I have missed you all!
The cipro and flagyl that I was given wiped me out. I couldn't lift my head off of my pillow. I called my physician (who is also an old family friend) and he was so concerned about the way I sounded he made a house call and started an IV and infused 3 bags of IV fluids. He got me into see a gastroenterologist the next day. GI doc said no cipro for me and switched me to bactrim and cut the flagyl dosage in half. He said that the ER was trying to treat an elephant's abscess and sometimes less is better...lol.
Finally, finally, I feel I am on the mend. The gastroenterologist said that the infection was probably caused from my weakened immune system from the shingles and cancer. So please, my dear friends, if you are >50, get that shingles vaccine! Even if your insurance doesn't cover it, because I promise you this jaunt to doctors and hospital will cost me more than the dern vaccine. Of course, the NP (and nerd) in me has to make this a teaching opportunity.
I have thought of all of you often and want to hear how each and everyone of you are doing. I felt your fighting spirits and they helped to lift mine. Love to each and everyone of you! Now tell me about how you are!
Comments
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Missed you too!
Yikes, you've been through the ringer... !!!! glad you're on the mend...My mother had shingles a month after my young brother passed away...years ago...Doc said he felt the stress brought it on...who knows? But she did say giving birth was LESS painful! And my daughter had the bacterial gastroenteritis at age 11 months....she was hospitalized for 8 days...it was awful....so I can somewhat relate....I thought you had to be 60 to get the shingles vaccine or is that just the age insurance pays for it?? I can't have any vaccines now due to being back on chemo....ugh....
Again, I hate what you've been through but glad you're on the mend!
Hugs, Nancy0 -
Glad you are back and feeling better
I always miss you when you don't post, I feel like our resident teacher (and I say this with total fondness) is gone, and there is no substitute! I always learned something from your posts. I too am on chemo and was told no vaccines. But I have a sister and a brother who have had shingles and they were absolutely miserable.
Glad you are back, and I am doing this on my computer without glasses! I finally had the cataract surgery this past Wednesday and Friday, and have 20/20 vision. Will need cheaters for reading books and small print like on a prescription bottle, but I love having my eyes back!
Will be taking the month of June off from chemo. My immune system is compromised and between that, chemo and cancer, just keep getting infections, cold sores, and mouth sores. So it is off to California for 9 days with my family, and will be able to meet Victoria, Diana, and if there is anyone else who will be in the Oceanside area June 19th would love to meet them also!
Glad you are back,
Carol0 -
Oh, My!camul said:Glad you are back and feeling better
I always miss you when you don't post, I feel like our resident teacher (and I say this with total fondness) is gone, and there is no substitute! I always learned something from your posts. I too am on chemo and was told no vaccines. But I have a sister and a brother who have had shingles and they were absolutely miserable.
Glad you are back, and I am doing this on my computer without glasses! I finally had the cataract surgery this past Wednesday and Friday, and have 20/20 vision. Will need cheaters for reading books and small print like on a prescription bottle, but I love having my eyes back!
Will be taking the month of June off from chemo. My immune system is compromised and between that, chemo and cancer, just keep getting infections, cold sores, and mouth sores. So it is off to California for 9 days with my family, and will be able to meet Victoria, Diana, and if there is anyone else who will be in the Oceanside area June 19th would love to meet them also!
Glad you are back,
Carol
You have definitely been through the ringer! I had shingles in 2007 (3 years before bc) but it was nothing like your experience, although it was misdiagnosed as a food allergy (?) initially and I was put on prednisone which exacerbated it. Food allergy? Really? Only one one side of my body? Pustules? Food allergies? Really?
It seems like the older I get (this is a good thing), the more and more I hear of people (primarily women) getting shingles. Thanks for taking this as a "teaching opportunity" and encouraging others to get the doggone vaccine. It seems like it is particularly important for this group of women whose immune systems are compromised.
Get well. We miss you.
Hugs,
Suzanne0 -
Nancy, your mom is exactlyMAJW said:Missed you too!
Yikes, you've been through the ringer... !!!! glad you're on the mend...My mother had shingles a month after my young brother passed away...years ago...Doc said he felt the stress brought it on...who knows? But she did say giving birth was LESS painful! And my daughter had the bacterial gastroenteritis at age 11 months....she was hospitalized for 8 days...it was awful....so I can somewhat relate....I thought you had to be 60 to get the shingles vaccine or is that just the age insurance pays for it?? I can't have any vaccines now due to being back on chemo....ugh....
Again, I hate what you've been through but glad you're on the mend!
