Virus infection

[brightstar10]

My freind has just been told by the doctor he has shingles I want to visit him but not sure how safe I would be I have had chickenpox & shingles wondering if I could get them again

[Hidden]

My friend had shingles twice. I would advise you to send your friend a get well card. Why chance getting shingles again, especially if you are on Dmards that suppress you immune system.

[brightstar10 in reply to Hidden]

He stays on his own needs shopping I just wondered if I could go and get him shopping

[Moomin8]

Could you not order the shopping online and get it sent to your friend's house?

[AgedCrone]

Yes you can have shingles more than once.....I'd phon your friend, but don't chance being in contact.

I had shingles last year & managed to get the anti virals within 24 hours, but I was still poorly for two or three weeks.

Not worth chancing it!

[brightstar10 in reply to AgedCrone]

Thanks

[SueB]

You can get shingles more than once BUT you cannot catch shingles from shingles.

Once you have had chicken pox the virus lurks in your body and sometimes gets reactivated as shingles. So if you have shingles you can infect someone with chicken pox ( if they have not already had it) but not shingles.

This was explained to me by my GP when I had shingles. Hope it helps.

Sue

[Gnarli]

Yes. And you really don't want it twice! My Mum got it in her face and didn't get the anti viral in time. She was unlucky and had nerve pain for over 7 years until she passed away. Not from the shingles, obviously, but another disease.

J

[AgedCrone in reply to Gnarli]

Yes I forgot to mention that.....even though I got the anti virals in good time, I had nasty pins & needles type headaches after the rash/spots disappeared almost constantly for over a year, & still have them sometimes.

I had shingles in my scalp & over my right eye,

Definitely a case of better safe than sorry to avoid shingles....it can be a long haul to full recovery.

[Gnarli in reply to AgedCrone]

I am so, so sorry to hear that. That sounds very like my mother's attack. Even a breeze blowing on her face or head was painful and brushing her hair impossible. She went on to develop inverted eyelids which had to be operated on twice. Awful.

[Bully915]

Hi unfortunately you can get repeated shingles I get them about every 4 months for last 4 years dont know if it is connected to ra or im just one of the unlucky ones. Could you not get there shopping and ask a taxi driver to drop them off for you