Shingles

Anyone here ever had shingles and how bad was it? I was talking to my mum this weekend who was a nurse when she was working and she reckons it sounds like I have it, just need to go to the GP on Monday to find out.

Is it as bad as people make out?

[timwilky]

Not too bad. when I had them, they were limited to my leg.

I understand it is a recurrence of the virus that causes chicken pox. Nasty little rash that itched but went after about a week. just slap some calamine lotion on it

Thats alright then. How long did it last?

At the mo' I've got a small rash but a band of painful skin around my middle. Hope it doesn't get worse or last long thats all.

ouch. My sister-in-law's mum had it quite badly about 2 years ago.

From what I understand the virus itself (same breed as chickenpox) will work its way through fairly straightforwardly, although very uncomfortably and slowly. The real pain is secondary infections and immune system problems. She had serious issues with post-viral fatigue for several months and her energy levels haven't been right ever since. Apparently this is quite common. I guess all you can do is take immune-system-boosting stuff such as echinacea, zinc and vit C.

Do tell the receptioninst what you suspect when you turn up at the docs - it may be contagious so they might want to quarantine you whilst you wait.

But let's hope it's something else a bit tamer.

Hmmmm, cheers!! Apparently its odd for someone my age to get it (24!)

Also keep away from pregnant women, bloke t work had it and we had to send one woman on maternity leave a couple of weeks early.

H

Not nice mate - they can get really bad

Hopefully you won't be too badly afflicted

Bad painful or bad unwell?

Oh what fun!

Originally Posted by furrybean

Bad painful or bad unwell?

Both

\/ Brilliant!

Can't really take time off work either as I've moved over to a new department and they're having a massive shutdown which I'm needed on.