Have you ever had Shingles?
By Breelyn
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
United States
November 30, 2009 2:34am CST
So this morning I woke up with this blistery thing on my leg, I thought that I had gotten bitten by a spider in my sleep and was just having a bad reaction to it. The throbbing pain wouldn't go away though, and the blistery thing got bigger, so i went to a local clinic and got examined by a doctor and found out that I have Shingles. I am 22, I have only know like older women that have gotten shingles, so I was very shocked. I am glad to know what it is though.....so have you ever had shingles? If not, have you ever known someone that had them? Please share your shingles stories here 
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
1 Dec 09
Fortunately, I haven't but my husband had shingles when I was pregnant with our first child. I remember he had to have ome lotion painted on over the rash and the smell was awful. It was such a strong smell that I could taste it for days after he stopped using it. He was 25 at the time I do hope yours clears up soon as I know its very painful.
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
• United States
1 Dec 09
That is bad that he had it when you were pregnant because the doctor, and any website I have seen about shingles, talk about how it is dangerous for a pregnant woman to be expoosed to shingles, the reason is that its bad for the baby/fetus because it has, obviously, never had chickenpox, and thus since a person with shingles can trigger another to get chicken pox if they havent, it can trigger the baby.......so being around someone with shingles, can cause a pregnant woman major complications when giving birth because the fetus can be sick already before it is even born. Well thank goodness your baby turned out okay though.
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
1 Dec 09
Fortunately I was in the last few months of pregnancy and the doctors at the time didnt see it as a risk since I had already had chicken pox as a child. We had someone develop shingles at work recently and a colleague who was about 5 months pregnant had been in close contact with her so, hopefully her baby will be ok.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
30 Nov 09
Hello spicysweetie. Yes I have had and still have some side affects of shingles. It started with a terrible headache that just kept getting worse and would not go away. I went to the urgent care and the Dr. there told me it was psoriasis as I also had blisters in my scalp and on my ear. I had a Dr appointment that next Tues and he told me I had shingles. He told me that they only affect one side of the body. That was about 4 months ago. Even having my hair brush them was so painful I had to have my hair cut really short. sometimes even a breeze would cause pain. I still have some symptoms from them. It makes my ear and scalp on the back of my head itch terrible sometimes though not as often as at first. He tells me I'm lucky because he has one patient that has them all over his side. I gather. I do pitty any one that gets. As you I understood that they were usually found in older people. I now know that there is a vaccination for them for people over 60 even if they have had the shingles. They are also contagious for people that haven't had chicken pox.
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
• United States
1 Dec 09
Oh god that it is very horrible and I am very glad that I have them just on my leg, well so far I only have one blister, I caught it very early and started taking antivirals within 36 hours of the first blister even starting to form, so I think that will help me alot. I am so sorry that you had it so bad and that it is still causing you pain.
@OrangJuice (687)
• China
30 Nov 09
Yes, spicysweetie, I had it in my junior middle school - younger than you
We thought the same as you in the first place, and my mom spreaded iodine for me. Then the old blisheries faded, while some new appeared, it expanded along my waist. Fortunately, a few days later, one of my parents friends, a doctor, visited us, and she looked my waist, then asked us to see doctors soon.
And I was cured soon. Doctor told us if it circled my whole waist, then I would be in danger. But doctor also said I get lifetime immunity for this disease. - That may be a good news!
We thought the same as you in the first place, and my mom spreaded iodine for me. Then the old blisheries faded, while some new appeared, it expanded along my waist. Fortunately, a few days later, one of my parents friends, a doctor, visited us, and she looked my waist, then asked us to see doctors soon.
And I was cured soon. Doctor told us if it circled my whole waist, then I would be in danger. But doctor also said I get lifetime immunity for this disease. - That may be a good news!@spicysweetie21 (2573)
• United States
1 Dec 09
Oooh ouch, I think that I am lucky that so far I only have one blister thing on my left thigh, I think I am lucky that I have it on a fleshy part, that would suck having it on your waist, thank you for the response :)
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
1 Dec 09
Sorry you did not feel well this morning.No I have never had shingles in my life. I have had a few friends that got shingles and they were miserable for awhile. I am glad that I never had shingles.
@kaylachan (71827)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Nov 09
I m proud to say that I have been very lucky in that reguard. I probably should given my health history, but for someone like me who has problems right and left my imune system is suprisingly high. My mom said when i contracted chicken pox, I didn't even know I was even sick.
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
• United States
1 Dec 09
Oh my you are very lucky to have a strong immune system. I remember when I got the chickenpox, i was 6, and boy yes I knew that I was sick Thanks for the response and I hope that your luck continues
Thanks for the response and I hope that your luck continues @Jeniferandersons (18)
• Serbia
16 Oct 10
Here is some good information about this
http://www.shinglessymptomsguide.org/
