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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Diagnosed with shingles
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I noticed itching early Monday on my back and rib cage, and a slight numbness on left abdomen. I had traveled out of town for a cosmetic procedure so I attributed the symptoms to my anxiety over the upcoming procedure. The procedure was considered "minor" but in my mind I suppose it wasn't! It was still surgery, although under local anesthetic. By Wednesday I was back home, and on Thursday, I developed several patches along my left rib cage. I did a google search and came up with shingles! I went to the doctor Friday, and sure enough, shingles! He prescribed Famciclovir.
It is now Sunday and the patches still itch as well as my back, but have not formed blisters. Will blisters actually end up forming if I started the Famciclovir? Also having some tingling sensations on right side of my face.... could shingles break out in this area too? From what I've read it sounds unlikely.... so hopefully this is mind over matter! I've been freaking myself out as shingles is reportedly rare in people under 50. I am in otherwise good health, but have a stressful job, coupled with the recent cosmetic procedure, and a recent seasonal flu shot. Posted on 10/25/09, 04:10 pm |
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Hi Jane, I'm sorry you got this awful illness. Yes, you sure can get it on your face. The anti-viral drugs are supposed to lessen the severity of the shingles and maybe prevent PHN, but they don't always. And there are many younger people (even here in this support group) that have shingles. I had it in August and am still suffering terrible pain from PHN. I hope yours heals and you don't develop this! Good luck to you. 
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I got my shingles post op, too. Partly it was because the bone resection of my bunion didn't heal because of the oestoporous from not walking for 6 weeks, and the worry accompanying that. I found that Famciclovir didn't help at all, and with my suppressed immune system from the RA drugs I am on, I had to go on Valtrex 3 gms daily for 2 months before I got any relief, with maintenance of 500 gms I am supposed to stay on for a year. The only good news is that it was confined to my right arm, and I am feeling better, the bone fused, however I still have the hoarse voice from leukoplakia and/or thrush on the vocal chords. No more surgery for me. Not worth the risk!
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