Shingles

[macarons19]

Hi, it is irrelevant now to know if Type 2 people are more susceptible to shingles because now I have got both. My query is that I am taking masses of meds on top of my regular ones and I am a bit concerned about the effect on my dm. Of course my health professionals know my situation and would not prescribe anything harmful but the cocktail of meds is making me nauseous and I am only eating to go with the tablets really. I wondered if any of you had experience with this. As ever, thank you.

 

[Dexterdobe]

Hi, it is irrelevant now to know if Type 2 people are more susceptible to shingles because now I have got both. My query is that I am taking masses of meds on top of my regular ones and I am a bit concerned about the effect on my dm. Of course my health professionals know my situation and would not prescribe anything harmful but the cocktail of meds is making me nauseous and I am only eating to go with the tablets really. I wondered if any of you had experience with this. As ever, thank you.

Shingles is caused by a virus that lies dormant in the body and then (sometimes) flares up in later life. I'm not a doctor, but I would think that anything which lowers the bodies resistance to illness makes it more likely that shingles will develop. The more meds you take the more likely you are to suffer side effects. That said, doctors know which meds don't go well together and we would hope they are careful with what they prescribe. We are all different, so if you are feeling unwell go and see your doctor again. They may be able to try you on different medication.

 

[DCUKMod]

Hi, it is irrelevant now to know if Type 2 people are more susceptible to shingles because now I have got both. My query is that I am taking masses of meds on top of my regular ones and I am a bit concerned about the effect on my dm. Of course my health professionals know my situation and would not prescribe anything harmful but the cocktail of meds is making me nauseous and I am only eating to go with the tablets really. I wondered if any of you had experience with this. As ever, thank you.

Shingles is a vile condition. I had it in September this year.

To be honest, my default position is things happen, and I don't connect then with my diabetes. OK. I've been fortunate to have excellent A1cs, for a few years.

Shingles is vile. It knocked me sideways, and it hung around in one particular area on my head, but it eventually pushed off. It really isn't welcome to return!

If you have any concerns about the medications you are taking, please have a chat with your pharmacist. They really are the experts in drugs and their interactions. If your pain is bad, then see the Doc again. More often than not, they seem to start folks on fairly standard painkillers, where sometimes a specialised painkiller, for nerve pain might be required.

if you were diagnosed early enough to take anti-viral drugs, please do finish them. If they're anything like the ones I had they're huge!

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[macarons19]

They are HUGE . first doctor I saw said it was an infected follicle, with the amount of pain I had I knew it wasn’t. Second day and double the rash it was recognised for what it was. I have heard so much of “you must be careful about XYZ with your diabetes” I wondered if we were more likely to get shingles, however, it is what it is now.

 

[DCUKMod]

They are HUGE . first doctor I saw said it was an infected follicle, with the amount of pain I had I knew it wasn’t. Second day and double the rash it was recognised for what it was. I have heard so much of “you must be careful about XYZ with your diabetes” I wondered if we were more likely to get shingles, however, it is what it is now.

I just couldn't believe it when I saw the tablets, made worse by my usually kind OH laughing his head off.

Bearing in mind my shingles were on my face, head and eye, his comment was he hoped I wouldn't choke on them, because he'd hate to have to take me to A&E. Miraculously, he lived.

Macarons, we all want to be well, hale and hearty - especially at his time of year, but my even GP told me it's horrid and it wasn't a time to be a hero (or heroine in my case).

Be kind to yourself.

 

[Norfolkmell]

Had my third attack of shingles last year first time since diagnosed T2 and always on my face but last time I rang the surgery to tell them what I had and that I needed the giant sized tablets and the chemist delivered them a couple of hours later. I don't understand why I can't have the vaccination, every year I'm still not old enough but surely after three bouts I should qualify?
Always happens when I'm mega stressed and now know that if it comes I've got to look after myself properly and cut down what I'm doing for a month or two. Surprised it hasn't come back now for a fourth go as we've been ready to move since June but our new home had to go through planning as its Grade 2 listed and every time the decorators go in they find something else wrong. First it was damp, then it was the roof, then they fell through the floorboards but they were back in painting and fixing new skirting boards and architraves last week so I'm keeping everything crossed as this is the longest piece of time they've been in actuality working without having to call the builders back.
So macarons take good care of yourself, don't beat yourself up and don't take the tablets whole!

 

[Tophat1900]

I agree with @DCUKMod , talk to your pharmacist about interactions or any concerns, they usually have far more knowledge then doctors on that subject. Doctors have a habit of not telling patients about side effects when prescribing medication/s in my experience. When you are taking a cocktail of things, the chances of interactions increases (Both known and unknown).

I have been prescribed medications that I should never of been given. I can't remember what it was called, this was over 10 years ago, but just as an example, what I was given contained cipro in it along with other things... I'm allergic to cipro and my notes have it listed and I was still prescribed this multi cocktail drug, but wasn't told it had cipro in it. This drug affects my Achilles tendons. The pain was horrendous, I couldn't walk for about a week and it took about a month to get back to normal. Just the slightest movement triggered off pain. It literally crippled me.

The point I'm making is that doctors are just like all of us, they make mistakes sometimes. Perfectly human thing to. I have since that event always googled for side effects and interactions whenever I have been prescribed something new. And of course, looked at the packet it comes in to see what's in it. You know, live and learn.

In your case I'm not saying something is wrong, but if it bothers you, talk to your pharmacist as already suggested.

 

[macarons19]

Thank you all for your support. My husband is very good at looking after me but feels so useless when he sees me in pain. I now understand how my mother accidentally overdosed on codeine when she had shingles, I feel quite ready to swallow the whole box myself. The pain is unbelievable.

 

[DCUKMod]

Thank you all for your support. My husband is very good at looking after me but feels so useless when he sees me in pain. I now understand how my mother accidentally overdosed on codeine when she had shingles, I feel quite ready to swallow the whole box myself. The pain is unbelievable.

If you are on codiene, and it's not touching the pain, it could be worth asking your Doc for something else.

As I say, GPs will often start a patient on a "simple" like codiene or co-codamol, but sometimes a more targets sort of painkiller to deal with what is after all nerve pain.

If your GP agree to a change, he is unlikely to give you too many, as that class of drugs can be very strong indeed.