Update on my son.

[Mz Pip]

What a week! He went back to the Dr. yesterday because the "Nuclear bombs" of antibiotics weren't working and he was just getting worse. He got an emergency referral from the head/neck specialists to see a dermatologist and we saw her in the afternoon. She called in some collegues and they poked, inspected, etc. She took a bunch of cultures and put him on predisone and an anti-viral drug in case it was shingles. The tests came back this morning and it was shingles - kind of rare for a 31 year old to get, but the meds she gave him yesterday had kicked in and the swelling was down and the rash was fading. Unfortunately the major lesions are on his face but with makeup he should look okay.

He's had to contact many of the attendees to let them know he was contagious for chicken pox and pregnant women who haven't had chicken pox need to stay home. Hopefully there won't be anyone in that category. The doctor called the CDC and he'll have been on the anti-viral drugs long enough to not be contagious for his honeymoon.

Thanks for your good wishes. :loveya:

[Callalily]

1. I'm glad that you son is

on the road to recovery, but I'm kind of confused about your comment "kind of rare for a 31 year old to get." My former father-in-law contracted shingles at age 70 something, and my friend just combated a bout of shingles - she's 62.

Well, anyway . . . I'm glad your son is on the mend.

[Mz Pip]

3. Young people don't commonly get

shingles. Drs usually recommend a shingles vaccine for people over 60.

All of the obvious things - an infection from the water in the lake, a rash from the initial antibiotics were just red herrings, but seemed like the likeliest explanation at the time. Just coincidence.

Well, I'm off to take a nap before I have to get ready to go. Needless to say, I am exhausted.

[GoneOffShore]

2. OK that does - I'm getting the vaccine for shingles!

My mom had it years ago and my Rolfer/massage therapist had it last year.

Too painful.

[elleng]

5. I got vcine (not cheap or 'easily' available) after Dad had the condition.

He's now 96, i'm 60 something.

Happy Wedding!

[Celebration]

4. Oh, my!

So glad he got this firm diagnosis. What timing, egads! At his age he should be able to throw this off pretty well. I remember having it at age 16! My dad was an ENT physician, and this is how it was diagnosed--he called a doctor friend from our home phone and asked if it was possible for a 16 year old to get shingles. The answer was "rare, but possible." Diagnosis done. You would have thought someone could have diagnosed shingles without everything your son went through. I think doctors now are so used to using tests and so forth that they forget that they can use visual clues............or something. I know how frustrating it has been for you all know knowing what he was dealing with.

Definitely been sending you guys vibes. This is going to be a great wedding!! Thanks for keeping us informed. Hopefully the rest of it will go more by the script, LOL!!

[Tindalos]

6. Shingles can be triggered by stress

So maybe that's why he's developed it now. My sister had it in her 30s too. It's extremely painful and I feel bad for your son. Glad you finally have a diagnosis though. Best wishes for the wedding.


:hug:

[Mira]

7. I'm so happy for the diagnosis. That makes everything easier on all fronts.

I wish all of you the best for the wedding today, now it can soon go into the annals of family stories, I'm glad for that.

(I got shingles 2 years ago. I felt horrible. As if I had been run over by a mega mack truck. Called a doctor friend, described all my stuff and wailed. He was at a loss until, just as I was about to hang up I said....and why in the hell do you suppose I have a red rash on my chest?.... Bingo!)

As I understand it everyone who has had chickenpox and is getting a bit up in years needs to consider the vaccination.

[handmade34]

8. Best wishes to the Happy Couple!

[hippywife]

9. Shingles!

It never crossed my mind that's what it could be. Thank goodness they pinned it down and can now treat it. Kinda sucks for the wedding, but it coulda been something worse, I guess.

I hope it doesn't turn out to be too painful for him. :hi:

[alfredo]

10. The stress of the wedding might have brought it on.

That's understandable because it is a big deal. Shingles hurt like hell, but he will do just fine.

Tell him he might get a bit of a rash on his forehead, but it will clear up when the prednisone wears off. He might get a bit of the moon face too, but not anything too bad.

JUst glad it wasn't MRSA

[NV Whino]

11. Wow, glad that's settled

Good luck, and we want pics of the wedding.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Holy smokes! Glad he's going to be ok