Shingles

Outfield, what a double whammy.

First, the leukopenia--three years in the rad onc office, it was just SO common, but the numbers on your CBC were a critical low, and someone should have called. I'm so glad they're back at your baseline. Wonder if the incipient shingles pushed that white count down?

Second, the shingles--so they're in the dermatome of your LE? I'm assuming you are on anti-virals already. Just looked at uptodate, and steroids are no longer recommended. Also, working in the rad oncs--tons of shingles--so many patients (and weirdly, staff) were borderline immuosuppressed.

It's not like cellulitis, in that compression isn't contraindicated, but do what you need to do to be comfortable.

Man, if it's not one thing, it's another. Please let us know how you're doing.

Hoping for a mild case.

I'm at the age for the vaccine, and I'll bring it up with my PCP--they lowered the age to 50 and above.

Kira

Kira--If insurance won't pay for the shingles I would pay out of pocket if I were you.  I don't know if you have had them or not but I was ready to do anything not to ever have them again.  It came up the back of my head and into my eye.  I had to see an eyedoctor daily for two weeks.  I still have pain from them 20 yrs later.  Becky

Funny to see this Shingles topic.  I just received a confirmation of Shingles today!!  Never knew all this chemo etc made me more vulnerable to shingles.  Mine started as pain in center of my spine and red/rash under arm and halfway onto breast.  I actually thought my expander was infected.  But I am glad that wasn't the case.  I was given the antiviral Rx, but sort of feel like its been too long since onset, which was more than a week ago. 

Anyway hope you feel better, the pain seems to come and go for me.

Sara ♥

Outfield it's not bad at the beginning. When it starts to dry up is when it starts to hurt like hell. I remember when my PC confirmed my diagnosis of shingles he asked "Do you have any narcotics at home." I  laughed at him and told him I had every pill from my BMX. I never even used a Tylenol or the pain pump in the hospital. Holy crap I did try to take a Norco with this shingles shit. It made me nauseous so I ended up on Aleve 24/7. It tooks some of the edge off but still painful as all hell.

I really hope yours doesn't spread like mine. I did the antivirals right away but they didn't do crap for me. They work on some people but not as well on others according to my PC.

Outfield--My heart goes out to you.  

Does anyone know if the vaccine does anything to prevent having a second bout of shingles?  I will be 60 soon and would defintely be willing to have the vaccine if I thought it would keep me from ever having shingles again.

Sue 

From what I read the vaccine will prevent or lessen symptoms for anyone who gets it. For those of us who have had shingles before: "They also noted that the single biggest risk factor for having a second case of shingles was having pain that lasted 30 days or longer during the first case." source linky

I was 5 weeks  

When I started asking about having the shingles vaccine several years ago my PCP said it was only for those over 60 who have never had shingles.  I called the CDC about it.  They said all of the trials (at that time) were only on those who had never had shingles but that they recommended it for everyone over 60.  Since then I have read that it may prevent a second outbreak but if it does not it will lessen the severity of the second outbreak.  Based on that I got the vaccine last October.  I still have neuralgia from my first outbreak on head/face and want to try to prevent second one.  It is a live virus vaccine. 

I hope those of you with active shingles right now have quick healing!

I heard that too but ask your MD and your pharmacist. I didn't have any SE from it. I started taking it within 7 hours of discovering it. My MD also put me on an extra course of it but it still didn't work that great for me. He told me it wasn't a miracle drug. Works for some not as well for others.

hmmm, I was on a ship off the coast of maine when I realized I had shingles, figured it out as a pal in my office had it the year before. This was about 6 months after finishing up my rads

there were no docs or pharm or meds that I could get to until the cruise ended.  I did ask a nurse on board at the time if any harm in delaying treatment. They said not really, I had cortisone 10 cream for itch and some drugs for pain leftover from lumpies.

when the ship docked, I rain for the docs office and got the script, I think it may have reduced the time I had them but not sure

yeap, vaccine is worth $200 out of pocket. I did get the vaccine when cleared by doc.

 This is a very interesting thread. First, Outfield, really sorry you and anyone else has had this monstrous thing. I would have to say this is one of the worst things I have ever had the misfortune to experience. They reckon outside of kidney stones this is the most painful thing there is. I dont know about you others but they sure are a miserable business.

My type of shingles were the Herpes Zoster type. I know of Herpes simplex, (coldsores) but are there others?  My understanding about HZ is that rarely do you get it when youre young, (pre 30ish )  it is always or usually one sided. ( Im a bit rusty on the details) I had mine in my late teens.....also Im sure they said something about you only get them once.

I remember the Doctor sending me to hospital because of abdominal pain like you wouldnt believe, but nothing to show for it, and this got worse and worse all night and I had some pain killers which barely touched it. I remember moaning in utter agony and a nurse thought I was putting it all on. Unbelievable but it was another patient who saw the rash in the morning and correctly diagnosed what it was. I wont tell you what I said to that nurse. As soon as the blisters broke out, the pain started to abate. Cant remember how long it took, but probably inside a week. Well that was the easy part, because let me tell you, that was NOTHING compared to the itch that followed. It took something like 6 weeks to even start to abate. I will never ever in all my days forget the itch. It took years and years to completely go away. 

I would hope that no one would ever have to go through that hell with the modern drugs they have today. Has anybody had this same itch and successfully fixed it with meds? 

Lago, interesting. Just looked back and see you mayve had them same place as me. I shudder to think how painful theyd be on your head and round the eye. I was sure stressed at the time I got mine and was also told that stress is the main cause.   I guess everyones different. For me, I wouldnt have had to go to Hosp if the blisters broke out 1st. Were yours called Herpes Zoster?

Lago thanks for your comments. I dont remember if Ive had CPox, but going by what youve said I must have. I'll have to do some digging. Yes youre most likely right about the immune system too but I think stress if its severe enough wouldnt do your immune system any favours, especiallly if its already compromised. I know "stress" can be used as a last ditch explanation when all else fails. Still, I reckon it could be the final straw amidst other things.

My C was on the right side, but shingles on the Left. I find comparing notes like this quite interesting. Thanks.

Blessings--I had post-herpetic neuralgia that became increasingly worse a few years back.  The pain was in the back and top of my head where the shingles started.  A neurologist put me on an anti seizure medication and the pain went away.  I was on the medication for three years.  We stopped to see how I would do without it.  I have had very little pain since.  It was a low dose of the medication.  Your aunt may want to look into it.

Coraleliz you can only call but as long as it doesn't have to go in a vein there is a chance someone can do it (in your butt or someplace else). If they have to access a vein from your foot that might be difficult. The issue is first of all someone needs to be trained to do it. 2nd is there is a higher risk of infections so some places just won't do it.

Currently I still have my port for blood draws but after that I don't know what to do. I asked my LE MD about that and he just shrugged. He agrees that I shouldn't get it in my arms (one has LE the other is probably a stage 0) but  has no suggestions as to what to do.

If you have to get it in your at risk arm you should be OK though just don't let them use a tourniquet. You know they will clean/sterilize properly.  It's not like getting a bug bite. Granted no guarantee

Yeah that's the rubber band they use on your arm before they poke you to get the vein to pump up.