More problems!

hey gang,

question here. as if i didn't have enough medical problems in the past 18 months i was just diagnosed with shingles today. i can't begin to tell you how painful this is. of all the bad luck, they say if you catch it in the first 72 hours it can be somewhat treated. of course i got this last friday over the holiday and no doctors around. plus i wasn't sure if this was shingles.

my g/f just got this less than a month ago! what are the odds? but she got it on her face which is rare. i'll tell ya, i took a couple pics to put in my profile for Russ to see, we were talking about definition exercises for your bicep and i wanted to see if a shot of my arm is what he was talking about. from almost that shot on, the bumps started to appear. now it looks like my skin is burned. i have red welts on top of my rash. what is weird is it only effects half of your body. it travels along your nerve endings so it started under my shoulder blade, across my armpit and over my chest. if you saw a pic of me now you would swear i was burned.

so have any of you had this? the doc tells me i'm in for a lot of pain. i tried to get in to see my pain doc thinking i needed a trigger point injection as usual for the pain but now it's the shingles causing this pain. **** i can't believe this. i can't catch a break from pain. sorry, pity party there for a minute. it could be worse, like on my face so i'll shut up. so if you've had or have this what am i to expect. looks like i missed the window to clear it up and the doc says this pain could last weeks to years. great. ok, taking your calls......carbonblob

Hey Bob, so sorry to hear.  Never had these before so I don't know anything about them.  Will be praying for you as always, my friend.  Hang in there. Greg

hey Greg,

it's a herpes virus! if you had chicken pocks as a kid then you have the virus and it can lay dormant for decades. then when your immune system starts to go south, it comes back as shingles. basically painful bands of rashes and nerve pain. just like chicken pocs all over again but worse! go figure. so i'm considered contagious right now and have to stay away from young kids and hospitals where other peoples immune systems are at risk. the kids because i can give them not shingles but chicken pocs. thanks for the prayers....carbonblob

I had shingles a while ago.  I didn't get any anti-viral treatment but it resolved itself relatively quickly.  But there is no question that sometimes there is long lasting pain.  

that's what i heard too. some people react differently. some it's a piece of cake and others get the post syndrome which can cause pain for years afterwards. right now i have some weird symptoms that are associated with the post syndrome part. my doc wants to wait and see if it's still there next month when the bulk of the rash dissapears. thanks......carbonblob

Lidocaine Patches! (Lido-derm) STAT!! Kill the pain while waiting for the viral drugs to 'help.' Hope you get some relief soon! Best Wishes- Dx Been There, Done That- Time For A Change-                                       Capricious; impulsive, semi-predictable.  http://obesityhelp.com/forums/men/

hey Dx,

i was wearing my patches because of my back and i had my electrodes there too for the IF device. so of course for days we thought i was getting a reaction and rash from the patches because i was putting two on because of the severity of the pain. i also tried to get into my pain doc for a trigger point injection. good thing i didn't because it would not have done anything except hurt. i asked my doc ten times if he was sure this was not my back pain and he said no, it's the nerve pain. i admit, it was away from my spine so i think he's right. i can't put the patches on now because i'm so blistered and raw he doesn't want anything on it for a while. i made an appointment to see my pain doc on thursday. i can't sleep for the pain so let's see if he can help. in the meantime he's upping my neurontin. thanks......carbonblob

Sorry to hear that blob, but I'm glad you're looking on the bright side.  It's caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, and usually a kid re-activates that virus in you when you're immune system gets a little low.  They're not deadly, but they aren't a lot of fun.  It sounds like you caught it relatively early on, so you'll have a shorter course.  That's the ***** about viruses, they hang around.  Keep hydrated and keep us posted on it.  Hopefully it's a quick course and you're done! Ken

thanks ken, **** knew i was spelling pox wrong but couldn't figure it out......lol. too many drugs today. yep, if all goes well, it should clear up in a month he said. my g/f has had it four months with no relief in sight so i'm a little freaked. we both caught it too late for the meds to help. oh well......carbonblob

Well CB,...you do know how to have a good time.  What a year you have had! It won't help the pain but it might take your miind off of it a bit,...try reading Job in the Old Testament.  Brother,... that guy went thru it.  ANd in John Chapter 15 and 16, it tells us that in this world we shall have tribulation, but to be of good cheer for Christ has overcome this world (....and so shall we if we have faith and try to live well accordingly). You must be someone special to have these trials.  I am sure there are better days ahead as you get thru this.  You have already come so far in really a short time.  This is just another bump in the road.  At least your g/f has already had it so she won't think you are a wus cause you are cranky or expressing your anguish. Just don't fall back to the serious pain meds.  You can beat this too. I'm cheering for ya man,....CB!  CB!  CB!