BarbBrooklyn Asked July 2016
Husband has shingles on his backside. Any suggestions?
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Just for comic relief from mom's "I have something like leprosy" routine, my poor husband has come down with shingles on his backside. He's on an antiviral and pain meds and I'm slathering his butt with antibacterial/benzocaine cream, both to prevent secondary infection of the blisters and to ease the pain. Any and all suggestions are happily accepted. Happy 4th of July!
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Something that we found, there are these amazing seat cushions that they sell on Amazon and at Bed Bath and Beyond "Wonder Gel" is the brand name. We got him one this morning and it's making sitting bearable.
The staff gloved, gowned and masked and provided PT and OT in his room. I don't recall though what creams or meds they used on his back. When he was discharged, at home I put on prescription lidocaine patches. I also don't recall how often they were changed, but they did solve the problem. And despite a lot of stresses since then, the shingles haven't recurred, nor have I contracted them.
This was also the one time I agreed to have him take Buspar, which did help ease the transition from rehab to home, after about 7 months of living in medical facilities.
The only suggestion I can make is extra attention, extra TLC, and perhaps something really, really very soft and comfortable as a cushion to help protect his skin from any abrasions or friction when he sits and moves around.
Is he able to get sick time off or does he still have to make an appearance at wherever he works? I certainly hope he can recover at home.
I am so sorry for your husband; shingles are painful and challenging enough to deal with without being located in a position that could prevent him from sitting comfortably.
My best wishes are extended to both of you for a quick recovery and no repeat of this episode.
His shingles were on his upper and middle back. T
Now I'm wondering if the Wonder Gel cushions could be used for someone who's so thin that there is no padding at all. It might ease the discomfort of sitting.
DH is going back to primary care doc tomorrow and he'll ask about topical pain relief.
I don't think one outbreak of shingles confers immunity, and I don't know if the vaccine can be administered after having shingles.
It is something to ask the doctor about.
Hoping your husband can get his immunity built up with foods and supplements.
Another thing to consider is the sun's effect on shingles. Can sunshine help cure it? makes it worse,? or do the medicines prohibit going in the sun?
I believe what others have written about catching chicken pox from the blisters, use gloves. I don't think enough is known about shingles (hiding in the nerve root) to be sure you don't catch shingles, then at a later time, you've got an outbreak.
I too, am an alarmist, worst case scenario," better safe than sorry" thinking type of person. For me, that works, for others-they just do not appreciate too much information, and I understand. Just the other day I got a call that made me glad not to be an "I told you so" type of person.
Could not sit, lay down, bla bla bla, ran to the acupuncturist early that day because I "had sciatica pain". When I was ready for the needles, the Acup. said: OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have shingles, I cannot treat you. Go to the MD and get the antiviral, a nerve pain med.....what was that called........oh........mmm......poof, who knows.
A friend assessed me, and I agreed to taking Super Mega B Complex, Vit. C, Sublingual B12 at 5000mcg., and ONE MORE THING.........if I go into my room, where I have them, my mom will KIDNAP ME..............I'll get back to you later on the one more or 2 supplements.
LOTS OF REST
...============================================
While I was sick, mom would ask, on a daily basis or more: Are you sick? What is wrong? Do you need to see the Dr.?
I finally wrote a PAPER, which said: I have shingles, I am sick, I need to sleep.
SHe would peek on me to see how I was doing, after reading the sign.
Three months, I am telling you.
=================================================
I did get the vaccine, 8 months after I was well. Once in a lifetime vaccine. Pricey ($260.00) here in Calif. if no insurance. I had insurance then, covered 100%.
If I get them again, *heaven forbid*, the MD said it would / will be a MILD case.
Anyway, that is my episode with the shingles...............................
I looked up in my book "Prescriptions for Natural Healing", and did most of what they suggested.
M 8 8
Lidocaine is a common topical pain reliever. You can get it over the counter as well as a stronger dose by prescription. Check the % on the box, tube or bottle. And one place you might want to check in the section where condoms are sold. A topical product that men can use to delay.....may have a higher 5 or may cost less than what you may find in another section of the drugstore or "superstore"
You should get the Shingles Vaccine.
She got organic, unfiltered, apple cider vinegar, it has the mother in it. She puts a wet rag soaked with this vinegar diluted just a little bit in water on her face and neck. The drinks 2 Tablespoons of vinegar in a large glass of water two times a day. She said she started out drinking it 4 times a day. Now she just sips 2 or 3 glasses all day. She has lost hearing in her good ear, the gums on the affected side are numb. She was crying and thinking suicide, she said it has been like a miracle for her and she hopes it helps him.
My Dad broke three ribs falling off his motorbike, went back to the doctor when the pain got worse instead of easing up, and was given the news that he had contracted shingles in the classic band formation around his chest. To paraphrase PG Wodehouse, it is never difficult to distinguish between a man with shingles and a ray of sunshine.
It is very catching, but only if you haven't had it or chickenpox or any of the other varicella, is it? family members. Sensible precautions, and don't let him bathe with babies or old people or anyone having chemotherapy, but you don't have to lock him in a box in the basement.
My weird youngest child presented with it when she was about four. The GP stared at her in disbelief before frowning and saying "Z, have you got shingles? Little girls aren't supposed to get shingles!" My personal theory is that her immune reaction got messed up because she had chicken pox very early on, less than three months old, but not properly - nine poxes, and that was it.
Mind you, that's nothing. I personally know of two different GPs who completely failed to recognise it, in adult patients, and sent them home with antihistamines and an anti fungal px respectively.
You could also remind your husband consolingly that there are worse locations to get it. But you might want to remind him of that and then run like the wind.