Conditions
Shingles
Shingles is a skin rash that is caused by the chickenpox virus, and is part of the herpes family of viruses. It can occur in anyone who has previously suffered from chickenpox, and involves the herpes zoster virus being reactivated as a result of emotional stress, some cancer treatments and immune deficiency. It can lead to outbreaks of puss filled blisters along the skin, often accompanied by a burning pain. Normally the condition lasts around 3 weeks, but sometimes longer. The blisters will eventually burst and crust over, but until that occurs the sufferer will be extremely contagious and can spread the condition to others. Antiviral drugs can be administered to reduce the severity and duration of the rash, but often treatment can just take the form of anti-itching lotions and washing of the affected area.
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I had shingles when I was 5 while going through chemo and was wondering if I should be worried by any lasting effects. I have also heard about it causing premature menopause, Im 21 now, should be something for me to worry about?
I have got shingles at the moment, I am very scared that the spots are going to scar and not go away. So my question is will the spots go away or not?
I had my first outbreak of shingles a few years ago around xmas, I had a series of immunizations for military travel and my body had too much to handle, it surrounded my sides and lower half of my breasts so I couldnt wear a bra or tight shirts and I was really scared about scarring, but no marks were left. Try your best not to pick, and try to get camomille lotion to help the bumps dry up.
It will stay :( i had them and my scars look like maps
I have herpes on my buttocks and occasionally 'undercarriage'. I have had them for over 15 years now and reoccurring once, twice a month mainly with very painful neuralgia running up from my toes to my buttock. My GP says it is not sexually transmitted but like the cold sore virus. I have never had chicken pox but am on steroids which I think maybe why I get them so frequently. I have Aciclovir cream and tablets. Is there no cure or will I have this the rest of my life.
i have had shingles in the head about three months ago i still get the feeling of headaches and tingling i my left side of my head i have been told this could last some considerable time is this a true fact i am 68 years old
Join the clan. I was 67 when I got it left forehead. Effectively, it is like a major short circuit in a wiring panel and all the signals get mixed up. I beat the dentist door down wanting all my teeth out (he declined). Intense pain in the roots of eyelashes, a left forehead that appeared to melt. I was given all the correct treatment (look up Opthalmic Post Herpatic Nueralgia)but found nothing touched it. Cold flannels were as soothing as some analgeasic patches. I was unable to leave the house for 3 months as daylight could not be tolerated. Luckily, my Dr had referred me straight away to the eye clinic so it was kept away from the eye itself. Just over a year ago, I was referred to the pain clinic - he admired the photos and said it was an exceptional case, could he have a copy? So, acceptance is the name of the game. Just look around you at Katie Price and others who have had horrific burns and facial injuries and be thankful. I have Capsaicin cream which is applied very sparingly as required - this shocks the area and then takes your mind off it. So, four years on - still very concious that is still there with some days better than others. I think education on shingles awareness is appalling, you quite literally have upto 36 hours to 'ring fence' it or you may then get a full blown case. My advice is that anybody who has got a sudden crop of tiny blisters in a specific area such as left forehead - get straight down A & E. I hope that your attack was not so severe, I was told that I was in the worst 2%.
hi i have recently come out of hospital my daughter has got shingles had that for a week would it be ok for me to see her without me getting shingles.
You have to keep no contact with the affected area, but if its on your body it should be easy to cover and avoid. I had to cancel babysitting while I had them, not only because the pus is highly contagious but because they would climb all over me and risk of contact and pain for me through contact was too high. Its not airbourne, you should be fine seeing her, just don't touch it.
I had a case of Shingles Nov and Dec last year. All the blisters have cleared up but I am still experiencing pain where the blisters were. It is a stinging sensation. Do I need more antiviral, how long will the pains last? Thank you
hi, i suffer from shingles , on my right bum cheek , about three days before the blisters i get the throbbing pain from the top to bottom of my leg ,at this point i bathe the area with tea tree essential oil, apply vitamin c cream ,which if caught soon enough stops the blisters filling , bursting and scabbing over.
I'm 25 and had mild chicken pox when I was 8 months old then great badly when I was a toddler. I was eight when I first had shingles on my left side of my stomach but Ive since had it 6 times in the same area on the top of my left leg I was the told that the chicken pox virus is lying dormant on my spine and when I'm stressed and run down in can reoccur but is it really that common for it to happen this often???
I have been told I have shingles but do not have spots. I also have MS which is aggravating the shingles. Is it safe to be with my great grandson and also my grandaughter who is pregnant?
I had shingles in my left buttock following a stay in hospital. I now have post hepatic neuralgia in the area, a year after the shingles healed. It has affected the left labia and my anus and can be very uncomfortable, with stabbing pain and difficulty in passing motions. My doctor tells me it should eventually improve. Is this usual?
Hi there, I had shingles inside my left ear about 2 years ago now, it went undetected for 3 weeks and I was told 6 times in the 3 week period that it was an ear infection, so I never received proper medication. Shortly after, I developed postherpetic neuralgia then trigeminal neuralgia, which affects the 5th cranial nerve which is conected to the eye, cheek and jaw nerves. I have had every medication possible but nothing helps and because I received inproper medication (NSAIDS) for pain that isn't treatable with NSAIDS, I have problems eating and with my stomach because of the damage. I've been told that the only options are either surgery or some sort of light pulses to kill the nerve endings. Ask your doctor for a referral to a neurologist, you will problebly have to see a pain specialist (anaesthetist) first.
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