Herpes zoster

[clouds z]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles

External links

* NIH Facts About Shingles
* NINDS shingles
* eMedicine:Consumer 17511-1
* Center for Disease Control National Immunization Program Information on Shingles
* Facts About Shingles: Learn more about Shingles
* National Health Service 335
* United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) information page (This article originally appeared in the May-June 2001 FDA Consumer and contains revisions made in June 2005)
* Information about management of Shingles for physicians
* Shingles page on GANFYD.org medical wiki
* Links to pictures of Shingles (Hardin MD/Univ of Iowa)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_zoster"

Categories: Infectious skin disease

[CathyE]

Thanks Cloud Z.

My sister has had shingles for 12 weeks now - half her head & no rash.
She is 58.
Apparently it's quite painful :(
(I already knew that as our aunt had them before.)
The Tylenol 3's aren't working as well now.
She sees a Neurologist in 2 weeks.

I was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus in Jan/01 at the age of 50, was shunted 8 months later & have not done as well as I had hoped - tend to over drain just enough to flare me (headaches, palpitations, exhaustion...)

I wonder if there is a family predisposition to Neurological problems?

I sure hope she doesn't get the neuropothy (?) the article mentions.

Cathy

[clouds z]

hello

two months later i still have swelling around eye and on head-at least i have vision

[clouds z]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrocephalus

on what you have i was reading that

[clouds z]

* Hydrocephalus ex vacuo also refers to an enlargement of cerebral ventricles and subarachnoid spaces, and is usually due to brain atrophy (as it occurs in dementias), post-traumatic brain injuries and even in some psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. As opposed to hydrocephalus, this is a compensatory enlargement of the CSF-spaces in response to brain parenchyma loss - it is not the result of increased CSF pressure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrocephalus

[CathyE]

Hi Clouds Z!

This really is a SLOW forum! We're there more posters before the "big crash" ?

Well, my sister has the 2nd part - postherpetic neuralgia. Her Neurologist said it can be a lot worse than what she has, so that's a relief. It's certainly bad enough as is :(

Do you still have the pain? I'm not familiar with the swelling - not that I have researched it extensively. I can't use the computer that long at a time.

My sister is not one to talk about her problems so for all I know, she could have the swelling too. We live 2 1/2 hours apart, so only see each other once or twice a year. She lives in a snow belt & I just can't travel in snow & ice. It's my phobia as I had a bad experience with black ice. I was sure I was going to die, heading out of control straight for a busy intersetion. But at the last minute the pavement had a salted section that stopped me.

So we're close & we're not. lots of love for each other, but very little communication.

I'm wondering if sublingual B12 (see Peripheral Neuropathy forum) might help my sister. But I wonder if it could make the pain worse too, even if just initially. I think that would be too much for her as she tries to teach school every day.

Anyway, good luck with yours. Nice "meeting" you.
Cathy

[clouds z]

http://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/shingles/

hi cathy
its january2 and i still have swelling and pain
have persciption for pain meds but never filled it yet

as for snow and ice i think people who travel in winter are crazy unless its austarlia and there it would be summer anyway

they want me to visit then have me come in may or july

[CathyE]

Sorry to hear there'e no improvement for you.

Same for my sister. She has to wear a hat outside & even inside sometimes as the cold makes her pain worse.

There is a drug that can be used, but she can't take it because she has bi-polar and it is being well controlled, so she doesn't want to switch or add meds.

Do you work? As I said before my sister is a teacher. I do believe though that she has to take an occassional day off since constant pain is so exhausting.

I did some reading on it & found out some people have it the rest of their lives.
I sure hope neither you or my sister are one of them.

I don't know what to think about genetics maybe playing a factor. I was diagnosed with Hyro at age 50, my 91 year old aunt probably has Normal Pressure Hydro and she had shingles once for quite a long time.
Maybe we're more susceptible to neuro problems.

Hope you & my sister get better soon!
Cathy

[clouds z]

thanks

there has been improvement it just is still there to some degree

i think if i get upset i get worse

is that the case with your sister?
i dont work

[CathyE]

I don't know if anxiety makes her worse or not. As I said she doesn't like to talk about her health problems, so I really don't want to ask her, she might get annoyed.
Sorry, Cathy

[macymilton]

check out about the new vygone zapper in youtube. It worked for me. It stops the pain after several treatments. Has anybody else tried it?

[clouds z]

what is it?

[sick07]

Hi, Not sure if anyone looks at this site anymore, but want to see how everyone is doing. I have had shingles/PHN for just about 2 years now. I have it on the left side of my head, face, eye and really bad in my ear. Due to the PHN nerve damage I have lost 43% of my balance. I now use a walker. I have been to PT for over 6 months. I have 13 RX that I take everyday. The pain is bad. The pain meds help some but not that much. I can't go outside much due to the wind, heat and cold. This has been nightmare. If you want to talk I will keep checking back to see if there's any post. I just found this site looking for other with shingles/PHN.

I hope that everyone is doing better.

Kay:

[joy]

Kay I'd like to welcome you to post in the Emotional Support Forum. There are many people that post there every day and I think you'd fit right in with the rest of us. Most of us are homebodies as well, meaning we have to stick around home more than we'd like so always love chatting with each other.

I have meniere's disease and also the 5th lightning pain and now peripheral neuropathy that is progressing all the time. Since the late 90's so it's taken quite a bit out of me alreadfy. But on this forum there are many places to jump in and talk about anything and everything.

I hope to see you there. Maybe start a new thread, introducing yourself? or jump in on any of the ones already started.

I think this is the link for the emotional forum
http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10
clouds, we could use an update on how you're doing as well ;)

[sick07]

Joy I have meniere's disease also. Thank you for for adding the post. I will jump over there and read for a while. It is so good to find someone that is going through some of the same things I am. Again thank you.

Kay

[clouds z]

vitimin b12 seems to help

[cbsw11]

Hi Sick07
I seem to have the same area of my face affected as you minus the ear. I am in my third week, scabbing is clearing up but I am getting pain and numbness on the left side of my face which has not diminished. Any suggestions?