Shingles!

**bobh33** · 02-24-2013, 01:34 PM

Been hurting to brush my hair for a week, notice a little rash on my temple, go to the doctor, and find out it's shingles! He gave me some valacyclopir for it. Anybody else gone thru this? It's actually just a little tingling/itching so far luckily. It's more the fatigue/anxiety combination!!

Were you able to workout during that period? I realize sweating is serious but I run outside this time of year and do a "power tower" in the cold garage so I don't really sweat this time of year. Thanks!

**Bu4ISU** · 02-24-2013, 01:37 PM

Enwwwyyy

**wartknight** · 02-24-2013, 01:41 PM

I remember when my dad got shingles. They put him on Valtrex. I came home from college and saw a magnet for valtrex on the fridge and got a good chuckle out of telling him the only thing I knew valtrex to be used for.

**Cydwinder** · 02-24-2013, 01:44 PM

I had shingles when I was 10. Don't really remember it being all that bad but I don't remember much from when I was ten anyway.

**Oleclone** · 02-24-2013, 01:52 PM

Don't underestimate their seriousness! I had them in one ear, was in the hospital 3 days, and lost most of the hearing in the ear. You can spread them with your hands. The worst thing you could do is to rub them and then rub your eyes.....yes, you can get them in your eyes.

**WhatchaGonnaDo** · 02-24-2013, 01:59 PM

Gotta believe that there's a better forum for this than CF.

**Cysmik** · 02-24-2013, 02:04 PM

Had them when I was in college. Irritating rash on my chest and back. Left scars where the rashes were. Don't remember it being anything terrible other than difficulty sleeping because of the irritation. Apparently rare in the young, but more serious the older you are. Good Luck.

**madcityCY** · 02-24-2013, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by Cysmik

Had them when I was in college. Irritating rash on my chest and back. Left scars where the rashes were. Don't remember it being anything terrible other than difficulty sleeping because of the irritation. Apparently rare in the young, but more serious the older you are. Good Luck.

It got them on chest and back also, but I was ~11 yrs old. Glad I didn't get them in eyes, ears, head, but they did SUCK regardless. Basically like serious acne breakout toward the end. Very uncomfortable and gross. I scratched, and I have the scars to prove it.

**carvers4math** · 02-24-2013, 02:10 PM

Had a friend get them when he was 22, after he got hit by a random bullet someone shot into the air. Doctor said in younger people it is often stress related.

My sister has had them three times. She's not young but under a lot of stress. They seem to be getting worse for her. And she read you shouldn't get the vaccine until you are 60.

Good luck, I hear it is a miserable experience.

**KneeGusto** · 02-24-2013, 02:19 PM

Had shingles develop just this past week. Had little bumps on my left leg one day and full break out over the next few days all over the lower leg. Now it's in my hair on my left side and on the forehead. It itches, it hurts (pins and needles) and I look like I barely survived a fiery car crash (some say that is an improvement).

Doing the cold water towels on the leg and slathering hydrocortisone everywhere, even the hair. Sleep is non-existent.

Shoot me now.
As far as working out - dunno. The advice I got was moderate exercise was fine.

**Sparkplug** · 02-24-2013, 02:20 PM

Stay away from any child or adult that has not had the chickenpox or been vaccinated. They can get them from contact with someone with shingles.

**cyrevkah** · 02-24-2013, 02:28 PM

I got them while working at a daycare. Thankfully I could where long sleeves and they only ached. I was told, that they usually fallow your nerves. Wash your hands a lot. Coldness seems to help relieve some of it.

**JAFO** · 02-24-2013, 03:00 PM

I agree do not underestimate the seriousness of this. My mother got shingles on the right side of her head and face when she was 63. The most serious part for her was her right eye. The shingles can be in your eye and damage your vision in that eye. My mother had a bad case and went to the eye doctor many times. I would encourage you to talk to a doctor (maybe you have) and be concerned about your eyes.