I've got them!

[Paula]

I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with shingles and just when it looks like I'm getting over them, I've got them again, all over my legs. I'm so itchy and miserable.

Has anyone ever had them before? What did you do for them? I did see my doctor and she told me a few things, but I can't stand this! It sucks BIG time!

[hollyxann]

Believe it or not I've had shingles and so did my younger brother. I had them when I was like 21-22 and my brother just had them at the age of 19. Our Dr was dumb founded with us both having them and at such a young age.
I got lucky with only having a small patch on my upper hip/thigh, my brother had them on his torso.
They are the worst thing! They itch and hurt and you are miserable. I feel your pain. Mine hurt soooo bad. I couldn't even stand the wind to blow on my leg or clothes to touch them. My brother's wasn't quite as painful. (Sorry for the rambling)

I was prescribed a cream (WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THEY PRESCRIBE A CREAM FOR SOMETHING THAT PAINFUL IS BEYOND ME!?) and they gave me a prescription for valtrex (yes the herpe drug). My brother only got a prescription for antibiotics. The Dr said to just keep them clean, and well ventilated. Cold compresses and calamine lotion help too.
I believe he took oatmeal baths to help with the itch.

Sorry I can't be much help on what to do for them. Hang in there!

[BrattyMeg]

Originally Posted by hollyxann

I was prescribed a cream (WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THEY PRESCRIBE A CREAM FOR SOMETHING THAT PAINFUL IS BEYOND ME!?) and they gave me a prescription for valtrex (yes the herpe drug). My brother only got a prescription for antibiotics. The Dr said to just keep them clean, and well ventilated. Cold compresses and calamine lotion help too.
I believe he took oatmeal baths to help with the itch.

my DH had them and was given Acyclovir (Zovirax)

They are viral (but his were brought on by stress) hence the antivirus medications to treat them.

I totally feel for you Paula b/c i know my man was MISERABLE..hope you heal soon!

[Jengerbread88]

My grandmother had them, and I took care of her for that time. She had some sort of patches, I think they had Capcazin or something in them, and she would put that on. It would help with the itching and pain for several hours.

I'm praying you feel better soon...

[Traci Reed]

They're a form of chicken pox...that's why the herpes drugs...my mom gets them

[hollyxann]

Oh yes the good ol herpe virus.

True story....so I go to the ER for what I thought was some funky form of poison ivy or something, except it hurt like holy hell! Turns out it's shingles. Well the ER Dr, who CLEARLY doesn't speak fluent English , looks at me (mind you I'm by myself in my room) and she goes..."Well you have herpes".
Say what?! I freak out, start crying hysterically, she's rambling about whatever, in her foreign language, and then I blatantly just stop crying and look at her and go "Wait an effin minute, herpes on my leg?! Are you kidding me? Do you even know what you are talking about? How the F do you get herpes on your leg? I've heard of it in your eye, your throat, your lady parts, but your LEG?! Give me a break. I want another Dr & my mother NOW." Of course I didn't really know much about shingles before this. But another Dr, who was clearly American & spoke English, told me it was shingles and explained things better.

Just thought I'd share that part of my story. lol
(clearly it's past my bedtime and I'm just rambling)

[Nonna2Dreja]

Oh Paula, I feel for you....I had them when I was about 13 or so, but I only had a few on my stomach....I don't remember to be honest what they did for them back then....Hope you are able to get some relief from your itching....

[mariewilcox]

Oh Paula, that really stinks! I feel for you! Your doc didn't put you on any antiviral at all? Famvir, Zovirax, acyclovir? Also, it's really unusual to have shingles on both sides of your body at the same time. Shingles (herpes zoster) is the chicken pox virus (Varicella) that has been dormant in your body since having the chicken pox (or chicken pox vaccine). It settles in the nervous system and travels along the nerves when it's "activated" by stressors on your body (which can be anything from life stress to newly diagnosed conditions such as diabetes, immunosuppressive conditions, chemotherapy, etc.) The nerves don't cross the midline of the body (meaning they don't travel across your body from side to side, they travel up/down one side of your body), so it's rare to have shingles travel both sides at the same time (guess you're very unlucky in this case! )

Try taking ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours around the clock for pain and inflammation. If that doesn't help you could ask your doc for a stronger pain medication. Cool compresses on the blisters and a soothing lotion may give some relief. The antiviral won't make it go away but it could help shorten the course and provide some relief. Unfortunately shingles can take a month to clear up.

[Nevada Jen]

I reccomend ambien and hydroxzine. A sleep med and an anti itch med. If you take them at the same time at least you will sleep. I found the hydroxzine really gives me relief from itching better than anything else I have taken.

