posted
I've had this since last week. Definitely shingles. Doc told me to stay away from pregnant women and babies as I could give them chickenpox if they haven't had them as yet.
Unfortunately, we had a tragic death in the family (a young mother) and there will be lots of kids there.
Am I still a carrier for chicken pox? Can I go to the service if I stay at the back of the services? I'm not sure how contagious I am.
I want to be there for my husband (it's his godchild) but I don't want to make anyone sick.
Someone told me I could be contagious for weeks...especially while the lesions are still spreading.
And yes, this hurts like heck...but that is least of my worries.
[ 14. November 2006, 08:09 PM: Message edited by: tothepoorhouse ]
Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
I had shingles one year before the chronic lyme roared back to life. I feel there is a connection but not that Lyme causes shingles. We know the chicken pox virus causes the shingles. Stress can bring it on and I was under much stress. I feel the stress brought back the lyme too.
The doctors said nothing to me about being contagious. I've never heard that before, but that doesn't mean it isn't so.
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
i just had the shingles about 1 and 1/2 months ago,
when i went to the dr's i asked about being in contact with babies, my sister has a 5 month old and i also have 2, 4 yr old nieces and my father has chronic myelogenous leukemia,
so i was really worried about being around anyone i could infect or even just weaken their immune system
i asked both my pcp and my dad was in the hospital at the time so i asked his also and they told me just not to let them get close to the area where the shingles are esp. if the lesions are still open and have not started healing. (mine were where clothing was over them so it was not a problem)
no one in my family got the chicken pox, and my one niece even spent the night with me while they were coming out, except i didn't know it then: she had the chicken pox vaccine though
that is an interesting thought about lyme and shingles, because my symptoms were getting worse before they came out and have gotten alot worse since i've gotten them???
i hope this helps alittle, did your dr. give you medication to take to make them go away quicker and any cream to ease the pain?
if not ask, it really helped me, shorten the time and the severity alot, i alrealy take pain meds for joint pain etc, so they helped w/ the pain
i am also really sorry to hear about the loss in your husband's family, my prayers are with you and your husband.
~myjesticgirl5
Posts: 39 | From sharon,pa usa | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
Thanks for the replies.......I'm waiting to hear from my doctor on this. I am taking antivirals now, but...
The shingles are still spreading from my chest to my shoulder and now to my neck. I'm not sure I can cover them all without looking like Frankenstein!
I'm thinking I'll just sit in the back of the services and not touch anyone. If I have to, I'll sit in the car while husband attends the after service gathering.
I want the family to know that I care....but will not expose them and the children to the shingles/chicken pox virus.
If there was ever a time to want to hug folks, this is the right time to do it, but the wrong time for me. I'm also concerned as the newborn may be there......... Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
WARNING TO EVERYONE HERE: Just a follow-up. My doc said to have limited to no exposure to small children and mothers-to-be during this flare of shingles.
My husband and I decided I will not attend the services as for sure they will have the newborn there. We don't want to take any chances.
I plan to write a note to the family that dh will deliver by hand so they know I am with them in this time of mourning in spirit. I'll have to write it tomorrow.
I found a local compounding pharmacy that has prepared a salve for me for the shingles. They also provided a vitamin/mineral mix to help heal the nerves.
The pharmacist told me there is an epidemic like proportion of local people turning up with shingles. I told her I thought it was due to the flu shot I got 4 days earlier.
She said this made sense......probably why so many people are turning up with it as folks get the flu shots.
Just a warning for everyone here.....you might want to pass on the flu shot this year. I'm sure it's how I got the shingles...same side of body and the flu shot hurt like heck and was swollen and blue for the days previous to the shingle outbreak.
Last time for me, I know. Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
First, I'm so sorry for the loss in your family!!
Second..
Oh, I'm so sorry you have shingles -- I hear that is just terrible!!!!
I think probably preganant women and adults who have not had chicken pox are the ones to most avoid, actually ( young infants, too).
Per the conventional wisdom.... Most kids get chicken pox at one time or another, it is generally pretty mild, and then they are immune for the rest of their lives (unless something reactivates the latent virus).
