July chitchat

[Virginia]

We had lots and lots of rain last night, also lots of really loud thunder. I just kept reading and enjoyed it hitting the skylight that is downstairs where I am. We were forecast to have lots of wind twice yesterday, but since I mostly had my head down and in my kindle reading I didn't look out to see if the wind materialized or not. I am not too bothered by storms. The alert on the TV said 60mph winds.

I had to stop this post for awhile. My sister-in-law came in and brought me fresh out of the garden tomatoes and fresh corn on the cob. She also made stuffed peppers last night, so she saved one for me. The tomatoes look especially good. I am looking forward to my dinner tonight and also for a couple of more nights with tomato sandwiches and corn on the cob. ANN, this is the best way to get garden fresh produce.

While my SIL was here she went to my mailbox and got my mail for me. I was happy about that since I had not gotten it since last Thursday.

She said their dog was really scared last night during the storms. She also said there are more forecast for tonight. So guess I can hear more thunder.

Hope all of you are doing well.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Rose I did try the Witch hazel. My Shingles are awful and my whole chest and boobs hurt. I had to call the Paramedics three times in the last two days. I apologized for calling then so much but they said that is what they are there for and not to hesitate to call.

I quit the Gaba and Tramedol and my leg strength is coming back. Andy was here about 5 times.
This morning I got up by myself and on the scooter and to the john and back to bed. My hair is matted but I wil tend to that later. Stay safe. Jeanie :)

[agate]

Jeanie, hair can certainly wait. It's amazing how many things can wait when you're recovering from a fall or whatever else you're recovering from (like shingles).

I'm glad people are in contact with you regularly, seeing that you're OK.

[Virginia]

Jeanie, I just hate that you have this case of shingles. I wish there was something that could be done.

Did you by any chance look to see what strength Andy's Gabapentin is? It really could be that the strength is too strong or too strong for you to start out on. Mine was very low and Cat Dancer's also - 100mg is the lowest dose they make and that is what I had and Cat also said that was what she took.

I really do hope you feel better soon. You obviously are struggling.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All))))))

Jeanie ~

Oh my! Did you fall and call the paramedics? Do you think the meds were affecting your balance? I’m worried about you.

Would your doctor order home health for you and bill Medicare? Would that help you to have an aide every day or at least every other day? At least you could get a bath and have your hair washed.

How about a bedside commode? Would that help?

Are you eating well and getting plenty of fluids? I wish I was there; I would pamper you. I am no Dwayne Johnson, but I did lift Jim up in bed. I could probably wrangle you. But I would make sure you didn’t fall.

Did the witch hazel help? Do Advil or Tylenol help?

Continuing to hold you close in my prayers and send you healing energy.

Howie ~

Please keep track of your meds. And when you have ten pills left, call your doctor and pharmacy to tell them you need a refill. Otherwise you are going to run out every month. You take control by alerting them that you are running out. At least 7 days before you run out, call them. I had to do this for my boys and Jim every month.

It is dangerous for you to stop taking gabapentin. You are the captain of the ship. Take the wheel.

I lost the signal for my computer. I scheduled a tech for Monday earliest day available to have cables replaced. So I am coming to you from my iPad. Guess I will learn a lot about it in the next five days.

Prayers and love to all.

Love & Light,



Rose

[Ikoiko]

I wanted to speak up and tell Jeanie about my shingles experience about 3 years ago. I took Valtrex soon after the outbreak started, along with an opioid painkiller (I forget which one). The pain was so great that I had to take the painkiller for more than 3 months. In fact, I still have lingering pain in my left arm from the outbreak.

I was was aware that shingles was a painful disease, but I was unprepared for the overall flu-like symptoms I had. Those kept me almost bedridden for about 3 months. I am now a big advocate for the shingles shot, no matter how much it costs.

[Howie]

Rose, the last time I took the wheel, Sam hissed at me and said it was hers.

[agate]

Rose, the last time I took the wheel, Sam hissed at me and said it was hers.

Well, wasn't it?

[Sunshine 2]

IVIG was uneventful. I sat next to a fella with a mask that had sharks teeth pic over the mouth area of the mask. And he had the scruffy look of a surfer dude. So, I had to ask.... yes, a surfer. Fun convo for about 15 minutes about surfing and felt self come alive...then we both went into our sleep caves....Then, ran into a fellow swim buddy when I used to use the public pool (which resisted handicap accessibility)...she was in for cancer infusion. Nice to run into her too. Socialized about 5 minutes. That was nice too.

