Shingles, heart cath and what will my options be

cindy · 11-20-2007, 08:34 AM

I had pain for 6 days before I sought help. Lived off of 1000 mg tyelenol and 400 mg advil round the clock. Even had my husband tape me up in an effort to stop the pain. Pain had started in left shoulder, then left upper back, then around to under my arm then down my upper arm just to my elbow.I finally went to the doctor, who of course sent me to ER. ER treated me with baby aspirin and nitro. Nitro seemed to stop pain in upper left shoulder area so conclusion was that it was cardiac in origin. My feelings were that I had one of those small clots to lungs. Anyway, they did D dimer blood test, came back positive. Then they insisted on a 2 view cat of lungs which was negative for blood clot to lungs. Then they insisted it was my heart and that I needed immediate cath. They did heart cath came back with no need for stenting. One insignificant artery 50% blocked but I was told even if it were 100% blocked, it was such an insigtinificant one that they wouldn't even bother with it. They had me stay at hospital all night.
I was still in pain, middle back,, a nd had horrible headache. During night and next morning I was running mild fever. Doc came to discharge me and when I asked about fever, he said he would test urine. This was my third day in hospital and I couldn't wait to leave. I was a little leary of fever and pain with no explaination but.... I also asked the doc about this rash that I had running across my back that was really nasty looking and which had spread to my chest. The rash did not seem to follow in the direction of my taping ( I thought it was an allergic reaction to the tape I used when I was in such severe pain.Doctor looked at my chest and said oh my, thats the reason for the fever, you have shingles. I am given a rx for the acylov oir and sent home, needing a follow up for today. I was in lots of pain all this past weekend. I was not supposed to take any tyenol because of potential kidney problems. I have ended up using something I had in the cabinet that was a pain med for teeth. The advil alone did nothing for my pain.

What can I expect today? The doc told hubby that I would be able to have some kind of patch. I see that people have been treated with a med which seems to addict them. Is that what I can expect?

I'm a little concerned and want to know ahead what possible options there are....I'm sooo tired from these fevers and constant pain. I'm afraid of getting wrong stuff. Can someone tell me what to expect. My tongue has turned red, probably from taking the dental pain meds and I'm just plain tired of hurting. Any help is appreciated.

SCI-Nurse · 11-20-2007, 09:11 AM

Acute shingles is very painful. Your initial pain was probably the early stages (before you can see lesions). You should not be hesitant to take a strong narcotic medication to treat it. There is little risk of addiction unless you have a history of drug addiction.

The Acyclovir is the best drug to try to control it and minimize long term complications, which can include significant chronic pain (usually treated with gabapentin if it should occur).

Anyone you have contact with at this point is at risk of catching this from you unless they have good antibodies for chicken pox (had it as a child and have good antibodies, or have had recent vaccination for either shingles or chicken pox). Avoid being with anyone who has not. You are potentially infectious as long as you have blisters or raw areas. Keep the area covered with a light dressing and clean it gently to avoid bacterial over-infection when blisters burst.

Hang in there. Most shingles gets better within a week or so. Meanwhile, take the pain medication and the anti-viral you were prescribed.

(KLD)

cindy · 11-20-2007, 07:44 PM

Thank you KLD. I have finally gotten home from doctor. He perscribed lidocane patches. I am to use only one patch in 24 hours. It is to be placed on the area most painful and must be removed before 12 hours. I would then have to wait 12 hours before using another. It cannot be placed on the rash area.

This kind of treatment does not fit my circumstances as I will have to call my husband home from work two different times in order to use it (we have a restaurant). I will be able to try it tomorrow . sure hope it gives me some relief as 10 patches cost $94.00. A bottle of dental analgesic only costs $10.....

The doctor also told me he would only treat chronic pain not something that would be over in a week, therefore it would have to be the lidocane or nothing.

KLD, the drug store was too busy and we couldn't wait any longer. I have read the insert and it said not to be used by anyone treated with irregular heartbeat. Is tachycardia considered irregular or is it just a fast heart rate ..I am presently on cardizem for rapid heart rate.

Thanks again for any help.
cindy
incomplete spinal cord decompressions C4-5-6, T 7-8 and I'm still walking!

SCI-Nurse · 11-20-2007, 08:59 PM

Call your regular doctor and insist on getting a narcotic (Fentynl lollipops or a patch) for 7-10 days to get you through this acute pain. Lidocaine patches are not appropriate for acute pain. If he won't, ask him to refer you to someone who will, or go back to the ER. I suspect he does not have or want to use his DEA number. That is not a reason for you to suffer.

Call your cardiologist before using any more lidocaine. It may not be a problem with your tachycardia, but he should make that decision. He may help you with other pain meds if your PCP will not (and if your PCP won't, I would recommend looking for another one).

