dvdjunkie32

His doctor confirmed today that he has a major case of shingles, broken out all of his back. He's been in a lot of pain.

Shingles is one of those things I've heard horror stories about, and pray I never experience this shit. Unfortunately, the timing is awful since my plan is to spend Thanksgiving at my parents house for a couple of days.

From what I've read online, the stuff is highly contagious, but you're safe if you've had chicken pox. My mom is fairly certain I've had the pox, but not 100%. The hypochrondriac side of me is telling me not to risk it. I don't wanna spend my holiday in bed.


Anyone out there been in this situation? I'm wondering if I just keep my distance from dad at the dinner table. haha

Venusian

How do you not know if you had chicken pox?

Shazam

You can still get it even if you've had chicken pox, but the chance is fairly small.

Some people get extremely mild cases of chicken pox, especially if you're very young.

PopcornTreeCt

I had a slight case of shingles. Felt like parts of my body were broken or really sore. Not that painful mind you, just annoying.

Sucks about Thanksgiving, awful timing. If that were me I probably wouldn't come out of my room.

Noonan

x2

I'll never forget having to deal with that mess. It's one of the few memories I have from being ~5 or younger.

X

I had chickenpox when I was a kid and get a really bad case of shingles in college. I think I got it from being near somebody whose kid currently had chickenpox. It was horrible, just a breath across my chest was extremely painful. I think your nerve endings are exposed.

My doctor gave me cortisone which he said would help prevent it from recurring if you took it the first time you got it. I never got it again. Nobody near me got it from me.

Lateralus

I had shingles back in 2004, it was on the front of my leg and right on my shin bone, it oozed blood and puss and hurt like hell! Nobody ever caught it from me, I even went to work before I knew what it was; I figured I needed to see the doctor when the blood soaked through my pants. Good times!

Not sure about being contagious, I would hate for anybody to miss out on Thanksgiving because of that. One would think that it would be contagious the first couple days of infection but I don't have any medical proof to back that up.

TGM

He cannot give you shingles, he can only potentially give you chicken pox.

fumanstan

Maybe if you were too young to remember? I got chicken pox when I was in first grade or something, so I only vaguely remember it.

big whoppa

I got chicken pox. My mom (a senior) had shingles. I think there was itching too. Even after treatment, it takes a while to get rid of it. I hung around her and didn't catch anything.

Kittydreamer

Sorry to hear about your dad, that can't be fun.

Here's hoping he feels better soon.

big whoppa

I saw at Safeway they have shots to prevent shingles. Probably the thing to do if you're a senior.

NORML54601

just don't lick them and you'll be ok

Sonic

Never heard of shingles, I pray I won't get that. But I did have chicken pox twice when i was a kid.

The Infidel

I had them for a short time last year. Had some itching, almost a burning sensation, all across my back. Doctor gave me some Valtrex, and it cleared up fairly quickly.

NORML54601

Are you sure you didn't have back herpes?

TGM

technically that's shingles. Herpes zoster.

dvdjunkie32

I'll probably suck it up and go. My GF is planning to come also, but she has already had shingles and no worry for her. A friend told me last night that they smell really bad. Great, now I'm gonna have the though of smelly oozing blisters on my mind at the Thanksgiving table. My dad is the type where he doesn't voluntarily go to the doctor unless it is really really bad, and he did last week so it must not be a mild case.

TGM

1. YOU CAN'T CATCH SHINGLES.

2. SHINGLES GENERALLY DO NOT SMELL. If they do, then your Dad smells with or without them and
you need to have a sitdown and talk about his personal hygiene.

3. Sounds like you're just looking for an excuse not to go, which is fine, and I can almost understand that, but you're making a big deal out of nothing.

mbs

I had shingles in grad school. My girlfriend at the time had not had chicken pox (nor the vaccine) and didn't catch anything.

In my experience... shingles are not that bad, especially once you start taking the drugs (valtrex). I even waited 4 days before going to the doctor (I thought it was a rash that would do away). It itched, but really wasn't a big deal.

FiveO

Never had shingles...but I did have chicken pox as a senior in high school.

Th0r S1mpson

My dad's roof is leaking, maybe they should get together.

Kurt D

^ Honorary lock. No more can be done here.

Double_Oh_7

Twice? I'm pretty sure you can only get chicken pox once in your lifetime.

NORML54601

It's pretty rare, but I believe you can get it more than once.