Shingles

[bokelley]

So DH has shingles. Yesterday was the first time he was home at a normal hour, and then decided to tell me he had this rash on his leg. It looks just like shingles, only on one leg and has neuropathy pain. So any home remedies? This is his last week of his surgery rotation so he is not really able to go to a Dr at a clinic.

[Malpka]

I had shingles, and aside from Ibuprofen and waiting it out, there was not much that could be done. Sorry he has that during his surgery rotation- what a bummer!

[Meenah]

I usually prescribe Valacyclovir or Famciclovir to prevent the postherpetic neuralgia. Tell him to call his primary.

[ladymoreta]

Oh no! I'm so sorry for him. I've heard it's really painful, so treat him with lots of TLC. Is it something that he could go to one of those Minute Clinic places for? They're open outside of normal hours.

ETA - Is it contagious? If so, he should let an attending or someone know so they can make the decision about whether they want him to be around patients.

[MrsC]

Shingles can be very painful so he should have a backup in case plain old Ibuprofen won't work. Though the leg isn't the worst place to get it, he should call his doctor.

My mom just had this but it was on her face
SO SO SO terrible... it got into her eye, which was really dangerous. The rash went away in about two weeks but she is still in a lot of pain.
He should definitely go to the doctors - my mom was prescribed what Luanne is talking about. Awww, I hope he feels better soon!

[DCJenn]

My dad developed shingles on his temple area. I have never seen a more miserable person in my life. He went to the doctors and was prescribed something- probably what Luanne referenced and some pain meds but the pain meds threw him for a loop so he suffered through w/ ibuprofin.

Scary stuff- and they say that stress exacerbates them.

Jenn

[bokelley]

They said as long as he wears leggings type things under his scrubs he is okay. Since we just moved here he doesn't have a primary yet and feels kinda weird to ask the drs at the hospital. We have been putting some sort of cream on it, and he is taking IBU. Lets hope he doesn't get in anymore pain. I feel bad for him, he looks miserable.

[moonlight]

Brandi- Do him a BIG favor and find a primary doctor and help him schedule an appointment. The pain is like nothing else. My dearest aunt had it last year for 6 months. The pain was so terrible she was on morphine pills at one time. My dad got it in February of this year and he is just now weaning himself off the neuropathy meds. Once someone gets it they can get it again. That's why I'd just get a doctor now because this might be something that goes on for several weeks or months. Don’t even consider treating this with home remedies, he needs a clinic.

[bokelley]

Is it something that can wait for a week to go to Dr for. Since this is his last week of surgery rotation he has a shelf exam, paper presentation and is working about 10-16 hours a day. Next week he is doing IM so I could find him a doc then? Should I sleep in the guest room? I really am not sure what to do or how careful I have to be?

[DCJenn]

Put it this way, a 15 minute appointment at a doc in the box may just save his sanity to the point that he'll be able to actually concentrate enough to PASS the exam.

My parents' landlord when I was a baby killed himself in the garage because he couldn't stand the pain.

THAT's how bad it gets. This isn't one to try to tough out.

Send him to one of the 24 hour emergency med clinics and he'll have a prescription and be done. Tell him to go in the afternoon if at all possible.

Jenn

[moonlight]

If he really can't make it this week try a walk in clinic next weekend. If that doesn't work out start calling around to get him a doctor's appointment for Monday or early next week.

From what I understand it's not contagious. The people that I know that had it got while dealing with very stressful induced incidents. My aunt developed it the week her grandson was killed in a motorcycle accident. My dad developed it the week he was taking care of his very sick mother while she was hospitalized… while also dealing with family drama... and incompetent medical care. I can totally understand how a stressed out student could get this while doing a surgery rotation.

[Pollyanna]

Is it something that can wait for a week to go to Dr for. Since this is his last week of surgery rotation he has a shelf exam, paper presentation and is working about 10-16 hours a day. Next week he is doing IM so I could find him a doc then? Should I sleep in the guest room? I really am not sure what to do or how careful I have to be?

No, this can not wait. Tell him to get his ass to the doc, get some Acyclovir and be done with it. He will feel so much better. This is not something that should wait. Ibuprofen is not going to get him through.

[Meenah]

Do you have the clinics in the drugstores close by? This is something easily done by a Nurse Practitioner and those clinics are usually walk-in. The pain can last years to months in some people, and it can go away and never come back in others. Those treated with anti-virals tend to have the best luck. You can't get shingles from another person, but if you haven't had the chicken pox you can get the chicken pox from someone with shingles. He should let his PD know.

Another opinion to not wait. I'm not certain but I think those medications work better if he starts them sooner.