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From the responses on this thread I am surprised by how many on STW have had shingles and even more surprised by the apparent severity.
I wonder if as cyclists STWers are more prone to the open window theory by which the immune system is said to be weakened for a few hours after intense exercise. It would in theory provide an opportunity for the dormant chicken pox virus, I guess.
I was visiting my cousin Friday evening, and she caught shingles some years ago, and found it was really uncomfortable, didn’t help she was working in a hospital at the time. She was prescribed Amitriptyline, for its analgesic properties, same reason I take it, but in my case it’s because of the effects of the swelling in my wrists from arthritis.
I had a shingles vaccine yesterday afternoon, which will be followed by a booster in six months, so 🤞🏻it’ll keep me free from it.
I did catch chickenpox many years ago, but I’ve been lucky and not have it get into my nervous system.
I wonder if as cyclists STWers are more prone to the open window theory by which the immune system is said to be weakened for a few hours after intense exercise. It would in theory provide an opportunity for the dormant chicken pox virus, I guess.
I should be safe then, not sure any of my rides qualify as intense!
My only advice is don't go up in to the attic and then scrape your back on the hatch sides.
I was doing fine until then.
The blisters have stopped advancing down my leg and the itching is subsiding. Bumping or catching the leg can still be a little "exciting" though.
I wonder if as cyclists STWers are more prone to the open window theory by which the immune system is said to be weakened for a few hours after intense exercise.
I've wondered that myself. I'm one of those people who never gets sick, but had a bout of shingles 16 years ago, aged 41 (right side of scalp, forehead and round my eye, which can be a problem but wasn't in my case). I'd been on an extended bike trip round the Highlands in challenging weather, rough camping most of the way. Feeling a bit run down, I rode into Ben Alder Cottage. On the way out, it felt like someone had whacked me over the head with a cricket bat, and the other symptoms developed over the next few days. I was surprised at the time as shingles was something I associate with old people who have knackered immune systems.
Wasn't too painful other than the initial cricket bat phase, just a bit of itching. Didn't take any drugs.
From the responses on this thread I am surprised by how many on STW have had shingles and even more surprised by the apparent severity.
Well here's my take on it.
Cases of Shingles went up after Covid (2020) .
Covid gave a big kicking to a lot of peoples immune system.
Not surprisingly, cyclists and runners ( even at an amateur level) can be more aware (on a day to day basis)of how their body is feeling/performing.
They are also a group that often (around a race or event)will try to 'push through' feeling a bit rough,or can be desperate to get back to a training plan.
It is contagious. I had it and was treated as it being a contagion risk. My wife caught chicken pox at the time.
Thank you for reminding me about Shingles. I have an overactive immune system that would react badly to Shingles. I put in a request to my doctor with my condition. I have AS, so it would really screw me up. I hope they agree.
BR
JeZ
It is contagious. I had it and was treated as it being a contagion risk. My wife caught chicken pox at the time.
Perhaps coincidentally I developed shingles towards the end of chickenpox doing the rounds with kids of friends. Dunno if it's possible to catch chickenpox and have it only present as shingles? In theory it shouldn't but seems a strange coincidence.
Well here's my take on it.
You missed the STW demographic 😉
shingles was something I associate with old people who have knackered immune systems.
You missed the STW demographic
I was trying to be kind,but you have flagged it up now 🙃
Update:
Had two original patches of blisters that stopped “leaking” after about a week.
The antivirals seemed to work very well as all the blisters that appeared after I started on them were a bit “half arsed” and disappeared within a day or so without getting all gooey and angry.
Then I had the feeling that I was being needle gunned on my right leg, hip, groin and shoulder blade that lasted about a fortnight, with the shoulder blade being the last to clear.
Most uncomfortable aspect was the aching hip and groin. Unpleasant, but not too nasty.
I suspect that I got off lightly.
My mum (age 69) had the 2nd shingles vaccine jab last Thursday and is experiencing hellish burning and tingling in her feet and tingling in her hands, before getting the jab she mentioned to the nurse that she was on doxycycline (I told her to mention this as antibiotics/immune response = trouble sometimes) for suspected lymes disease after getting a rash from a tick bite, the nurse thought about it then said it’d be fine.
I had a look online at various published/peer reviewed medical papers over the weekend and it stated that there is a chance of developing Guillain Barre Syndrome which is exacerbated by certain antibiotics as the micro biome in the gut is affecting the body’s ability to deal with the shingles vaccine.
Having SPMS which is a disease of the immune system and permanently on Nitrofurantoin (urine/bladder infection) means over the past 10 years I’ve read shitloads on our immune system and how it responds so I was wary of her getting the vaccine whilst on the antibiotics
She’s been up to docs this morning and he looked it up and agreed that it may be an issue and if it gets worse to contact him, bugger…..hope it clears up.
Just avoid anyone that is at risk (ie, pregnant women and babies).
This is just good advice in general.
I suspect that I got off lightly.
Hold your optimism for a bit - sometimes the nerves decide they're not done with dishing out pain and will remind you of this at random for a few weeks/months.
I had Chicken Pox as an adult (in my 20's, so barely an adult), then another chicken pox like flare up in my 30's when my kids had it. Doctor at the time told me that I would be a prime candidate for shingles at some point and explained the symptoms. Flu like for a day or two, then the painful to touch patch, like a hot poker on my skin, likely to appear on my back. And to head directly to the GP if this happened.
Exactly that did happen a few years ago, Dr prescribed some antiviral meds, and told me to follow the dosage TO THE LETTER. 2 tabs immediately, the one EVERY 8 Hours. This was about 10 years ago, and got better very quickly. Nothing since, but still primed for any recurrence.
The patch where the rash appeared is weirdly sensitive, nothing painful, just seems to be a tiny feeling all the time. It's where I have a previous scar too, so maybe something in that.
My Wife has AS. Very very rare in women, and mild when they do get it. Still, it has affected her in a myriad of ways. A real sod of a condition.
Shingles aren't contagious
That's not the current advice, cover the rash to prevent shedding and you're good to go is what I was told in 2016-ish. A bit painful after a stress related flare-up then. I had chicken pox around 50 years ago and gave to my dad who was in his 30's. Apparently adult chickenpox is awful worse than 'man flu'.