Comments on: Shingles History

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:09:41 +0000

Hello Maya,
I’m sorry you suffer so badly. I have Shingles at the moment and it hurts!
I have read that Zovirax, applied within 48 hours can lessen the effects. In your place, I would query it with your doctor, it may help if you have another breakout.
Michelle

By: Maya Cifali

Maya Cifali — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:52:15 +0000

I have had “herpes zoster” recurrently, for years… in fact since the age of 10 or so,and always on the side of the nose. But i cannot recall having had chickenpox as a child…so where does it come from? It always starts with a very painful feeling of being skinned alive around the eye and on the cheek up to the skull. It seems that nothing can stop it to erupt! Once the blisters appear then the skinning-tingling sensation subsides and I feel feverish for day or two. the whole course till the crusty bits fall off may take about 10 days. The chickenpox virus is dormant for months, but it becomes awake and makes itself visible when 1) my immune system is weak, that is when I am very tired having overworked with not enough sleep, or 2) when I have had too much to eat and drink (just the one glass too many! or much chocolate) that is always around Christmas time! I am now 72 and have learnt to live with it. But if a cure could be found, would be wonderful… what could you suggest?

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:28:05 +0000

Hi Sandy,

I am so sorry for not checking this site after your reply. Thank you for your thoughts. The shingles have gone away completely, thank goodness.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:55:51 +0000

Mary

I think the comment is in relation to shingles being contagious and should have said that if you have had chicken pox you can’t catch shingles from someone else.

From my reading you are correct I understand you can only develop it if you have had chicken pox.

I’ve got it too – doesn’t it hurt!

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:37:41 +0000

Hello,

I am 52 years old, female, and I just got over shingles 2 weeks ago. I had it in my right hip and down the leg to the knee, and luckily only one sore burst through around my inner knee. It was incredibly painful, I couldn’t believe it.

I just read your article above and found it interesting. However, there seems to be some confusion in your wording that leaves me some questions:

You start the article saying that chickenpox virus lays dormant for years and then erupt later in life in the form of shingles.

However, the 3rd paragraph says if you had chickenpox as a child then you do not get shingles later in life. I am on the understanding that if you ever had chickenpox (regardless of when you got it — as a child or as an adult) you only get shingles if you HAD chickenpox before.

Could you please clarify this point?

Thank you,
Mary