Adult chicken pox, particularly during preganacy, is super-serious! It can be fatal, actually.
I'd never had chicken pox and my test showed no immunity -- during one year, 3 adults I was in contact with got shingles, and I was also working with kids.... fear finally goaded me into getting the chicken-pox vaccine, even though I rarely get vaccines, as they scare me.
Interesting about the flu-shot. I wonder if that is why more and more adults are getting shingles now????
Lyme, of course, has a tendency to reactivate viruses that would normally be latent in the body -- so it makes sense that Lymies would get them... Chicken pox/shingles are a herpes virus (varicella) -- It usually shows up first as chicken pox, and if it gets reactivated, it shows up as shingles.
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Hi,
I'm sorry you are going to have to miss this special event in your family, but you are doing so out of thoughtfulness for the health of those around you.
Plus your own immune system is compromised right now and you don't want to pick up colds and things that young children often bring home from school and play dates.
My neighbor (non-Lyme) has been battling shingles for months. He was told by his doctor not to be around family members while the lesions were erupting and obvious.
He knows how sick I am and I told him I couldn't be really near him because I just can't take the chance. I also avoid the neighborhood kids when the have colds, etc., so I think it's just better to be cautious.
Have you talked to your doctor about Monolaurin, the supplement from coconuts? (Lauric Acid, Lauricidin are the same things). It is supposed to have natural properties against all herpes viruses including shingles.
Take care, Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
I have not had shingles but mom, my aunt and a cousin have all had it within the last 3 years. Mom still complains and has lesions that keep bothering her.
My aunt seems ok but my cousin is in a lot of pain. Her daughter is a bone marrow recipient and was out of remission and in a special section of the hospital and she was advised to not visit her daughter. I can't remember the odds but it is like one in a thousand or something like that for someone getting them from you.
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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I have not had shingles but do have long standing history of recurring HSV1 ( fever blister) around lips ( which of course sucks) Never had it anywhere else though. Recently tested highly positive again so its been active many years ..even though I can't afford the suppressive therapy anymore but I am now only rarely breaking out after spending at lest 18 months on VALTREX 500 mg.or the Generic- I think there was one for Valtrex. .
Since no longer able to work I can't afford this daily pill , so I now take pill at least at the first tingle I get in the area..If Valtrex is not correct for Shingles there must be one similar .. I think the Generic is Alcyclover.(I likely spelled that wrong)
I not sure which antiviral you take for the Shingles version,but there must be n affective one. Possibly Zovirax cream would be helpful too.
Oddly I remember when my Dad was still alive he passed about 25 years ago. But he told me a strange story that now makes no sense to me. But he had Chronic Shingles and bck in the olden days for whatever medical reason they came up with , The medical or Dental community convinced him to have all his teeth pulled. He did and wore false teeth his whole life..
I don't think my dad ever had shingles again .Though I find it difficult to believe the teeth were connected.. But he had everything pulled.. normal good teeth.. As far as Shingles goes though at least after my birth he didn't have it to my knowledge ever again.I do not have any clue what this had to do with shingles but he apparently had pain in his teeth maybe ? that someone must have thought back in the 1930's or so that they were connected. He told me it was done when he was young and his teeth were good..I just thought it was an odd story about how once upon a time this may have been dealt with.
I also sent you a PM in reply to your kind and sweet responce to my stray dog issue, thank you for your offer to help him.
I know shingles is really painful and alot of folks seem to get it on the trunk area. I really hope you find something soothing. I used to have bad rashes and there are Soaks with Oatmeal
I only got Chicken Pox as an adult at age 26 from my daughter, never picked it up as a child but after that my immune system had something else going on already so the fever blisters kept frequently recurring.they should be able to give you something to help your comfort level I would hope.
If it itches atarax helps itchy rashes , desonide cream too can help , both are prescription meds, The atarax is a prescription antihistamine for rashes and itching, I was given for an itchy drug allergy rash, then maybe take something for sleep too.I would also take something for pain -if it were me.
Talk to you later and I really hope you heal up fast. Sandi
-------------------- Sandi ( badkitti30043) Posts: 664 | From Atlanta Ga. | Registered: Aug 2002
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