My2500HDTruck
Contra Costa County
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Joined: 11/16/2003
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Glad you are feeling better and the doc gave you meds in time. I once had shingles before my 20th high school reunion and it was on my whole left side of my face. This was also around Halloween so I really didn't need a mask when "trick-n-treating" greeting the kids at the door. 
But the pain was awful. It was like a thousand needles sticking in my face.
2004 Silverado 2500HD: LT, Crew Cab, Duramax/Allison, 4x4
2000 Coleman Timberlake Popup
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Scottiemom
South Dakota/Indiana
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Joined: 09/09/2003
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DH is a cardiac patient and broke out in blisters on Christmas Day a couple years ago. Doctor called in a prescription for an anti-viral and he started it within 2 hours of the breakout. Timing is crucial. They say you need to start the meds within 24 hours of breakout. DH was so thankful the discomfort he had been experiencing for the past several days was not his heart that he faithfully took his meds and never suffered any ill effects. Had a little more discomfort till the meds started working and that was it. Except for his Coumadin, which the meds totally screwed up. Took a while to get that back to normal.
Dale
Dale Pace
Wife to Terry (Teacher's Pet)
Mom to 2 rescued Scotties
Bailey and Neal
2006 Tiffin Phaeton 40' QSH, 4 slides (Phaeton Place)
2003 Sport Trac Toad
Fulltiming since retiring in 2005
http://www.skoolzoutforever.blogspot.com/
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TRAVELNSHUZ
Portland,OR
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Joined: 05/06/2007
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Mass quantities of Vicoden helped me but I wouldn't
be driving. I had it on my face and I looked bad.
The pain was the worst I've ever had. Almost lost my
vision in my right eye too.
If I knew then what I know now I'd of paid $$$$ for
the vaccine. Unfortunately it came out just after I
had the Shingles and being I knew nothing about Shingles
I probably wouldn't of got it anyway. My friends just
look at me kind of funny when I tell them about the vaccine.
Oh well I hope no one has to go through that.
I hope you get well soon.
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Roy M
British Columbia
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Joined: 10/16/2009
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I don't wish that on anybody. The doctor initially thought it was an intestinal problem so put me on a clear liquid diet for three days. When the rash broke out he said OOOPS and got me on medication but I was one unhappy camper for a couple of weeks.I had no idea the pain would be so intense.
I tried calamine lotion to relieve the itching but it was too messy. An over the counter anti itch cream, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, really helped as did an aloe gel.
Old age and treachery always beats youth and enthusiasm
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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My mom has taken Neurontin for the nerve pain following shingles for 15 years! I'm serious. Because she is immune compromised, pernicious anemia, she was never completely able to overcome the nerve damage.
I had shingles across the dimples on my backside in my early forties. That was before Valtrex, and although the blisters went away, that "cattle prod" pain lingered for months. I would be driving or sitting at work and YOWIE! I haven't asked about the vaccine, figuring that in a case like mine, the shot might reactivate the shingles that still "live" in my spinal column. It seems logical. The darned things just wait until you are weak from something else and then pop back out again.
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CapeM1
Cape May,NJ
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Joined: 02/19/2008
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(Update to my original post): Well it has been approximately 3 weeks since the start of my shingles outbreak and, likes others above have said, has certainly been something that I NEVER want to experience again. It started from my right thigh down to my foot and then, low and behold, one week later the area underneath my arm and through to my back on the right side began. My leg blistered but the back/chest area did not (although the pain on my back/chest area was much more intense than the leg and still hurts today). I have been on Valtrex, Neurontin and Vicodin. Thankfully, I have for the last few days have been able to go 6 hours without the Vicodin and am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We are leaving for our Fla trip in 10 days and I finally feel like I can start to get excited for it and start planning again. For what it is worth, I urge anyone thinking about getting the shingles vaccine to go ahead and get it.
2008 Gulfstream Amerilite 21MB
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ext Cab
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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Oh, my gosh, CapeM1, it hurts to even read about your misery! Those shingles really got ahold of you, didn't they? Take good supplies of all your meds with you on your trip just in case, as the nerve pain may be around for some time after the blisters are gone. You are right to go on with your life and your plans, though. It will probably be just the distraction you need. Have a great trip.
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