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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Lady in my office has Shingles??
now what
Just got told my HR to call my doctor
Left them a message.
*shrug*
anyone got info?
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Posted 6/17/08 2:57 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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wynter323
Couple more days.
Member since 7/07 1319 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
I know that you should get checked out.
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| Posted 6/17/08 3:00 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Wash your hands good, and try to stay far away from her. Should she really be at work? Maybe they are crusted over already and that she doesn't pose a risk anymore?
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| Posted 6/17/08 3:02 PM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
I saw her come in this morning. Never saw a thing on her but she and I aren’t “close”. She sits in the cubby row next to me but separated by a very low filing cabinet. Where I sit she is three cubbies away.
I sit, however, at the end of a cubby row and with our extra low cubby walls, she walks about an arms length from me all day going back and forth, plus she’s extra friendly with the lady behind me and they sit in her cubby and talk A LOT. Lots of folks use my cubby wall to lean on since I’m at the end of a row, in front of a cross over mini hallway to another department AND in front of the small conference room!
Since being preggo, I just don’t touch my walls. Thankfully no one takes pens/pencils/supplies from my desk!
Still waiting on doc.
They say she's on antibotics now, and sees her doctor on Monday
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| Posted 6/17/08 3:07 PM |
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josie919
Here we go!
Member since 2/08 1108 total posts
Name:
Josie
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Shingles is caused by the same virus as chicken pox. It shows as a really bad rash. It causes nerve pain, itchy patches of skin, burning sensation and can be really painful overall. 
Its really contagious so keep your distance! Wash your hands ALOT and as long as you dont have any direct contact with her, you should be ok. People who have had chicken pox as children are MORE likely to get shingles. 
Its treated with anti-viral medicine and also corticosteroids for the itching. But from what I know, it can be very stubborn to get rid of. Wouldn't want to deal with that when pregnant 
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| Posted 6/17/08 3:08 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by Xelindrya
They say she's on antibotics now, and sees her doctor on Monday
Antibiotics would not treat Shingles. The only thing that would treat it is something like Valtrex, Acyclovir. I don't believe she should be at work and if she "should" then maybe you should not.
It is a form of the chicken pox virus and I do believe it can be spread by droplet infection (meaning coughing). Also, you would not likely see the rash. It runs along a nerve path, and is limited to a few groups of clusters. Mine were on my ribcage area.
I don't want to make you paranoid. Please call your dr and if he doesn't call you back asap, leave work if you can just to be sure.
Message edited 9/21/2008 7:37:37 AM.
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| Posted 6/17/08 3:11 PM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Ok, head nurse practitioner called me back.
Said it wasn’t a concern. It’s a reactivated strain of the chicken pox which I’ve already had. Plus since I was thoroughly checked out before going back to night school about three years ago, I had all my vaccinations updated and my blood was drawn and tested for antibodies. So I’m ok.
She also said there’s no evidence of any complications with pregnant women and shingles. It’s definitely uncomfortable, but it would be no major concern. Further, if I had been exposed it would be too late and I need to wait for the signs. Since she’s on antibiotics the chances of me getting it now are lower.
I am already fanatical about washing my hands and not touching stuff cause people are getting their seasonal colds again, so that’s probably been my saving grace.
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| Posted 6/17/08 3:12 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
yeah, I was about to write that it isn't a concern to you at all as long as you either already had the chicken pox, or were immunized....
it's good to hear you are immune!!!
how do you know it's shingles, though? has she had outbreaks before?
I'm concerned because someone put her on antibiotics, which to me, suggests they thought it was a bacterial infection.......
Message edited 6/17/2008 3:16:19 PM.
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| Posted 6/17/08 3:14 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by Xelindrya
Ok, head nurse practitioner called me back.
Said it wasn’t a concern. It’s a reactivated strain of the chicken pox which I’ve already had. Plus since I was thoroughly checked out before going back to night school about three years ago, I had all my vaccinations updated and my blood was drawn and tested for antibodies. So I’m ok.
Ok good. I was wondering if you had chicken pox and if they showed your varicella titers were high. All of our OBs check this to make sure we are immune. Glad they called you back. Just stay away anyway and wash your hands, don't touch your eyes, nose, mth, etc just to be overly cautious.
Message edited 6/17/2008 3:17:36 PM.
