Week 3 Shingles

[Genecanuck]

Unfortunatley, this thread is moving way beyond the original purpose of supporting @Dee to deal with her heath problem and remain smoke free.

 

This shingles debate is becoming counterproductive. We have a situation where we have an internet troll who is becoming disruptive. 

 

@MarylandQuitter... if you are still around, please review this thread and address this issue.

 

Many thanks.

 

Gene

 

 

[jillar]

@Genecanuck , we have read all the replies and feel like our members handled his posts appropriately so no further action is needed at this time. 

In the future instead of tagging you can report the thread (upper three dots on the right of the user reply you're reporting) this will notify the administrator and moderators.

 

[Not]

Just wanted to chime in here. 35, quit nicotine (smoking, later vaping heavily) after about 20 years cold turkey.

 

After Day 3 I have Shingles. Currently on Day 5 and on meds now.

 

It was 100% brought about by the stress of going cold turkey.

 

This is some pretty wild pain, but it's not as bad as the mental anguish of having an active addiction.

[finally quit]

I got shingles within a week or two of quitting vaping more or less cold turkey. I'm 39, very fit, overall healthy, etc -- except for the nasty and long-lived nicotine addiction. I do believe there is a strong connection to quitting and getting shingles -- not that quitting predicts or necesitates getting shingles. But it's not a coincidence when they happen together. Anyway, an odd fact that you will find is that current smokers are actually less likely than the average person to get shingles. Something about the way smoking manipulates the t-cells, is the theory there. Obviously it's not a reason to smoke or delay quitting. It's just an interesting phenomenon born out of our very complex immune system.

[finally quit]

**I should add here that I was consuming a lot more coffee in the weeks during my taper and following my quick cold turkey quit. I was sleeping regularly, but the increased caffeine/coffee could have played a role in getting shingles. I was so ultra fatigued from quitting nicotine (still am, a bit) that I was (trying) to compensate with caffeine. Or was the fatigue from the shingles all along? I don't know. But it wasn't like I went from no coffee to tons of coffee all of a sudden. I was already consuming coffee, and I just increased it by some when I quit. 

[QuittingGirl]

I had shingles back in 2018....worst thing I ever had!  Anyway, while it does not directly come from quitting smoking, it does come from stress.  The virus that causes shingles lays dormant in your body after you had the chicken pox.   My suggestion is to get the Shingrex vaccine because Shingles can come back again and again.  As soon as I was able, I got it.  It's 2 shots, you get the 2nd one from 2-6 months after the first.

[Doreensfree]

I haven’t had shingles … 

But still , drinks a lot of coffee 

I may look into getting a jab

[QuittingGirl]

Oh Doreen, you really should get the shots!  Shingles is the most horrible thing, it's agonizing and I had a mild case.  The rash was about a 2 inch square on my back and I was in agony until I got to the doctor the next day, and he gave me anti-virials and a pain killer.  I never felt such pain in my life, worse than labor and a toothache combined! And since we are older we are more likely to get Shingles than a younger person, although younger people do get it.  Go to your doctor and tell him/her you want it.  Trust me, it's so worth it!  I had mild side effects, but they weren't nearly anything like the Shingles!  Ohh just the thought of what I went through terrifies me!

[Doreensfree]

You have convinced me QG

 ext time I call in my surgery I will book a appointment .

i have to have a blood test for thyroid soon I think

[QuittingGirl]

Ohhh thank you Doreen!! I am so glad!  Believe me, you won't regret it.  If you want to know what Shingles is like there are many videos on Youtube, to show you how horrible it is.  Anyway, I'm glad you will get that and all your other blood tests!