Re: Shingles - They're Back

[Guest guest]

Dear Barbara,

I'm so sorry your shingles has flared up again. I hope it calms

down and that your harvest goes smoothly. Will look forward to

your updates.

Our weather here on Cape Cod has been very warm & very, very humid.

Much dryer today & it feels great.

God bless.

love,

Kathy

> Hi all. Thought I'd give you all a quick update. I am getting

ready

> to head to MDACC next week in Houston to start the stem cell

harvest

> process. Looks like I have shingles AGAIN - this time in my

right

> arm. Ironically, a week after I started Gleevec two years ago, I

got

> shingles (in my leg). A week after I stopped the Gleevec in

> preparation for the harvest, I got them again. It started as pain

in

> my shoulder and slowly creeped down my arm. I immediately knew

the

> pain was shingles pain. For those of you who have had shingles,

> it's excruciating. I went to the dr. and he's put me on Valtrex

to

> limit the severity of the illness and I am taking 800 mg of

Ibuprofen

> for pain (and boy - is it painful). Wouldn't it figure that

this

> would happen with poor timing. I had hoped to used both arms for

the

> harvest so we'll have to see if that option is still a possibility.

>

> I plan to post to the group through out the process to keep

everyone

> posted and updated. I also hope to take some digital pics that

I'll

> attempt to put in the files.

>

> Hope this finds everyone doing well. It's hotter than blazes here

in

> NC. Stay cool and talk to you all soon!

>

> Love,

> Barb

[Guest guest]

Hey Barb - I'm so sorry about the shingles. They're the WORST! I've been

spared them myself so far, happily, but have treated a number of folks with

them, and they're the WORST. I hope you're feeling a bit better by now.

Love,

R

> Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 21:52:32 -0000

> From: " bheathcote201 " <bheath@...>

> Subject: Shingles - They're Back

>

> Hi all. Thought I'd give you all a quick update. I am getting ready

> to head to MDACC next week in Houston to start the stem cell harvest

> process. Looks like I have shingles AGAIN - this time in my right

> arm. Ironically, a week after I started Gleevec two years ago, I got

> shingles (in my leg). A week after I stopped the Gleevec in

> preparation for the harvest, I got them again. It started as pain in

> my shoulder and slowly creeped down my arm. I immediately knew the

> pain was shingles pain. For those of you who have had shingles,

> it's excruciating. I went to the dr. and he's put me on Valtrex to

> limit the severity of the illness and I am taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen

> for pain (and boy - is it painful). Wouldn't it figure that this

> would happen with poor timing. I had hoped to used both arms for the

> harvest so we'll have to see if that option is still a possibility.

>

> I plan to post to the group through out the process to keep everyone

> posted and updated. I also hope to take some digital pics that I'll

> attempt to put in the files.

>

> Hope this finds everyone doing well. It's hotter than blazes here in

> NC. Stay cool and talk to you all soon!

>

> Love,

> Barb

[Guest guest]

, Barb, does any one know how long this condition can last? I have

had something on my rear area (not back, not legs, just the rear) for 2 months

now. At first I thought it was bug bites again, then I thought impetigo

like two years ago from Belize but it has localized itself there, not spread.

Nothing I do gets rid of it. (No lotions, medicated powders, salt soaks,

etc)It is not painful but uncomfortable in this heat. At the hospital a doctor

looked at it and said, " heat rash, " another looked and said, " Shingles " but no

one offered to put me on anything for it. I guess I shall have to call again

at the end of my vacation and ask for an appt. but just wondered if shingles

could last 2 months? It is like a slightly raised red pimple that turns

into a sore and does not heal - Lynne A.

[Guest guest]

Ok. Lynn and everyone who may have any knowledge about this topic...

I have had a problem like this myself for over a year now.

It's been difficult for me to discuss on the list because of the location of

these pimples which turn into very painful sores. I finally told my

hematologist about this and he asked me to let him know when it occurs again

so he can get me to see an associate of his who is a dermatologist.

My sores are located in my pubic hair area. At the top of the hair line and

not in the private area at all. Over a year ago I told my regular physician

and he prescribed Zovirax assuming it was herpes but never tested

(assuming there is such a test) That did not help at all.

These painful blistering sores start out looking like a pimple and then turn

a red to purple color before busting open.

I have one or 2 at a time and then a few week break before one or 2 more

appear. It's been very difficult dealing with this and a very embarrassing

situation to talk about.

I know it is not herpes, but also know it is something that's not right.

There is also another member I speak to privately who has them in the same

area and where Lynn said she has hers.

Neither of us has been able to figure out what to do about this problem or

how to relieve the pain with the exception of hot compresses.

I actually have scarring from my sores and have resulted to shaving as much

as I can since it appears that the pimple starts in the hair follicle?

Oh BTW, a year prior to my diagnosis- I had endured numerous outbreaks of a

small rash on my left thigh... same spot always -sort of like a patch

Shingles had never even crossed my mind until after being diagnosed. But no

episodes in the last 5 years.

Message: 10

Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 10:39:15 EDT

From: MoonQn1@...

Subject: Re: Re: Shingles - They're Back

, Barb, does any one know how long this condition can last? I have

had something on my rear area (not back, not legs, just the rear) for 2

months

now. At first I thought it was bug bites again, then I thought impetigo

like two years ago from Belize but it has localized itself there, not

spread.

Nothing I do gets rid of it. (No lotions, medicated powders, salt soaks,

etc)It is not painful but uncomfortable in this heat. At the hospital a

doctor

looked at it and said, " heat rash, " another looked and said, " Shingles " but

no

one offered to put me on anything for it. I guess I shall have to call

again

at the end of my vacation and ask for an appt. but just wondered if

shingles

could last 2 months? It is like a slightly raised red pimple that turns

into a sore and does not heal - Lynne A.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynne,

Shingles can easily last two months. They are ALWAYS only on one side

though, so if this crosses the midline at all, then it's not shingles. In

the active phase, shingles looks like little blisters, btw - though this

might be hard for you to see, given the location! It also hurts a LOT,

usually, so if this is merely sensitive, then it's probably not shingles.

You might want to consult a dermatologist about it, if you haven't already.

Cheers,

> Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 10:39:15 EDT

> From: MoonQn1@...

> Subject: Re: Re: Shingles - They're Back

>

> , Barb, does any one know how long this condition can last? I have

> had something on my rear area (not back, not legs, just the rear) for 2

> months

> now. At first I thought it was bug bites again, then I thought impetigo

> like two years ago from Belize but it has localized itself there, not

> spread.

> Nothing I do gets rid of it. (No lotions, medicated powders, salt soaks,

> etc)It is not painful but uncomfortable in this heat. At the hospital a

> doctor

> looked at it and said, " heat rash, " another looked and said, " Shingles " but

> no

> one offered to put me on anything for it. I guess I shall have to call again

> at the end of my vacation and ask for an appt. but just wondered if shingles

> could last 2 months? It is like a slightly raised red pimple that turns

> into a sore and does not heal - Lynne A.