Shingles hurts, REALLY bad!

[Kosai Avonej]

To anyone who doesn't know what Shingles is, it's basically a localized outbreak of Chicken Pox. You have to have gotten Chicken Pox to get it, have a weakened immune system or be very emotionally stressed. Right now I have it as a rash on the upper right side of my back a bit below my arm bit, the pain isn't as bad as it was before I found out I but have codeine perscribed to me to use as nessecery. It is gross to look and I'm having a hard time just going to sleep trying to resist the urge to roll over in bed because it will hurt so much.  

[Aaditya]

Dude that really blows. Go to the doc and get some acyclovir or valacyclovir (Valtres-yes, shingles is due to a herpesvirus, but not HSV)  

[Kosai Avonej]

Aaditya

Dude that really blows. Go to the doc and get some acyclovir or valacyclovir (Valtres-yes, shingles is due to a herpesvirus, but not HSV)

Thanks Aaditya. I already went to the doctor and he's given me some pretty powerful meds. By the way even though my perscription says take two tablets daily twice a day is it alright to take 1 pill every 6 hours?  

[Lychee Fruit]

I had to read up, because I had always thought you wouldn't get it ever again if you had it as a child. Now I find out it's just... dormant?! D; Ewww, ew, my blood, my skin, my pores! gonk


Damn you, youth of ritual exposure to and subsequent association of shame with any and all forms of herpes.... gonk stressed  

[Kosai Avonej]

Lychee Fruit

I had to read up, because I had always thought you wouldn't get it ever again if you had it as a child. Now I find out it's just... dormant?! D; Ewww, ew, my blood, my skin, my pores! gonk


Damn you, youth of ritual exposure to and subsequent association of shame with any and all forms of herpes.... gonk stressed

No no, it's just localized like in one massive cluster on you. A very painful one albiet.  

[Aaditya]

Like HSV, once the viral infection is repressed, the virus genome lays dormant in the nerves. For shingles, immunity lasts a while but when the immunity decreases (due to stress or time) you get a rash in a dermatomal distribution:

If it happens on the face, blindness is a risk, but it usually occurs along the ribs on one side.

Kosai, the frequency at which you can take your meds depends on the drug. Stick to your doc's instructions regarding the codeine. If you take it more often you increase the risk of respiratory depression, constipation, nausea, and opioid addiction.  

[Kosai Avonej]

I have mine along blue T5.

Okay, my dose for valacyclovir is 2 pills three times a day, my Codeine is every 6 hours as nessecery but the Codeine I was told is only if the pain becomes unbearable. My question was about the valacyclovir but I called the pharmacist today to learn what my proper dosage was. Thanks Aaditya. 3nodding  

[SoLongAndFairWell]

my Grandma got Shingles one time, a couple months later she had died. We think it all started with the Shingles  

[PainfullyVivid]

Ouch. My friend got swine flu, and then a week or two later, she got shingles. I felt so bad for her.

I hope yours clears up soon.

I, on the other hand, really need to go get a chicken pox shots since I've never had chicken pox.  

[Kosai Avonej]

It has cleared up, theres some scars but they'll heal up in a little bit. 3nodding