Shingles bell, Shingles bell

[Mrious_be]

Hi People,

Sorry for the long delay but things are not going well.
For a week now i am having physical problems that include heavy pain in the chest, shoulder and back.
At first i thought i had a virus again that i had 15 years ago and that paralized both my arms for 75% so i freaked completely out.
I actually had a temporary job but called it off cause i wasn't up for it, mentaly.
After a while i even started to panic thinking i might have (had) a heart attack since the symptoms are really close to that one also.
So, two days ago, after stressing out over it i went to a hospital for the first time, explained them everything and got tested.
Blood was as clean as could be and my heartrythme printout was perfect as should be (and some other minor tests were good also).
So we started talking about stress and yes, not finding a job and more even, finding out how things work here in London (let's say, pretty ancient and slow) i got stressed out pretty bad.
So, i was releighed nothing was wrong with blood and heart and went home again, still with the pain in my chest.

Today, two days later...
My chest, shoulder, armpit, arm and back (all left side) are full with rash, itching, looking bad and killing my chest with pain like a constant knife is being put in it and out it again, and like there's a fire on my chest.
So... I went to the hospital again and it seems i have "Shingles" which is the adult version of chickenpox, and is actually the same virus that never goes out off the body it seems.
I'm really glad that i finally know what's wrong with me, but i'm not to happy knowing it will take to 4 weeks to have the rashing cleared out, and up to a few months for the pain to dissapear.

That's about it.
I'm in pain, no job (not that i'm able to work now anyway) and trying not to stress out anymore (which trigered the virus to infect me again).

Which i had better news, but i hope i will in a few weeks.
Take care all.

[RNKIII]

Sorry to hear of your problems, MB, both physical and fiscal
But, you're in good company... my sister, a minister's wife, is also suffering from a case of shingles.....  a combination of family cares and over scheduling of her life(stress) in general lead to her case.  She developed the sysmptoms about early to mid-October and is now just about over them except for a few remaining skin 'eruption scars'..

Really hope all improves for you soon.

Bob K.  rnkiii

[Paddy]

Shingles is nasty - worse than the Chicken Pox. Sorry to hear about this turn of events, Marcel! Bummer.

There have been full-page ads in the papers here lately about shingles - I think they were advertising anti-viral meds. Did they give you anything to help? Unfortunately, not having recognized the signs early on, it may be too late for the anti-virals, but there are some other meds for the pain etc.:

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/HC/Treatment/...,550428,00.html

[kimmer]

Oh .... MB ... so sorry to hear the news. Shingles is NO fun. I hope it clears up quickly for you, and crossing my fingers and toes that a great job lands in your lap soon.

[Bruce_F]

I had shingles back in the 50's as a child. I don't remember the pain but I can still almost smell the compresses that my mother put on me to reduce the rash.

Yuk...

Hang in there MB.

[gunug]

MB - I watched my father as he worked through some bouts with Shingles in his later years; no fun and it's not fair!  My thoughts and prayers are with you my friend!

[MamaMoose]

MB, I recently saw an article on new treatments for shingles. Try Googling on the word Shingles and perhaps you can find some answers. Perhaps the URL Paddy suggested will have clues.

Regards and hoping life gets better for you,

MamaMoose

[krissel]

OH, that's miserable! My Dad went through a nasty bout a few years ago and even today he sometimes feels itchy in places and worries it may come back again.

While reading your description I thought at first you had an anxiety attack. At least this is something that is physical in origin though brought about by stress. Good thing you got diagnosed quickly.  

There is a new vaccine for older folks (60 and up) which will help prevent occurrences or cut down the number of events. I plan on getting it when I qualify (soon).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12987702


BTW, cute title to the thread though I might have used another word that rhymes with 'bell'.  

[Highmac]

Had a bout ten years or so ago. Stress?  Going through a divorce at the time, so it is possible.... . Luckily, mine was a relatively mild bout (though still damned uncomfortable) but I was warned then that it could return at any time. I'll be checking out those links!

