Shingles ?

[Guest guest]

I am on Glivec which has skin reactions as one of its side effects, including

rashes, shingles etc.

I have had various types of skin reactions from shingles, to a weird blood

blister rash that lasted several weeks

, to welts, hives, and other types of rashes that at one time drs thought was a

skin virus (they did not know)

at present very thin skin and sun sensitivity. I am obviously one of the

senstive skin people that glivec reacts to.

Your explanation of your rash does not sound like shingles at all from my

experience - but your specialist should

be able to advise.

You can have shingles anywhere on the body or inside of the body for that

matter. Can be a very serious condition.

You must be very clean in your hygiene habits with shingles, as you do not want

to pass on the virus to other

areas of your body, like eyes, face, mouth, ears etc .......... can lead to

other medical concerns.

Normally shingles has a common thread much like the cold sore herpes virus.

Tingling in the area of the shingle locality, becomes inflamed, blisters,

becomes a sore and disappears.

However this can take weeks etc - the worst shingle activity is normally the

first - if your immune system

is compromised more in one area that is perhaps the area that may continue to

have attacks.

Keep out of the sun - white zinc cream on blisters works a treat - cover with

gauze - not bandaids -

do not touch blisters while they are blisters or sores with fingers, use a swab.

Shingles can be very contagious

so wash your hands all the time. Don't use soap or use a flannel on shingles at

all. You need to keep the area

dry as possible and you do not want the area to bleed - the skin is very

sensitive. Once you feel tingling in an

area after having shingles it maybe that you are more prone and take defensive

measures asap to stop the

blisters appearing.

You need urgent medical attention with shingles - you do not want it spreading

and cause even more grief.

Can be extremely painful.

My suggestion is to contact your haem / specialist and advise of your rash

reactions especially if shingles.

Valtrex is a fantastic drug for shingles - your haem / specialist will

prescribe - check the dose with glivec or your CML Drug.

You maybe prescribed a lesser dosage than normal and to be used over a shorter

period of time. It is quite a powerful drug -

but will help even on the lower dosages.

Since you are on Sprycel does Sprycel state in the information packs that skin

reactions are one of the main side effects and type,

and if so what type of rash does it state.

Do you know if other CML'ers who are on Sprycel have rashes - it maybe a common

side effect ?

Nothing like a rash to make your day not too flash - Hope you are feeling a

little better soon and doctors can make a diagnosis.

Sue (Aussie)