(KLD)

cindy · 11-20-2007, 09:42 PM

Again, I thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

11-20-2007, 08:34 AM	#1
cindy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: // Posts: 106	Shingles, heart cath and what will my options be I had pain for 6 days before I sought help. Lived off of 1000 mg tyelenol and 400 mg advil round the clock. Even had my husband tape me up in an effort to stop the pain. Pain had started in left shoulder, then left upper back, then around to under my arm then down my upper arm just to my elbow.I finally went to the doctor, who of course sent me to ER. ER treated me with baby aspirin and nitro. Nitro seemed to stop pain in upper left shoulder area so conclusion was that it was cardiac in origin. My feelings were that I had one of those small clots to lungs. Anyway, they did D dimer blood test, came back positive. Then they insisted on a 2 view cat of lungs which was negative for blood clot to lungs. Then they insisted it was my heart and that I needed immediate cath. They did heart cath came back with no need for stenting. One insignificant artery 50% blocked but I was told even if it were 100% blocked, it was such an insigtinificant one that they wouldn't even bother with it. They had me stay at hospital all night. I was still in pain, middle back,, a nd had horrible headache. During night and next morning I was running mild fever. Doc came to discharge me and when I asked about fever, he said he would test urine. This was my third day in hospital and I couldn't wait to leave. I was a little leary of fever and pain with no explaination but.... I also asked the doc about this rash that I had running across my back that was really nasty looking and which had spread to my chest. The rash did not seem to follow in the direction of my taping ( I thought it was an allergic reaction to the tape I used when I was in such severe pain.Doctor looked at my chest and said oh my, thats the reason for the fever, you have shingles. I am given a rx for the acylov oir and sent home, needing a follow up for today. I was in lots of pain all this past weekend. I was not supposed to take any tyenol because of potential kidney problems. I have ended up using something I had in the cabinet that was a pain med for teeth. The advil alone did nothing for my pain. What can I expect today? The doc told hubby that I would be able to have some kind of patch. I see that people have been treated with a med which seems to addict them. Is that what I can expect? I'm a little concerned and want to know ahead what possible options there are....I'm sooo tired from these fevers and constant pain. I'm afraid of getting wrong stuff. Can someone tell me what to expect. My tongue has turned red, probably from taking the dental pain meds and I'm just plain tired of hurting. Any help is appreciated. __________________ //

11-20-2007, 07:44 PM	#3
cindy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: // Posts: 106	Lidocane patch Thank you KLD. I have finally gotten home from doctor. He perscribed lidocane patches. I am to use only one patch in 24 hours. It is to be placed on the area most painful and must be removed before 12 hours. I would then have to wait 12 hours before using another. It cannot be placed on the rash area. This kind of treatment does not fit my circumstances as I will have to call my husband home from work two different times in order to use it (we have a restaurant). I will be able to try it tomorrow . sure hope it gives me some relief as 10 patches cost $94.00. A bottle of dental analgesic only costs $10..... The doctor also told me he would only treat chronic pain not something that would be over in a week, therefore it would have to be the lidocane or nothing. KLD, the drug store was too busy and we couldn't wait any longer. I have read the insert and it said not to be used by anyone treated with irregular heartbeat. Is tachycardia considered irregular or is it just a fast heart rate ..I am presently on cardizem for rapid heart rate. Thanks again for any help. cindy incomplete spinal cord decompressions C4-5-6, T 7-8 and I'm still walking! __________________ //

11-20-2007, 09:42 PM	#5
cindy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: // Posts: 106	KLD Thank you Again, I thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving! __________________ //

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11-20-2007, 09:11 AM	#2
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,324	Acute shingles is very painful. Your initial pain was probably the early stages (before you can see lesions). You should not be hesitant to take a strong narcotic medication to treat it. There is little risk of addiction unless you have a history of drug addiction. The Acyclovir is the best drug to try to control it and minimize long term complications, which can include significant chronic pain (usually treated with gabapentin if it should occur). Anyone you have contact with at this point is at risk of catching this from you unless they have good antibodies for chicken pox (had it as a child and have good antibodies, or have had recent vaccination for either shingles or chicken pox). Avoid being with anyone who has not. You are potentially infectious as long as you have blisters or raw areas. Keep the area covered with a light dressing and clean it gently to avoid bacterial over-infection when blisters burst. Hang in there. Most shingles gets better within a week or so. Meanwhile, take the pain medication and the anti-viral you were prescribed. (KLD)

11-20-2007, 08:59 PM	#4
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,324	Call your regular doctor and insist on getting a narcotic (Fentynl lollipops or a patch) for 7-10 days to get you through this acute pain. Lidocaine patches are not appropriate for acute pain. If he won't, ask him to refer you to someone who will, or go back to the ER. I suspect he does not have or want to use his DEA number. That is not a reason for you to suffer. Call your cardiologist before using any more lidocaine. It may not be a problem with your tachycardia, but he should make that decision. He may help you with other pain meds if your PCP will not (and if your PCP won't, I would recommend looking for another one). (KLD)