Shingles

MAKG1

MAKG1

Touchdown! Greaser!
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MAKG
Well, it seems I have the world's mildest case of shingles.

Very mild pain (I thought it was a zit), no fever, no itching, just a rash in a place I can't see (no, not THERE).

The doc prescribed Valacyclovir. It comes with a warning that it "may cause dizziness," so I presume I should ground myself for the week I'm on it.

Is there anything special I have to do for my next medical, to prove I didn't get the vision complication, or does the regular class 2/3 vision test cover that?
 
Had it once on my face of all places.
I would guess it does something to the nerves. From time to time, that spot stings where I had it. Especially when I am stressed.
And it has been 10 years. Curious about the vision complication. I was unaware of such a thing.
 
Did your AME care?

From what I understand, the infection can spread to the optic nerve, which is where the vision problems come from.
 
MAKG1 said:
Did your AME care?

From what I understand, the infection can spread to the optic nerve, which is where the vision problems come from.
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Interesting. I got it on my forehead near my right eye. I still get pain in that eye from time to time. No issues w/ vision though.

So I got mine ~10 years ago and only started flying 4 years ago. It was far enough in the past that I don't think I would even have thought to bring it up.
Unless a form specifically asked have you had any of the following and that was listed, I can't imagine I would have thought to mention it.

I am about to go for my medical again and I will look at the form a little closer and see what it asks.
I had shoulder surgery so I suspect that is going to be a paper chase this go round.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I had shoulder surgery so I suspect that is going to be a paper chase this go round.
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IT'S FROM ALL THAT REACHING UP AND BEHIND YOURSELF TO GET TO THAT RED HANDLE!!!!!

See... THAT'S a red handle joke. All these other amateurs around here keep going for the low hanging fruit when they could be elevating it to an art form.
 
MAKG1 said:
Did your AME care?

From what I understand, the infection can spread to the optic nerve, which is where the vision problems come from.
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You understand correctly. It can be very serious if it involves your optic nerve and can ruin your eyesight. I had it recently and my doctor advised me to get checked by a licensed eye specialist MD immed.
, ( verses an optometrist) it attacks your immune system and triggered ,the doctor thinks , in my case , rheumatoid arthritis which has caused a lot of trouble. Nothing to be taken lightly.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
Unless a form specifically asked have you had any of the following and that was listed, I can't imagine I would have thought to mention it.
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Question 18x on the 8500-8 form, "Other illness, disability, or surgery". That's the catch all that covers items that weren't specifically asked for. Your case of shingles should have been mentioned there.

I have to check that box for OSA.
 
I too had it on my face..On my left temple, very mild. That was 8 years ago, nothing like being told "we don't see this much in 30 year olds"...Great and of course I would get it and no less on my face!

I was also told that if you had chickenpox at a very young age then you are likely to get shingles early. I confirmed I was 6 months old when I got chickenpox.

This was before I was flying so a non issue in that regard.
 
I wouldnt doubt it! AHAHAHAHA

I first noticed it at work..was thinking why am I so itchy and red. Thought one of the David Clark gel ear cups busted and I was reacting to it. It got worse and worse and I started to feel like crap. Went to doc and boom Shingles. I will now blame it on him!
 
Well, I ran down the chief surgeon at work (who is an AME), and got all good answers. The medication is not problematic for 61.53, nor is it an issue for a medical renewal, as long as I'm specific about the location (i.e., not the face). Shingles itself is not a problem unless it affects vision or the pain is severe enough to cause distraction (it's not even close).

I sure wish this guy could do my exam, but it has to be work related.
 
There is a preventative shot for shingles which I did not know about and never got. Wise to get it if your older and had chicken pox! Not one hundred percent but helps. My shingles were scalp and near the eye which wired up my doctor who immed. Sent me to the eye doctor. Turned out, No problem.
 
Yep, I was totally stressed out with a step-son who was getting diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and a job that just totally stunk. What a miserable place to work. The stress almost overwhelmed me and I got it on my hip pretty bad - hurt like hell. Most telling was another person who worked in this same small shop came down with it too. My understanding is if you've had small pox, it's forever dormant in some (all?) of your nerve endings and a compromised immune system from something like stress can fire it up. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/basics/causes/con-20019574

Count your blessings yours is mild!
 
Jimmy cooper said:
There is a preventative shot for shingles which I did not know about and never got. Wise to get it if your older and had chicken pox! Not one hundred percent but helps. My shingles were scalp and near the eye which wired up my doctor who immed. Sent me to the eye doctor. Turned out, No problem.
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Yup my Doc had me take one a few years ago. Can't remember if it's good for 10 years or longer though.
 
iflyvfr said:
Yep, I was totally stressed out with a step-son who was getting diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and a job that just totally stunk. What a miserable place to work. The stress almost overwhelmed me and I got it on my hip pretty bad - hurt like hell. Most telling was another person who worked in this same small shop came down with it too. My understanding is if you've had small pox, it's forever dormant in some (all?) of your nerve endings and a compromised immune system from something like stress can fire it up. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/basics/causes/con-20019574

Count your blessings yours is mild!
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I assume you mean chicken pox or we're going to need to contact the CDC...
 
I got it a couple of years ago. Noticed a few bumps over my left kidney and around my left side. Mentioned it to a co-worker, wondering how I'd picked up an odd rash. He immediately suggested it might be shingles, which a little web-surfing kind of confirmed. I got an end of day doctor's appointment and was on anti-virals and had a steroid shot within the hour. My case was never painful, but it was uncomfortable riding in a car going over speed bumps where I'd bounce up and down a little in the seat and my shirt would rub on the sores.

Other than a few minor scars, it wasn't that big of a deal. IIRC, I was 49 when I got it.
 
ircphoenix said:
IT'S FROM ALL THAT REACHING UP AND BEHIND YOURSELF TO GET TO THAT RED HANDLE!!!!!

See... THAT'S a red handle joke. All these other amateurs around here keep going for the low hanging fruit when they could be elevating it to an art form.
Click to expand...


Get out!

I'm going to change my screen name to no one. So when I see stupid posts I can click the like button and it will say ‘No one likes this'.
 
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My sister' ex had it so bad he contemplated suicide. He was totally covered. My sister, an RN, said he even had them in his ears, mouth and throat. He spent hours in an oatmeal bath submerged, breathing through a straw.
 
Got the shot a few years ago and so far so good......insurance may or may not cover the shot.........if it doesn't it's a bit spendy at around $185 at a Rite-Aid. Not all drug stores have it and you have to generally order it because it has to stay frozen before use. From all reports you really don't want to get the shingles........major misery.
 
Because of a bone marrow transplant for leukemia, my immune system had to start from scratch. Previous shingles vaccine was wiped out as a result, can't receive another vaccination until five years after transplant.

Earlier this year, I got the shingles on a facial nerve. No external sores at all, so it took a while for docs to figure out what was going on. Nerve pain, eventually facial paralysis, and vertigo. These eventually went away after several months, but the hearing damage on that side is permanent. I am virtually deaf in one ear now.

DO NOT skip getting the shingles vaccine, even if you have to pay for it yourself! This is serious stuff.
 
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