Shingles!!!

ams8099 · April 2009

I have shingles. Let me tell you, it hurts like hell!

I started with sensitive skin. Then I got a rash, then I got stinging pains. Did some googling. Shingles.

Yup. Doctor confirmed it.

Actually his words were, "It's a good guess." So I ask him if I can work. I tell him I am a swimming instructor and work with kids. He asks if I can wear long sleeves and teach from the side. Um no. I teach 3-6 year old beginners.

So my work release says. I can work, but I am contagious. WTF

MrsCarroll.6-10-07 · April 2009

That sucks. I was having some numbness on my side for a while last year and the doctor thought it might be that or my gallbladder....so I was constantly checking myself for it. (never got anything)

Are you on special medicine to help? How long will you be "contagious"? Sorry you got it....any idea why?

ams8099 · April 2009

I am contagious until the lesions scab over, which I haven't even blistered yet. I have no idea where I got it.

carolinah · April 2009

ahhh you prob got it from one of those little kids. Isn't shingles just adult Chicken pox but much worse. I know i catch everything from the kids I teach and Im always freaking out when I hear a kids got the Pox.

Married2MrWright · April 2009

Wow that sucks. Take good care of yourself...my BFF had shingles and she said it was the worst.

MrsCarroll.6-10-07 · April 2009

The doctor told me its a form of chicken pox that is usually brought on my stress. If you've had the chicken pox you are more likely to get shingles...usually when we're older or our immune systems are weakened by something else though.

Sorry to hear that. :-( anyway you can wear one of those wetsuit/full coverage type suit things in the pool instead of a regular suit?

ams8099 · April 2009

MrsCarroll.6-10-07:
The doctor told me its a form of chicken pox that is usually brought on my stress. If you've had the chicken pox you are more likely to get shingles...usually when we're older or our immune systems are weakened by something else though.

Sorry to hear that. :-( anyway you can wear one of those wetsuit/full coverage type suit things in the pool instead of a regular suit?

I've been really stressed out at work. It's just on my arm, so I could get a swim shirt, but I really don't want to spend that money.

MrsCarroll.6-10-07 · April 2009

This is going to sound really lame...but if you don't want to spend the money...maybe try some waterproof tape and saran wrap over the spot? Tell people you have a rash that can't get chlorined or something.

The reason I suggested that are this:

My niece had some alergy testing and the dam test covered her entire back neck to butt...we had to saran wrap her back for bathtime so it wouldn't get wet the 3 days she had to leave it on plus the 2 days she couldn't get the area wet....it worked and she thought it was very amusing at 3 years old.
Another time I had a broken leg with a cast from my toes to my hip for 4 months (3rd grade) we used a trash bag and duct tape so I could go swimming in August....that worked too.

GL!!

rebelina1 · April 2009

I know how you feel. I have had shingles and it hurts so bad! I had the rash/blisters around my stomach. I was so hard to wear clothes because the pain of it brushing against the blisters was torture.

It took me quite a while to get over it completely. Good luck!

wigirl2007 · April 2009

I had it in college. Luckily I caught it really early and didn't have any pain, just an itchy rash. My doc told me that shingles is the chicken pox virus that lies dormant in your body until your immune system is compromised or you are overly stressed then it pops out. He also said that although I could not pass shingles itself, I was at risk of giving chicken pox to all my classmates. I stayed home for a few days and took it easy.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Want a personalized experience?

Shingles!!!

Re: Shingles!!!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards