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heat was my salvation

Posted , 6 users are following.

bev88217
bev88217

hi

I  am 69 female, live in the uk and began with the usual flu like symptoms followed by incredible pain in my left shoulder and a feeling as though I had been badly scalded.   The pain was unbelievable, all over the weekend.  The only comfort was from my heat pad which, as it would with ear or tooth ache, just took the 'edge' of things.  I was given anti viral medication following a telephone consultation.  At this stage I had inkling it may be shingles from reading the threads ( who needs Gps  - cant get to see them for two weeks anyhow)She said yes probably the case as i had been under a great deal of stress and feeling run down for some months  A few blisters began to appear on side of back below the painful area on the shoulder blade. .  I am very nervous about presciption painkillers as most cause constipation which I did not want on top of all the rest. The pain spread as the blisters spread and  ended up with what felt like terrible mastitis in my left breast - oh the pain and again heat was

my comfort.. I  did take over counter anti inflammatories combined with paracetmol but that was all.  I wrapped myself in heat and stayed in bed - lucky that I can do this  obviously.  people who need to work or look after family would need stronger medication in order to cope.  

I had both my knees replaced -together - four years ago and in comparison to shingles pain it was a walk in the park.  I  really did not realise how awful an illness it is.  I am into my fourth week and still with pain although slightly less so but am incredibly tired. It's my favourite time of the year and I can hear the nesting birds singing away and yet cant muster up the energy to watch them.  But all take heart I couldnt have sat at my computer (heat pad still on my back) and type this letter a week ago  So please accept my heartfelt sympathy and understanding for all who are going through this.  please try the heat it cetainly will help. Many thanks to all the previous people who put their experiences down, it helped me understand and indeed diagnose my condition in good time.wink

3 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • yvonne34003
    yvonne34003 bev88217

    Posted

    I feel what you are saying I felt felt worse and I am glad you are feeling better
    • bev88217
      bev88217 yvonne34003

      Posted

      Hi  Yvonne and Barbara  thanks for your good wishes..  I am so pleased I don't have to work.  Well, I just couldn't have done so anyhow.  It's not so much the rash as the strange deep pain around my shoulder blade, where I first felt the burning and now is just the pain, which then travelled to my left breast  (felt like terrible dose of mastitis). I was such a mess I coudn't be bothered to have a shower some days and I certainly needed one as I was permanently wrapped in hot water bottles and my heat pad!   I looked in the mirror at my rash - worried it would pass to the right side of my body also and got scared as blotches appearing on my right breast.  Then I realised after a while it was tomato soup drips  Oh my what a stateconfused  Got to laugh

      If you only have a full blanket, Barbara invest in a heat pad as you can  wrap it around the part that hurts and through the night it is invaluable.

      I having been studying the pain area and am wondering if the shingles virus targetsl vulnerable areas in the body.  May be a coincidence but I have had pain in my left shoulder blade, spine and left breast for a number of years but as  have widespread arthritis I put it down to that.  It's a thought...   The sun is shining so I am going to try and do a few things around the house - nothing too strenuous  We will see  Best wishes

  • barbara30771
    barbara30771 bev88217

    Posted

    Hi Bev. I too am UK based and totally agree with your comments. I agree that heat certainly helps, am sitting here at the moment with my hot water bottle at my back (left hand side) . Also invested in an electric blanket which helps. I normally have a high pain threshold but this is, as you, say something else!  I first has shingles inOctober 2013 and sorry to say, have had several outbreaks since which I think has increased the PHN pain. Regarding the further outbreaks, Each time I started out with the flu like symptoms and sometimes had A few spots and pain which the GP agreed was another outbreak. Also have had the same flu like symptoms and pain  but no spots and they have said this is just PHN so no antivirals! Anyway, hope you get some relief. Take care. 
    • bev88217
      bev88217 barbara30771

      Posted

      Hi Barbsra  Thanks for your response.  I have replied to both yourself and Yvonne who also wrote and so if you look you will see my comments to her which relates to heat etc.  Not quite up to scratch with things on my computer but at least I can type now  - sort of!  Couidnt be bothered a week ago  Best wishes x
  • Merry19451
    Merry19451 bev88217

    Posted

    Hi Bev!

    I am so sorry for your suffering. I understand completely your pain, exhaustion, and the myriad of symptoms. I get recurrent Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the last 20 years. I have learned how to cope and continue to thrive, despite other medical issues. The first time I had Herpes Zoster was the worst as I had a severe headache, then earache. I saw three ENT physicians. The first two treated me like a narcotic seeking individual. The third one believed me and diagnosed me when the vesicles-blisters finally appeared three weeks after the initial onset of pain. I literally wanted to cut out my entire inner ear out.

    I am on this site to support all the people who get this disease. I am a nurse practitioner in the States, as well. Let me know how I can help you.

    Best Wishes.

    Merry Juliana

    • bev88217
      bev88217 Merry19451

      Posted

       theHello Juliana

      Thanks for the message and you most certainly have my unerstanding and sympathy  I have just driven to my local store so that my daughter can buy some essentials.  I had to take a hot water bottle to put on  my shoulder and it really really helps.  I only take ibrufen and paracetemol for the pain and use the heat.  I just do not want to go down the strong meds route.  I still find it hard to believe how much ignorance there still is out there, let alone amongst the medical profession,.about this virus.  There is very little understanding and, after a few weeks, sympathy with people suffering with shingles.  They seem to think we should be up and kicking in that amount of time - what's th problem for heaven's sake get on with it!  Not said out loud but I can imagine!!  Well I am a tough cookie and also been a carer for two husbands and an elderly mother as well as carer for my disabled daughter - brain  damage at birth  and I wish people out there could just for two minutes (I wouldn't wish any longer on them)experience the intensity of the pain connected with shingles.  They would be of a different frame of mind.  However, all that aside, we must soldier on  and help each other.  I read an article regarding aggravation of the nerves associated with this virus and it said dark chocolate was bad and cherries and mangoes, amongst other things, for calming down the inflamed nerves.  Not a very scientific explanation on my part but that was the gist of the article. Worth a try - nice fruit!

      Best wishes

      Bev

  • barbara30771
    barbara30771 bev88217

    Posted

    Me again! hhaven't used the site for ages and now twice in 1 day!! One of my other remedies is alcohol, a nice glass of red wine or a large vodka and diet coke works wonders and aids sleep. I think I would now rather pickle my liver than ruin it with over the counter painkillers. Cheers! ! X
    • bev88217
      bev88217 barbara30771

      Posted

      Hi Barbars,

      Thanks for that.  I very rarely drink but to be honest with you it is probably a good idea to have a glass of wine to aid sleep.  When I first developed shingles I was sleeping constantly and it certainly was not meds as I was not on anything strong.  Now, however, I have noticed I am not sleeping as much.  I finally managed it at 3 am.  Ofcourse I am not exercising, although I dont sleep during the day now either but still a bit of insomnia going on now.  Maybe it is part of the healing process - hopefully  Cheers

  • jocelyne44618
    jocelyne44618 bev88217

    Posted

    Hi Bev, I live just 12 miles plus from Cambridge in a village,  My pain haqs been going on since last June, under my breast and round my back up to and on the shoulder blade, its always boiling hot, for me  Ice packs do take some of the heat away, but it can also give me morew pain if I get stressed.  I did try to use my small heat pad but the nerve endings , I swear, it was heating up these parts and gives me more pain, BUT I am pleased it works for you.  I am on the max drugs for my  arthritas and now the shingles,  I have attended the pain clinic in Cambridge, but I must admit  sitting in a circle talking to other people about their pain which is nothing like my pain  helps  can some one explain what is the aim???

    My pain is like yours,stronger than giving birth. Like you I have had 2 full replacement knees  but now I have pain again in my  knees.  I wear two  patches of 125mg which I have had for my arthritas.I require a major joint operation on my shoulder, but I dont want this op as it will increase the pain level, as its on the same side as my shingles (PHN).   I dont know if their is a way for a surgeon to make a cut and bury my nerve endings, so I cant have this pain.

    I wish you well, may be we could meet up and exchange our pain ideas.  Take care  Jocelyne  from Burwell Cambs  UK.

    • bev88217
      bev88217 jocelyne44618

      Posted

      Hi Joceyne, 

      Good to hear from you.  You have had your pain for so long it must be awful for you.  I mentioned in an early discussion that I wonderd whether the shingles targeted vulnerable areas of the body as mine has done so with my shoulder blade and left breast.  I have had problem pains for a number of years in both these areas(I did fall prior to my knee replacements - damaging the shoulder trying to break the fall) but put it down to referred pain from that shoulder.  Regarding the knee pain  I was told that the knees can become problematic if I got a viral infection and it was important to take antibiotics if this did occur and yet doctors tend to poo poo this information even though it came directly from the 'horse's mouth' after my knee surgery.,  I read that surgery can be done to severe the offending nerves and the success rate is high.I will certainly ask for this if it continues for a number of years.  There would be no quality of life. However, today I managed to get some of my inside windows cleaned - unimaginable last week - so some improvement.  Into my fourth week now.

      Take care of yourself

      Bev 

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