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Shingles and work

Posted , 22 users are following.

rlyndecker
rlyndecker

I was diagnosed with Shingles Tue. but actually had the rash at least on Fri. (how the ER AND Urgent Care didn't realize it was Shingles I don't know!) and I am on the anti-viral, gabapantin 2700mg and ibprofin 800mg. 

I teach 5th graders and I have now missed a full week of school, I am in A LOT of pain, and taking 2-3 hour naps still.  I really want to go back on Tuesday, but wanted to get people's opinions...I mean I guess I can be in pain at school just as well as at home, yes?  I just don't know what to do about work...Please give me your opinions...Thank you!

4 likes, 67 replies

67 Replies

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  • donna48911
    donna48911 rlyndecker

    Posted

    I was on

    Valacyclovir HCL 1 gram tablet

    Had to take 1 every 8 hours.

  • donna48911
    donna48911 rlyndecker

    Posted

    Rlyn, want to add that I know how stressful it is not to be at school. And making sub plans is a lot of work. Teaching today, in general, is quite stressful. Too many transitions and too many "one more things"....adds up to a whole lot of things! Constantly.

    It was hard not to do the things I normally do with my students, like that cell project.

    You didn't ask for this! And you sure as heck would rather be rolling along as you would normally be doing with you 5th graders.

    As another poster said, unless you rub your open postures on someone, you won't pass this on to anyone.

    Maybe go in and make a schedule that allows you a day or two every week until the fatigue decreases a bit? You would feel more in control, then. You can let the sub know what needs to be done. You can schedule some student hands on work or quiet work that fills the needs of your students AND your need to NOT be "on" all the time and leading the charge.

    That's how I am hoping to continue to work and deal with this overwhelming fatigue. I don't have the pain or itch that you have, and that exacerbates the situation and likely adds to your fatigue. But I think going in has allowed me to feel in control and less hopeless. And making others aware has set some parameters. This is a serious health issue. We are doing the best we can for our students while trying not to wreck our health in the process, Rest, Rlyn, if you can,

    • Goodwater_Betty
      Goodwater_Betty donna48911

      Posted

      You may also want to consider working some half days if that's possible.  Maybe alternate mornings and afternoons or just go in for the half that seems to work better for you.  As I mentioned earlier, I was rarely absent except for two long periods--nearly 20 years apart.  Once was when I had a disc in my back that "exploded," and the fragments attached to the sciatic nerve, causing extreme pain and eventually ending in successful surgery.  The second was after an automobile accident when I fractured a knee and a hip.  I retired shortly after this since I'd spent a semester in high school on a walker and that was not a good situation.  Anyway, I know the urgency you feel to be there for your students and Inalso understand the demands that parents can make.  You just need to take it as slow and easy and remember that stress is truly aggravating your condition.  It is not easy to take lots of sick leave but you really need to Or it will just get worse.

    • pattitracy
      pattitracy Goodwater_Betty

      Posted

      Hi Betty ...do you know if this is a life long condition? I am only 54 and have been batteling this for over a year ....at least 3 times a month.I get a few..on my lower back..they go away and more appear....I had taken the prednosone and anti-viral..in which it made me sick..when I first got them back in Feb 2016...The dr wants me to continue taking this anti-viral the rest of my life.Like I said it made me terribly sick.or I would take it  to get rid of these nasty things...I dont really have a lot of pain...once in a while the shooting pain up my back..it is more itchy..and I am exhausted most days....these drs act as though this is a new disease!! Never getting the same answer from anyone Dr. Nurse..etc. Thank you
    • Goodwater_Betty
      Goodwater_Betty pattitracy

      Posted

      I am not sure, but I know several on this site have had it over a period of twenty years.  I have friends who were "one and done" with shingles after their initial episode.  In fact, that's what I figured was the case for everyone until I investigated after my outbreak last November.  It seems to be a very misunderstood disease by the medical community.  Merry Juliana is better equipped to answer this question than I am.  I am so sorry about your situation!

    • rlyndecker
      rlyndecker donna48911

      Posted

      My students are overall okay...If I go in, I'm in it. I can take a day off but it's unpaid (just like this is) so it's still hard.  I am aiming for Monday now.  That gives me 2 full weeks (technically and the weekend, the ER just didn't diagnose it!) off and I am praying that's enough.  I get out at 2:30, and can leave at 2:45ish (depending on traffic, depends how early I can leave) and I am usually home by 3pm).  I guess I can go in a little later than usual...I can take a 2-3 hour nap when I get home. 

      Unfortunately, my district doesn't do 1/2 days etc.; I don't want to tell my Principal or anyone because she's new (as is many teachers) so I am trying to lay low this year and not need help from people...I will tell the kids I am still sore and need a lot of help, most of them are great about helping!  Do you think that sounds good or do you really think i need the extra week?  Yesterday it didn't hurt as much as today sad  (ironic since most of yesterday all I did was sleep!)

    • Goodwater_Betty
      Goodwater_Betty rlyndecker

      Posted

      It probably didn't hurt as much yesterday because you were sleeping so much...getting rest, which is what shingles craves.  I continue to be very sleepy even though I get 8-9 hours sleep every night and I'm over four months past my outbreak.  Rest is the key to recovery.

       

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 donna48911

      Posted

      Hi Donna,

      Sorry I didn't reply to your post earlier. I was on a driving trip to Florida down the East coast with a medically fragile friend. I just returned last night.

      How are you doing?

      I am a Nurse Practitioner in the US and have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles every three to five weeks in my right ear for the past twenty years and twice in my right eye. Please let me know how I can help you.

      Best wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • donna48911
      donna48911 Merry19451

      Posted

      Thanks.  I am doing much better.   A Monday and a Friday off a week ago helped; I slept .  And had a snow day and 2 late starts this week helped; I slept.  And I slept alot last weekend. This coming week we have a teacher work day on Friday (no kids).    Hoping that if I keep up the priority on sleep and rest, and with maybe another day off I can make it to spring break and rest some more.

      I give you a great deal of credit for dealing with this for such a long time.  I have found a lot of support here . It has helped me focus on taking my health seriously and takethe time I need. 

      Be well.

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 donna48911

      Posted

      Donna,

      Thank you for letting me know! I worry about my patients here! Teachers and nurses are not paid enough for the professional dedication to their students/patients. When they call out sick, !! !!gasp!! it is considered a heresy. Society does not take care of these jewels of the workforce, and wonder why there is such burnout.

      Sleep and rest is a major component of being well, and healing. Also finding balance in the workplace and at home is important. My first episode was horrible, and I worked through it as a single mother. While I have immunodeficiencies, I feel that the lack of diagnosis and proper initial treatment by three Physicians total contributed? to the frequent recurrent episodes of Herpes Zoster-Shingles.

      I take much more time to sleep and rest now and don't have episodes every 2-1/2 weeks as I used to.

      Best wishes

      Merry Juliana

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