Shingles, ugh! What to use topically?
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Anonymous
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I was diagnosed with shingles Saturday, much to my surprise at age 53 as I didn't think I was old enough. I have no idea where I got it from.
It's as painful as I've heard it is  I am on meds, but the rash is sooo tingly and red and gross. Thankfully today is my day off work but I am scheduled tomorrow. What is a good cream/spray to use on it to keep it from driving me crazy all day?
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Anonymous
| Calamine lotion, but it's messy to apply. |
Anonymous
| Benadryl topical cream or lidocaine patches (Over the counter) |
Anonymous
| My DS got shingles in college so you are not too young. |
Anonymous
Actually there's a great spray version of it now. Dries quickly. Very effective. |
Anonymous
| You got it from yourself. It lives dormant in your body and one day it just acts up. |
Anonymous
| You will need to cover it fully before returning to work - it is contagious |
Anonymous
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50 year olds need to start paying attention to their health -- Get your colonoscopy and the Shirgrex vaccine!
These are 2 that absolutely are proven effective at disease prevention. |
Anonymous
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You don't "get it" from anywhere. Shingles is just a re-emergence of the chicken pox virus that has been in your body since you had chicken pox (probably as a child). Usually, your immune system keeps it from coming forth and making you sick. But, as you age your immune system starts forgetting about it and if you have an issue that suppresses your immune system (such as stress, illness, or medication) then the chicken pox will show up as shingles.
I am SO sorry you got this, because it's painful and unpleasant. I hope the meds kick in and send the virus back to where it came from. |
Anonymous
OP here-it's on the left side of my back and trunk, so it's under my shirt. Oh boy it sure hurts though! |
Anonymous
Op here-I've done the Cologuard, but was not offered the Shingrex-although it seems the age has been lowered to 50 for that. I guess I got it from stress-a parent passed away earlier this year, and work's been a handful also. I guess it all accumulated and lowered my immunity. |
Anonymous
| Shingles isn’t contagious. It’s the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. You can’t pass on shingles to someone else, but they can get chickenpox from you (if they hadn’t already had chickenpox or aren’t vaccinated). |
Anonymous
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Stress is definitely a factor. My mom just had it (she had missed getting the 2d shingles vaccine during covid) from a stressful deadline for a purely volunteer project she was doing for the community. She had it on her back and side and it is still painful, etc weeks later. She did get a special salve that helped a lot.
After seeing my mom suffer for weeks, I encourage everyone eligible to get the Shingrix vaccine -- it is a 2 dose regimen and (post Covid) is very available! |
Anonymous
| Terrasil was the name of the cream my mom used. |
Anonymous
| Maybe lidocaine spray. |