How is Shingles spread? I've been reading about Shingles and have seen kind of contradictory information as to whether it can be spread through the air? Is it ever airborne or is it only passed by contact with the blisters?
Checkthis link
www.bchealthguide.org/
It is very simple to read, and really explains things well.
It's part of the herpes virus. It can be gotten thru contact with the person/carrier. Being around children with chicken pox, or elderly with a case can give it to whoever may be suseptible to getting them.
My mother just had shingles. Her doctor said that you get it from touching the open sores. She had to keep away from anyone who had not had chickenpox yet.
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. If you ever had chicken pox, you may get shingles or may not.
Hi, I had shingles twice. What pain! I worked at a day school and if you carry the chicken pox virus you are susceptible to them. So I was around small kids, the doctor said I carried the pox virus even though I had the chicken pox very young. They lay dormant so now I have the after pain which is the nerve endings in the spine.
As a person who had shingles last year, I can tell you that they are not contagious. One MUST previously have had chicken pox. The herpes zoster virus (chicken pox) lies dormant in your system, usually forever, but if it surfaces, one will get shingles. My doctor said that the older one gets, the more likely for them to surface, that there are many causes for this, stress being a prime factor. Older people are prone to stress because of illness, finances, deaths, etc. There is now a vaccine out there, but usually only given to those over 60, and many insurances do not yet cover it. The out-of-pocket cost is around $200.00. Like other vaccines, it does not guarantee you will not get shingles, but the likelihood is much, much less. I did not have severe pain, but many people suffer terribly.
I don't know how I got them,but they were the most painful thing I have ever had. ( Even childbirth as it didn't last as long) The first time I had a small rash on my back just under the shoulder blade( Eight weeks ) . The second time ,there was no rash anywhere to be seen...Found out after EIGHT Months, they were on the inside.If I hadn't had a great Pharmacist who told my husband to get me a new DR. And he sent me to get 4 shots( in my back) ,one a month to get rid of them.
I had shingles when I was I was in 7th grade and again when I was a freshman in high school. I am now 49 years old. I have never had chicken pox and my mother was told that was the reason for my sufferring with shingles. I stayed in so much pain, I had to be tutored at home. It took several doctors, months and some painful procedures, for them to find out what was wrong with me. As for the rash, It usually went away after a couple of days and that is when the pain would start. MY areas were on my back, around my ribcage.
One more thing about Shingles. The younger you are when you first have it, the less painful this form will be. In other words, if you first get them when you are 70 or so, this outbreak will be much more painful that if you first have them when you are 40.
It is possible to have such a mild case of chicken pox that one doesn't know they have had them. It is also possible to have chicken pox more than once. I did not believe that until my sons had them - twice. The second time was far more severe.
Also, the shingles blisters look like chicken pox.
There is a vaccine for chicken pox. I would advise anyone with children to get this for them. Chicken pox is not a "harmless childhood disease".
And just to recap -- from the site above -- you don't catch shingles. You already have the virus inside your body, and it can be activated by stress, etc. Nothing to fool around with. My aunt had shingles on the inside of her spine, and eventually this left her partially paralyzed so that she was in a wheelchair.
Lithium is a preventative for shingles. It helps to keep the virus in check, and boosts the immune system. You can buy low dose lithium over the counter at health food stores, or online. Search for lithium aspartate, or lithium orotate.
You must have chicken pox prior to having shingles. They are not contagious, however you can give someone chicken pox from your shingles if they have never had chicken pox. Shingles is a miserable illness! Mine started on my right tonsil and moved from there to the roof of my mouth, to my lip, to my nose, and on its way up my cheek toward my ear. The worst pain I have ever had. All this in the space of about 1-1/2 days. The doctor prescribed a medicine also used to treat herpes simplex since they are in the same family; in 24 hours I started to see the damage reverse, by week's end all but residual scarring was gone.
