John asks…
$253.00 for the drug to cure shingles! Do you think the drug companies are ripping us off?
Also…those of us who can’t afford health insurance will have to suffer through this very painfull disease (not to mention a host of other dilapidating diseases) because hey…Mortgage comes first.How can you justify non-socialzed health insurance when many Americans simply cannot afford it (health ins.) at the prices now in effect… and how much is Bush responsible for making health ins out of reach for the average American.
admin answers:
Bush’s Medicare Plan D with its deductibles makes it very difficult to obtain expensive medications.He also assists Big Pharma to maintain their patents as long as possible.His priorities are wrong he should put health before War.He should also introduce price controls and enable people to buy for less abroad
Thomas asks…
Seeking technical info about shingles.?
I know the general info about shingles. I am in the medical field, so technical info would be good. It seems as if there is few ‘real’ answers to my questions. I had shingles when I was 16, in the left flank region(back), and now at 26 have it again. Same area, but much more area affected. I think it will be much worse than before. I have been seen by a Dr., can’t work for a week+, on acyclovir. I am told that the virus will go ‘full circle’ even with the meds? But may prevent more of an outbreak? I caught this ‘early’ having had it before-I knew instantly what I had. But even though I caught it early, it will still go through full blistering, etc? I’ve always been easily susceptible to everything. I’ve had mono x5, roseola @ 15, fifth disease at 14. How do I boost the immunes? How do I prevent reoccuring shingles? Should I look into an immunologist? Is there bloodwork that can be done to see whats going on with me? General CBC, or more than that? Any advice would be great.
*sighs* nobody is home out there? 🙁 any suggestions for ridding of the dragging back pain/tension? Already did ibuprofen and the heating pad…
admin answers:
Sorry you are suffering so….
OK. Why you have so many infectious diseases -I wish I knew.
What can be done about this one ? Well as it’s neuropathic pain, what about neurontin (gabapentin). It works for many with post herpetic neuralgia, so why not with intra herpetic neuralgia ?
As you will know the immume system is built on proteins and governed by your genes. I don’t know what to suggest. Only know that none of those supposed immune boosters do anything but relieve you of money.
Try the usual best advice. Eat well, fresh balanced diet, get plenty of good quality rest and be happy. If you unresolved emotional issues, get off to a psychologist.
All the best.
Sandy asks…
I have shingles, but I’m only in my mid 30’s?
I was diganosed with shingles sometime last year, around March 2009. I’m 36 years old. My doctor says it can be brought on from a dormant chicken pox that I had when I was a kid which continued to live in my body. I actually got the chicken pox severally TWICE when I was a kid, which I’ve heard is also rare…. My doctor says it could be brought on by stress. And yes, I’m under extreme stress….Anyways, for those that don’t know about this, its a painful disease and affects the nerves your body.
But, from what I understand this is a elderly person’s disease, typically people over the age of 60. My doctor says its not uncommon that young people get this disease but not rare. He said about 10%-20% of the population under the age of 60 will get it…
But, my question is there any cure? Now, my fingers and hand goes numb, everyone once and awhile and I was wonder will it get worse?? I’ve found some links on the internet that says I can get a shot, but after reading they will not give the shot to anyone under the age of 60. Is there any experimental drugs that the government offers for certain people??
Thanks in advance.
admin answers:
“I have shingles, but I’m only in my mid 30’s?” — Shingles is herpes zoster. Your age has nothing to do with it, this isn’t an old person’s disorder. Children, teens and young adults (like you) are subject to an h. Zoster outbreak just as much as any one else. Unfortunately, it’s become more common.
