J-rap Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Any suggested remedies? I thought only older adults got shingles! She has a lot going on. I've heard it can be horrible! I know so little about it. She has it on her hip and stomach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Sorry! Ds had it when he was 9--so I know younger folks do he it (we did go to an immunologist to check his immune system, though). We just did calamine lotion--although I added lavender and tea tree oil. It didn't bother him much, though. Maybe it won't be so bad for her. Also, dd got chicken pox from Ds when he had it--so remind her to practice good hygeine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Go to the DR and get the Rx (antiviral) for it!! It will reduce the amount of time she has it! I have had shingles (age 35) and my daughter had it (age 10). After that just tylenol and benadryl 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan C. Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I have heard (but not tried) B12 helps shingles. Since it can't hurt anyone, it may not hurt to try. This is the one we take, I am posting the high dose one, and using it as a sublingual gives you a higher potency:http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Factors-Vitamin-Methylcobalamin-60-Count/dp/B001ECXHZI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446931460&sr=8-1&keywords=natural+factors+B12 If you brand swap, be sure it is the Methylcobalalmin form. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 But the antiviral will only work if it's been less than3 days since it started. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 :grouphug: It will be tricky because of where the shingles is, but dabbing honey on each little ouchie will really help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 7, 2015 Author Share Posted November 7, 2015 Go to the DR and get the Rx (antiviral) for it!! It will reduce the amount of time she has it! I have had shingles (age 35) and my daughter had it (age 10). After that just tylenol and benadryl She did get the antiviral, so it's good to know that it was helpful for you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 7, 2015 Author Share Posted November 7, 2015 But the antiviral will only work if it's been less than3 days since it started. Oh -- she was feeling sick all last week, then noticed the rash 3 days ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarasue7272 Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I took advil every 8 hours, the antiviral and lysiene every 4. The lysine works fantastically on cold sores which are also a pox virus so I figured it couldn't hurt. I only had one spot and it was on my back so I didn't worry about infecting anyone (the fluid in the blister is contagious). I felt way better in about a day. But I kept up with the advil, because it seriously hurt and I didn't want the pain to come back at all. I noticed the spot about a week after the pain started, but I got to the dr the next day. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooksandBoys Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 The antiviral should shorten the duration. My husband had his first bout of shingles when he was 30 and has had it twice in the three years since. Lots of pain killers, lots of ice packs! I'm following to hear what others have to say as I'm sure he'll get it again. It's thought to be happening in younger people now because most kids are vaccinated against chickenpox. The theory goes that the little kids in your life would give you a natural booster shot when they had chicken pox, so shingles wouldn't set in until you were older and immunocompromised. No chicken pox kids to give booster shotsmeans those of us who had chicken pox as kids are getting shingles at a much younger age. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Oh -- she was feeling sick all last week, then noticed the rash 3 days ago... I have a friend who waited a while before she went to the doctor and got the prescription, and the anti-viral still worked very well for her, so hopefully it will work as well for your dd. I'm so sorry to hear about your dd. Shingles is awful. :( 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowbeltmom Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 I hope your daughter feels better soon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 The antiviral should shorten the duration. My husband had his first bout of shingles when he was 30 and has had it twice in the three years since. Lots of pain killers, lots of ice packs! I'm following to hear what others have to say as I'm sure he'll get it again. It's thought to be happening in younger people now because most kids are vaccinated against chickenpox. The theory goes that the little kids in your life would give you a natural booster shot when they had chicken pox, so shingles wouldn't set in until you were older and immunocompromised. No chicken pox kids to give booster shotsmeans those of us who had chicken pox as kids are getting shingles at a much younger age. That's interesting about your husband already having it three times! I was hoping if you had shingles once, that's it. My daughter seems to get things easily, even though she is strong and healthy and exercises and eats well. She actually HAD the chicken pox as a young child, since the vaccine wasn't really being encouraged yet in the early 90's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 The antiviral works by stopping the virus from spreading further. I thought that mine was a rash and went to the doctor around the end of the first 72 hours and it still helped to take the antiviral. The doctor prescribed very strong pain medication to take in the night time (had rashes in the front and back of my torso and hence it was very painful to lie down) but I took extra strength advil (2 at a a time) to help me tide through the day time. Later on I heard that Elderberry syrup (sambucol) is very effective in killing the virus too - these days, if I feel suspicious that I might get a recurrence of shingles (same body pain and symptoms as during the previous attack) I take sambucol every 2hours for a couple of days - so far, I have not had a recurring attack of shingles. Hope she gets some medication for pain management. