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It's not all doom and gloom

Posted , 7 users are following.

roger69754
roger69754

Having recently been afflicted with Shingles,reading so many posts of contributors having long term problems with not only pain but chronic fatigue was very depressing.

   I am 71, fit and healthy (apart from prostate cancer which is dormant for the moment) and I got the dreaded rash 4 weeks ago.

   At first the pain was pretty severe and I needed stong painkillers for the first two weeks. I also suffered (for the first time in my life), from chronic fatigue.

   I am pleased to report that the rash has now subsided and today I went for a jog (my usual daily 31/2 miles) for the first time in 30 days. Pre shingles I not only ran very day but swam for 15 minutes and spent 45 minutes working out in the gym. All this ceased abruptly 4 weeks ago.

    I now feel I am fully recovered and I would like to spread the word that as the doctors advised, this affliction is normally short term and although incredibly debilitating, is for the most part a temporary illness.

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • jane97743
    jane97743 roger69754

    Posted

    Well, you are one of ther lucky ones then, as a lot of us have problems for months (sometimes years) after it is over! PHN is a big problem, and even when the pain goes the itching on the area where the rash was is  very unpleasant! I was very tired after a couple of months but now i feel back to normal apart from my eye which i have had trouble with, it has gone pink and itches like crazy somtimes!! having shingles in the eye means regualr trips to the eye clinic, it is never ending, and there is the worry of losing vision too. Glad that you had a mildly, lucky you!
    • roger69754
      roger69754 jane97743

      Posted

      Hi Jane,

         Yes I have been lucky as my rash was on the torso. I know it's much worse if you have it on your face or in the ear. My mother suffered from it near her eyes and it was a constant irritation and she kept scratching it for years. You have my deep sympathies and I can only hope they start looking for a way to alleviate the symptoms, or better still, a cure. Unfortunately cancer gets all the attention and all the money, and doctors who treat you, have no true appreciation of the severity of shingles as they have never had it.

  • pamela93
    pamela93 roger69754

    Posted

    Lucky you to have had a 'conventional" attack of shingles.  I expect your immune system managed to fight it off.  Unfortunately that is not the case with many of us.  I also had it on my torso and fully expected it to subside after a month or so, as I knew a couple of people who had had that happen.  When the itching did not subside, I was still hopeful that it would be just a question of time.  Well 13 months have now passed, and I am still suffering from such a severe itching that it is difficult to lead a normal life. I have to wear loose clothing all the time and at night I often have to give up on sleep as I am just clawing at the skin constantly. The itching is apparently even more intractable to treat than the pain, according to the experts. Certainly I haven't found anything that gives me relief.  Whether one suffers from PHN or not depends evidently on the amount of nerve damage sustained and presumably you were fortunate enough not to have much.  I wish I could take comfort in your assurance, not supported by my experience, that it is "for the most part a temporary illness" . Obviously everyone's individual experience will colour his or her opinion.

    • roger69754
      roger69754 pamela93

      Posted

      I read somewhere that 50% of people over 50 will suffer from shingles at some stage in their lives.You would think if this is true that there would be research done on this disease..In any event I wonder if in fact the vast majority do in fact get over it fairly quickly and only those that have major problems contribute to this website.

         My intention, having read several comments from "new" sufferers, was to reassure them that it is entirely possible to recover quickly.

    • Shoe_Lady
      Shoe_Lady roger69754

      Posted

      Go to a site where everyone is on it because they have suffered only once and have zero lingering effects then. Please do not downplay what we are all going through. We get that enough in our own everyday lives. You are speaking to a group who suffers on a daily basis with this horrible virus. I am very happy to hear that you do not have to experience this. Hopefully we all can find some kind of cure. Thank you
    • roger69754
      roger69754 Shoe_Lady

      Posted

      I apologise if I have upset you and never meant to downplay the agonising and long term symptoms that many of you suffer from. It was just that as a first time reader I became really depressed as I got the impression these problems were typical of what I agee is a horrible virus. I suffered for ony  4 weeks and I would never want to go through it again, let alone have to live with it for years.

         I will now sign off the website and wish all of you the best.

    • jane97743
      jane97743 pamela93

      Posted

      There should be something that works to stop the itching, it seems ridiculous that there is nothing available for the eye socket, where I get the worst itching especially when I wake up every morning! Lanacane works well on my forehead, just not a very nice smell, but at least it it helps a bit!
    • jane97743
      jane97743 roger69754

      Posted

      As michelle said, it is best to not go on a site where we are all suffering badly as you have no idea how horrible it is
  • help37205
    help37205 roger69754

    Posted

    59 tear old, have had it for 4 months, still hurts, still tired most of the day. Waiting to get better.Some days are better than others. It helps it I stay busy.
  • dave19755
    dave19755 roger69754

    Posted

    You make a good point Roger. People will no doubt look at this site, as I would have done 16 years ago when I had shingles, fearing the worst. Happily some will get over it quickly and I think that's helpful to know. Although I subscribe to this forum I hadn't seen it as one purely for long term sufferers, but for people trying to find out more in general, or just needing some support. Great to hear of people who are so fit and active in later years and having such a positive and well intentioned outlook. Hope too you keep the cancer at bay.

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