Shingles

**Mr.Nothing** · 10-30-2010, 08:48 AM

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. That’s 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.

It’s 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.

I've got it, has anyone else had it??

~kitty~ · 10-30-2010, 09:37 AM

How did you find out you have it?

**Mr.Nothing** · 10-30-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~kitty~

How did you find out you have it?

Well if you have the sores on your back I would immediately see a doctor, otherwise it's all up to symptoms. There is no real diagnosis for it other than knowledge of the things that happen.

~kitty~ · 10-30-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Nothing

Well if you have the sores on your back I would immediately see a doctor, otherwise it's all up to symptoms. There is no real diagnosis for it other than knowledge of the things that happen.

I'm not worried about having it, I was actually asking specifically about how you found out hahaha.

**Mr.Nothing** · 10-30-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~kitty~

I'm not worried about having it, I was actually asking specifically about how you found out hahaha.

lol well I started getting itchy and numb on the right side of my back for a few days, and I had stomach issues- Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea. Then I started getting KILLER headaches every day, and noticed a rash on my back. The rash was super itchy and no one in my family had seen anything like it. So yesterday I went over to my girlfriend's house, showed her mom what was up- and she told me to look up shingles. So at 8:00 am today I went to the doc and found out I not only have shingles but strep throat as well.

The part that really sucks- My girlfriend has never had chicken pox, which means I am contagious to her, and her birthday is on Tuesday.

**25thhour** · 10-30-2010, 10:39 AM

Sounds like you just got Herpes bro.

Dammmnn.

**rushyrulz** · 10-30-2010, 10:40 AM

wear a gas mask.

**Mr.Nothing** · 10-30-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 25thhour

Sounds like you just got Herpes bro.

Dammmnn.

Well Shingles is called Herpes Zoster, meaning it is a form of herpal virus, but not to be confused with genital herpes (Herpes Simplex).

Quote:

Originally Posted by rushyrulz

wear a gas mask.

I have been pondering that idea lol.
Problem is the virus is spread from the sores into the air.
Can't put a gas mask on my whole back.

MinaciousGrace · 10-30-2010, 11:17 AM

hey my mom has this

and i never got the pox yet

pretty cool huh

good thing i'm never anywhere near her

**Mr.Nothing** · 10-30-2010, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinaciousGrace

hey my mom has this

and i never got the pox yet

pretty cool huh

good thing i'm never anywhere near her

Yeah at your age i'd keep distance too, pox isn't fun when you're an adult.

**Nyokou** · 10-30-2010, 11:52 AM

Never got it. My boyfriend has though. Got shingles when he was 16. Said it was ridiculously itchy and painful.

**Mr.Nothing** · 10-30-2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyokou

Never got it. My boyfriend has though. Got shingles when he was 16. Said it was ridiculously itchy and painful.

It is really a horrible experience, I agree. Even calamine lotion can't sooth the itch.

**Nyokou** · 10-30-2010, 12:17 PM

That sucks. :/ I've been using that lotion for my flea bites and it works pretty well. Can't imagine having shingles and being far more itchy and not having the lotion work. I'd probably start chopping my limbs off.

**Mr.Nothing** · 10-30-2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyokou

That sucks. :/ I've been using that lotion for my flea bites and it works pretty well. Can't imagine having shingles and being far more itchy and not having the lotion work. I'd probably start chopping my limbs off.

It's probably not as itchy as flea bites but it's definitely that really nagging itch, but it's also tender to the touch so no scratching allowed haha. Sucks

**LoneW0lf** · 10-30-2010, 01:21 PM

Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox starts up again in your body.

Never had the chickenpox and got my shot so i guess i'm good.

**xingyguy** · 10-30-2010, 01:50 PM

I hope you get better soon.

Litodude · 10-30-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Nothing

It is really a horrible experience, I agree. Even calamine lotion can't sooth the itch.

I agree being Nyokou's bf would be soooo itchy!

[TeRa] · 10-30-2010, 07:14 PM

had it in 3rd grade, covered my entire forearm up to my thumb. **** hurt, i'd compare it to the feeling of getting shocked, the feeling came in waves, sometimes it would build up slowly while other times it spiked straight to pain.

i don't recall feeling sick, and certainly no headaches. i had the rash for a little over a week iirc

**Nyokou** · 10-30-2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Litodude

I agree being Nyokou's bf would be soooo itchy!

Pretty sure you've gotten laid more times than me. Ever been tested for STDs?

10-30-2010, 08:48 AM	#1
Mr.Nothing R.I.P. Steve <3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tampa, Fl Age: 33 Posts: 1,227	Shingles 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. That’s 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. It’s 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. I've got it, has anyone else had it?? __________________

10-30-2010, 09:37 AM	#2
~kitty~ FFR Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Age: 31 Posts: 988	Re: Shingles How did you find out you have it?

10-30-2010, 10:39 AM	#6
25thhour *I like max* Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver/Burnaby/East Van Age: 30 Posts: 2,921	Re: Shingles Sounds like you just got Herpes bro. Dammmnn. __________________ r bae adam bae max bae bridget bae claudia bae trevor bae adam2 bae mayo bae keith bae

10-30-2010, 10:40 AM	#7
rushyrulz Digital Dancing! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 80 billion club, NE Age: 31 Posts: 12,981	Re: Shingles wear a gas mask. __________________

10-30-2010, 11:17 AM	#9
MinaciousGrace FFR Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: nima Posts: 4,278	Re: Shingles hey my mom has this and i never got the pox yet pretty cool huh good thing i'm never anywhere near her

10-30-2010, 11:52 AM	#11
Nyokou （￣ー￣） Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: United States Age: 32 Posts: 4,246	Re: Shingles Never got it. My boyfriend has though. Got shingles when he was 16. Said it was ridiculously itchy and painful. __________________ Twitter \| Instagram \| Snapchat: Nyokou

10-30-2010, 12:17 PM	#13
Nyokou （￣ー￣） Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: United States Age: 32 Posts: 4,246	Re: Shingles That sucks. :/ I've been using that lotion for my flea bites and it works pretty well. Can't imagine having shingles and being far more itchy and not having the lotion work. I'd probably start chopping my limbs off. __________________ Twitter \| Instagram \| Snapchat: Nyokou

10-30-2010, 01:21 PM	#15
LoneW0lf ʕ·͡ᴥ·ʔ Bears ʕ·͡ᴥ·ʔ Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,800	Re: Shingles Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox starts up again in your body. Never had the chickenpox and got my shot so i guess i'm good.

10-30-2010, 01:50 PM	#16
xingyguy Bagel Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: california Posts: 266	Re: Shingles I hope you get better soon. __________________ My latest simfiles: Xenobius: http://www.stepmania.com/download.ph...Xenobius.smzip Coward Killing Time: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...p?songid=38838 Minute: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...p?songid=35958 Chaoz Impact: http://www.stepmania.com/download.ph...ozImpact.smzip

10-30-2010, 07:14 PM	#18
[TeRa] FFR Player Join Date: May 2007 Age: 33 Posts: 9,922	Re: Shingles had it in 3rd grade, covered my entire forearm up to my thumb. **** hurt, i'd compare it to the feeling of getting shocked, the feeling came in waves, sometimes it would build up slowly while other times it spiked straight to pain. i don't recall feeling sick, and certainly no headaches. i had the rash for a little over a week iirc

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