“My doctor says it can be brought on from a dormant chicken pox that I had when I was a kid which continued to live in my body” — Your doctor explained this to you in very simplistic terms. If the exact words your doctor used were “it can be brought on from a dormant chicken pox..”, this isn’t quite accurate. The ONLY way one can develop h. Zoster is from having had chicken pox. What causes chicken pox and herpes zoster is the varicella zoster virus, or VZV, for short. Sometimes after a case of chicken pox, the body is able to clear the virus (get rid of it) but for many this isn’t the case. VZV instead retreats into spinal nerve tissue and goes dormant. Sometimes, the virus remains dormant permanently and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s often reactivated by great stress. It doesn’t matter what the source of the stress is. It can be a severe illness, malnutrition, a chronic health condition, extreme temperatures, a family death, divorce. There are all kinds of stress, not just the kind you may have in mind. The effect is on spinal nerves on one side of the body and not “the nerves in your body”, which carries the implication that h. Zoster affects ALL nerves.
Yes, it’s not the norm to have chicken pox twice in a lifetime but it’s more common in those who had a sub-clinical case the first time.
“But, my question is there any cure?” — VZV is a member of the herpesvirus family. There is no cure for a herpesvirus. But there are prescription antiviral treatments (acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famcyclovir) and home treatments that can shorten the duration and lessen the severity of an outbreak.
“Now, my fingers and hand goes numb, everyone once and awhile and I was wonder will it get worse??” — This may be post-herpetic neuralgia, (PHN). Speak to your doctor about this. Gabapentin, tricyclic antidepressants, topical analgesics (capsaicin), topical anesthetics & corticosteriods are some of the means used to treat PHN but your doctor will know what’s best for your specific situation.
“I’ve found some links on the internet that says I can get a shot, but after reading they will not give the shot to anyone under the age of 60” — The shot you refer to is Zostavax. The vaccine is recommended for adults 60 and older but there’s no law that says you can’t have the vaccine. But bear in mind that the safety and effects of the vaccine were only studied in this group, which accounts for about half of all cases of h. Zoster occurring each year in the United States. Therefore, you’d have extreme difficulty finding a provider willing to administer an untested (in your age group) vaccine to you. Future research will determine if the recommended age for vaccination should be lowered but this won’t help you now.
“Is there any experimental drugs that the government offers for certain people??” — Don’t look to our government for help in this area. What you should be looking for are clinical trials. I’m not aware at this time of any ongoing or upcoming clinical trials but you should definitely monitor periodically for these. Run a search for “clinical trials” and check the links directly below.
Http://www.clinicaltrials.com/
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
Try contacting Merck & Co, Inc. This is the pharmaceutical giant that developed Zostavax. Find out from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, when and if they still plan to develop a Zostavax counterpart for those under 60.
Http://www.merck.com/ Use this link to get to Merck’s website or open a new tab and paste & copy the website so you can toggle back & forth this screen and the new one. Look below ” > see our pipeline” (written on orange). Do you see the small print? The first column reads “Patients & Caregivers”. Go down to topic #7, Clinical Trials. You can view this and if you still have questions or suggestions, scroll up to the top of the homepage and in the top right corner, you’ll see “Contact Us”.
Sometimes you just have to know what to look for. Be inventive, resourceful and tenacious and you’ll be rewarded for your persistence.
George asks…
Shingles pain relief: How do I get shingles pain relief?
Please help me I need shingles pain relief, this shingles is killing me I have tried many drugs all to no avail pls I need to cure this terrible disease fast cause I have been at home for long.
admin answers:
Hi ken,
One of my friends had similar issue and there is this site that he was able to locate and within 3 days the shingle disappeared, you can check the site below
Mark asks…
I have chickenpox can my mum catch shingles again?
This isn’t the 1st time I’ve had it and my mum has had shingles before, I need a fact answer no guesses please and I don’t live with my mum but I’m going to see her tomorrow and is chickenpox an airbourne disease?
admin answers:
If you have ever had chickenpox the virus will remain dormant in within your nerves. Usually you will develop immunity and will never get chickenpox again. However if you are run down, stressed or your immune system is not working as well as it should the virus can sometimes re-appear causing shingles. If you have shingles you are contagious and can infect people with chickenpox. However if you have chickenpox you can’t cause shingles as your mum already has the virus.
The virus is spread by direct contact, so the blisters on your skin will contain the virus.
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