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooksandBoys Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 That's interesting about your husband already having it three times! I was hoping if you had shingles once, that's it. My daughter seems to get things easily, even though she is strong and healthy and exercises and eats well. She actually HAD the chicken pox as a young child, since the vaccine wasn't really being encouraged yet in the early 90's. To clarify: shingles is the same virus as chicken pox, so someone who has never had chicken pox would never get shingles, but someone who has had chicken pox is at risk because the virus lives in the body forever. It's the vaccinating of current children that is impacting the shingles rates of those of us who had chicken pox as kids (my husband had chicken pox...a rather severe case) because those who are carrying the chicken pox virus (your daughter) are not getting the immunity boost from young kids infected with chicken pox. Whether people who are vaccinated against chicken pox (a live vaccine) will have a risk of shingles remains to be seen. My husband is also healthy and fit. It's unfortunate to see young, healthy people getting this. it appears to be a stress response for him, as it has always occurred during exams/dissertations/family emergencies. I hope your daughter is already feeling better. Have her watch for signs if a new outbreak in the future. The quicker she gets the antiviral, the better it works. Edited because I left out an essential word. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Can she eat sushi? The seaweed (nori) has a potent antiviral compound in it that helps too... There's also a supplement made of seaweed called Red Marine Algae you could send her if she can't access or afford sushi in her location, or if she just hates the idea of eating it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 To clarify: shingles is the same virus as chicken pox, so someone who has never had chicken pox would never get shingles, but someone who has had chicken pox is at risk because the virus lives in the body forever. It's the vaccinating of current children that is impacting the shingles rates of those of us who had chicken pox as kids (my husband had chicken pox...a rather severe case) because those who are carrying the chicken pox virus (your daughter) are not getting the immunity boost from young kids infected with chicken pox. Whether people who are vaccinated against chicken pox (a live vaccine) will have a risk of shingles remains to be seen. My husband is also healthy and fit. It's unfortunate to see young, healthy people getting this. it appears to be a stress response for him, as it has always occurred during exams/dissertations/family emergencies. I hope your daughter is already feeling better. Have her watch for signs if a new outbreak in the future. The quicker she gets the antiviral, the better it works. Edited because I left out an essential word. Thanks for explaining this. That makes sense. She is under quite a bit of stress right now, as she is finishing up her last semester, finalizing her senior project/thesis, selling all of her belongings including her car, and preparing to move out of Latin America (where she attends university) to the USA with her husband 3 days after graduation -- in one month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 Can she eat sushi? The seaweed (nori) has a potent antiviral compound in it that helps too... There's also a supplement made of seaweed called Red Marine Algae you could send her if she can't access or afford sushi in her location, or if she just hates the idea of eating it. I'll tell her that! I also mentioned vitamin B12 to her, which someone else suggested... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 Does anyone know at what point she will be past the worst of it? Is it when the rash starts to scab over? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Does anyone know at one point she will be past the worst of it? Is it when the rash starts to scab over? Nerve pain can be hard to predict, but probably. ETA: some people have pain after the rash is gone. http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/features/at-risk-for-shingles-and-postherpetic_neuralgia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: awful MY DS21 is in the final exam period. He had a terrible virus 2 months back and hasn't recovered. He rang home in a panic last week that all his hair is falling out in big clumps. University is so stressful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 10, 2015 Author Share Posted November 10, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: awful MY DS21 is in the final exam period. He had a terrible virus 2 months back and hasn't recovered. He rang home in a panic last week that all his hair is falling out in big clumps. University is so stressful Oh my goodness! I hope he is done soon so he can just come home and rest! I've been talking to my daughter 2-3 times/each day, but she lives hundreds of miles away so I really cannot be of any help. She'll be here in a month though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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