hello everyon. i am 44 and suffered with shingles for 30 years

Posted , 4 users are following.

this year i have had them 5 times am on my 6th as i type. i work with a couple of heavily pregnant women and wanted to know as i dont feel unwell if i cover my blisters am i ok for work. 3 doctors tell me different things?

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4 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Maggie. I understood that you should not be near pregnant mums if you have shingles and the blisters are still active. ie; not dried up yet. Also you need to rest up and make sure you recover well so taking a week off at least might help you too! If Merry's out there please come on the forum, a couple of people need your professional /patient advice! Take care of your self Maggie. Pollyanna UK
  • Posted

    Maggie...so sorry you are suffering with this again. I have no answer to your question, but I am hoping you could offer info to me regarding your multiple bouts of Shingles. My first bout with Shingles 3 years ago was typical. Since then I have suffered twice more, but the rash never turns into blisters. I have the fatigue, achiness, & nerve pain down the back of my knee for a few days until the itchy rash starts. My docs refuse to even discuss Shingles, repeating that they are only on one side and this looks like poison ivy. (In the winter?) They completely discount my other symptoms. Even the acupuncturist believes the rash is autoimmune, not Shingles. I read if you suffer with autoimmune diseases you are more prone to Shingles, and they appear atypically. Do you get medical treatment for your Shingles? Do your docs agree you have Shingles? I am so frustrated and getting no relief for the pain and itch. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. 
  • Posted

    Dear Maggie,

    I am sorry for your suffering.

    Where are the shingles on your body, how long has the rash been present, have you been treated with the antivirals and for how long, and have the vesicles-blisters scabbed over?

    One also has to consider the immunocompromised state of not only the pregnant women, but the other people with whom you work. In other words, many individuals take Prednisone, have Lupus, Psoriasis ITP, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögrens Syndrome, have Cancer, etc, but don't know it or don't realize that they are immunocompromised.

    If you take public transportation, the risk spreads farther? further?

    If you have one or two vesicles-blisters that have dried up and are totally under clothes, put a bandaide over them and go to work. If it is extensive, on your arms, face, where the risk of airborne exposure is greatly increased, I would stay home.

    If a physician has instructions for you to stay at home until the vesicles-blisters have scabbed over, I would obey the clinician and not risk dissemination of the virus. Please let me know the location, condition of vesicles-blisters ie scabbed?, and extent of rash.

    Best Wishes

    Merry Juliana

    • Posted

      The Herpes Zoster virus is extremely difficult to eradicate once it is airborne. Entire wards in hospitals used to be shut down due to chickenpox contamination.

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