What a way to spend V-Day weekend! My wife developed a blister on the side of the bridge of her nose, about an inch away from her right eye. Her lymph nodes were swollen and she had bad headaches so she went to see the doctor and got the diagnosis. She started taking Valtrex (Shingles is a cousin of Herpes) on Friday and we're going to see another doctor tomorrow. The right side of her face is swollen and all the sites I Googled have pretty terrifying possibilities about complications with the eyes caused from Shingles. My wife has enough damn bad breaks (Diabetes, high blood pressure) and this is about all I can take. One of the causes of Shingles is stress and I feel like a lot of what ails hers is because I just do not do enough. I would take all of her ailments from her in a heartbeat if it were possible.

Anyway, need some reassuring words or any info from anyone who may have had experience with Shingles.

I had it.

It sucks out loud, but it doesn't last forever.

Don't beat yourself up. Stress is not the only reason it breaks out.

I am so sorry.

Also, I had sores near my eyes and was worried too, but nothing bad happened. I took the medication and it eventually went away.

PunkMistress said:

Did you go to an eye doctor or a general practitioner?

I had it a few years ago too. I wasn't aware it was so common until I told people afterwards, and they would all say, "Oh yeah I had it/family member/friend".

My forehead got a little....scabby - that was the first sign for me, then my glands blew the fuck up and I looked like John Merrick for 5 days. It went away, and I've suffered no effects since.

It's a real pisser, but don't beat yourself up over it.

Vendetta1 said:

Thank you

thebumpsquad said:

My wife has been terrified that the puffiness won't go away so thanks for the reassuring words that it may possibly go away soon. She asked me today if I thought she was going to look like the Elephant Man or Eric Stoltz from Mask from now on (not to make light of the very heroic Rocky Dennis). Shingles is a pretty dang scary thing so far.

For your wife


They suck

I had one outbreak several yrs ago on my neck

THEY SUCK

^
Yeah. In all honestly I didn't leave the house for 4 days when my glands got swollen - that was the worst point.

If she takes what was prescribed to her, and the Doctor was happy to let her home, then she should be cool. A few days of looking like the Elephant Man and she'll hopefully be back to normal.

Don't read about side-effects of any illness of the internet. I once convinced myself I had skin cancer until I realised the new "mole" I read about online was actually just a heat spot.

Oh ~ I used essential oils ( under medical Dr's supervision ) and opted to not take the prescription drugs ... my outbreak symptoms and healing took around the same amount of time as those that took the drugs and used the prescriptoon cream ( said my Dr )

Mach said:

Agreed that they suck.

thebumpsquad said:

Thanks. The internet scares the f**k out of me sometimes. I have actually thought I was dying several times.

Mach said:

I read something about the healing power of apple cider...I wonder if that works.

GottaLetitgo said:

it is great that or vinegar for fungus like athlete's foot, flusing out liver ( in very small doses) killing bacteria cause of the acidity

my dad had it really bad some years back he has some bad scarring on his cheek still

missmad said:

What I can't figure out is does she drink it or does she rub it on her face or what?

ZombieKitten said:

It's so brutal. Permanent nerve damage, scarring, eye problems...I knew nothing about Shingles a week ago. No I know more than I want to.

GottaLetitgo said:

for the both of you, this totally sucks

GottaLetitgo said:

for which flushing out liver drinks it, has be diluted with water 2,very little amount, a tablespoon max, athlete's foot just puts it on the spot or puts boiling water and vinegar together and puts her feet in, as hot as she can take it for as long as she can.

GottaLetitgo said:

I strongly recommend talking to her DR about anything like that

Mach said:

yea, go to the doc first.

An anecdote, We took our girls out yesterday for our annual V-Day tradition (we did it a day early) of going to Build a Bear for the kids and my wife going to Victoria Secret and a few other places to get some stuff. We were at Belk and my wife bought her face powder she buys. The salesperson was the spitting image of Adam Lambert said that he had some makeup that could cover up the Shingles blisters. So he sat her down in the makeup chair and proceeded to give her a 15 minute free makeover. He was an absolute trip and it was what my wife needed, a little human kindness. I think they bonded a little an my wife is definitely going to be on the lookout for our new friend Eric when we go back. Soemtimes it's the little things...
[Edited 2/14/10 18:24pm]

GottaLetitgo said:

That's awesome.

Vendetta1 said:

Anyone who's had chicken pox can get shingles, so it's silly to beat yourself up over it. Basically, the virus goes dormant in a nerve. Nobody really knows what causes a flare.

My sweetie had an outbreak on his cheek and the side of his head a few years ago. It cleared up, and he has no scars from it.

Don't screw around with alternative treatments. If she can tolerate Valtrex, she should take it - especially with an outbreak close to her eye. You don't want to take a chance that it will spread.

Had shingles on my back and the trail went right around to the front on the ribs. Shingles normally follows a nerve as well I was told. I just took painkillers but it hurt like hell!

My sympathy to your wife about this and I hope she gets better very quickly.

Sorry to hear that

My Aunt has had shingles 4 times now. The Dr said that she is an extreme case and for her stress, anxiety and exhaustion played a part in it returning.
She has had it in her eye once, forehead, neck & back. My mom has had it once.
They both took the meds that the dr's gave them and it went away fairly quickly.
Another thing the dr mentioned to my Aunt is the fact that she handles money all day for a living and that could be contributing to her coming down with such disorders regularly.
She has not broken out in a few years. She says it is due to her visiting Neuromuscular therapist on a regular basis.
My mom's family is prone to nerve disorders.
Some times it is just in the genes.
I have never had the Chicken Pox so I have not had shingles.

From what my mom & aunt told me, it is very painful.
So just shower your wife with love and support.
Help her out wherever you can.
I am sure she will be feeling better soon.

I had shingles a few years ago. It never left any scars.

But...

Ever since I recovered, I get patches of eczema on my face, near my eyes, now and again. The nerves in my left eyelid involuntary flutter quite a lot too. Neither of these things used to happen, prior to the shingles. I also suffer from headaches on a near-daily basis.

You never really cure yourself of the virus. It could flare up again at any time.