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| Posted 6/17/08 3:14 PM |
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DeniseMarie
<3
Member since 8/07 10682 total posts
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
well, def wait to hear what your dr says.
But - my aunt had it and she didnt know  and I had kissed her on the cheek hello. The shingles were on her back. My Dr said unless I actually kissed a shingle, I had nothing to worry about
HTH
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| Posted 6/17/08 3:48 PM |
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1stimemom
Love my boys
Member since 2/08 8766 total posts
Name:
Mrs Dee
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
are you immune to chicken pox?
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| Posted 6/17/08 4:20 PM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by 1stimemom
are you immune to chicken pox?
She says since I had it before that i am..
which to me is a stupid answer since she also said Shingles is a form of chicken pox and mostly people who get shingles HAD chicken pox once before .. which is just like me, right?
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| Posted 6/17/08 4:23 PM |
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sunflowerjesss
Mommy to 3!
Member since 10/05 20369 total posts
Name:
Jesss, duh.
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
I've had shingles. Only way to catch it is two fold you
A) need to have had chicken pox
and
B) need to come in physical contact with puss from one of the infected person's blisters.
I got the shingles 3 years ago and was around my very pregnant sister. She never got anything.
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| Posted 6/17/08 4:26 PM |
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1stimemom
Love my boys
Member since 2/08 8766 total posts
Name:
Mrs Dee
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
I had the same situation back in March, my BIL had them so I had to stay home for Easter. The research I did showed that it was dangerous for pregnant women to be exposed, and even women exposed in their 3rd tri could have a baby born with it. I know it is only contagious for a little while. I never had the chicken pox, so I didnt want to risk it. Make sure you do your research and do what you feel comfortable with.
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| Posted 6/17/08 4:28 PM |
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1stimemom
Love my boys
Member since 2/08 8766 total posts
Name:
Mrs Dee
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by sunflowerjesss
I've had shingles. Only way to catch it is two fold you
A) need to have had chicken pox
and
B) need to come in physical contact with puss from one of the infected person's blisters.
I got the shingles 3 years ago and was around my very pregnant sister. She never got anything.
Someone who hasn't had chicken pox can catch them from being exposed to shingles, also
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| Posted 6/17/08 4:35 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by Xelindrya
Posted by 1stimemom
are you immune to chicken pox?
She says since I had it before that i am..
which to me is a stupid answer since she also said Shingles is a form of chicken pox and mostly people who get shingles HAD chicken pox once before .. which is just like me, right?
you don't 'catch' shingles.... what happens is you catch chicken pox, and you THINK it completely clears up... actually, a tiny portion of the virus is camping out in a nerve... frequently for decades w/o you knowing....
When you get stressed somehow, you have an outbreak (much like you can get a coldsore outbreak). The area of skin that the nerve 'serves' gets the infection.
If someone were to catch the virus from her, they'd come down with chicken pox, not shingles. Obviously, that person would have to have no immunity against chicken pox to catch it..
Message edited 6/17/2008 5:10:26 PM.
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| Posted 6/17/08 5:09 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by wannabemom
Posted by Xelindrya
Posted by 1stimemom
are you immune to chicken pox?
She says since I had it before that i am..
which to me is a stupid answer since she also said Shingles is a form of chicken pox and mostly people who get shingles HAD chicken pox once before .. which is just like me, right?
you don't 'catch' shingles.... what happens is you catch chicken pox, and you THINK it completely clears up... actually, a tiny portion of the virus is camping out in a nerve... frequently for decades w/o you knowing....
When you get stressed somehow, you have an outbreak (much like you can get a coldsore outbreak). The area of skin that the nerve 'serves' gets the infection.
If someone were to catch the virus from her, they'd come down with chicken pox, not shingles. Obviously, that person would have to have no immunity against chicken pox to catch it..
What if someone is immunocompromised AND already had chicken pox, can't they also get shingles from coming into contact with someone with shingles since it is the same virus as chicken pox?
I am not 100% sure on the shingles though, never could get straight answers on this if it is contagious in the same exact way as chicken pox and if it poses a risk to immunocompromised or pg women (who already previously had chicken pox and are immune).
Message edited 7/19/2008 8:40:27 AM.
