SHINGLES!!

I have shingles and the area is so painful!! Anyone else have a problem with shingles or immune problems since surgery? I have had a rash under my breasts on and off for months that goes away with antibiotic treatment, but this time it was different and didn't get better with the medicine prescribed by the doctor. Yesterday, I went back after going to the doctor twice last week. The rash had spread and blistered all around where my bra strap is. The worst part is on my back where there are no blisters. Apparently, the nerve is what hurts, which extends from my breastbone all the way around to my back. My doctor even had me get a back x-ray last week, because my middle back was in such pain. She said the back pain is probably from the shingles and that the shingles probably erupted because of the stress of surgery, losing all the weight and changes to the body from this new lifestyle... SueZ

Sue, I have had shingles previously due to stress but have had not outbreaks since my surgery. I tend to panic everytime I get a rash or a terrible headache as these were the side affects I had from the shingles. Good luck I hope they clear up soon. Kim

Thanks, Kimmie. I'm glad you haven't had any more outbreaks! SueZ

Nooooooooooo not me!! but.. I wish you the best!!

Thanks for your support! SueZ

I used to work for a neurosurgeon for many years. From my memory, I thought shingles was caused by the chickenpox virus that lies dormant in your body (or something like that - having to do with a virus). Anyway, it can sometimes take a long time to have the pain go away. Some of the patients he saw were injected because the pain was so severe. I hope yours won't last that long. I have a friend that had it a few years ago and it did not last that long for her. Maybe you will be a lucky one. Lynne

I had shingles erupt last May - my WLS surgeon insists he has not seen any widespread occurence of shingles among his thousands of patients over 10 years!! An earlier poster is correct about it being caused by the chicken pox virus re-activating, and it is often (usually) associated with stress. In my case, I can identify a couple extreme stressors in my life at the time the blisters erupted, but clearly my plummeting weight had certainly added physical stress too, so who knows??? Anyway, mine was caught on the first day (because a central, painful blister erupted and grew so rapidly that my husband and I both thought I had been bitten by a Brown Recluse spider). I began anti-viral medication within 8 hours of the first blister and had a fairly mild bout with the stuff. But, oh my gosh, is it painful -- my heart breaks for those who have it widespread and for a long time. Hope yours passes quickly!! Cindy (-109) 274/165/140