeling much better now, thanks! I think you're right about the dressing, it would probably have been better to just leave it uncovered to help it heal faster. The outbreak was about two weeks and I'm so glad to be feeling better. The rash is very faint now, almost gone and I'm leaving it uncovered.
Thanks again for your input and suggestions. Take gentle care of yourself. :-)
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Not every gets chronic shingles. The majority of people, if they get it at all, only have one attack and that's it. I think a lot depends on your general state of health. I have Lupus, and chronic shingles is not at all uncommon with that. Maybe you will be lucky and just have it this one time. Jennie
|
|
|
|
||
| Add Your Reply |
