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04-29-2006, 09:05 PM
|  | Registered Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,546
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I've had a small rash on my wrist for a couple days now & found out this morning that it's shingles. I'm on meds for it & doc said to use hydrocortisone to help with the itching, but it isn't helping much. The spots itch like crazy, feel warm, and are starting to hurt a little, I think mostly because they itch so bad. Doc said if it gets real red & warm to call her and I'll have to go on antibiotics, but in the meantime just stick to what I've got. My question, what can I do to stop the itch? Like I said, the hydrocortisone helps only for a little while right after I put it on, but wears off too soon. Right now I've got baking soda/water paste on it, which seems to help some, but it isn't exactly practical for when I actually have to leave the house. Any ideas? |
04-29-2006, 10:55 PM
|  | Hot Lips | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: I'm not sure
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Oh wow, I have never dealt with shingles. When my son had a reaction to the sun, we used ice to ease the itching, but I don't know if that will help you.
Right now I am dealing with a latex reaction, and the itching is horrible. Cold water compresses are helping.
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04-29-2006, 10:56 PM
|  | Hot and Juicy | | Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: off campus
Posts: 46,382
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Oh no! I'm so sorry Max! I know that Shingles isn't fun. The baking soda thing was what I was going to suggest. I'm sure others will have more ideas. I hope its not too bad and you get through this bout quickly!  |
04-29-2006, 11:10 PM
|  | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Upstate New York
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No advice, just hugs. I hope you feel better soon!
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04-30-2006, 09:18 AM
| | Registered Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
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From what I've read, calomine is supposed to help as well, I'll have to pick some up today. The biggest problem is not scratching while I sleep. I do it already on a regular basis, sometimes severely. I'm going to pick up some athletic tape today as well to wrap it when I sleep. Unfortunately I'm getting a few more in a new band (according to what I read, it's always in bands, following the affected nerve), which is no fun at all.
Latex reactions suck, big time. Found out I was allergic b/c I was wearing latex gloves at the bakery I was working at, so both my hands were entirely covered. Ended up going to the ER for steroids to get it cleared up. Big shot & a couple week's worth of pills help a lot. I remember putting packages of deli meat on my hands b/c I was in college & it was all we had to use. Kind of like when I was younger & mom used frozen vegies (peas are the best) when we needed ice packs. |
04-30-2006, 10:26 AM
|  | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: The Nutmeg State
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I know a friend had hives all over her body and had to use Aveno stuff in the bath. It had oatmeal in it I think. She found it soothing. Dunno if that will help. |
04-30-2006, 11:55 AM
|  | thread-killa | | Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,358
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Oh no! Eucerin makes an anti-itch spray that doesn't show up like calomine or baking soda paste. Not sure how it will work on shingles, but works great on the kids' eczema. |
04-30-2006, 12:24 PM
| | Registered Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
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I had some steroid cream from my eczema that I was putting on it before I knew what it was, but it wasn't really helping much. So far the calomine seems to be doing a pretty good job.
Thanks to the advances of modern medicine (snicker) calomine is now available in clear. Twice as much as the (pink) generic brand, of course, but completely worth it if I'm going to have this stuff on my arm for the next week or so.
Thankfully, the sling helps to cover it all, but that's a whole different story. Plus, I don't want pink spots on my blue sling.  |
04-30-2006, 01:04 PM
|  | I'm Sparkly in Real Life | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: It's not heaven, it's Iowa
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Oh sweetie, I'm sorry you have to go through this.  I'm no help, other than a big hug, but your grandma Donna had shingles once upon a time. You might want to call her.
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04-30-2006, 01:43 PM
| | Hot and Juicy | | Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: off campus
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Lynn! Don't hug her so hard! Her skin is sensitive to the touch.
