Crecco: Update

  Hi All,
    I wanted to let you all know just what is going on. After seeing my Dr first thing this morning, I found out that I have shingles, and of all places, on my face.
I have started medication but am still very uncomfortable. So if I am not on for a few days, you will know why, as I do not feel like doing much except sleep.
I will try to check in and see how you are all doing.
   Love Chris

[gah_70]

Oh Chris, bless your heart!  I have never had Shingles, but have heard (and seen) how bad they are.  I am sending thoughts and prayers your way.  Yes please check in as you feel like it and let us know how you're doing.  Ya know, this is inflamation (inflammation) and could possibly be one of the reasons your CA125 was up this time.  Take care.

Love,
Gail

[fungirl1011]

OMG Chris, it is a never ending story huh?  I am so thankful that it is shingles and not something more serious (I know this is horrible, but THIS you can get through in a few weeks).  Please get plenty of rest and check in when you can.  You are always on my mind and in my prayers.  Love, Kasie

[SimplyStar]

were you around some child with the chicken pox,   I had shingles around my waist  when 3 of my kids had chicken pox, I know they are painful, but with treatment it does go away.  good luck hun and keep us posted.  marty

[Jan214]

Dear Chris,

Thank you so much for calling me this morning. As I told you, and this is mostly for others that might read it, I have been getting shingles on the back of my lower thigh near my knee since I was about 9.  It is fairly unusual for children to get it and it is even more unusual for it to come back in the same spot over and over again.  When I started the Gemzar it got horrible.  I had ugly sores all over my waist, my legs, and even my feet.  My onc said that chemo can definitely make it worse and make it spread to places it wouldn't normally spread to.  I have never taken meds for it as it usually clears up on its own.  I only got outbreaks every couple of years, but the area would be tingly, numb and kind of itchy, but I didn't dare scratch it for fear of spreading it. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must be to have it on your face and in your eye.  Please do everything the dr tells you to do as I don't want to see you get eye problems.  Take care of you and thank you for sharing this.  Others may have had the same issue, but didn't know what it was so maybe this will help.  Take care of you, rest and don't worry about us we will be here for you when you get back.
Love,
Jan

[OzBron]

Oh no! I hope that you have managed to get some relief from the discomfort now they know what it is. Sorry to have been so silent but I am travelling with work so not getting to my computer as easily. Please take it easy and listen to your body and your doctors. Bron

[JANDS]

Chris, saw your last post that you have shingles and just wanted to say iam so sorry, you helped me so much when my mum was diagnosed with stage iv and I just wanted to say that I have no doubt that you will come through this fighting as you seem to have great spirit.  As gail said hopefully that is the reason your c125 levels were up. Take care
Jackiex

[jlock]

OMG...I have never heard of shingles to the face...usually the back and rib area!!  I hope you get to feeling better soon.  (((hugz)))~~~~Joanne

[lvfrogs]

Hello Chris,
I am sorry to hear about the shingles. My mom has flare ups of that every so often and it is very painful. My son had it when he was 4, which is highly unusual too.  I do hope that is the reason your CA125 was up! I know you will get through this but so sorry that you have to. Keeping you in my prayers and thoughts, love, Colleen

[bohan54]

Poor Chris.   Gail may be on to something about the CA 125 tho.  Better that the rise may be attributed to shingles than OVCA.  Take it slow and easy, dear.
Sharon

[dawnlyn]

Hi....I am glad you checked in...I am sorry hear about the shingles, I have heard about them and how painful they can be.  Try to get as much rest as you can.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  

Love,
Dawnlyn

[msjazz]

Chris, I am glad it was not a stroke, but I am sorry it is shingles. It can be extremely painful. I know a 65 yr old woman that did nothing but weekly b12 shots and hers quit hurting and went away. I know they have some pill now for it, but you might ask if you can have b12 too. My dr ordered me some B12 for myself for energy, so should be o.k.. Get better soon, Love Donna

[vegas2cr]

