Diagnosed with shingles today -- riding okay?

[Keith A]

With all the stuff that has been going on in our family's life, I guess the stress has caught up with me and I've come down with the shingles. I caught this pretty early -- and even correctly diagnosed this myself (I'm an engineer and not a doctor). Thankfully, my symptoms are pretty mild right now with the rash on my abdomen, side and back. I'm having a prescription filled for an antiviral and steroid, and will be starting these soon.

Assuming I don't have the debilitating pain or flu like symptoms that can accompany this disease, is it ok to continue riding or any other type of exercise? Is there anything I should do to cover the rash while riding?

I would appreciate any helpful tips or information you guys/gals have.

[Hilltopperny]

Originally Posted by Keith A

With all the stuff that has been going on in our family's life, I guess the stress has caught up with me and I've come down with the shingles. I caught this pretty early -- and even correctly diagnosed this myself (I'm an engineer and not a doctor). Thankfully, my symptoms are pretty mild right now with the rash on my abdomen, side and back. I'm having a prescription filled for an antiviral and steroid, and will be starting these soon.

Assuming I don't have the debilitating pain or flu like symptoms that can accompany this disease, is it ok to continue riding or any other type of exercise? Is there anything I should do to cover the rash while riding?

I would appreciate any helpful tips or information you guys/gals have.

Had shingles myself when I was younger. I would take it easy for a bit. If you are going to ride then take it slow as from what I recall, sweat made my rash spread. It sounds like you are on top of it with the medication, but I'd take a week or so off just to be safe. Good luck and get well.

[crossjunkee]

That's a bummer, sorry to hear. My parents both had shingles. Some days are better than others. Only you know your body. If you feel like riding, then ride! Don't let shingles stop you if you feel up to the task.

Obviously rest when you can, eat good food, and drink A LOT of water. Eat raw foods that will boost your immune system.

[soulspinner]

Originally Posted by Hilltopperny

Had shingles myself when I was younger. I would take it easy for a bit. If you are going to ride then take it slow as from what I recall, sweat made my rash spread. It sounds like you are on top of it with the medication, but I'd take a week or so off just to be safe. Good luck and get well.

It seems sweat made mine spread to and it was close enough to my eye (yes half my head was full of shingles rash...not fun). I wouldnt ride until it was subsiding.

[trener1]

I got it 2 years ago and it was awefull.
I am not a doctor and I don't even play one on TV, but I would suggest taking a week off the bike and getting lots of rest and hopefully you can nip it on the budd.

[buddybikes]

Ask doctor about Doxepin/Prudoxin cream for the rash.

Sure wish insurance would drop the age for the vaccine, perhaps I may just do it and pay.

[Dead Man]

Dood... that's lame.

I've never had it, but I had an employee who came down with shingles (he's a roofer, too.. love irony?) a few years ago... was my lead guy at the time, too.. his doctor excused him from duty for like two weeks. IIRC, he came back after a week and a half, but was still in pain for another week or so.

I'd say do whatever you feel like you can do. Seems like shingles has all sorts of different levels of severity, from not that bad, to bed-ridden for a month. Maybe yours isn't that bad and riding will be fine...?

I know I wouldn't want to give up a week+ of fitness, if it was me... but if it came down to it and I needed the rest, I'd take it

[2wheelwill]

Originally Posted by steveandbarb1

Ask doctor about Doxepin/Prudoxin cream for the rash.

Sure wish insurance would drop the age for the vaccine, perhaps I may just do it and pay.

So is there a vaccine for Shingles? I don't know about the disease but reading this thread is kinda freaking me out. If there is a vaccine I want it!

[Hawker]

Originally Posted by 2wheelwill

So is there a vaccine for Shingles? I don't know about the disease but reading this thread is kinda freaking me out. If there is a vaccine I want it!

Yes on the vaccine. See posts above. And yes...you should get it. Shingles won't kill you, but many people say they wish they could have died.

[scooter]

CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides guidance to medical professionals on vaccines, so after FDA approves a vaccine, guidance for ACIP will likely determine who should get the new vaccine.

ACIP recommended a one-time Zostavax vaccination for those ≥60 years of age when Zostavax was approved about 10 years ago. ACIP’s most recent guidelines on the Zostavax vaccine, published in 2014, did not change their initial recommendation.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/...-need-know.htm

[2wheelwill]

So can a doctor legally give the vaccine to someone under the age of 60? Or is FDA only providing guidance we anyone can have the vaccine who wants it?

Fascinating discussion - I've heard of Shingles but didn't know it could be so severe....or that a vaccine existed!

[PaulE]

I got my Zostavax shingles vaccine over a year ago, maybe more than 2 years ago, and I still have a few months to go before I turn 60. One of my doctors told me that the recommended age for the vaccine had been lowered from 60 to 50, so I got it since my mother had a bad case of shingles. The doctor recommended it without knowing my mother had had shingles. Here in the garden state, I had to get a prescription from my doctor for it. That may have been because I was under 60, I don't recall. But I do know that my insurance company covered 100% of it when I got it at Rite Aid. If you get this vaccine, call ahead to your pharmacy and see if they have it. It is frozen and takes about 30 minutes to prepare before administering. Even though frozen, it still expires and so doctors don't stock it and neither did some pharmacies when I got mine.

Sorry if I said all this 4 pages ago when this thread first started!

[scooter]

You can certainly get the shingles vaccine if you are under 60, BUT your medical insurance likely will not cover the cost (~$235.00). After my mother contracted shingles and post herpetic neuralgia (chronic facial pain for the past 10 years), my sister got the vaccine and paid out-of-pocket to get the injection. I waited until I reached age 60 and got my shot covered under my medical insurance.

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by scooter

You can certainly get the shingles vaccine if you are under 60, BUT your medical insurance likely will not cover the cost (~$235.00). After my mother contracted shingles and post herpetic neuralgia (chronic facial pain for the past 10 years), my sister got the vaccine and paid out-of-pocket to get the injection. I waited until I reached age 60 and got my shot covered under my medical insurance.

Well in that case I'm amazed and grateful that my health insurance covered 100%, they are really in the premium collection and claim denial business!

[Repack Rider]

Most painful thing you could ever have that isn't going to kill you.

I thought I had something serious, fatal even. I lifted up my shirt and the doctor told me in one second what I had.

I was unusual in the sense that I was a male under the age of 50, a limited risk demographic. I was paid to take part in a study of a drug that may or may not affect the symptoms. I don't know, because I only had it the one time, have no baseline for comparison.

It's been a while, and I don't remember one way or another whether I rode my bike. I know I didn't much feel like riding.