I've never known anyone who had Shingles but the medical professionals say that if you've ever had chicken pox the virus for shingles is inside you and can trigger a shingles outbreak at any time. A couple of weeks ago my husband Ken got an ear ache and then that side of his face swelled up. 3 days later he got a bad rash on that side of his face and I thought for sure that he had a staph infection. He went to the ER because his doctor couldn't get him in for a couple of weeks and the ER doc told him he had Shingles and that it was a bad case because he had them in his ear and he might lose some or all hearing in that ear. Not only were the shingles in his ear, and in his hairline on his scalp but they were in his mouth on the inside of his cheek and at the back of his throat.
Ken, just 3 days after the symptoms started. The redness actually got worst a few days later even though he was on medication. He was not feeling good and not happy that this was on his face.
To make matter worst, Ken has a compromised immune system because he has AIDS. He was told they can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks to go away completely and they wanted to keep a close eye on him, especially his ear. So since his doc couldn't get him in for at least 2 weeks the ER doc told him to come back to the ER the next week and get a check up to see if the medicine is helping.
Thankfully when he went back to the ER they said that it was slowly clearing up but it would be a few weeks before they knew if his hearing would be alright, so we are still waiting on that.
Did you know that Shingles can be contagious? That's right. So the ER doc told Ken to have my doc come out and give me the shingles vaccine. *I have a visiting doctor that comes to see me every couple of months since I have Agoraphobia and don't leave my apartment*
Did you know that is the blisters aren't properly treated they can lead to bacterial skin infections? It's very important to see a health care professional. They told Ken he was lucky that it was attacking the lower part of his face because when it attacks the top part of the face it can go into the eye and you can have vision loss from this.
So what did they give him to treat this?
They gave him 6 different prescription medications to treat this.
Prescription Pain meds
Valacyclovir which is AntiViral meds
A Topical Cream for the Blisters
Prednisone which is a synthetic corticosteroid
A Lidocaine Mouth Rinse
Azithromycin which is an antibiotic
Thankfully the rash is getting better and he can still hear out of his ear so we are hopeful about that too. Have you ever known anyone who got Shingles? No? Now you do. Get the Shingles vaccine. I did.
I hope Ken gets better soon. A few people I know have had shingles this year, and they've been advertising a shingles vaccine this year, but it is expensive. Over a hundred dollars. I've heard it can be very painful too.
ReplyDeleteYeah I thought I was going to get the shot but turns out my insurance won't pay for it until I'm 60.
Deletemy neighbor has had them 3 times. i have a blogger friend that has gotten them several times also. i hope your husband will recover fully.
ReplyDeleteIt took a while but it is finally starting to go away.
DeleteI've seen a few with it, some have had nerve pain that lasted up to 18 months after it was gone. Hopefully his hearing will be fine, shingles is sure nothing to mess with.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the pain will go away. The pain is worst in his ear so hopefully that goes away.
DeleteFirst, I am so sorry to hear this! Hopefully, he started the meds early enough that it clears up soon.
ReplyDeleteBoth my son and my husband have had shingles. My son was only 16 when he got it, which is rare. His were on his lower back, butt and back of one leg (it only travels down one side of body did to nerve endings or something like that).
My husband got shingles this past February. He started having pain on his back and noticed a spot, so he immediately had it checked and was put on Antiviral meds. Fortunately, it worked and his lesions cleared up in a few weeks, with no lasting effects.
We were told that it is NOT contagious, and didn't seem to be, as no one else here got it either time. Our insurance won't cover the vaccine until age 60 and it's supposedly the most expensive vaccine.
Also, it's most likely to occur in times of stress (happened during my husband's busy time at work) or if you are undergoing chemo or something that us suppressing your immune system. I personally believe there's a genetic predisposition to it because my husbands brother and aunt have both had it.
DeleteI just had my doc tell me that my insurance won't cover the vaccine until I'm 60, so I wasn't able to get it. And I asked her again and she said that the open sores are contagious so to keep disinfecting and washing hands.
DeleteI looked online and yes, it's contagious to those who have never had chicken pox, which makes sense.
DeleteNone of that medicine will work all that well take it from me I've had shingles and the best thing was Apple Cider Vinegar. Ill say it again Apple Cider Vinegar, It was the only thing to get rid of the the pain completely drink a shot of it in the morning and a shot of it at night and blot the red spots with A.C.V on a cotton ball or tissues. I tell anyone over 50 about it because shingles HURT, please do it, your husband will thank you.
ReplyDeleteherrowulrd.blogspot.com
I will get a small bottle and try it. he's willing to try just about anything. He is a lot better than 2 weeks ago though. It is starting to heal.
DeleteWow, Mary, I'm so sorry that hubby had to go through this, but glad he got meds and some good advice here on your blog. Everyone her has shared some good advice about Shingles that I never knew and will keep in mind. Hope all is well soon! Hugs...Ro
ReplyDeleteThanks. He is starting to heal now.
DeleteThat's gotta be tough. :(
ReplyDeleteYeah it really was. Thankfully he's starting to heal now.
DeleteThe only thing I know is that it's not a fun thing to have
ReplyDeleteNo it's definitely now.
DeleteI hope Ken feels better soon and that all is well with his hearing. I have known two people who have had shingles- both had it in their stomach and back areas I think. They said it was absolutely awful. I have had the shingles vaccine on my list to look into for a while. But- I am in my early 40s- and didn't know some insurances might not cover it until people are over 60.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. Stay well!
~Jess
Oh wow, on the stomach sounds painful to.
DeleteI have had shingles and have known quite a few people to have them. Mine was on my forehead and I quickly got antivirual drugs that kept it from being too bad. I've known two differnet men who had it in their eyes and that's terrible!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, it's interesting to hear just how many of you had shingles.
DeleteAnd I hope Ken gets better soon, it looks like he has a pretty bad case of them.
ReplyDeleteIt is healing up but he's sure been in a lot of pain from it.
DeleteNever had chicken pox, scared to contract it. I hope your hubs is feeling better, that looks painful and uncomfortable
ReplyDeleteThanks. It is taking forever for it to go away.
DeletePoor guy! My mom suffered from a shingles attack.
ReplyDeleteOh no, sorry to hear that. It's definitely no fun.
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