If I may ask why did you take Slovak language classes? Your name sound
slovakian. If you need to translate something from Slovak to English, I can do
that,... well a reasonable number of pages : )
I know it is sometimes difficult to translate English to a
foreign language. My wife and I took Slovak language lessons and found
it very difficult to translate Slovak newspaper articles to English. Medical
terms are even more difficult. Keep trying and ask
questions.
J
Belensky
CML Dx
4/05
Information on shingles from webmd.com
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and a band of rash![Click here to see an illustration.]()
that spreads on one side of your body.
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once you've had chickenpox, the virus
lies dormant (inactive) in your nerve roots. If it becomes active again, it
causes shingles, not another case of chickenpox.
What causes shingles?
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes
chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in
your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant for the rest of their
lives. In others, the virus can be reactivated when the immune system is weakened, possibly by disease,
aging, or stress.1
What are the symptoms of
shingles?
Early symptoms of shingles include headache, sensitivity to light, and
flulike symptoms without a fever. You may then feel itching, tingling, or
extreme pain in the area where a rash will develop several days later. The
rash commonly occurs on the back or neck. The rash progresses into clusters
of blisters that then fill with pus and eventually crust over. It takes 2 to
4 weeks for the blisters to heal, although some scars may remain.2
The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgiapain that continues even
after shingles heals. Another complication is a spreading rash called
disseminated zoster. A dangerous complication of shingles occurs when the
rash develops on the forehead, cheek, nose, and around one eye; this is
called herpes zoster opthalmicus![Click here to see an illustration.]()
. Herpes zoster opthalmicus can
potentially threaten your sight. Immediate treatment should be sought for
this type of shingles outbreak.2 Early treatment of
shingles with antiviral medications may prevent herpes zoster
opthalmicus.3
How is shingles treated?
Shingles is difficult to treat. Antiviral medications (such as acyclovir
or famciclovir) can reduce pain and duration of this condition. Sometimes
antiviral medications are combined with other medications, such as corticosteroids, for more effective treatment. If
medications are begun within the first 2 to 3 days of the rash, your chances
of developing complications of shingles, such as postherpetic neuralgia,
decrease.
If you do develop complications of shingles, antidepressants and topical
creams are sometimes used to reduce pain and speed recovery.
Who gets shingles?
You are at risk for developing shingles if you:1
- Had chickenpox, even a mild case. You cannot develop shingles if you
have not had chickenpox.
- Are over the age of 50.
- Have an autoimmune disease.
- Have another medical condition or stress that weakens the immune system, such as HIV, cancer, or diabetes.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: 07/28/2005 12:22 PM
Subject: Re: [CML] Shingles - They're
Back
Hi Barb,
I have no idea what the shingles are (can't find in my Slovak-English
dictionary) and if they are caused by CML? Anyway I hope they will
diseapper soon because it doesn't sound very good.
Good luck with the stem cell harvest. I am planning to ask on
it in September when I go to see a CML specialist.
Livia
bheathcote201 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
Hi
all. Thought I'd give you all a quick update. I am getting
ready
to head to MDACC next week in Houston to start the stem cell
harvest
process. Looks like I have shingles AGAIN
- this time in my right
arm. Ironically, a week after I
started Gleevec two years ago, I got
shingles (in my leg). A
week after I stopped the Gleevec in
preparation for the harvest, I
got them again. It started as pain in
my shoulder and slowly
creeped down my arm. I immediately knew the
pain was
shingles pain. For those of you who have had shingles,
it's excruciating. I went to the dr. and he's put me on
Valtrex to
limit the severity of the illness and I am taking 800 mg
of Ibuprofen
for pain (and boy - is it painful).
Wouldn't it figure that this
would happen with poor timing. I
had hoped to used both arms for the
harvest so we'll have to see if
that option is still a possibility.
I plan to post to the group
through out the process to keep everyone
posted and updated. I
also hope to take some digital pics that I'll
attempt to put in the
files.
Hope this finds everyone doing well. It's hotter
than blazes here in
NC. Stay cool and talk to you all
soon!
Love,
Barb
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