Diverticulitis, shingles, and more...

Hi everyone,

I have had a rough start to this New Year. I joked about wanting to do something different this year for New Year's Eve. I sure did...I spent it in the ER with a 102 fever and abdominal pain. I ended up with 5 days inpatient on IV antibiotics for diverticulitis. Never had anything like it before!

So, last week I was finally getting rested up and back to strength from the hospitalization. Tuesday I felt good. Wednesday morning I had a sudden sharp pain in my right side that would not go away. If fact, it's still here...On Thursday the dr. thought it was probably shingles (herpes zoster), but could possibly be kidney stones or other kidney involvement, of pain from adhesions. I didn't know what to wish for! He gave me a supply of Darvocet, Lidoderm patches, and sent me for a renal CT.

Early results of the abdominal, pelvic, and renal CT came back today. For some reason they did not compare to any previous films. My oncologist compared the report to previous ones and feels that everything is stable.

So, it is likely that this is shingles. I don't have a rash, though. Just this intense pain in the right side, and sometimes it wraps around my back.

Anyone have any experience with this? Someone told me that people who have radiation are more at risk for shingles.

But...at least the scan is stable...

S

Hi, Linda,

Sorry to hear that the New Year has started off with these new health problems and concerns. I recently had one of those trips to the ER for an acute abdominal attack after two years of no similar problems, so I definitely feel your pain!!

I know very little about shingles other than how painful they can be, and I wasn't even aware that you can get them without a rash. When I hear right-sided pain, the first thing I think of is appendicitis. I'm assuming your scans have ruled out this or possibly gall bladder problems?

In any event, I hope that your pain resolves quickly and that you get some answers.

Hopefully the year will get better in very short order!

Take care,

MoeKay

Hi Linda,

So sorry you had to go through these recent experiences. I personally have not had shingles, but have seen a gazillion cases
in the course of my nursing career. Shingles aka Herpes Zoster is a viral illness which affect the nerves and is in the same family as Chicken Pox. Predisposition for this disease usually occurs in people with weakened immune systems. Initial symptoms usually present with pain which can be pretty intense along a nerve pathway almost always affecting only one side of the body followed by an erruption of a red weepy rash which eventually crusts. If antiviral medications are started early in the evolution of this illness, this has been found to help reduce the severity and length of the illness. Be sure to report right away to your doctor if a rash appears so that treatment can be instituted ASAP because the later treatment is instituted the less effective it is. Also, this illness can be quite painful as I mentioned earlier, so if indeed this evolves with you and you are experiencing pain, do not hesitate to ask for pain meds.

Take care
Shirley

DH had shingles many years ago and had sharp, burning pain for several days before finally erupting in a very fine rash along 1 side of his trunk. He said the pain was quite intense, and was he was actually relieved when the rash finally came because then he knew what he had!

It is more common in people over the age of 50 (our immune functioning starts to drop after that time), or in anyone with a compromised immune system.

Herpes zoster is a re-activation of the chicken pox virus. Once you have the chicken pox, the virus hides in the spinal ganglion of your spinal nerves and it waits there for the opportunity to come out of hiding. When it does so, it creeps along the spinal nerves, inflaming them, as it tries to get up to the surface where it causes the rash. It's the nerve inflammation/involvement that causes the pain.

I'm glad your scan came back clear, and I hope your symptoms go away quickly. Let's hope the rest of the new year goes better for you!

What a lousy start to 2005! Hopefully the diverticulitis will not return--ever. I hear shingles are one of the worst pains there is--so may those clear out quickly as well. 2005 can only get better--much better-for you.

Hi Linda,

I dont know anything about the shingles, but wanted to let you know how sorry I am that you are going thru this 'stuff' now!
NOT what you needed!

s and prayers for a speedy recovery! At least the good news is that your cancer is stable!

XOXOX
K9

sheeesh! what a miserable start for the new year! That means that rest of the year can only get better. My niece had shingles, and I remember her saying how painful it was. The Dr. gave her an injection of something, and some meds to take, she started feeling better fairly quickly. I hope you feel better immediately!!

Hi, Linda. Oh, what a rotten start to the New Year! My Mom had shingles a few years ago. I, too, have heard about how tough it is.

Well, take your medicine. Get your rest. Follow doctor's orders and get well soon.

(Happy to hear that scans were clear.)

Best,

Linda,

Like everyone else, I'm hoping you'll be feeling better soon. Perhaps you can celebrate Chinese New Year's instead, on Feb. 9 this year. My daughter is adopted from China; one of the traditions in China is to set off firecrackers to celebrate and also shoo evil spirits away. So I'll be setting off some metaphorical firecrackers for you in a couple weeks.

My dad got shingles while he was on chemo. I know they were very painful, but they did seem to disappear after a couple weeks.

Hi Linda,

Well you really did start the New Year off with a bang!!

I am sorry to hear that you are having soo many things to deal with but as you said...at least the scan is clear!!

Wishing you only good things from hear on out.

Rosalie