Shingles….anyone had it?

And is it as bad as everyone says. Just been diagnosed. Feel ok, other than my leg is covered in a horrible, prickly, blistering rash.

I was planning a long cycle tomorrow, in preparation for my first sportive next weekend. Should I bin the idea of cycling enitrely, or just bash on and MTFU?

Also, how contagious is it? I’m assuming I don’t want to be going into my office, or into the pub?

ta

Should I bin the idea of cycling enitrely

Yes, it’s potentially extremely dangerous. I know this guy very well :

Cyclist Recycled!

It’s been suggested that John got shingles so severely because he kept pushing himself with his cycling.

Of course some people just get it very mildly.

how contagious is it?

I don’t think it’s contagious at all, the virus is already in you and stays there for the rest of your life only emerging to cause symptoms if triggered by something such as a weaken immune system, iirc.

It can be quite sore when the blisters appear and this can be sorted with paracetamol. Treatment is usually anti viral drugs mainly aciclovir from your Gp.

As long as other people don’t touch it it shouldn’t spread, if people haven’t had chicken pox as children and they touch you they will get chicken pox. You can cover the blisters with a none stick dressing ask your Gp.

Shouldn’t stop you working unless the pain is unbearable. But pain relief does help.

Personally I’d stay off till the blisters dry up. Complications are postherpetic neuralgia which does hurt.

thanks Earnie…thats kind of made up my mind for me right there…

To add some balance:

I had it….. it was fine.

It did get a bit painful a few weeks-in, but nothing a few OTC painkillers couldn’t sort out.

To be fair, I did feel a bit run down and so wasn’t exercising.

Previous thread from a few weeks ago

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Shingles/Pages/Introduction.aspx

I don’t think it’s contagious at all, the virus is already in you and stays there for the rest of your life only emerging to cause symptoms if triggered by something such as a weaken immune system, iirc.

Close, you can’t give them shingle but you can give them chicken pox.

Had it. Pleased it was only covering a small patch. It went away, I never want it back!

herpes zoster, wiki is actually quite good in this case, and yes, stay off the bike and chill, your immune system needs to go full bore at it and riding takes power away from the immune

GWS

Had it 16 years ago. It felt a bit like cigarette burns on the worst bits but most of the time it wasn’t too bad.

FiL has had it for years. It’s not been good, around the eyes now so not very nice. Made worse by the local GP’s not offering anti viral drugs, which he has got himself from the internet. They also suggested a hot bath. Great in a flat with only a shower.
Hope you get rid of it soon.

Had it round my ankle a few years ago. Took the antiviral drugs and that seemed to stop it tracking round my foot. The doc then asked me to stop taking them and see a specialist as a week or so was “too long” for the shingles to have gone on That was a mistake as the specialist then mixed up my medical notes with someone else’s and took me off the antiviral so which had previously definitely reduced the symptoms. I ended up having it for a month and gave up with the specialist. If u can get the antiviral a I would take them. Rest is a good idea, I don’t think I did that enough.

I got it a couple of months back. Affected my left bollok and upper leg. Felt like I’d been punched in the nuts except the pain never subsided.

I was planning a long cycle tomorrow, in preparation for my first sportive next weekend. Should I bin the idea of cycling enitrely, or just bash on and MTFU?

Mine just left me weary, best to rest like any vius otherwise you’ll never get over it and it’ll just get worse.

Also, how contagious is it? I’m assuming I don’t want to be going into my office, or into the pub?

It’s chickenpox, avoid kids and ask arround the office to make sure everyones had it. If it’s on a covered bit of your body then no need to worry unless you make a point of rubbing up against co-workers.

I had it about 10 or 12 years ago – just felt absolutely drained for a week or so. The blisters weren’t really painful, just not very pleasant.

I’d sack in the ride for this week – just recover and do it when you’re better which will hopefully be soon.

I had it on my head / face a few years back, I did’nt actually know you could get it in that area. Bloody Horrible, even had blisters on my eyeball which i had to apply Aclivor cream into.
It actually made my cry (the virus).

After 6 weeks I thought I was ok, I wasn’t. Take it easy….

Close, you can’t give them shingle but you can give them chicken pox.

Yeah sorry I thought about afterwards, I meant you can’t catch shingles or give it to anyone. It’s the result of a previously dormant virus but like all viruses unless you’re born with it you need to catch it from a contiguous person at some stage.

Some people worry they might catch shingles from someone with chickenpox, that isn’t going to happen although they might catch chickenpox if they’ve never had it before.

yes the other thread was me about 2 months ago. I felt tired for a month or so after so just rested. The spots went after 2 weeks & swimming in the sea really helped – the salt just sucks away the pain & itching.

After the rash goes you get a pain under the skin where the spots are, like someone wacked you in the stomach.

I have no scars now but I didn’t itch the spots. I didn’t try any of the creams prescribed either.

Go to the doc & listen to his advice.

Why increase your risk of a 6 month recovery and nerve damage?

Rest up.

Btw your immune system could be off so why add more stress?

Had it 2 or 3 years ago with the spots/blisters on the top of my head. The mrs says you can still see the pot marks they left. Little bit of pain, nothing major, but felt very run down. Had a week off work as i just couldn’t do more that 2 hours without going back to sleep.

Took a good 2-3 weeks to get back to normal so i think the long rides best cancelled this weekend.

If you get shingles above your chest zone (especially the head) I suggest you keep an eye on your health. Traditionally, we consider this the trigger point of more serious ailments so don’t underestimate shingles as they are warning signs.

Also if you get shingles on any part of your body – please take note of the “starting points/spots” and the “middle points/spots” then the “final ending points/spots” of those shingles.

Update again later …

edit: yep had it … no medication whatsoever just “catching” those three points above. All good in one week.