SHINGLES IS A PAIN

I called the doctor yesterday.  The pills he'd prescribed were not helping relieve the pain.  I could take them every four hours instead of every six.  If that didn't help, I could call again and he'd prescribe something else.  Didn't help.  Will have to call first thing this morning when the office opens.

In the meantime, what do I do?  Well, last night at the peak of my pain, I applied ice and cold facecloths to the area.  Within ten minutes the facecloth was warm.  I mean warm like you'd-wash-your-face-with-running warm-water warm.  BUT...cold compresses do help for a bit.  I slept with wet washcloths on my waist and hip.

I found that the Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone anti-itch cream is just as effective for $4.95 at Wal-Mart as the special Shingles gel concocted at the pharmacy for $33.00.  They both soothe for about 15 to 20 minutes.  The greatest source of relief is with the cold washcloths.  DO NOT RUB.

The blotches, themselves, feel like I've stepped into a bed of cactus.  The poking, burning sensation does not go away--even with 20 mgs. of Hydrocodone tablets.  So what do I do?  Not much else one can do.  I take my 800 milligram anti-viral Acyclovir 5 times a day to persuade the Shingles not to spread any further and to reduce the probability of residual neuralgia after the rash is gone.  Other than that?  Suffer.  Endure.  Tolerate.  Speculate.  And most importantly?  WARN.  Since Shingles erupted into a full-blown volcanic molten pain that permeates every fiber of my nerve cells on my left side, I've learned some stuff.

I shared in another blog about my Song of Suffering, that there is a Vaccination advised for people over age 60 which strongly reduces the probability of contracting Shingles.  The one-shot to the arm vaccine is called ZOSTAVAX.  If for no other reason in this world, I am grateful to get Shingles in order to suggest that YOU get the vaccination.  It is hailed to ward off Shingles and, in the event you still contract them, the case is milder.   ANYTHING that could have helped me I would probably have ignored.  I would have pooh-poohed the preventative as something I should get--but I wouldn't have.  I'm one of those folks who think, "I'll never get that.  It happens to everyone else."   I'm here to tell you today, don't be like me.   Call your doctor and get the vaccine.  Don't have a doctor?  Call your local clinic.

I am not 60 years old.  Fifty-nine pops around in about 3 more months.  Would they give the vaccine to me?  I don't know, but having gotten this tormenting case of Shingles, I certainly wish I'd known about a vaccine.  I certainly would ask to get the shot--just in case they'd give it to me.  It's worth risking a "NO" to the possibility of avoiding this annoying, tortuous inconvenience in my health.

My stepmother use to say, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."  Wow what an epithet!  Consider yourself warned and advised.  [copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007] BY THE WAY:  Shingles is no respector of gender.  Women, make your husbands get this shot--you won't want to care for them if they get Shingles.  Men, be kind to your wives--insist they get the vaccination.  Your life will be better for it.  It's a gift that keeps on giving.

Comments

[mitch]

Hello SelaV

Here is an alternative shingles treatment that can help with treating shingles if you would like to pass it along to people that don't like vaccinations.
http://www.shingles-symptoms.info
That's one of my favorite quotes also,"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

God bless and I hope you feel better

[SelahV]

MITCH: thanks for the link. I found cold compresses helped about as good as anything for relieving the excruciating pain. I pray I never get them again. I'm doing great now. Occasional tenderness. selahV