Anyone had shingles?

Hiya Everyone,


Well my heart is just about breaking. My little girl (well 11yrs is till little to me) has been diagnosed with shingles this morning.

An awful blistered rash across the left shoulder blade, and she is having a nightmare with the burning sensations.


The doctor said it is too late for a bash at the antiviral meds and the only advice was to keep it covered and painkillers. Well, I know how informed the people on here can be, and I know the idea of an eleven year old girl going through this will be dreadful to you all so I am appealing to all my friends, and on bended knee to all who aren`t my friends here to please tell me if there are any tips, medications-creams whatever that might help her.

 

Lollipop
My heart goes out to you and your "little" girl.
Im in no way an expert, but I have tracked down this site via this link which seems to have some resonable advise on pain relieve. May be of some use. But I strongly suggest anything you try you pass by your doctor first
robert
http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/n...s/shingles-post-herpetic-neuralgia-00942.html

 

Thanks Caps for the link, had a read and will look into the chilli pepper stuff and the mushroom bath stuff.


JWK-she had chicken pox when she was two and GP says it happens usually when you are older but it does occur in kids her age and development ( she si mature for her age so maybe it`s hormonal too-I don`t know I am only just starting to learn about it)

 

That's so sad for your little girl, lollipop. Truth be told, no-one really knows the true reason for shingles except that, as you know, it's caused by the varicella zoster virus, also responsible for chicken pox.

So far a symptom relief is concerned, the only suggestion I can offer is the use of cold packs. You can rub an ice cube over the lesions and it will give some relief - we always used to give that advice to people when they'd had a BCG vaccination. But perhaps some of those blue gel packs kept in the freezer would be good - bag of peas would do for temporary use - but make sure you wrap in a soft tea towel before use. I've seen them in the Pound Shop in packs of two. Other than that, keep her cool and not over covered in blankets or duvets.

Here's another site with loads about Herpes Zoster (shinges) that you might find interesting.

I gave up on calamine lotion years ago - any effect it has is so transient it's hardly worth the effort!

Hope she gets better really soon.

 

Thankyou very much for all the advice and very helpful links you have all provided. It looks like I will be looking after her for a while but that`s ok, it`s her suffering like that that is so upsetting. I am blown away by the level of pain she seems able to cope with without complaining-such a brave girl.


I am just hoping she will be one of those weeks of disomfort cases rather than those poor souls who can suffer from the after effects for months even years.


Thankyou all very much.

 

Hi Everyone,


I have been out and got the Hypericum Oil, and the Rhus Tox and the ibuprofen for her. I have bags of frozen peas in the freezer at the ready. She has (of her accord) been googling things for herself and she has put herself on a healthy diet and exercise regime that is meant to help her immune system stay strong-as she is vegetarian it means she only has to count how much bread and cheese she eats to stop using them to fill her up(she now has to fill up on greens).

I have got some dressing that can fit over her rash thereby reducing friction across the blisters. And she is now armed with the remote control watching daytime telly with a large glass of ginger and lemon water. It is as amusing as it is admirable to listen to her plans to treat her body like a temple from now on. Clever girl.


Thank you all for the help and advice, and kind wishes, fingers crossed eh?

 

Hello lollipop73,
sorry to hear about your girl. If her diet is not supplying all the nutrients that she needs that in itself could debilitate the immune system - the intake of protein is essential also in a vegetarian diet under shape of pulses, beans, eggs etc...
all the best !

 

Hi Claire sorry to hear about your little lass. I had shingles 4 1/2 years ago and that lead to my ME. It was really awful and I only felt comfy in my fav baggy pjs. I used Eurax cream to stop the itching. I hope she feels better soon

 

My daughter wants me to thank everyone who has helped and sent her their best wishes.

She is a lovely lass ( even if I say so), and wants to say thankyou to the suggestion of the hypericum oil-I have just had a look at the rash and the effect has been astonishing-nowhere near as sore looking, and the frozen peas suggestion she said it helped immediately.

Of course she has had the lot thrown at her so it could very well be a mixture of the above and some good old fashioned rest that has helped alleviate her symptoms today.

I hope it lasts.

But Thanks to you all from a Mum.

 

Poor little soul!
Frozen peas is the answer I found too. I was in tears but luckily the rash didn't break through...Can't imagine how she's coping so well

 

Aww bless glad something is helping her