Does Pain From Shingles Come On Slowly

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Get the Facts

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

What Is Shingles? Shingles is a very painful disease caused by the same herpes virus that causes chicken pox (varicella zoster virus). Like other herpes viruses, the varicella-zoster virus has an initial infectious stage, (chicken pox) followed by a dormant stage. Then, with no warning, the virus becomes active again. About 20% of people who have had chicken pox will eventually develop shingles. This reactivation of the virus is most likely to...

Ask the Experts

Shingles

I've been Hiv+ for 19 years never taken any meds and my T-cells and viral load vary from 225 T-Cells to over 626 in a year. Viral load slowly creeping up.In the the last year I've had a bout with shingles twice! I'm not stressed am...

Response from Ewald Horwath, M.D.

University of Miami School of Medicine

Shingles is a skin condition consisting of painful blisters that occur in one area of the body (dermatome). It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox, and it only occurs in people who have had chicken pox in... Read more »

Shingles Starting Treatment & Queen Issues (SHINGLES AND HIV, 2009) (WHEN TO START ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT, 2009)

Hi Dr Bob, Three weeks ago I came down with Shingles. A small patch on the back of my neck and a little across my chest all on the left side. I went to my local GP and he gave me Valtrex ( the 7 day shingle pack)Since then the pain has...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

G'day Aussie Drew,Relax mate! Approximately 95% of healthy adults are seropositive for varicella zoster virus (VZV), the virus that causes shingles. Of this 95%, about 5% of healthy adults develop zoster (shingles). The risk for those of us... Read more »

Shingles with past "low risk" exposures (SHINGLES, 2010)

Thanks for reading my question, by the looks of your site you are all VERY busy. My concern is this. I am a 43yo male who has had exposures in my recent past with guys, oral only. I usually just recieve, but on occasion have given. I have never...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,The vast majority of cases of shingles have absolutely nothing to do with HIV/AIDS. See below. Regarding your HIV test results, the CDC guidelines indicate HIV-antibody tests taken prior to the three-month mark are not considered to be... Read more »

persistent pain after shingles

I have recently been tested hiv positive after a mild shingles outbreak. I have not got my viral load and dc4 cell tests done yet, except CBC(complete blood count) , which was normal , except total white cell count was borderline -4000. I am 25 year...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

Frequently people (both HIV+ and HIV-) will have persistent pain after an attack of shingles. he medical term for it is "post-herpetic neuralgia". If it doesn't resolve fast enough on its own, you can ask your doctor for medicine... Read more »

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shingles

Posted by tboy, 2 Replies

last week I was diagnosed with shingles. I didn't get nearly the attention of the doctors or information I needed. Oh sure I recieved a prescription but not much information. I'm taking acyclovir (sp?) It is painful to sleep and my leg looks... Read more »

shingles?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

i had a sexual encounter yesterday with a guy who appeared to have shingles. when i asked him he said it was eczema, which i did not argue, but while changing him in sexual positions i did noticed that the shingles were in his ankles, and other body... Read more »

Shingles = HIV?

Posted by grcboy30, 5 Replies

Hi there.
I had chicken pox at 5 years old so can develop shingles. I haven't been to the doctor yet but have what I am pretty sure is shingles on the side of my chest (a pink rash which is itchy with bumps). I am terrified of HIV. I am only 30... Read more »

Friends slowly retreating from my life

Posted by milo68, 3 Replies

Wow - the last thing I would have thought to come true was the quick retreat of my close friends.As hard as the whole process of trying to gage people to see who was ready or seemed ready to hear my news has been an ultimate failure.Truthfully I... Read more »

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