Ouch, I have shingles

EllieP

Worshipped Member
Gold
Joined
Sep 21, 2009
Posts
9,923
Media
4
Likes
22,057
Points
318
Location
USA
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Female
My best friend in Atlanta contracted shingles once. We were worried that he hadn't been in the office for two days, so I called him. Mike said he couldn't come in because of his treatment. So as a good friend I brought soup that night. When I walked into his apartment it reeked of weed! I mean real bad! And I didn't know Mike was a toker.

He says it was his treatment. I asked if the doctor has prescribed it and he laughed and said "not a medical doctor." I asked if it helped with the pain, and he said no, but he didn't care anymore.

I'm not advocating doing anything illegal, but it got Mike through it, I guess.

I also remember when I was little that my Dad told Mum that Uncle Cecil had brought home a case of chicken pox from work. My little sis was so upset that Dad didn't bring a case home for us. She thought it was some kind of cereal.
 

midlifebear

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2007
Posts
5,789
Media
0
Likes
174
Points
133
Location
Nevada, Buenos Aires, and Barçelona
Sexuality
60% Gay, 40% Straight
Gender
Male
Hilaire:

Sorry to hear of your condition. Acyclovir usually will stop the blisters and pain in one or two days. Only problem is if you live in the USA you practically have to mortgage your home to afford the medication -- even with insurance. In Argentina the exact same drug costs about $12 US in Pesos. But you have to take it four times a day for two weeks.

There are newer and even more expensive drugs, but no more effective than Acyclovir.

The good news is that as long as you minimize stress in your life and maintain a good immune system by taking care of yourself, you can minimize the outbreaks.

Just be certain not to accidentally touch your eyes while treating the blisters on you body. Herpes Zoster has no problem spreading to other places on your body if you're not careful. However, it isn't communicable once it's developed into Shingles.

Once again, a good reason to have your children get the chicken pox vaccine.

EDIT: Some have suggested that Shingles causes a bad odor. Total myth, unless you only bathe once a week or less. Here are some things to think about that are not myths regarding outbreaks of shingles.

1. If you come in contact with children who are at the beginning, middle, or final stages of chick pox that's enough to jump start your immune system to the virus and cause an outbreak.

2. Stress, even if you don't believe you are suffering any stress, is enough to weaken you're immune system and allow an outbreak.

3. Not eating a balanced diet (or at least not supplementing your diet with a multivitamin) is a good way to leave your self open for an outbreak.

4. If you suffer shingles on your thigh, back of your arm, or across one side of your abdomen, you can break the blisters and treat them with regular rubbing alcohol when they initially appear. However, you have to keep breaking the skin and drowning the open blisters with loads of rubbing alcohol. Yes, there is a risk to causing a secondary infection, but this rather painful treatment does work by killing the virus contained in the blisters and drying the blisters so they heal. But it is a bit drastic. But if you live in a tropical country, that's the usual home remedy because the blisters, if allowed to run their course, can lead to much worse infections.

5. Acyclovir, the same drug prescribed for genital herpes, works. It's just a drag to have to take it four times a day for two weeks. But it will stop the pain within two days and the blisters usually dry out on their own. There is a newer version of Acyclovir that you take once a day, but in medical trials it doesn't work as well as the old-fashioned version of that particular antiviral with Shingles.

6. Don't be too depressed about Shingles. It's just a latent result of having had chicken pox. Probably 50% of the human population who has had chicken pox ends up with one or more outbreaks of Shingles in their lifetime.
 
Last edited:

B_Nicodemous

Experimental Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2010
Posts
4,366
Media
0
Likes
18
Points
73
Sexuality
No Response
Actually, it has more to do with a lifeguard leaving me to fend for myself as a young boy and fearing I was going to drown. Well, that and the smell.
Oh nos! :frown:I almost (well felt like it) drowned twice in a public pool: Once during swim lessons (the instructor wasn't paying attention to me, as I wandered off t the deep end) and another time by a friends brother as he threw me repeatedly and dunked me and I couldn't catch my breath (i was afraid i would inhale water and therefore drown)

The other two times i was at the beach. The first was getting bounced around in the surf and not being able to tell up from down. I was, what...let's see my dad was still in the picture..and sober...so i am going to say 7. The other time was getting caught in a riptide. Thank God i just swam sideways (tried swimming to shore for all of, 2 minutes.) It took me 10 minutes to trot back to where my parents were. Though that time I don't really count as I was too young to have known the seriousness of what had happened.