After researching all that I could find online, and reading the sometimes contradictory responses on this forum, I'm feeling that there's a lot of misinformation on this. One person says you can only get shingles if you first had chickenpox and another says they got it when they never had chickenpox. One person says you can't catch shingles, another says you can. I'm going to continue researching.
Editor's Note: Here's a good link that explains it:
www.mayoclinic.com/
I'm having an outbreak of shingles as I write, and I will agree with the fact it is the most pain I have ever experienced, absolutely brutal. I'm having 3-4 spasms a day which I can describe only as 60 seconds of shear terror and incredible pain. I'm now on Lyrica and hoping this will help reduce the pain and the spasms. If anyone out the knows of any diets or foods and or other remedies that will help please feel free to reply, thanks, and to all who are going through this, I wish you the best of luck.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How long do the pimples last when you have shingles? How long does the pain continue?
By J.E.D
The first thing to be done is contact your health professional. There are meds which can help relieve the symptoms.
That said, the rest of this is based on my personal experience; I'm not a medical person. I'll also offer my home remedies for your consideration.
Five years ago, I had shingles on one side of my face, ran from my jaw, up my cheek, and into my ear (nasty!). If I remember correctly, the pimples lasted a couple of weeks, partly because I didn't know what it was, so didn't go to the doctor until I had broken out and was in horrible pain. Because it was in my ear, it gave me vertigo, which lasted about a month.
For me, the horrible nerve pain lasted 2-3 weeks. Zovirax capsules prescribed for me made me sick, so stopped taking them. The topical Zovirax cream helped a little on my face. I took Tylenol to relieve some of the pain.
Ice packs on my cheek where the sores were helped the most. Ice pack on my cervical area at the top of my neck where my hairline is helped the excruciating headaches and some of the vertigo.
Instead of the Zovirax capsules, I took 1,000mg of L-lysine every 4 hours. I really think that helped shorten the outbreak. L-lysine is also reported to be good to relieve cold sores, a relative of chicken pox and shingles. You can research this on the Internet.
When the shingles vaccine became available, I got one!
My deepest sympathy to you (or whoever has it). Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Dottie
This is complicated and different for everyone. First and foremost I hope you've gone to your doctor and have been prescribed an anti-viral medication! I've had shingles a few times (one really, really bad outbreak) and it took almost a week for the blisters to pop but they don't pop for everyone they just sort of dry up. My bad outbreak took months for some of the spots to completely fade even though they had healed.
You must NOT touch them whether they have broken open or not and if you do touch them then wash your hands immediately and thoroughly because you can spread them to other parts of your body. Plus you could possibly pass the virus on to someone else.
Stay completely away from anyone who has never had chicken pox especially young children, the elderly or anyone with a compromised immune system and do not get into shared/public swimming pools or hot tubs during an outbreak because that can also spread the virus.
In my case I was Blessed to have only localized pain but since it affects the nervous system the pain can spread to other parts of the body and last indefinitely. What drove me the craziest about the outbreaks was how much they itched and I couldn't scratch them ;-) If you have undo pain or itching you need to talk to your doctor about it because they can prescribe additional medications for those issues.
I am sure I am forgetting to mention something here but the last thing I highly suggest is talking to your doctor about having the Zoster vaccination because the chances of ever having another outbreak of shingles again is 'greatly reduced'. If you have other health issues you also need to talk to your doctor about weighing the benefits of having the shot. In my case one of my health issues could have been a risk to have the shot but I decided I would rather take the risk of having it so I would never have one of those nasty shingles outbeaks again. I am glad I had the shot, had no adverse results/reactions because of my other health issue and not a single outbreak since :-)
Hope this was helpful and that you talk more to your doctor about it.
I had it on my right tonsil, the roof of my mouth, lip, side of my nose, and my cheek-and all this was in a matter of less than 48 hours. The worst pain in my entire life. I couldn't even drink water that wasn't body temperature-cold water from the tap hurt so bad I blacked out. I got to the doctor on day 1.5, and they prescribed Famcyclovir. I had blisters, 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter, for about a week and the scars for a couple more weeks.