I'm guessing the NHS was part of the "ancient and slow" but at least you wouldn't have had to pay, assuming you have your EC health card

[Mrious_be]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Dec 1 2006, 10:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Unfortunately, not having recognized the signs early on, it may be too late for the anti-virals, but there are some other meds for the pain etc.:

Yeah, maybe if they would have thought about Shingles the first time i went (my chest did see abit red, but we thought it might be a reaction from a test they just did (sticking something on my chest for my nerves).
So yes, i guess it's to late for me for the anti-viral creams, although i'm still using them.
The only thing i can do now is go through it with painkillers, hope that somepoint of the night i can sleep a little and... i found a cloth drenched with cold water helps releigh (?) the pain abit.
The worst thing is actually wearing clothes
Well no, the worst thing is the pain, like they say, in some times the doctor will prescribe an anti-depression and i am starting to know why.
Just sometimes the pain gets so much that it makes you start cry... sooooo stupid grrrrr

QUOTE(Highmac @ Dec 2 2006, 12:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Had a bout ten years or so ago. Stress?  Going through a divorce at the time, so it is possible.... . Luckily, mine was a relatively mild bout (though still damned uncomfortable) but I was warned then that it could return at any time. I'll be checking out those links!

I'm guessing the NHS was part of the "ancient and slow" but at least you wouldn't have had to pay, assuming you have your EC health card

To be honest, the NHS service was not to bad and at least the first time (in the middle of the night, in emergency room) i got helped really well.
The second time i had to stand up for 2.5 hours though, no fun with a chest like that (but i didn't wanted to sit down between all the coughin people cause one viral infection at a time is enough for me).

QUOTE(krissel @ Dec 2 2006, 09:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

BTW, cute title to the thread though I might have used another word that rhymes with 'bell'.  

The houseshare i live in, the Italian guy who rented the house went along with me the second time and when finally coming out and telling him i had the Shingles he said "well that's kinda fitting for this time of year" and started singing that "shingles bell, shingles bell"...
It hurted but i had to laugh with it

QUOTE(RNKIII @ Dec 1 2006, 10:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry to hear of your problems, MB, both physical and fiscal
But, you're in good company... my sister, a minister's wife, is also suffering from a case of shingles.....  a combination of family cares and over scheduling of her life(stress) in general lead to her case.  She developed the sysmptoms about early to mid-October and is now just about over them except for a few remaining skin 'eruption scars'..

Well... i can't wait for the day that i can see the "eruption scars" that means i'm through with most of it.

Thanks for the replies people.
Have a good weekend all.

[RNKIII]

Coincidentally... this morning our local paper included a medical column that dealt with 'folk remedies' for shingles....

The only one endorsed by the Dr. writing the column was from Germany....and consisted of covering the 'eruption points' with a coat of clear fingernail polish.... evidentally this 'cuts off the air supply' and kills the virus at that point... any that do not dry up are given a second coat.....

OR given the season... you could use red and green alternating colors

I don't write the stuff... just report it...


Best of luck,

Bob K.   rnkiii

[kimmer]

QUOTE(krissel @ Dec 1 2006, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There is a new vaccine for older folks (60 and up) which will help prevent occurrences or cut down the number of events. I plan on getting it when I qualify (soon).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12987702

Oh, this is good to know. I'll tell Sneakers about it. His dad had a horrid bout with it.

[pendragon]

FWIW:

Since I had both Smallpox and Shingles as a child (as well as meeting (well, exceeding) the age criterion), my physician strongly recommended the vaccine.

In my case there were no side affects from the vaccine, no rash, inflammation, soreness, headache, nada.

While I know not the effectiveness of the vaccine (in my case), I remain glad that I got it.

[Mrious_be]

QUOTE(RNKIII @ Dec 2 2006, 03:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The only one endorsed by the Dr. writing the column was from Germany....and consisted of covering the 'eruption points' with a coat of clear fingernail polish.... evidentally this 'cuts off the air supply' and kills the virus at that point... any that do not dry up are given a second coat.....

OR given the season... you could use red and green alternating colors

And what exactly do you think i should say when standing in line for the register with "any color" nail polisher in my hand
But if it works...

[Xairbusdriver]

Sorry to hear your pain! I don't believe in pain, anymore, that kidney stone cured me of that! Apparently Shingles can come at almost any age after having the Pox, even to children. But you should plan on being as young as possible when you have them. Take your meds, try to relax, contact that temp employer about coming back, call your sweetheart back in the US of A!