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From: jcp@osiris.UUCP (Jody Patilla)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: shingles-help?
Message-ID: <185@osiris.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 17-Mar-85 08:44:00 EST
Article-I.D.: osiris.185
Posted: Sun Mar 17 08:44:00 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 19-Mar-85 04:59:09 EST
References: <3470@alice.UUCP>
Organization: Johns Hopkins Hospital
Lines: 25

> Well, I just the friendly diagnosis from my doctor that I have shingles.
> He gave me a prescription for prendizone(sp?) and said to take it only if
> things got worse. I was told this is a 4-6 week experience AT BEST and may
> produce long term pain and that the pain can be severe. Now I just got the
> rash today and although it is painful, it certainly is not agonizing.
> I am trying taking 400 IU's of Vit. E and 1 gm of Vit C 3 times a day on
> general principles. If anyone out there has any ideas, hints, 
> sympathetic vibrations, etc., I would like to hear about it.
> Thanks in advance.
> 	Bea Chambers
> 	alice!bea

	Shingles is a permanent condition. My understanding is that it occurs
in some individuals who have had chicken pox previously. The 'bug',
herpes zoster, hides in the nervous system and goes inactive, only to
pop up years later as shingles. Shingles will flare up at times when you
are severely stressed, so it is worthwhile trying to minimise or manage
stress in your life. There is no cure, and I don't know of any treatment
other than various steroids (like prednisone).
-- 
  

jcpatilla

"'Get stuffed !', the Harlequin replied ..."