On Monday afternoon a patch of rash appeared on the right side of my abdomen—a patch about two inches across and an inch high, 8-10 large raised bumps. Very painful. Yesterday the doctor confirmed what I had suspected. I have shingles.
Not recommended as a pastime.
I can work after a fashion but I think that not going into the office is probably a corporal act of mercy at this point.
I’m sorry to hear that. My Dad had shingles and he said it was the worst experiences of this life – this from a guy who saw a lot of combat in WWII. I hope it passes quickly for you.
My mother had them. She was depressed, anxious and ill beneath all those bumps. Does the vaccine undermine the immune system?
Cross, are you?
Oh man…shingles is the worst. Antivirals and steroids helped me pretty quickly though…or at least took the edge off of the pain.
Never had them. Understand they are very painful. For a guy who has constant pain anyway that must be very frustrating. I can only relate in that I had about 5 years of constant compressed nerve pain related to cervical discs. I can only equate that to burn pain in magnitude.
FWIW – I’m not prone to an “opioid high.” No temptation for me. So I discovered dilaudid as opposed to Vicodin or Tylenol 3. It was of great help, but they watch you like a hawk for excess usage. You may want to inquire. But we all have heard about the opioid problem. I understand dilaudid gets ahold of a lot of nurses.
The doc was a nice young kid—young enough to be my grandson. We had a pleasant chat. Basically, he confirmed my diagnosis and prescribed some anti-virals.
I guess I’ve lived long enough that my immune system, normally hypervigilant, has forgotten about the chicken pox virus.
So sorry to hear about you and shingles, Dave. It’s a nasty experience to go through, by all accounts of those who have had them. I wish you a swift recovery.
They tell me it will run its course in a week to ten days.
I had an attack a few years ago. The child/doc at the Doc In The Box gave me an antiviral and blessedly, a stout painkiller. Cuz it hurt.!!! About a week.
Good luck! Wish I could recommend the one sure treatment, but everyone responds differently.
Steve
A week to ten days? Oh ugh!
Definitely you don’t want to go to work with that kind of problem. My suggestion is (a) loose pajamas, (b) a heating pad or ice pack if either seems to help, (c) ibuprofen, (d) several bottles of scotch, and (e) indulge yourself in murder — every one of John Dickson Carr’s Gideon Fell yarns for example. Not a perfect solution of course, but it surely beats trying to work.