I just went to my doctor and found out it was Shingles of all things I thought it was. Blows my mind, wtf? How the heck do you catch this?
I already had the chicken pox and the shingles but my doc said you can get shingles more then once and I am highly conatigious so I need to be like locked in a room so I don't infect people. j/k I am not locked up. lol! But, basically thats what he said to do. But, I have to work and I need the money? How long does it last? How many times have you had it? Did you take Valtrex? How was it? Side effects?
Thanks!
2007-08-16 06:23:35 · 7 answers · asked by queenofsiberia 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
I had Shingles once. I, too, had chicken pox when I was a child. You only get shingles if you had chicken pox. Both are the same virus, I believe. The virus is a Herpes virsu, but not the one that is sexually transmitted. I don't know if Valtrex would help. I didn't realize I had Shingles until the rash broke out nearly two months later. I only knew there was a very strange burning sensation running along my torso. I didn't even see a doctor for once the rash emerged, I was at the end of the incident. I haven't heard, personally, of anyone having shingles more than once. It can happen. And I wasn't locked up and no one in my family caught the shingles. Lucky, I guess
2007-08-16 06:34:39 · answer #1 · answered by biglobsterclaws 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can only get Shingles if you have had Chicken Pox. There are both mild and severe versions of Shingles and once you get it, just like Chicken Pox, you will never get it again. The severe version can give you some problems over a long period of time and the mild version will go away within a few weeks. I don't understand why your doctor said you can get it more than once, I don't believe that is true. It is contagious so stay away from people until the sores start to scab. I would not go to work for about a week because it can leave you weak and it could prolong your problem. Valtrex is fine and there should not be any side effects, good luck.
2007-08-16 06:39:07 · answer #2 · answered by Frizzer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-08-31 04:36:41 · answer #3 · answered by Dante 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I had shingles (once thank God) but the funny thing was I never remember having chicken pox. Apparently I must have had a mild case of it, and I was exposed to it several times (always wondered why I never got it).
During my shingles I was around my kids the whole time, and they never got it. If you have to have contact with adults, then I would be considerate and ask them all if they have had chicken pox before (you can't catch shingles, but you can catch chicken pox from somebody with shingles).
I took an antiviral medicine, which helped a lot.
2007-08-16 06:34:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
About the work issue have your doctor write a note that you are contagious and the time period he suggests that you not be around other people - that might help, maybe your employer will pay you sick/medical leave time. I've known several people that have had it. One person I know had a medication issue got very dehydrated feel faint, had chills, etc. some of the side effects listed on the prescription. You can always go to Webmd's website and look up the side effects & allergic reactions to prescription medications.
2007-08-16 06:33:24 · answer #5 · answered by sun_shinevt 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had it once, it lasted five weeks, but this can vary, I hate to tell you this but it can be debilitating, it is a painful thing to have, but I expect you do not need to be told this, I was prescribed a lotion that looked like Calamine to apply to the blisters, no medicine was prescribed, so I don't know if you will have side affects, I feel like a Job's comforter, and hope you make a speedy recovery, if you have 'caught it early' then the prognosis is good. Good luck.
2007-08-16 06:50:26 · answer #6 · answered by joe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes and you can go to the doctor and get a shot to help get over quicker
2007-08-16 06:35:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