[cindys732003]

I don't have any experience with it, but I'm so sorry you are sick Paula! Get better soon!

[Keely~B]

Oh no Paula! My mom just dealt with it this spring, she was so miserable. Hugs, I hope you feel better soon.

[VillageJen]

I had them on my arm this past spring at the ripe old age of 40. I thought it was just spider bites gone horribly wrong so I went to the doctor who took one look and said, "Shingles".

She prescribed an antiviral and Vicodin. I think the Vicodin helped more than the antiviral did. The bummer is that I still have some scars from where the spots were.

I hope that you feel better very, very soon!

[hollyxann]

Originally Posted by VillageJen

The bummer is that I still have some scars from where the spots were.

I still have the scars from mine too. And it's been 3-4 yrs since I had them.

[DawnMarch]

oh, you poor thing! I have never had them, but I hear they are miserable. I had the chicken pox in my 30s, so I'm hoping I have more immunity!

[tanbanan]

I had them as a teenager. . . on my torso. Hoping you are finding something to relieve the pain! I can't recall what worked for me then. . . . sorry to hear you aren't feeling well.

[Paula]

Originally Posted by mariewilcox

Oh Paula, that really stinks! I feel for you! Your doc didn't put you on any antiviral at all? Famvir, Zovirax, acyclovir? Also, it's really unusual to have shingles on both sides of your body at the same time. Shingles (herpes zoster) is the chicken pox virus (Varicella) that has been dormant in your body since having the chicken pox (or chicken pox vaccine). It settles in the nervous system and travels along the nerves when it's "activated" by stressors on your body (which can be anything from life stress to newly diagnosed conditions such as diabetes, immunosuppressive conditions, chemotherapy, etc.) The nerves don't cross the midline of the body (meaning they don't travel across your body from side to side, they travel up/down one side of your body), so it's rare to have shingles travel both sides at the same time (guess you're very unlucky in this case! )

Try taking ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours around the clock for pain and inflammation. If that doesn't help you could ask your doc for a stronger pain medication. Cool compresses on the blisters and a soothing lotion may give some relief. The antiviral won't make it go away but it could help shorten the course and provide some relief. Unfortunately shingles can take a month to clear up.

Actually, I only have them on my right leg. I have another rash patch on my left leg that I thought was shingles as well, but when I went to the doc, she told me that it was just an irritation to something. But, the right leg is a big fat POSITIVE for shingles. She gave me an antiviral med and a creme to put on it.

[emmasmommy]

i've never had them but had a friend with them. i can't even imagine i hope you get some relief soon paula!

[seatrout]

Originally Posted by DawnMarch

oh, you poor thing! I have never had them, but I hear they are miserable. I had the chicken pox in my 30s, so I'm hoping I have more immunity!

Hate to tell you but I had chicken pox for the first time in May this year .. i am 44 .. and I came out in shingles all over the side of my neck at the beginning of this week !!!!!

[g8rbeckie]

I had shingles in middle school (mean girls suck, what can I say? )

anyhow, I still get phantom pains on the spot on my back (near my bra strap) where they broke out. a very painful tingling. And it's been 20 years!!

Sorry Paula, I hope you feel better soon

[Jengerbread88]

Originally Posted by mariewilcox

The nerves don't cross the midline of the body (meaning they don't travel across your body from side to side, they travel up/down one side of your body), so it's rare to have shingles travel both sides at the same time (guess you're very unlucky in this case! )

My grandmother did have them on both sides at once... Also, she got her shingles right after her divorce (she moved out of the house on her 40th wedding anniversary!), after my grandfather literally got everything (a few million in money and property, etc), and my grandmother got NOTHING (living out of a couple of suitcases and barely making rent on an apartment). About 6 months after her divorce, she lost her job. All of that stress, I see why she got them!

[DawnMarch]

Hate to tell you but I had chicken pox for the first time in May this year .. i am 44 .. and I came out in shingles all over the side of my neck at the beginning of this week !!!!!

Darn, there goes that theory! I think they recommend that elderly people get vaccinated for chicken pox because it reduces the number of cases of shingles. But I don't think any of us are "elderly" enough to fit those recommendations!

[CA Dreamer]

So sorry, Paula. Shingles really suck. My Dr gave me prednisone. I had them on my right leg too. I still have scars from the larger blisters.

I hope you heal quickly and can get comfortable soon. If it is any solace, at least it was not near your ears and eyes. I know someone that had permanent damage from that.

ugh. so not fun. (((hugs))))

[NatalieKW]

How are you doing Paula?

[crazyt]

my dh is pharmacist and said to get valtrex from the doctor and use capsacin as a topical...motrin will help, benedryl will help.... they are horrible to deal with...so sorry...