Shingles

[NannyNooNoo]

My OH has just been diagnosed with shingles. I have RA, Fibro and U/A thyroid; I take Sulfasalazine, Vit D and Levothyroxine. Are there any precautions I should be taking? I’m waiting for a call back from rheumy, but that won’t be til tomorrow! Something in my dim & distant memory is nudging me lol!

[NannyNooNoo]

I’ve not had the vaccination; I did have chickenpox when I was a child. OH 1st started rash last Thursday - it’s on his waistline, so he thought it was his underwear/trousers causing irritation! He’s taking tablets. Thankyou for your advice - I will ring my surgery & see if they have any words of wisdom!

[Hidden]

Definitely speak to your Gp they may put you on antiviral medication

[NannyNooNoo in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou - I’m just waiting for a call back from GP surgery

[W3ndy2159]

You are unlikely to catch shingles from someone with shingles. Especially as you had chicken pox as a child. You should have lifelong immunity.

I would get in touch with your GP to be on the safe side. He may decide to put you on antivirals medication.

I get shingles a lot, even though I had chickenpox as a child, I have UAT too, and the tell tale sign for me is a pain behind my eye/headache a couple of days before the rash appears. I start antivirals as early as possible to ward off/reduce the severity of the outbreak.

I hope you don’t get it and your hubby recovers quickly. It may take months after the rash has gone for the pain to go away. I think there is some medication he can take for residual pain.

Good luck

[Gjkas]

When I had Shingles a few years ago my GP put me on Antibiotics. But my Husband was in hospital at the same time and she told me not to visit him.

I have also had the Shingles without the rash..I had Chickenpox as a child.

I also had the vaccine BEFORE i had the Shingles. But it didn't stop me from getting it. Oh my G.P also tolď me not to go by any pregnant women. I can't think of anything else to tell you.

But I hope you feel better soon. 😊

[Gjkas]

Oh thanks ,our Doctor gave me 5 days of Doxycline because I am Allergic to Penicillin. I've got an appointment with her tomorrow afternoon. I'll bring that up with her..

Thanks NannyNooNoo.

Goodnight Godbless x Gjkas

[NannyNooNoo]

GP said I should be fine, so 🤞🤞🤞! Thanks to everyone who has helped x

[oldtimer]

There are virus particles in the blisters of shingles in the first few days only. If you don't touch them you would not be at risk.

It's the same virus as chickenpox which hides away in the nerve root and re-appears when something triggers it off. If you have had had chickenpox then you could develop shingles yourself and having the shingles immunisation raises your immune protection so that any attacks are short-lived and less serious.

[NannyNooNoo in reply to oldtimer]

Thankyou

[Bhasvic64]

Hi there check with your gp, but I was told I couldn't have a shingles jab as it is a live virus. I have methotrexate injections so maybe different for you.

[medway-lady]

It isn't contagious unless you've not had chicken pox. Your cannot catch Shingles its a virus stays in the body from a previous attack of chicken pox. It really hurts so my sympathy to OH I had it in July still taking pain killers.

[NannyNooNoo]

Spoke to rheumy today - she said to stay away from OH as far as possible, that taking immunosuppressant means that there’s a chance of picking up the virus; but that we’re doing all the right things (hygiene, separate towels, separate beds etc), so 🤞🤞that will be enough 😊😊