Shingles

Plain and simple. This sucks. I'm very sorry you're going through this. My FIL had them and it was rough. I'm in the middle of the vaccine right now and will be getting the second dose in a week or so. Good luck and hope things feel better soon.

 

So sorry you are going through this. Hopefully you'll have a mild case and you feel better soon.
One thing that can happen is lingering or permanent nerve damage called Post Herpetic Neuralgia. My ex got shingles in 2014 on his neck just below his ear and he lost his hearing in that ear and he's still dealing with really bad nerve pain.
Everyone should get the Shingrix vaccine.

 

I had it on my face ten years ago. Immensely painful. I wasn’t in any shape to go camping. Took a month for the blistering to stop feeling like fire, then a few years for the damaged nerves to heal. Everyone is different of course. Even though it’s a dormant version of the chicken pox virus, it’s not as contagious to other people as it’s parent virus, thank goodness. Still, you can spread it if your blisters are weeping. Talk to the people in your group, see if they are comfortable with going still. Let them make the call. If your camper doesn’t have its own toilet, definitely find a solution that doesn’t involve you going into a public bathroom. I’m sure the risk is low, but still nice to not share the love, ya know whatever you decide, hope you recover soon!

 

Hate to tell you but I had it for 6 weeks. Not fun, take care of yourself. You can can get a vaccination for it but it has to be a year after, which I did. Don't want to go through that again.

 

I had it on the trigeminal nerve (face). Blisters went away fast, headache held on for a month

 

If you have not done so already, get vaccinated with the Shingrix vaccine - its the best option out there. You may still get Shingles, but it will be less severe.

 

Gabapentin is the "good" one. It's used a lot now for pain instead of norco.

Prednisone is a corticosteroid. Be sure to drop dosage as prescribed and not just quit taking it. Valacyclovir is the antiviral.

 

Natures "tramp stamp"

 

I think Anthony is correct, i need to get it and probably update everything else. No one has those records anymore. I remember getting a nail through my foot years back, doctor asked me when i last got a tentis shot, i said your supost to know that i got it here, he said today it is.

 

For something different...2007 I got shingles in my eye. The pain traveled from there, along the left side of my head and stopped at the back of my neck where it felt like a dagger was lodged! there was also weird pressure at the roof of my mouth and behind my nose. It took 3 visits to the doc before they diagnosed it. By that time the meds were too late in helping. The only "rash" was one blister between my eyes. Symptoms lasted weeks, and still get that weird pressure in my neck at times.

 

So sorry you guys have gotten this... talk about being blind-sided by something we thought was a childhood disease of not much consequence. My mother in law got in in her 80's and the nerve pain never went away..........BUT HERE IS AN UPDATE from my medical providers: there has been a vaccine for some time, but they have found out that it loses potency after "a while". There is a NEW VACCINE given in two stages, injections usually a month apart that is supposed to be permanent. SO PLEASE DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOR, and if you ever had chickenpox, dont even Remember if you had chickenpox, or had a vaccine some time ago, PLEASE go check out the new vaccine....and GET IT... because Shingles are definitely debilitating and the effects can unfortunately be long lasting and painful. All my best wishes to those who are suffering thru this...

 

Take the gabapentin with you. Once you get to your campsite, you can take it if needed. No sense in suffering with a pain surge if you don't have to.

 

I think he has a case of beer for that.