Max, I really hope this clears up quickly for you. Ask the doctor if there is anything you can do to keep from having it again when this clears up. I know that for some people it recurrs, but I also know many (including my Grandpa) that had it once and never again. |
04-30-2006, 01:43 PM
|  | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Central California
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No help. During chicken pox we had calomine lotion all over us. The pictures are funny. Glad you found some clear stuff.
Hope it goes away soon and you are comfortable once again. (a soft one)
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04-30-2006, 09:51 PM
|  | Got my hands over my eyes | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Maryland
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There are anti-viral drugs that help with shingles, but you need to start them early. If what you're doing isn't working, call the doc back Monday morning.
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05-01-2006, 07:50 AM
| | Registered Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
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From what I've read, there isn't anything that can be done to prevent them. Normally, a healthy immune system keeps the virus in check, but when you get run down, stressed, worried, tense, etc, it flares up & the immune system can no longer hold it back.
When I saw the doc Saturday, she said she couldn't treat it w/ meds unless I had new spots w/in the last 24 hours. Luckily I had, so I'm hoping the stuff I'm taking will help.
Yesterday evening was the worst so far, but I have a feeling it's not just going to magically get better. I wrapped it before I went to bed last night to keep me from scratching, which helped tons. I'm thinking about re-wraping the worst part through the day as well. It helps me from scratching at least, which I can usually stop myself from doing, but sometimes get busy/distracted & forget. |
05-09-2006, 01:52 PM
| | Registered Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
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Went back to the dr today because after they cleared up last week, they came back, full-force, this weekend and practically exploded on my arm over night. The doc says he's never seen them come back right away when someone completes taking the medicine. Which I did! Even though they cleared up and dried out when I still had two days left, I kept taking the pills like a good girl. And this is what I get.
So with my arm still in a sling & everything else that's going on, the doctor actually said he should take me out back and shoot me. 
My body is falling apart. |
05-09-2006, 02:10 PM
| | thread-killa | | Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,358
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Although you don't seem to have any spider or varicose veins, and the peeing hasn't started yet, has it? I think you are safe from euthanasia. |
05-09-2006, 02:12 PM
| | Registered Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
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Well, that's a relief!  I guess I've got something going for me then. |
05-09-2006, 04:08 PM
| | I'm Sparkly in Real Life | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: It's not heaven, it's Iowa
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She was probably so stressed out because her evil mother came to visit.
Hang in there Max...I'm keeping fingers crossed that you will be all over this soon. <----gentle hug 'cause I know it hurts
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05-09-2006, 08:54 PM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Central California
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More gentle hugs sent in thought...
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05-10-2006, 12:14 AM
|  | Housemother to the World | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: A Capital Ship For an Ocean Trip
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Max, would your Doc Rx you an antiviral cream, as well as (or instead of ) the oral meds? Shingles can be stubborn to treat. Ask him or your pharmacist about taking a daily stress vitamin-sometimes they can help your immune system fight off a virus.
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10-27-2007, 06:48 PM
| | Registered Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
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They're back!
Yay.
Or not.
Thankfully this time I have much smaller spots of it, and knew what to look for so hopefully caught it early enough. Unfortunately, it's on my fingers, which is horrible. Got meds for it this morning - the good (and of course expensive) kind that kicked it last time, so hopefully that as well as catching it early will clear things up quickly. Or at least that's the hope.
I love being me sometimes. 
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10-27-2007, 07:06 PM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: The Nutmeg State
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What is it with all the EAers being sick this weekend? Hope you feel better soon! |
10-27-2007, 07:09 PM
|  | In Spanish, I'm Marijuana | | Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lawn-Guy-Land, NY
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We love you being you, but not shingles. Feel better!
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10-27-2007, 07:30 PM
|  | Registered Member | | Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: MN
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Oh no! I hope the meds kick it fast this time, Max! |
10-27-2007, 07:58 PM
| | Housemother to the World | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: A Capital Ship For an Ocean Trip
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Good luck with the meds. (Acyclovir?) Can you take extra vitamin C to help your immune system?
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10-27-2007, 08:57 PM
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