Shingles and work
Posted , 22 users are following.
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
KatzFran rlyndecker
Posted
I woke up Mother’s Day with a large rash down my left arm, severely itchy and fluid filled sores. Couldn’t get to the drs until Tuesday(yesterday) so I worked Monday. We had a one year old in the office and thankfully I had no contact.
Dr diagnosed Shingles Tuesday and prescribed Valacyclovir 500mg 3X a day. Took first dose at noon. Family and friends had tickets to a concert and thought I’d be okay to go; I just covered my arm with bandages. I was quite tired and stomach wasn’t well but plodded on. Ended up being violently ill just before getting to the venue so I had to be taken home. Extreme upset stomach, cramping, diarrhea and even threw up when I got home.
Seemed (and still does) to come in waves. I think I’m better and go outside to water garden or something else and then I get weak all of a sudden and need to lay down. Not just rest-I’m instantly exhausted..!
Saw a naturopath this morning and had a Vit Bs iv and got my energy back. It’s now late evening and exhausted again. A seems to have new blisters even though they looked like they were Healing this morning.
I’ve had back surgery a few years ago and a male family member has had two back sx years ago and suffers chronic shingles for past 10-15 yrs. Is this related to irritating spinal fluid during surgery?? I’m not even 50 and this scares me! My spouse and most of his family (only two live close) have never had chicken pox so I need advice for them as well! Spouse works away and it was hard when he was only home three days and we didn’t have any physical contact/could not sleep on the same bed together. Antivirals were prescribed 2 1/2 days after first notice of rash and not feeling well, and they upset my system so much I didn’t take a second pill.
This is horrible, going through so many stages during the day. From upbeat and feeling I can do housework or grocery shopping, to driving to the grocery store only to grab some fruit and come home because I’m exhausted. Boss says I can come to work on my next shift and need to completely cover my rash but I’m worried about energy levels and pain. Pain is so intermittent and unpredictable; not sure what to tell my boss.
I’m so glad I found this group. Any advice would be helpful pls!
Thx
Kate
Merry19451 KatzFran
Posted
I am sorry you are dealing with this vicious virus.
I would ask your Physician for Zofran, an antiemetic, to take with the Valtrex.
You need to be on an antiviral to stop the replication of the virus. Otherwise, the shingles will become much worse.
You need a strong analgesic to deal with the pain, as it will probably get much worse by the second week.
The exhaustion and fatigue can become so bad that you cannot get out of bed except to use the bathroom. I would ask your boss for one or two weeks off. You need to rest and sleep. You are not considered contagious if all the lesions are covered with clothing or bandages.
Shingles occurs when your immunity wanes. It can occur where you have been injured. I do not think it is due to the back surgery per se.
Your relative and you might want to explore
High Lysine Low Arginine Diet and Herpes. Also, you should both have your Vitamin D levels checked as Vitamin D is essential for immunity. It should be at least 40.
I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States.
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
rlyndecker KatzFran
Posted
I'm sorry I never knew you wrote this- I don't know how to get notifications, I received one but thart's it. I hope you are doing well...I still have issues sometimes. I ended up going back to work early because I figured I could be in immense pain at home or at school (Work) earning $. So here is what does help me a bit (sometimes a lot, sometimes a little)- essential oils I use DoTerra and I just put all these together in 1 roller bottle:
5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 drops Cypress Essential Oil
5 drops Marjoram Essential Oil
9 drops Wild Orange Essential Oil
6 drops Helichrysum Essential Oil
6 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
3 Tablespoons Fractionated Coconut Oil
Use as a massage oil and rub onto areas affected by symptoms of neuropathy. Also, rub on the bottoms of the feet to allow for maximum absorption. Store in a dark glass bottle.
Hope you are doing better now. Shingles has to be either the worse or one of the worse things I have ever experienced and I have Leukemia and have gone through Chemo....
cheryl97005 Merry19451
Posted
This is my 7th day of shingles diagnosis and 11 days since symptoms started. I am on valtrix 1000mg 3x day. I am also 6 months since major spinal fusion. T3 - S1. My rash was minimal but I have 2 spots of severe nerve pain that is new since the outbreak of the rash. I also have back pain from the recovery process from my back fusion. Since the rash and new nerve pain, my surgery nerve pain has increased and I feel like I have been hit by a bus. I am sore and stiff especially my back. Would the shingle nerve pain increase my overall existing pain? I am taking neurontin, flexeril, amytriptaline, Vicodin, flector patch, lidoderm patch, biofreeze and nothing really helps the severe nerve pain. Will the nerve pain go away when the blisters heal? I can not sleep more than a couple hours at night. How long will this last? Thank you for any help you can give me.
Merry19451 cheryl97005
Posted
Shingles often occurs after a major surgery at the surgery site and indeed could increase the neurogenic pain you are already suffering from. The Antiviral you are taking should help decrease the severity of the episode. I would ask your Physician for oxycodone 10 mg every 4-6 hours for 7 days to help you through this acute phase, then reevaluate the pain. I would use actual ice on the area. Also, please rest. Absolutely no activity as exercise or exertion makes the pain far worse.
I hope this helps.
Recovering from shingles is a process, so it is difficult to give a time frame regarding the pain. You need to be proactive in treating the pain, as those who decrease or have minimum pain are less apt to have Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN.
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
nicole59594 rlyndecker
Posted