I have Shingles

JoJosAnatomymfp

Hey,

So iv just been diagnosed with shingles. Exercise has had to stop as a result. I'm still committed to eating within my calorie limit. I doubt that will be a problem. Iv lots and lots and lots of meds.

Anyone have it before and continue with mfp? Any advice/recommendations.

Thanks

flatcoatedR

Ouch. Been there done that. Now fun.

perkymommy

JoJosAnatomymfp wrote: »

Hey,

So iv just been diagnosed with shingles. Exercise has had to stop as a result. I'm still committed to eating within my calorie limit. I doubt that will be a problem. Iv lots and lots and lots of meds.

Anyone have it before and continue with mfp? Any advice/recommendations.

Thanks

Never had it but my mom has. If you have a nutrition/supplement store nearby I suggest getting some colloidal silver. Hope you feel better soon!

vegmebuff

Wow. Sorry to hear. My auntie went through this and it was quite painful for her (not to frighten you). It's usually associated with someone over 50, so you must have been shocked!

I have recently gotten the shingles vaccine due to my auntie's experience - although it doesn't guarantee that I won't still get it.

No real advice for you, but I hope you get over it sooner than later and that you don't experience what others do.

take care

cmtigger

I actually eat at maintanance if I'm sick. I don't need to be restricting calories if I'm trying to heal.

And stay far away from colloidal silver. It's a heavy metal. (And has only been scientifically proven to work in some topical situations. It's not going to do anything for a virus.)

JoJosAnatomymfp

Thanks everyone. Last night was sore. Rash came today. I heard it is going to get worse before it gets better. I'm not going to let it unmotivate me. I'm going to stick to my calorie counting for sure. Exercise will happen again once I'm better.

tiptoethruthetulips

I am just getting over shingles. Thankfully a mild case as I started the anti-viral meds within 24hrs of the first (and only) blister cluster appearing on an eyelid.

Hope this bout doesn't linger for you!

raindawg

I had it about 5 years ago but wasn't on MFP at the time. I have a feeling staying on MFP is going to be the least of your concerns once full onset hits. Don't be afraid to use the pain medication. I was going to use mine sparingly but that idea went out the door fairly quickly.

JoJosAnatomymfp

Iv been over using the pain meds. Hopefully I caught it early. I haven't blistered yet. The rash came this morning. I was prescribed steroids and antibiotics the day before for a chest infection (gp today said I don't have a chest infection and the steroids brought on the rash). The pain I was in last night was so sore. It felt like someone was burning me.

I started the anti viral medication today along with lots of others.

Thanks for replies. I hope I can stick at mfp and I won't get too bad.

sgt1372

OP: Hope you get well soon. Hear the effects can be awful.

Got the shot a couple years ago and hopefully I'll never have to deal w/it. Sorry that you do.

happymum37

I've got shingles right now too. I'm not even thinking about counting calories and am just trying to take care of myself and give my body the nutrition it needs

nvmomketo

I had it about a year and a half ago. Mine was very mild. I was eating a fair bit of coconut oil, and using it on the rash. I'm not sure if it helped but it stayed very mild, without any antivirals.

mrspett323

What does this come from?

crooked_left_hook

You'll want to eat at maintenance while your sick. Even if you're not exercising your body will need the extra calories to heal itself. I haven't had shingles but I've know others who have and I know it can be rough. Take care of yourself, make sure to eat enough and get good rest, and reduce stress so your immune system can do it's job. Hopefully you will feel better soon!

cmtigger

JoJosAnatomymfp wrote: »

Iv been over using the pain meds. Hopefully I caught it early. I haven't blistered yet. The rash came this morning. I was prescribed steroids and antibiotics the day before for a chest infection (gp today said I don't have a chest infection and the steroids brought on the rash). The pain I was in last night was so sore. It felt like someone was burning me.

I started the anti viral medication today along with lots of others.

Thanks for replies. I hope I can stick at mfp and I won't get too bad.

I'm going to repeat myself, but don't worry about restricting calories for a while. You need to heal before you stress your body.

Doctorsookiestrikesback

My son had it when he was 8 years old. Small case thankfully but painful none the less. I hope you heal quickly.

zyxst

mrspett323 wrote: »

What does this come from?

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/basics/definition/con-20019574

My mom and the people I know who've had it got it from having chickenpox. The virus reactivates as shingles. Mom had red welts/hives all over her body and fought/cried to not scratch all the time.

OP, hope the itching is manageable. I would just eat a maintenance and eat foods that make me feel better.

LAT1963

Colloidal silver won't do anything but turn your skin irreversibly blue. Don't use it.