Boy am I feeling for you.  I had shingles all over my bald head... It truly was painful and I was miserable for a while...I have since had a couple of small bouts and now am taking acycovair daily to keep it away... hoping you feel better soon.. Love Ronni

[msjazz]

P.  .S., My MIL got a vacine for shingles, and her Dr. told her not to be around me for 2 weeks, or I could get shingles from her active vaccine??? So I avoid children and adults who I know have taken vaccines. Meant to ask my dr. but forgot

[marie3B]

I should have figured that out for you!  My Aunt Rose just got over shingles that started when she thought she had a stye in her eye.  Her beginning symptoms were the same as yours.  Sorry I didn't match it up. I just don't think straight anymore.  I hope they clear up soon.  Aunt Rose was bothered a few weeks with them.  Love, Marie

[marleerose]

I have had shingles on my face, left side, for years. The virus lives in the nerves. I have taken Valtrex on a maintanence level, one per day, for years. This greatly reduces the size of any outbreak. I hope the pain subsides soon and you are back in the saddle. It is related to the Chicken Pox virus, for whatever that is worth. Hugs, healing and positive vibrations to you! Feel better soon.

[PPhelps]

My computer is acting up again. I had typed this big paragraph all out hit post, and got that page that pisses me off. Now maybe hopefully this one wil go through.
As I was saying. Well, I don't know what I saying, but the most important part was get well soon.  Take it easy. Those little buggers are painful. At least my DH always complains they are when he gets them on the back of his neck. Hope you get to feeling better soon. And the girls said above. I bet that is the reason for the elevated CA125. Talk later, Paula

[momofsandj]

My mother had shingles when she had breast cancer ---- I'm so sorry as I understand it is really really painful ---- hopefully you got there early enough for the anriviral to work or at least do some good -- my thoughts and wishes for it to go away soon are with you
Jeanne

[ireneo]

Wow, what a surprise. . . and not even a fun one. I hope the medicine gives you some relief soon. Rest up.

[silver&gold]

Hope you feel better soon Chris .

Take care  Love Angie

[TrudieC]

Feel better soon.  My mother suffers from these and they are definitely not fun.

[Texas Grannie]

Chris, you may not know me. My name is Texas Grannie which tells you quite a bit. I am old and from good ole Texas. When I was 16, I had shingles. Can you imagine my surpprise and chagrin to have blisters from the middle of my chest to the middle of my back? Can you imagine the embarrassment when I had to show the Dr. my chest? I was a good girl, I was. He covered all the blisters with some kind of lotion and then he bound me with gauze like stuff. He told  me when to come back. When I came back, I disrobed again and sat on the table. Without warning he grabbed the binding and pulled as hard as he could. He popped every blister and I almost went through the ceiling. Aren't you glad you live in a more civilized time? I know how painful shingles are and they take so long to heal. Maybe they have new medicine that heals faster. God bless. Texas Grannie

[TrudieC]

I just read an article in my local paper advising that Canada has now approved a vaccine for shingles that has been available in the US since 2006.  Perhaps those about to go through chemo should be asking for this vaccine beforehand to prevent chemo induced shingles.

[gma718]

Glad to hear it is nothing to serious and wishing you a speedy recovery! Love ya, Gia :)

[crecco]

Thank you all for wishing me well. And everyone of you were right, shingles are no fun!
  Only my face has been affected which has been something else all its own. I have them on my lips, in my mouth, on my cheek, on my forehead, on my nose, on my eye and in my eye, all on the left side of my face. And the whole side of my face is so swollen that my left eye is almost swollen shut. I am on medication for the shingles and drops for my eye. It has all been pretty pinful but my trusty vicodens have helped alot. My mom stopped by today and told me that I was begining to look much better. I don't know where she was looking at, but hey, I will take her word for it. I think that maybe the worst is over as the blisters are begining to scab over and the pain is not near as severe as it was. I actually felt good enough to check in to day  and see how everyone else was doing. My Dr said it would take about 2 weeks, but I hope that the swelling goes down before then as that is bothering me the worst right now.

   Thank you all for your well wishes.
      Love Chris