Hugs, Nancy
Nancy, your mom is exactly right! I kept telling Danny that the pain was worse than labor and no one would give me an epidural...lol. I don't tolerate anything but miniscule doses of pain meds, so I supplemented with lots of advil. None of which was great for my gut either.
The eligible age for the vaccine has recently been lowered to 50. If you are >50, you can get the shingles vaccine at any drugstore, but I am not sure whether insurance covers it. You would think a h/o cancer and being > 50 would be reason enough. But we all know how insurance companies can be.
Thank you for the good wishes and I hope you are well?!0 -
Carol, if I could make it incamul said:Glad you are back and feeling better
I always miss you when you don't post, I feel like our resident teacher (and I say this with total fondness) is gone, and there is no substitute! I always learned something from your posts. I too am on chemo and was told no vaccines. But I have a sister and a brother who have had shingles and they were absolutely miserable.
Glad you are back, and I am doing this on my computer without glasses! I finally had the cataract surgery this past Wednesday and Friday, and have 20/20 vision. Will need cheaters for reading books and small print like on a prescription bottle, but I love having my eyes back!
Will be taking the month of June off from chemo. My immune system is compromised and between that, chemo and cancer, just keep getting infections, cold sores, and mouth sores. So it is off to California for 9 days with my family, and will be able to meet Victoria, Diana, and if there is anyone else who will be in the Oceanside area June 19th would love to meet them also!
Glad you are back,
Carol
Carol, if I could make it in June, I would be there. That sounds lovely!
I am soooo jealous of no glasses. I can't imagine. Thanks for the well wishes and hope that you are well.0 -
I know Suzanne. I had aDouble Whammy said:Oh, My!
You have definitely been through the ringer! I had shingles in 2007 (3 years before bc) but it was nothing like your experience, although it was misdiagnosed as a food allergy (?) initially and I was put on prednisone which exacerbated it. Food allergy? Really? Only one one side of my body? Pustules? Food allergies? Really?
It seems like the older I get (this is a good thing), the more and more I hear of people (primarily women) getting shingles. Thanks for taking this as a "teaching opportunity" and encouraging others to get the doggone vaccine. It seems like it is particularly important for this group of women whose immune systems are compromised.
Get well. We miss you.
Hugs,
Suzanne
I know Suzanne. I had a hard time figuring out the shingles because the pain was in the same side as the affected ribs (where my cancer metastasized to). My onclogist had no idea what was going on. An oncall nurse figured it out.
Hope you are well too and I missed your sunny face!0 -
Shingles Vaccine
Like many others I too was wondering how things were going when you hadn't posted for such a long time. Definitely sounds like you hit a rough patch, but I am glad you are doing better now. I had been wondering if I should get the shingles vaccine and your "teachable moment" has certainly convinced me of its value. I happen to have an appt. with my internist in 10 days and will discuss this with her then. Thank you for the push.
IRENE0 -
Glad to see you are feeling betterjessiesmom1 said:Shingles Vaccine
Like many others I too was wondering how things were going when you hadn't posted for such a long time. Definitely sounds like you hit a rough patch, but I am glad you are doing better now. I had been wondering if I should get the shingles vaccine and your "teachable moment" has certainly convinced me of its value. I happen to have an appt. with my internist in 10 days and will discuss this with her then. Thank you for the push.
IRENE
Geesh--you have been through it. Thank you for the vaccine advice. I'm certainly going to bring this up to my onc. when I see her again.
Hang in there and continue to feel better. Great to hear from you.
Hugs, Renee0 -
Ellien we missed you toomissrenee said:Glad to see you are feeling better
Geesh--you have been through it. Thank you for the vaccine advice. I'm certainly going to bring this up to my onc. when I see her again.
Hang in there and continue to feel better. Great to hear from you.
Hugs, Renee
Sorry, I have been following closely, so missed your shingles and was worrying about you. I am glad that you are feeling better.
Cipro was awful for my stomach too, horrible pain, good that you are of this medication. When you done with treatment probiotics, including acidophilus will be helpful to restore micro-phlora and digestion.
I am putting vaccination on my To do list along with colonoscopy for this year.
Hugs
New Flower0 -
Those shingles sound
Those shingles sound horrible! I don't have any experience with them...I'm just glad you're doing better and we have you back. I hope you continue to get better and better, welcome back!
Hugs,
Linda0 -
The shingles are terrible,Gabe N Abby Mom said:Those shingles sound
Those shingles sound horrible! I don't have any experience with them...I'm just glad you're doing better and we have you back. I hope you continue to get better and better, welcome back!
