ouch!

beckymcrn · Nov 21, 2003

Yes I had my first breakout a few months ago

I was shocked and stunned when the doctor told me the rash I had been treating for two weeks with OTC meds was indeed shingles. That was right before she ask me if I had any "STRESS" in my life:roll .

I was treated with an anti viral med and some topical lidocaine patches (which I did not need to use). I think I was lucky though just a small break out without much pain.

Although it was in a strange place for shingles, on my neck :eek:

I have to say I did not tke the news well. :bluecry1:

Just have trouble dealing with the fact that I am a patient too sometimes ya know.:uhoh21:

soniblvn · Nov 21, 2003

Thanks for the reply. I had a patch on my back..that had pain running all across my right side, and under my arm. turned out to be shingles..... L Lysine it's an amino acid 500 mg tid is what helped me, it was oo late for acyclovire or zoverax. I know now what patients go through.....

Jaxrn02 · Nov 21, 2003

When I was 16 I had a few spots on my back...thought they were spider bites. It wasn't until I had my 2nd child that the anesthesiologist said, "Have you had shingles before? I see the scars here" and ran his finger along the same spot. Every once in a while I'll start to feel the tingle, but haven't had another breakout.

a_clay · Nov 21, 2003

Yes!!!!! Mine were from too much stress too. Stress is just terrible....I have been sick ALOT from stress....not just with shingles... I'm so glad I have really learned to chill about most things and not "sweat the small stuff"..it's just not worth being physically sick over.

RNanne · Nov 21, 2003

I had the shingles, related to stress. Only had a few spots but the pain was unbearable. I didn't know what was wrong. I just had a side ache and it got so painful that I ended up in the ED. I was given antiviral, but the pain went on for about 6 weeks. Doc said I had postherpatic nueropathy and was going to put me on Nuerontin. I told him "no siree". I finally used capsacin and cured the pain. I guess sometimes the nerve has to have surgery to relieve the discomfort. I know everyone does not have all the pain, but I did and have had patients that did. The stupid nerve doesn't know that the shingles attack is over!!!! LOL:chuckle :chuckle

kids · Nov 21, 2003

I count myself as luck that I have never had an outbreak. Anyone who experiences one gets my totally heart felt sympathy.

When my daughter was 16 she was going to high school, involved with dinner theater (with both home ec & drama club), doing gymnastics and playing fast-pitch soft ball. I let her do it because she was handling it all right and she even seemed to be thriving.

She came down with a couple of days of 'flu like symptoms and bam...broke out in a branching track that went from the left side of her back, around the front across the top of her hip bone and ended a couple of inches above her pubic bone. It was the worst outbreak I have ever seen, the Ped gave her viscious lido and Tylox and she still cried with misery for days. She gave up her slot on the gymnastics team immediately (couldn't compete) and dropped drama club after the dinner theater project was finished.

skybirdrising · Nov 21, 2003

Yeah, I got shingles one bright sunny afternoon. My grandfather and I was working on the roof, repairing a portion of the roof before bad weather approached due to a leak. I was carting up shingles to my grandfather as he was laying the tar paper. He nudged one of the bundles of shingles to where it slid over the side and landed on my shoulder as I was coming up. Needless to say, I was the only one to receive shingles that one sunny bright afternoon.