Not looking for medical advice, but my MIL has SHINGLES. Does it get better?

[7wo7rees]

My mother-in-law is 75 yo and never would I think anyone that age could suffer from such a crazy illness.
She's had red bumpy swaths circumnavigate her torso. She's in pain, itchy, completely worn out. It's killing us to see her like this and driving us nuts trying to care for her.

Does it get better? She seems like she's getting worse?

Again, not looking for medical advice (in the lounge, certainly not), but what's the outlook? Anybody have a personal experience?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. She needs to be seen by her MD...

I think there are treatments.

This will most likely get locked...

I've never had shingles, so I cannot give you any personal experience.

Sorry.

And good luck to her!

[madmom]

2. My hubby had them, they are very painful. Like Peggy said, she needs to see a dr.

[csziggy]

3. Has she gotten an anti-viral yet?

Shingles is caused by Herpes zoster. Taking an anti-viral like Valtrix can shorten the time of the attack. If she has not seen a doctor, she should.

It will go away - my Dad had shingles a couple of years ago and his went away in a few weeks. But he did get the Valtrix and it helped a lot. I think Mom used Calamine and over the counter anti-itch cream to help ease his pain.

I've been reading up on it since I already have one resident recurring Herpes zoster infection and had chicken pox as a child which is caused by the same virus. Since the virus is never completely eliminated, childhood chicken pox is often a precursor to shingles. So I will probably get shingles someday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles

[noamnety]

4. My mom had it.

She said it was just awful, excruciating. But she got over it. She did call me to lecture me about getting the vaccine for it. I still need to do that, but for what it's worth, there is a vaccine. I need it, since I had chicken pox as a kid.

[7wo7rees]

5. Thank you all. I hope it doesn't get locked.

I'm looking for an elder in our community to talk about their recovery.
But you have all been kind and helpful.

We will see a doctor immediately.

[blue_roses_lib]

6. I got it when I was 12

It was excruciating, and has left me with random nerve pain in my back and torso (20 yrs later). Get to the doctor. I missed two weeks of school because of that.

[murielm99]

7. You should post this in the chronic illnesses/health

forum. People can share their experiences without giving medical advice.

My dad has them currently. They are excruciating. My mother is helping with his treatment, but it is doctor prescribed. Please ask a doctor.

I believe there is a vaccine. You should Google. As i understand it, one can't get the vaccine while they have shingles. Maybe she can get it later? A doctor would know.

[6000eliot]

8. I think shingles is chicken pox in adults.

[Ilsa]

22. It's not actual chicken pox. It's herpes zoster attacking the nerve roots

after lying dormant for years. It isn't going to cause a skin outbreak.

[Duer 157099]

9. I wonder if lysine supplements have been tested for this

I haven't looked it up yet, but I know that lysine has been useful for suppressing other forms of herpes virus.

:shrug:

[sarge43]

10. Have she been to a doctor?

There are meds for shingles and they work. My mother had them and the medicine her doctor gave her did the trick.

FWIW, shingles are caused by the chicken pox virus which can stay dormant in the body for decades, then flair up again.

Get her to a doctor NOW.

[hedgehog]

11. And the rest of us - take heed and get your shingles vaccine when you turn 60!

Purely as an aside - it sounds as if people aren't aware that there are treatments for shingles. I wonder how many other illnesses are like that - people hunkering down and waiting them out when a trip to the doctor could help? There are excellent treatments for severe reactions to poison ivy, for one. It's the one excuse for Big Pharma to advertise; "You remember from when you were a kid there was nothing to do if you caught this, but we've got something for it now!

[sarge43]

15. Yup. I didn't know about the shingles vac until a nurse mentioned it.

I didn't waste any time. Shingles can be bad news and the older you are, the worse they can be.

[Ilsa]

23. I'm planning on it. I had chicken pox when I was 10 or 11. nt

[LaurenG]

12. Shingles can be dangerous. as we get older our immune response is slower

She needs to get to her doctor and if she already has gone she needs to go back. It takes a while for them to go away, it can be a month possibly longer.

[kick-ass-bob]

13. My dad got them and a former coworker had them.

Get to a doc so it goes away. One shouldn't be in that much pain for no reason.

[Raven]

14. See the doctor...maybe not shingles. Usually shingles attack

one side of the body not both sides at once. If it's shingles it will probably last 6 weeks and it comes with flu-like symptoms. I got them when I was younger and Will came home from college with chickenpox. Nasty pain but the doc can probably help with that.

[geardaddy]

16. I've had 'em

Not fun. She should see a doctor. They'll probably prescribe something for pain and a topical for the skin, depending on what her symptoms are.

[Patiod]

17. About 4/5 get better. About 1/5 remain chronic

My mom was one of the chronic ones, who developed post-herpetic neuralgia. Made her life miserable

But the answer to your question, which is epidemiological, and not medical, is that she has a 4/5 chance of getting through this without long term complications.

http://tldegray.posterous.com/findings-from-a-survey-about-shinglesphn

[7wo7rees]

18. Thank you all, and an update............

this is 7wo7rees so. Third dr visit today to my mom's neurologist, (prior 2 were to just an urgent care clinic). Mom has it bad. We missed the 72 hr/ five day window to get on top of it in time and now she has the worst of it. Her dr explained this is the worst pain there is, she said it is worse than any pain associated with child birth and it doesn't end. This whole affair has hit hard. Please to everyone, take care, look into this if you have elders or are a elder. Disturbing thought is that the pharmacist my mother talked with when asking re the vacc told her "they" didn't know if it was effective or not so mom passed. More disturbing today though is my mom's dr said about the same. Research time, need more info. Once again, thanks to all of you.

[sarge43]

19. Vibs and good thoughts for you MIL.

:hug:

[femmocrat]

20. Sending best vibes to your MIL.

I hope she starts feeling better soon! I always mean to ask my PCP about the vaccine and never have... but I will on my next visit!

:hug:

[sinkingfeeling]

21. Shingles almost always occur in people over age 50. Has she been to a doctor? You know that

Shingles are the result of having had chicken pox. It will get better. May cause scarring. And can recur over and over again. That's why a doctor will give an anti-viral medicine. Early treatment is important, but it looks like you're way past that point.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

24. My mom and Dad both had shingles

It happened too long ago (when I was quite young) but both of them made a full recovery as far as I know. I think it took a while for them to recover completely but don't quote me on that

I echo what others have said here though -she needs to see a doctor and get professional medical advice ASAP. In addition to the importance of getting medical treatment, the doctor may be able to give her something to help her with her pain and discomfort