Hugs,
Linda
The shingles are terrible, but who would expect a bacterial intestinal infection after them? That wasn't on my radar. Getting stronger now though. Thank you for the kind words. I am praying and thinking of you!0 -
Thanks Georgia. When I wasladyg said:Glad to hear you are
feeling better. I don't know much about shingles but I have heard more than once it is a very painful thing and hard to get rid of. I am sending you some positive energy to help you get back to feeling good.
Hugs,
Georgia
Thanks Georgia. When I was the sickest, I swear I could feel you guys. Love you!0 -
ThankyouCypressCynthia said:Thanks Georgia. When I was
Thanks Georgia. When I was the sickest, I swear I could feel you guys. Love you!
Thankyou so much for the vaccine advice. I've only been on this site a couple months but have learned so much. I will surely bring it up with my doc as to when I can get it. Sounds like you have been through a lot, and like so many prooving your strength...good for you! As always, all in my prayers.0 -
CC ... I am so sorry to hear about your bout witheihtak said:Thankyou
Thankyou so much for the vaccine advice. I've only been on this site a couple months but have learned so much. I will surely bring it up with my doc as to when I can get it. Sounds like you have been through a lot, and like so many prooving your strength...good for you! As always, all in my prayers.
shingles. You have been thru so much -- now, shingles, again!! grrrrrr! Medication given to help with shingles - sounds like a little of an overload for your body --.
I worry about you, as you are constantly on the go --- working, volunteering, caring for your loved ones, family and friends -- and Cancer advocate. I so admire you, but worry
as well.
Happy that you are on the mend, and thinking about joining the Florida Sisters in PINK for a gathering of WARRIORS.
You are a TREASURE to our site -- so please take care of yourself.
Vicki Sam0 -
Vicki Sam, my sweetVickiSam said:CC ... I am so sorry to hear about your bout with
shingles. You have been thru so much -- now, shingles, again!! grrrrrr! Medication given to help with shingles - sounds like a little of an overload for your body --.
I worry about you, as you are constantly on the go --- working, volunteering, caring for your loved ones, family and friends -- and Cancer advocate. I so admire you, but worry
as well.
Happy that you are on the mend, and thinking about joining the Florida Sisters in PINK for a gathering of WARRIORS.
You are a TREASURE to our site -- so please take care of yourself.
Vicki Sam
Vicki Sam, my sweet friend...such kind words bring tears to my eyes. I am hoping to get out to California sometime, but I am going to have to budget it or Danny may kill me...lol. We just redid the upstairs: bedroom and bath AND retiled the foyer. Of course, I did not do this personally--just supervised the workmen. But I adore Wendy and San Diego and, of course, my California sisters in pink!0 -
I'm so sorry you had to go through that!CypressCynthia said:Vicki Sam, my sweet
Vicki Sam, my sweet friend...such kind words bring tears to my eyes. I am hoping to get out to California sometime, but I am going to have to budget it or Danny may kill me...lol. We just redid the upstairs: bedroom and bath AND retiled the foyer. Of course, I did not do this personally--just supervised the workmen. But I adore Wendy and San Diego and, of course, my California sisters in pink!
Yes, my neighbor had it and not only did she say it was painful, it LOOKED painful. As a matter of fact, I just saw a commercial on the chicken Pox virus and shingles and how those that had chicken pox have a high percentage of getting it after age 50. THANK YOU Cynthia, I will most definitely ask my doctor about the vaccine. I had chicken Pox as a child and THAT was a pain the bum...I wouldn't want to get shingles!
I'm so glad you're feeling better. And also glad your doctor cut the dosage! Yikes!
Sending you prayers of healing and hugs!
Sylvia0 -
Glad your on the mend,i did
Glad your on the mend,i did have my shingles shot when i was 60.I am doing really well it will be 2 years in July.
Hugs Frankie0 -
I had the flu vaccines whenFrankie Shannon said:Glad your on the mend,i did
Glad your on the mend,i did have my shingles shot when i was 60.I am doing really well it will be 2 years in July.
Hugs Frankie
I had the flu vaccines when i was on chemo, actuaslly advised by my docs, so you should ask . My aunt got shingles on her face that wnet into her eye and is still having problems with vision etc... its tough. I will ask about this0 -
Gosh!
So glad you're finally back on the mend, after all of that yucky stuff!!! Yes, shingles are nasty! No personal experience, but... My Mom recently had shingles about one month after completing her rads. Caught & treated quickly (with prescription oral meds & ointment). Bad enough; but, not nearly as bad as it could've been.
Hope you're feeling better each & every day, CC.
Kind regards, Susan0
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