Told her about Udder Balm and a couple of other skin care products superior to the usual moisturizer as the meds are drying her out.

Husband showed up for pickup. And surprised nurse (and me) with an excellent bottle of rum for her....very sweet.

Watching ISais tropical storm for Jeanie, me, and our friends up in Va and NC (you know who you are!)

[Jeanie Z]

:) My leg strength is coming back so I can get up and on the scooter or on the bed or john. My top half still hurts awful and I started taking two Advil's. They don't do much. My Gaba was 300 mg. I am no longer taking that.

Andy brought me lunch and dinner and put the ointment on my Shingles. They are quite painful. Under my right armpit is so sore from landing on the hard tile floor for over an hour. I think a rib is cracked.

Andy was here at 6:30 AM and helped me get back to bed further on the bed. MY hair is matted. I got the brush and comb and worked all the tangles out and back into a ponytail.

Back to bed until 8:30. Several people have told me the Shingles pain goes on for months. Not a happy prospect. Stay home and stay safe. Jeanie :)

[Virginia]

Jeanie, that was a strong dose of Gabapentin for you to start out on. I expect if you wanted to try it your Doctor would give you 100mg 3 or 4 times per day. I don't want anything else to make you so weak, but people have told me and also this was my experience that Valtrex and Tramadol (again fairly low dose of Tramadol) to begin and then onto Gabapentin.

Ikoiko, sorry you had such a bad case. Mine was pretty bad also. I can't remember how long it lasted for me, but it was quite a long time. I was at the hairdresser when we first noticed the red spots coming up on my forehead. I go every 4 weeks and the next appointment I remember I had to cancel. I actually started on Valtrex the day I first saw the spots. I got two in that day and one the next morning and was sitting in my Doctor's office the following day at 9:30AM. Then on to the eye Doctor.

I too, am a big advocate for shingles vaccine. You never know when or where on your body it will hit. If a person gets it after taking the vaccine it will most likely be a very mild case. I would have settled for most anything that would have helped.

[Sunshine 2]

When you have shingles, are you allowed to takeValtrex daily for the rest of your life?
I have HSV2 (herpes infex of genitals). Doc put me on Valtrex and kept me on it because outbreaks seem to exacerbate the neurological problems (MS at that time).
I take it every day.
At one point they investigated it as an MS drug but found it did not help. But Howie swears by it. Maybe it’s why my MS is mild—doubt it, but I do know h have had no HSV2 outbreaks since starting daily Valtrex: This has been since 1999.

[Virginia]

Sunshine, I see no reason why you couldn’t take Valtrex the same way you do now. The reason they stop it after shingles is because it is no longer effective for shingles. That doesn’t mean it isn’t effective for herpes of other types.

Shingles is “herpes zoster” which comes from having had chicken pox. If you had chicken pox the virus remains dormant in your body for the rest of your life and can become active as shingles at any time, though the older you are the more likely you are to have shingles. No relation to herpes 1 or 2.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))

Jeanie ~

It’s good to hear that your leg strength is returning. With your level of pain you may need a full dose of Advil right now. Did the gaba and tramadol help your pain?

I hope you did not crack a rib. I went through that many years ago. It really hurt and took awhile to mend. Do you have bruising or swelling? Keep applying witch hazel to the injured areas.

Lots of healing prayers on the way.

Sunshine ~

Your infusion friends were glad to see you! That’s great that you got to visit. I prefer Bag Balm for dry skin or skin breakdown. Praying that none of you are affected by the tropical storm.

Howie ~

If Sam can steer a boat, then she can call your doctor and pharmacy 7 days before you run out. It doesn’t matter who calls. But one of you should.

Prayers for all ~ stay safe and be well.

Love & Light,



Rose

[Howie]

Sunshine is right, I do credit Valtrex with curing my HSV-1 outbreaks, and my MS. I started it right after my second exacerbation. I took it daily for almost 2 years. I now have no outbreaks of HSV-1, or exacerbations. I just wish I had started it sooner.

Rose, I'm trying to teach Sam to use the phone, but she says she's too old to learn new things.

Agate, you're good at knowing these things, but I know it's a long shot. Any chance we get paid tomorrow since the 1st and 2nd are on the weekend?

I have money, but would rather make a Friday store trip than one on a Monday. Plus it would give me the weekend to get my bills ready, and get them in the mail.