Posted on 03/25/2016 4:20:04 PM PDT by Hostage
A very close friend of mine has had a bout of Shingles for several weeks and finally went to the VA Hospital to get help.
Shingles is a reactivation of the Chicken Pox that one might have had as a kid. It is the Herpes Zoster virus and it can damage nerves causing severe pain.
He is 61 years old and he told me November last year that a visit to the VA for shoulder pain had him diagnosed for tendonitis. So he followed steps for gently exercising to restore his movement and he took Ibuprofen for the pain.
He said that while at the clinic late last year, he was told he should have a Shingles vaccination but he declined as he did not know what it was and he was skeptical of vaccines in general. He said he was going to read up on it but got so busy that he forgot about it.
I drove him to the VA Hospital week before last because his pain was so severe and he hadn't been able to sleep for a week. I walked with him into the ER and he was nonstop apologizing to the staff that he didn't follow the advice to get a Shingles vaccination. A Nurse Practitioner saw him in the exam room and told him it was Ok that he skipped the Shingles Vaccination because it didn't always 'hit' anyways. He also said that likely his tendonitis was likely the Herpes Zoster virus emerging and not tendonitis. So it wouldn't have mattered whether he got a Shingles vaccine or not.
I thought the Nurse Practitioner did a great job calming him down. He was prescribed a 7-day course of Valtrez (an anti-viral) and Oxycodone. He took the Valtrex immediately while in the hospital but wouldn't take the Oxy because another vet who was waiting in the lobby had told him they were habit forming (which as a narcotic pain killer they are).
The NP told him to follow up with his primary in a week if the pain persisted. The appointment with the primary was more than a month out (talking VA here) so the NP suggested he do a walk-in to the primary clinic and tell them he was in pain.
Walking with him down to the hospital pharmacy, he seemed calmer. He said he had always been tough as an Ox and was never one to rush for medical help. He said he did not want to take the Oxy but he was so deprived of sleep he might have to. At the pharmacy dispensary, the pharmacy assistant assured him that the Oxy was only for one week and there was no danger of it becoming habit forming. She said it would take about a month before habit forming tolerance would be seen. He told her he would only take them if he could not get to sleep.
So I drove him home. The next day he told me he had taken the Oxy and it worked like a charm, barely felt any pain but he would continue with the Valtrex as his rash breakout had been worsening. He vowed to not take any more Oxy but he did. He told me several days later that after stopping the Oxy, the pain came back with a vengeance and so he took the Oxy again along with Ibuprofen.
Now he said he was deeply concerned that he was going to fall into the category of being addicted to painkillers and that distressed him greatly.
After one week he was finished with his Valtrex and his Oxy but was still having a lot of pain. I drove him back to the hospital and dropped him off. He wasn't supposed to drive while on Oxy and he had just taken his last pill a few hours before. He said he was sure the pain would return and that he best get to the clinic.
He called me after returning home and was relieved that he had been prescribed a non-habit forming painkiller called Gabapentin. Last week he told me that the Gabapentin was working but not always. One day he would be relatively painfree and the next day in a lot of pain.
I agree. If the PTB can raise our property taxes to pay for illegal aliens to attend school in the United States, the LEAST we can do is give the vets a choice in their medical care.
Go get some L-lysine and vitamin D-3 at the vitamin store for your friend. I’ve had two relatives that got symptom relief from those. L-lysine is an amino acid, which is a building block of protein.
My aunt said it took a fairly high dose of the L-lysine for her (your mileage may vary). She took four 500 mg capsules three times a day. Should see some relief in a day or two.
I got the Shingle shot about 3 years ago, after seeing how painful it was for my brother who had a breakout. Medicare did not cover this, but my Medicare Advantage paid about $150 and I had a $50 co-pay.
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Similar concern needs to be given the pneumonia shots. My SIL is in the hospital now with complications from pneumonia.
The doctors recommend taking the general pneumonia shot at or around age 60 and about 2 years later taking the Prevnar 13. Medicare covered 100% of both for me.
I had a battle with Shingles about 2, maybe 3 years ago.
A misery I would only wish on ISIS jihadis. I could barely wear a t-shirt because it made the hairs on my body hurt. I did the Gabapentin and everything else I could lay my hands on. It finally resolved itself and I am a free man today.
What a bleeping nightmare. If you had Chicken Pox when you were a kid you might consider getting the vaccine if you are over 50. I did not, because I’m hoping I don’t get it again. They say the first time is the worst.
Going through a bout of shingles as I write this. Not pleasant, I can assure everyone.
I had shingles and it hurts like a Mofo. I took anti virals and I think percocets. It went away in about two weeks.
I'm 72 and have no problems.
When I got shingles, I did not receive any painkillers, only an antiviral. The rash was on the side of my neck and lasted for several weeks. The pain continued for months afterwards.
Getting shingles does not make you immune to getting it again, since the virus is hidden within the nerves. The shingles vaccine is not typically administered to people under 60. It is meant to boost immunity which wanes as one gets older, but is not 100% effective, since the immune system declines, especially in people over 65.
Most people who get shingles are over 60. I am younger than the typical shingles patient.
Many shingles nightmare stories that I am acquainted with. I finally got the vaccine two years ago. I had a mild breakout at the injection site. Hopefully that will be that. I want no part of a bout with shingles at anytime. The shot was free. Cost me $5.
I would be interested to know if CBD (cannabidiol — a major phytocannabinoid found in hemp and marijuana) would treat this sort of pain. I have a tincture of CBD from hemp — legal in all states — but am fortunate to have no real pain at the moment to attempt to treat. CBD would be expected to be fairly effective at treating the type of pain with a strong psychological component, like when you think about the pain (unavoidable sometimes) it gets a lot worse.
My son had it under age 50 and he never had Chicken Pox...but he was exposed when my other son and daughter had it. Not always older folk get it. Get the danged shot, no matter the cost.
I have been pre-approved and have to get down to the clinic to get the shot.
My daughter got them when she was only 30 so it’s not an old peoples problem. However she had just had her second liver transplant about a year before. She basically has no immune system. She finally did get better after a spell. Poor kid she gets about everything that comes around.
Shingles is no fun. I had a mild case, even after getting vaccinated, but my poor sister still has some neuralgia. Her pain was pretty severe and required pain meds. I do not know where the use of pain meds crosses over into abuse. I hope your friend does ok.
Shingles vaccine is not an antiviral but acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are.
Uncle had it. Tough guy but pain was awful for him and nothing seemed to help. It just let up at times.
Thanks for the post, been meaning to get the vaccine and now I’ve put a note to myself to do it at next month’s appointment.
Yep it is pretty kick ass, I have had a kidney stone and that really knocked me out but at least that only lasted a week. Shingles can go on for months or even years.
Had it along my left side, just above the belt line a few years ago. Thought I had appendicitis or diverticulitis or something. It hurt to eat so I didn’t. Lost 9 lb.s in the week before I got into my doctor. He prescribed Aciclovir capsules and it was gone in no time. Had the blood tattoos for 4 months.
You can get many of those general vaccinations at many pharmacies. I got mine at a local Walgreens.
I noticed this week that my Walmart Express + Pharmacy had a sign showing what kinds of vaccinations they gave.
I was just relating my exeprience on the subject.
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