The doc also prescribed a pretty strong antibiotic ointment around day 3 for my blisters since they were on my face. Twice daily I washed them with a cotton ball and mild soap, then rinsed them with a saline soaked cotton ball, applied the antibiotic with a cotton swab. I used disposable items to clean the wounds to prevent prolonging the irritation. I also got plenty of bed rest (I had a fever of 103), and I kept a bottle of water up under me so it would be body temperature when I got thirsty.
Because I acted fast and got medicine, I have had no lasting nerve damage and it didn't get close enough to my ear to cause hearing loss, and because I took care of them meticulously I have no noticeable scarring-only I can really see where they were, thank goodness. I hope you are under a physician's care and taking medicine-Shingles are so bad I wouldn't even wish them on an enemy.
As you can see by the other posters, it is absolutely imperative to go to the doctor. My aunt had shingles on her spine - inside - and these caused paralysis. This is nothing to fool around with and can have very serious complications. Stress and fatigue seem to prolong outbreaks. You must get the proper medication from your doctor.
Best you check as I only made mental note. Google chaparral spray for pain and infection of shingles. I understood pain alleviated in 20 minutes with chaparral spray. Also lysine orally. Check Eskimo/colloidal silver site for some very good natural remedy.
I had a a breakout, thinking it was pimples, on my lower butt cheeks,around my rectum and on the inside of my leg.- all on the right side. Anyway, I went to my annual gyny. checkup and ask the doctor what I can do for the itchy, burning pimples. Well, he said. "I think you have shingles". I said, "What, down there, what the heck." He told me that when he got up that morning, he never thought that he would have to tell a patient that she had shingles down there.
Anyway, he put a cream there and on my butt and told me to get hold of my med. dr. right away. Some people are hospitalized over this. I was put on strong antibiotic meds and I really suffered for over two weeks, but finally they went away. Please contact your doctor.
I'm considering getting this shingles vaccine since I'm over 60. Have you had any kind of reaction to this vaccine?
By Betty
As with all medications, adverse reactions, including serious reactions, can occur. The most frequent adverse reactions reported for Zostavax were headache and injection-site reactions.
I would ask your health care provider for their input on reactions or contacr Merck the manufacturer. I understand the shot is expensive about $200.
Plus, if you are the rare person who never had Chicken Pox, you don't need it. Make sure you have something to prevent before you find a cure for it.
Yes, do some research. I found this by going on webmd.com
www.webmd.com/
I planned on getting it too, but then read that the Center for Disease Control changed their guidelines for several vaccinations, and I met one of their reason why I shouldn't get it. Here are their new recommendations for the Shingles vaccine:
Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine
Who needs it: Everyone over age 60
How often: Once
Notes: Zoster vaccine is recommended for everyone over age 60, regardless of whether youve had a prior episode of shingles a painful, blistering skin rash, caused by the varicella-zoster virus which can be especially painful in older adults.
Some experts recommend getting the vaccine only if you've had a prior episode of chicken pox. But the CDC recommends that everyone over 60 get vaccinated because more than 99 percent of Americans over age 40 have had chicken pox, even if they dont recall getting the disease. Also, the older patients are, the more severe are their cases of shingles.
DO NOT get this vaccine if you:
Have ever had a life-threatening or severe allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of shingles vaccine
Have a weakened immune system because of:
HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
Treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids
Cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy
A history of cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, such as leukemia or lymphoma;
Are or might be pregnant
Neither my doctor nor the pharmacist were aware of the new restrictions for this vaccine. Hope this helps you!
In my case it was worth having the shot even with the risks. I've had three separate outbreaks of shingles. They itch, they cause pain inside your body (because it affects your nerves) and if you're not careful during the outbreak you can inadvertently spread them to other parts of your body including your eyes and nose. Shingles also causes 'permanent' severe pain in almost 15% of the population. You can also make others who have not had chickenpox deathly ill (especially infants and the elderly) during an outbreak. Oh, and they can leave scarring even if you don't scratch them. I have some scarring from them.