There are some topical antibiotics for skin problems such as 3rd degree burns that contain silver because it is toxic to pseudomonas. but it is not absorbed by the body.

crackpotbaby

Please follow the doctors advice and not the opinions of people on the Internet regarding random treatments.

I hope the antiviral kick into action soon and that the virus is limited to only one dermatome.

Shingles can be excruciatingly painful and is frequently triggered by stress (such as the chest infection you describe).

The best thing - other than taking your medications as prescribed - that you can do for yourself right now is let yourself recover. That means good nutrition and plenty of fluids.

Rest up! Feel better soon.

nickiphillips1

I had shingles 14 years ago (was 33). It was horrible.

If it hasn't hit you full force yet, it will and you won't want to exercise or get out of bed. And you need to take it easy or you will get even sicker.

Eat well and take care of yourself. I hope you have some good pain medication. I remember sleeping all the time and I had someone take care of my kids during the day because I slept till 1 PM every day.

You will get through this. It was a wake up call for me to get more sleep and not push myself so much. I don't know you at all, but this could be way of letting you know you might be pushing it too hard if you are trying to lose weight. Sleep and eating healthy are so important to a healthy lifestyle.

paperpudding

mrspett323 wrote: »

What does this come from?

As PP touched on - it is chickenpox virus reactivating many years later.

ie person had chickenpox years earlier and virus stays dormant in their system reactivating as shingles in later life - usually, but not always, in older adults.

vegmebuff

paperpudding wrote: »

mrspett323 wrote: »

What does this come from?

As PP touched on - it is chickenpox virus reactivating many years later.

ie person had chickenpox years earlier and virus stays dormant in their system reactivating as shingles in later life - usually, but not always, in older adults.

yes...I can't believe most of the people responding who has had it, are years younger than what I thought they might have been!

ccsernica

LAT1963 wrote: »

Colloidal silver won't do anything but turn your skin irreversibly blue. Don't use it.

I cannot fathom why someone would put a heavy metal into their body on purpose. Sure, it's not super toxic like lead or arsenic, but still.

cmtigger

ccsernica wrote: »

LAT1963 wrote: »

Colloidal silver won't do anything but turn your skin irreversibly blue. Don't use it.

I cannot fathom why someone would put a heavy metal into their body on purpose. Sure, it's not super toxic like lead or arsenic, but still.

I can't understand either. Which is why I posted above too. Why would you want to risk it? Silver dragees are illegal in cake decorating in California because you aren't supposed to eat silver!

MKEgal

Generally, I lean Libertarian, except for a couple things... vaccines being one of them.
Experiences like those described here are why I think people who don't vaccinate their children (sometimes even deliberately exposing them to chickenpox) should be charged with child abuse / endangerment.

First, suffering through chickenpox & the potential long-term effects.
Then later in life (maybe) suffering the agony of shingles.
Seriously, hearing that shingles feels like being burned would make me want to re-up my vaccine & make sure my kid had it too!

Being allergic to a component of a vaccine is one thing.
Being ignorant (usually willfully) of science & the suffering your child is / will be in is completely different.

JoJosAnatomymfp

Thanks again for all the advice/comments and support. I won't be putting anything on the rash. Iv been told very clearly to keep it dry by my doctors. The meds are great. I had a full night sleep last night. I hadn't slept for two days before that.

I don't think dieting caused the stress. Well I'm not dieting, I'm living healthier. Iv been exercising and eating well. I'm not hungry and getting plenty of fluids. The night before it came on, I heard my mam was brought to hospital. She lives over 200km away. I had planned to leave with my son in the morning. I didn't sleep for more than an hour that night as I was worrying and then when I did get off, I was awoken with the worst pain I ever felt. Mam is doing good now. I haven't been able to visit due to this pain but I'm speaking to her daily. It's the only stressful thing that could have brought it on.

I'm drinking tonnes of water, lots of protein and iron.

Thank you all again for taking time to share your experiences and give support and advice.

mrspett323

Omg never had chicken pox so hopefully I never get this. None of my kids as well thankfully. Get better soon!

paperpudding

how old are you mrspett?

Your children have probably been vaccinated against chickenpox (I dont know this for sure, of course ,as I dont know how old they are and what country you live in)

Odds on you probably have had CP yourself - most adults have pre vaccination being readily available (ie before herd immunity was at high enough levels to mean less cases occurring)
Some people do have an extremely mild or even asymptomatic case and not realise they have had it - unfortunately they are just as at risk of shingles later as people who have had symptomatic CP.