I actually like the chlorine smell of chlorinated pools, as well as the smell of the ocean. But i may be just odd. Strangely i don't care for the mild smell of salt water pools.:confused:
Of course you're invited! My devastatingly beautiful Claridges companion is always on the guest list to my parties... :biggrin1:




I'll pay your fair Nico, I will need a Gentleman's Gentleman after all :biggrin1::wink:
:redface:
 

MickeyLee

Mythical Member
Staff
Moderator
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Posts
33,739
Media
7
Likes
49,857
Points
618
Location
neverhood
Sexuality
90% Gay, 10% Straight
after about the first week, pool water is nothing but old pee and chemicals.
Mr. MoT is wise to avoid them.
 

ManofThunder

Legendary Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Posts
4,820
Media
52
Likes
1,913
Points
248
Location
UK
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
Oh nos! :frown:I almost (well felt like it) drowned twice in a public pool: Once during swim lessons (the instructor wasn't paying attention to me, as I wandered off t the deep end) and another time by a friends brother as he threw me repeatedly and dunked me and I couldn't catch my breath (i was afraid i would inhale water and therefore drown)

The other two times i was at the beach. The first was getting bounced around in the surf and not being able to tell up from down. I was, what...let's see my dad was still in the picture..and sober...so i am going to say 7. The other time was getting caught in a riptide. Thank God i just swam sideways (tried swimming to shore for all of, 2 minutes.) It took me 10 minutes to trot back to where my parents were. Though that time I don't really count as I was too young to have known the seriousness of what had happened.

I actually like the chlorine smell of chlorinated pools, as well as the smell of the ocean. But i may be just odd. Strangely i don't care for the mild smell of salt water pools.:confused:
Sorry to hear that, Nico! It's not a nice experience, especially when you're young. I think I associate the chlorine smell with my memory, so it seems horrible. The ocean can smell nice, but some of the UK destinations have (or had)...questionable things floating in the water. Blackpool was particularly bad, from what I remember. I think they may have cleaned it actually. Anyway, in my case I was 8-10 years old and was on a swimming trip with my school. I was uncomfortable in the changing room which didn't help. So, I was already nervous when I was told to jump into the middle of the pool. The two lifeguard-types were wearing sun-glasses (I don't know why - it was an indoor pool) and sitting on one of those high-chair things. Everyone else was busy having fun and I was alone, sinking. I was holding my breath and so scared. As I sank, my arm was up, waving for help. I could see the so-called lifeguards through the water-ripples, laughing (or at least smiling). Thankfully, my hand brushed against one of those ropes that divide the pool and I was able to pull myself out. I'm still not too fond of water, but it's not a crippling fear. I swim occasionally.

after about the first week, pool water is nothing but old pee and chemicals.
Mr. MoT is wise to avoid them.
Yes! I remember the urinating children too... I like to swim (well, float) occasionally. It works some awkward muscles and keeps me in practice. I always think it's worth knowing how to swim. But, if I had the choice I'd never go near them again.
 
Last edited:

B_Nicodemous

Experimental Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2010
Posts
4,366
Media
0
Likes
18
Points
73
Sexuality
No Response
*pictures MoT floating all naked and helpless in a nice warm, clean, clear, non chloriney smelling pool*

Hilaire? We need somewhere that has these specs for your "yay i am shingle free" party!

You have connections, make it happen!
 

D_Tim McGnaw

Account Disabled
Joined
Aug 30, 2009
Posts
5,420
Media
0
Likes
110
Points
133
*pictures MoT floating all naked and helpless in a nice warm, clean, clear, non chloriney smelling pool*

Hilaire? We need somewhere that has these specs for your "yay i am shingle free" party!

You have connections, make it happen!



I do have connections, I know the people behind these GORGEOUS shades - RETROSUPERFUTURE® — Just Released Maybe I'll have them knock up some limited editions especially for the gift-bags at my bash. :cool::tongue:
 

FleshlightMouth

Superior Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Nov 6, 2004
Posts
2,543
Media
90
Likes
3,187
Points
593
Location
Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
I had them once about 17 years ago, after visiting friends with kids whose pre-school class had the chicken pox going around.... nothing since but just got the vaccine last week to avoid going through that again... at first I thought it was an acute reaction to Poison Ivy or Sumac but it turned out be the pain monster.

Take good care of yourself and reduce stress, baby!
 

midlifebear

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2007
Posts
5,789
Media
0
Likes
174
Points
133
Location
Nevada, Buenos Aires, and Barçelona
Sexuality
60% Gay, 40% Straight
Gender
Male
Hilare:

Sorry, but they all look like RayBans. As for pools turning to pee, the cure is to own your own pool (something I recently did this summer). Maiguel, and his gorgeous Cubano ass, coms by every Thursday and strips down to stay dry as he cleans my pool.

As for the chicken pox vaccine, there is some anecdotal evidence that even if you've had shingles in the past, having the vaccine helps prevent any new outbreaks.