Anyway, it was worth it to me to take the risk and have the shot even though one of the warnings mentioned is a weakened immune system. I had the shot last September and have not had a single outbreak since then. As for reactions, my only reaction was a mild headache when I woke up the next morning and that was gone, even without a pain reliever, in less than a couple of hours.
If vaccinations are not covered in your medical plan I suggest calling around to different pharmacies and ask what they charge. You'll be amazed at the price range differences from place to place. Although my shot ended up being 100% covered I chose the Safeway (grocery chain) Pharmacy because their charge was $120.00 which would have been about $100.00 less than my doctor would have charged and still was $30.00 less than another pharmacy just down the street from them.
PS - The photo here is not of me - LOL - It's just an example of what they look like. My outbreaks were all the way from just above my behind cheeks and almost down to my knee.
I am looking for information on Shingles.
By Anna from Pensacola, FL
What is shingles?
Shingles ( herpes zoster) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and often causes a rash on one side of the body, the left or right. The rash appears in a band, a strip, or a small area. Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, or other reasons. Most people who get shingles will get better and will not get it again.
What causes shingles?
Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox starts up again in your body. After you get better from chickenpox, the virus "sleeps" (is dormant) in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant forever. In others, the virus "wakes up" when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system. It is not clear why this happens. But after the virus becomes active again, it can only cause shingles, not chickenpox.
You can't catch shingles from someone else who has shingles. But a person with a shingles rash can spread chickenpox to another person who hasn't had chickenpox and who hasn't gotten the chickenpox vaccine.
What are the symptoms?
Shingles symptoms happen in stages. At first you may have a headache or be sensitive to light. You may also feel like you have the flu but not have a fever.
Later, you may feel itching, tingling, or pain in a certain area. Thats where a band, strip, or small area of rash may occur a few days later. The rash turns into clusters of blisters. The blisters fill with fluid and then crust over. It takes 2 to 4 weeks for the blisters to heal, and they may leave scars. Some people only get a mild rash, and some do not get a rash at all.
Its possible that you could also feel dizzy or weak, or you could have long-term pain or a rash on your face, changes in your vision, changes in how well you can think, or a rash that spreads. If you have any of these problems from shingles, call your doctor right away.
How is shingles treated?
There is no cure for shingles, but treatment may help you get well sooner and prevent other problems. Call your doctor as soon as you think you may have shingles. The sooner you start treatment, the better it works. Treatment may include:
Antiviral medicines to help you get well sooner and feel less pain.
Medicines to help long-term pain. These include antidepressants, pain medicines, and skin creams.
Good home care can help you feel better faster. Take care of any skin sores, and keep them clean. Take your medicines as directed. And use over-the-counter pain medicines to relieve pain.
Avoid contact with people until the rash heals. While you have shingles, you can spread chickenpox to people who have never had chickenpox and who haven't gotten the chickenpox vaccine. Be extra careful to avoid people with weak immune systems and pregnant women and babies who have never had chickenpox and have never gotten the vaccine.
Who gets shingles?
Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles. You have a greater chance of getting shingles if you: 1
Are older than 50.
Have an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack your body's own tissues.
Have another health problem or stress that weakens the immune system.
If you have never had chickenpox and have not gotten the chickenpox vaccine, avoid touching someone who has shingles or chickenpox. If you are at least 60 years old, you can get a vaccine that may prevent shingles or make it less painful if you do get it.
I had Shingles for the first time after a leg surgery left me with nerve damage, and I can tell you it can be very painful.
www.mayoclinic.com/
There was an article in our paper recently regarding a vaccine against shingles called Zostavax. You have to be over a certain age but I don't remember how old you have to be.
You can either get it at your pharmacy and then take it to your doctor, or some pharmacies such as some Walgreens, are letting pharmacists do the vaccinations.
