mastectomy dealing with shingles , nerve pain and phantom pain

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SoCalLisa
SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
edited March 2017 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Just wondered if anyone else has experiences shingles over the mastectomy

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited March 2017

    That sounds absolutely horrible, Lisa. So very sorry you're dealing with that.

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  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited March 2017

    No fun that's for sure. I could not get the shingles vaccine because it's a live virus. I got chemo induced liver cirrhosis and the doctor said no. So the shingles are all over the side of my torso of my mastectomy, both front and back. Phantom pain over the surgery site. Take home message. If you can get the shot get it.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited March 2017

    "Take home message. If you can get the shot get it."

    That's for certain, Lisa. I understand there's a new vaccine very close to approval that will be more effective than the current vaccine. I think it may not use live virus. I'm sure there are more people in your situation than we ever realize who deal with vulnerability to shingles.

    PS - I hope you start feeling better soon, Lisa.

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  • Freya244117
    Freya244117 Member Posts: 603
    edited March 2017

    I really hope you start to feel better soon too. My husband had shingles and the nerve pain was horrendous. It just does not seem right that you have to deal with this as well as a mastectomy. Hugs and best wishes.

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  • cupcakez
    cupcakez Member Posts: 28
    edited March 2017

    Oh no! So sorry to hear this. I had shingles 4 yrs ago. I was 41 at the time and no doctor wanted to give me vaccines. They all thought I was too young to get it. I know it's a horrible thing to go through. As if mastectomy isn't enough.... Hope you feel better soon. Sending you hugs :)))

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  • JuicyFruit
    JuicyFruit Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2017

    @SoCalLisa - I had chemo before my mastectomy, to shrink the tumor. One week after the chemo ended I got the chicken pox! Don't know how or where since I was rarely leaving my condo. I'm in my 50's but I guess I never had the chicken pox before. It was pretty miserable on top of everything else and I wanted that month to get healthy before my surgery. I feel for you with the shingles which I understand is really, really, really painful. Afterwards, 1st thing I wanted to do was get the shingles shot, but the pharmacist said not to get it after chicken pox for 6-12 months.

    So I agree, the message to everyone is to get the shingles shot when and if you can.

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