Shingles----------Not the Shingles to Resurface Your Roof
Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2010
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
I have shingles. I wish I could say I had four pallet loads sitting in my driveway, waiting to be hauled up and put down to cover my roof; but alas, no. This is more of a-close-encounter-of-another-kind. For these particular shingles cover my left arm, from my shoulder to the tips of my thumb and first two fingers. I haven't done much writing for the past three weeks---shingles are a painful ( very is very unnecessary here, so I will just say enormously painful) medical phenomena. I have been writing some, single-handedly (there is a God-I'm right-handed) and so, have done very little typing as a result of my affliction.
If you have never had shingles and don't know anything about shingles, I would like to share what I have learned. It could possibly save you a lot of grief.
First of all, there is no cure. There are, however, medications that if received soon enough, will lighten your case of shingles and help relieve the pain. If you suspect you have shingles, don't hesitate to see your doctor right away.
Secondly, anyone who has had chicken pox can develop shingles, especially later in life---over age sixty is high risk. Anyone can have shingles. There have been isolated cases in the very young.
Thirdly, there is a vaccine on the market now that will prevent shingles in most people and is highly recommended for someone nearing their sixties. I wish I had known this. My husband is going tomorrow for his.
Shingles are truly painful and can be mis-diagnosed in the early stages since the rash and blisters do not appear right away. My pain began in my shoulder and went down my left arm to the tips of my fingers. I waited three days for the pain to go away, thinking that it was probably arthritis. On the forth day I was afraid it might be the beginning signs of a heart attack and decided to see my doctor. He told me I probably had a pinched nerve in my neck and sent me for an MRI.
I told him about a light rash on the palm of my hand, but he didn't look at it.
Two days later and after the MRI (which showed nothing) I went back to my doctor and showed him the terrible blisters that were forming on my palm and fingers. I told him I had looked on the computer and thought I had shingles. He just glanced at them, smiled a sort of grimace smile, and said, "yep. You gottim'!" He should have paid me for that visit!!!
My doctor prescribed an anti-viral medication, nerve medication, and strong pain medication. I told him I wasn't much into taking pain medication. He says, "Oh, I think you'll want these!" I did. I can't stress enough, just how painful this problem is. The lightest of clothes and even the air can make it hurt.
Although, I am not over mine yet, they say that the blisters and rash can last from two to three weeks. Shingles can have lasting and dangerous complications, so immediate medical attention is a must. The condition that causes shingles comes from the nerves in the spine and only effect one side of the body (either left or right). Long-term nerve damage can result in some cases and cause problems that last a life-time.
There are a great many sources out there to enlighten the public on this disease that I highly recommend anyone to read up on if they haven't already. Whether for yourself or a loved one; it is certainly not something to ignore.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Thank you for some great information. I have not had shingles but my mother in law and several friends have. They all confim about how painful they are. I am sorry to know you are in such pain and I hope you get over these soon so you can have some relief. Linda DThanks, Linda for reading and commenting. I appreciate everyone's sympathy. I wish I had known about this sooner. I certainly would have gotten the vacination.Sandra
Bless your heart! I got the vaccine and am hoping! My sister and I both had chicken pox TWICE. I do not get vaccines for anything (being an RN and knowing too much) however, this is one I readily signed up for. I am SO sorry and thanks for the informative piece!Thank you so much, Marijo, for reading and commenting.Sandra
Am so sorry to hear abou that - we've had some family members suffer similarly. Hope you feel better soon - and thanks for sharing to help us!Thanks so much, Heidi, for reading and commenting. And welcome to Searchwarp.Sandra
My mother and husband have suffered with shingles and my daughter was one of those 'isolated' cases. She developed shingles after a serious illness when she was just eleven years old. The doctor misdiagnosed her and missed the window of opportunity for her to be given the vaccine. Thank you for sharing your story, it may help people to recognize the symptoms in time to get the vaccine. I wish you a speedy recovery.Thank you, Brianna. And God Bless.Sandra
Hi Sandra.I'm so sorry to hear that you have shingles. I've had them and so I know what you are going through.In my reading, I came across something called "post-herpetic neuralgia," which simply means pain that lingers after the shingles have completely cleared. Luckily, mine was mild and didn't linger long. But I read of cases where years later, people were still having significant pain. I sincerely hope that when yours are gone, they are gone for good.One good thing, all my reading indicated that once you've had shingles, you will not get it again.Oh, when someone asked me what it felt like, I described it thus: take a fire place poker and get it red hot in a fire. Lay it against your skin and leave it there. Then, for good measure, once in a while poke yourself with the pointy end of it. Does that about do it, do you think?I still have what I call my shingles freckles and it's been a couple of years since I had it. They are very faint scars now. Oh, and it seems like I now know whenever a virus is trying to have its way with me. The areas where I had the shingles (two separate places on my right side) will itch and tingle. And I'm not even 60 yet.Oddly enough, soaking in a tub full of hot water (one of the spots I had mine was in my groin) seemed to help relieve the pain for a while.I didn't get to a doctor soon enough to do anything about it and took no internal meds. After the scabs fell off, I did put vitamin E oil on the areas.Get better soon!Hugs,DianneYou're right, Dianne. That is definitely the way I would describe the pain. The palm of my hand and my fingers still feel as though they have been held over a flame! Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
I would give anything to be able to take your pain away! I never like seeing anything hurt you. I hope they are on their last run with you and never to return. I love you mom, get well soon!!!!Thanks, Babe. They're just about gone. Much better at any rate. And no, I won't get them again now that I've had them. thanks.Love ya, too.
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