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| Posted 6/17/08 5:11 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by Xelindrya
She says since I had it before that i am..
which to me is a stupid answer since she also said Shingles is a form of chicken pox and mostly people who get shingles HAD chicken pox once before .. which is just like me, right?
That's exactly what I was thinking. Pg women are considered immunocompromised, no?
Message edited 6/17/2008 5:13:12 PM.
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| Posted 6/17/08 5:12 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by sunflowerjesss
I've had shingles. Only way to catch it is two fold you
A) need to have had chicken pox
and
B) need to come in physical contact with puss from one of the infected person's blisters.
I got the shingles 3 years ago and was around my very pregnant sister. She never got anything.
In your case, did you touch someone's shingles?
Message edited 9/21/2008 7:38:41 AM.
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| Posted 6/17/08 5:21 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by Goobster
I believe also if someone is immunocompromised AND already had chicken pox (as was in my case when I got shingles) they can also get shingles from coming into contact with someone with shingles since it is the same virus as chicken pox. As a child, I was immunocompromised, never came into contact with anyone with chicken pox or shingles that was visible or that I touched. And I got shingles. I believe both shingles and chicken pox are spread by droplet infection (coughing, sneezing, etc) which would mean that if you had chicken pox and are now immunocompromised, you could get shingles from someone who is contagious with chicken pox or shingles. I am not 100% sure on the shingles though, never could get straight answers on this if it is contagious in the same exact way as chicken pox and if it poses a risk to immunocompromised or pg women.
I should clarify.... people who are immunocompromised, by definition, really DO lack immunity to chicken pox... along with most other viruses and bacteria...
I am fairly certain you cannot catch shingles... you can only catch chicken pox. Shingles erupts due to a stress to your system following a prior chicken pox infection (could be decades earlier).
The 'stress' that induces shingles could be another infection or illness, emotional stress, of other forms of physical stress (sleep deprivation, overexertion). you don't need another exposure to the virus to get a shingles outbreak becuase the virus is already there. Shingles is localized to one specific area (one cheek, one side of the back)... and that area corresponds to the location of the nerve or nerves that are infected.
but people with a shingles outbreak ARE contageous... they'll give anyone around them that isn't healthy and immune a good case of the chicken pox.
Message edited 6/17/2008 5:29:31 PM.
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| Posted 6/17/08 5:28 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by wannabemom
You don't need another exposure to the virus to get a shingles outbreak becuase the virus is already there.
That's true, I do know this. I forgot about this.
Now if we could just find out from an md if shingles poses another shingles risk to someone.
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| Posted 6/17/08 5:32 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Posted by Goobster
Posted by wannabemom
You don't need another exposure to the virus to get a shingles outbreak becuase the virus is already there.
That's true, I do know this. I forgot about this.
Now if we could just find out from an md if shingles poses another shingles risk to someone.
well, I'm not an MD, but I did get my PhD in pathology.... so I'll chime in once more...
No. it doesn't. If a person catches the virus from the outside world, you'd expect to see a systemic response (pox over much of the body). Shingles is localized to very specific areas which indicates it is coming from the specific nerves that retained the virus.
also, the virus causing both conditions is identical. It doesn't mutate to cause shingles.... so to another individual's immune system, the chicken pox virus is merely chicken pox virus
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| Posted 6/17/08 5:53 PM |
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TLC1018
I AM A BIG SISTER!!
Member since 8/07 3880 total posts
Name:
Tracy
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
A woman in my office has shingles as well, she only had an outbreak on her stomach, but I still called my doctor to ask what I should do. He said as long as I had full blown chicken pox as a child I should be ok...with that said, he asked that I try to keep away from her as a precaution. I have over 100 people in my office so it's kind of easy to stay away.
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| Posted 6/17/08 6:07 PM |
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steph7308
Mommy of 2!!!
Member since 5/08 2083 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
there was a lady in my class that had it and my dr said that as long as i had chicken pox i was safe but if i wanted to be extra safe then i had to wait a week from when they dried up to be by her. i wouldnt worry as long as ur immune
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| Posted 6/17/08 7:14 PM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Re: Lady in my office has Shingles??
Wow what a wealth of info!
Thanks everyone
She came in today but left for her doctor appt, she's been feeling bad for awhile.
Lovely, no?
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| Posted 6/17/08 8:19 PM |
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