Shingles

TillyTrotter thank you. The headache has finally gone today after 6 days. My rash hasn't spread and the blisters look flatter. Got to say the pain hasn't been any worse than I am in daily. Already taken tablets for nerve pain and co codamol so think they helped. But getting the anti virals day after rash appeared must helped. I have a high pain tolerance as been in pain my whole life since a child. Staying home this week . It's the tiredness that is really bugging me.

Take care and rest Whiff . Shingles is the last thing you need when you suffer other health conditions on a permanent basis.
Keep the rash dry from washing, but rub gently with applications of aqueous+calamine cream each day to soothe.
It is quite cheap (£3) from a chemist if you have someone who can get it for you.
I hope you feel much better soon 💐

Joseann I don't understand if they where going to let 65 year-old have the jab why not after 1st January 2023 instead of September. Odd time to start it. Just like altering the pension age why didn't they lower the men's age to 60 same as woman instead of putting it up and up .

Primrose I will just have flannel washes . Not going out this week of doesn't matter if my hair looks weird. I don't scratch as on Apixaban a blood thinner and bleed like anything. That's why I can't use sharp knives only if wearing my cut proof glove . But lack of strength in my hands means cutting is limited to top and tailing things .

Sparkle thank you for the flowers.

Witzend the jabs doesn't mean you can't catch shingles but like you found it's milder. Well that's what I was told by my GP even though I couldn't have the jab.

No good going to need a nap before lunch .

Thank you all . You can rely on GN ers for good advice , support, understanding and friendship. 💐

I’ve definitely had a very mild case, after vaccination. Small area of rash is just about gone, but still a bit itchy. The tell-tale throbbing ache in the kidney area lasted only one day.

Has anyone else had a very mild case well after vaccination?
I didn’t bother with the GP, since it was so much milder than my previous dose, and even that was nothing like as bad as some people get.

Whiff So sorry to hear you've got Shingles and do hope you soon feel better. for you.

Whiff. Sorry to hear you feel so rotten. I had Shingles recently, took the anti virals and that stopped more blisters appearing. I was told to keep the area dry. So I just had strip washes for a few days. The blisters don’t really burst unless you scratch them, they just gradually go down and the area is left a bit red. Hope this helps a bit. I found I was really tired so rest as much as you can.

Oh Whiff I'm so sorry to hear that. It makes me very cross that our age group is left out for 4 years, and you are living proof that the cost of your treatment will now outweigh the cost of a jab. How annoying! I hope you get better soon.

I have shingles. Rash started very pale on Wednesday morning blisters appear by evening got Anti virals yesterday and glad to say leaflet said what time to have them as it's 5x 800mg per day for a week. So can work my other tablets round it. Had a headache for 3 days and very tired all week. I already have nerve pain due to my neurological condition but because I was 65 April last year couldn't get the jabs . My neurologist couldn't even get it for me . So got to wait until I am 70. Have been in constant pain my whole life as I was born with the condition. Pain is up but as anyone in constant pain your body gets more tolerant to it. Very sore and itchy. But GP said just to keep it dry . Will the blisters burst or just reabsorb into your body ? If they burst do I just cover with a dry dressing ? Never had it before and only person I know was my nan who had it 3 times but this was decades ago and can't remember what she did . Plus treatment is better now.

This may sound a daft question but would a shower spread the rash and blisters as I can only shower using my shower chair and only once a week. Or should I just flannel wash as I do daily? But keep the area dry?

I find people who have had it are the best source of information.

My DH had shingles nearly 5 years ago. It manifested itself with a pain in his right shoulder. Both we and or GP thought it was muscle/joint paid following a bout of strimming. Two days later the rash appeared. We went to the local emergency department and they said it was shingles and he got the medicine immediately. Sadly he is still feeling pain and has had various treatments and has also tried mind over matter.

Shingles affects the nerve endings. Even though those nerves are dead apparently the brain still believes that they are hurting.

In September 2013, the UK government introduced a shingles vaccination programme for people aged 70 to 79 years. Latest cumulative vaccine coverage in England in 2018/19 is 32% for the routine 70-year-old cohort, down from 48% in 2016/17, continuing the decline in coverage since the vaccination programme began. NIHR

1/3 experience side effects, not 1/3 getting the vaccination.

So if only 30% of those offered the jab are taking up the offer, why can't their declined jabs be given to those who are 66 - 70 and would like it, please?

Summed up perfectly, Tilly!
My pants are enormous! 🤣

My friend, who has had a transplant was swithering, because she was fed up with constant treatments.
Thank goodness she had it yesterday.

It is possible people only take notice of the dangers Shingles poses when they have had it.
It is not to be pooh/pooh- ed as Marydoll says and even knowing what I know now about the side effects of the vaccine I would still have it,
It’s a case of pulling your big girl pants on I think …….

I had no side effects with the .shingrix vaccinations. I had them after I had shingles and after I had finished chemo. I had to time the vaccines so they didnt coincide with the immunotherapy maintenance treatment I was having which made me immunosuppressed. So it was essential I had the vaccinations and I would have had them even if they gave me side effects.
I too know an elderly woman who lost her sight in one eye. The long lasting effects of shingles are worse than the side effects of the vaccine

The side effects may be awful, but the consequences are even worse.
The second dose side effects were actually less awful. Like everything, It shall pass!
Not everyone will get them, only 1/3. I happen to be very sensitive to medication and being immunocompromised doesn't help.
I would have it again if I had to.

People need to educate themselves on what Shingles actually is and the consequences of catching it.. My friend nearly lost the sight in his eye and only because I insisted he go to hospital, did he get anti virals in time.
Here endeth the lesson.😉

I had the first vax two weeks and also experienced awful side effects. I’m really not sure if I’ll have the second one given my experience.

Dogsmother Aah I see. I might ask for a test first. Some of these replies are putting me off having the vaccine. I do get the cold sore virus in my cornea I’ve always thought I had that instead of the chickenpox.

So sorry you're having a bad time Marydoll with the 2nd vax. As you say, it would be far worse to catch Shingles, but still......

for you and I hope you soon feel much better.

Katy
Apologies for not coming back sooner. I know because of being immune to chickenpox and being tested by occupational health at my work place years back. Hopefully I’m not mistaken but it’s all the herpes virus. It meant I was good to go when caring for vulnerables and didn’t need any of the vaccines then.

Tell MrD it is preferable to how rotten you would feel with Shingles which can have serious and long lasting issues. 😣

Thanks Tilly. I am so grumpy about it all, poor Mr MD is on the receiving end of my sharp tongue.

I do, however, feel some improvement. Anything would be an improvement on yesterday!

Aww Marydoll you have my sympathy. I hope you feel much better very soon 💐 x

I had my second Shingles vax on Sunday. I couldn't lift my head from the pillow yesterday, the side effects were horrendous.
It was not unexpected, as it has happened with every vaccination I have had. 😡
A necessary evil, for the consequences of catching Shingles are even worse.

I found a warm salty bath helpful for the blisters on my buttock and then a careful dry with a warm hairdryer. Some of the stabbing pain however is internal with shingles or can be. The anti virals helped a lot.

But then I find a warm salty bath good for all sorts of things