Shingles

[SleevedInSept 0]

Did anyone get shingles a week before surgery? What did you take and what did you do? It's a mild case, but my surgery is in Mexico so I don't really want to reschedule. I starter valtrex the day it started with the faint looking bumps.

[SuziDavis 548]

Shingles is not a common thing. And don't occur often. But it can also be EXTREMELY painful.

Generally you only get shingles once, I did when I was younger, so how did you now that your mild bumps were it?

[kcuster83 1,504]

I wouldn't assume shingles. I would contact your doctor and have that verified and treated accordingly. Especially since your surgery is not local.

[ShoppGirl 5,034]

Personally I wouldn’t want to go into surgery with my body already fighting anything. This is a pretty major surgery and I wouldn’t want my body to go through anything else at the same time. Plus I have heard they are really painful and you don’t want to be in additional pain with your surgery. I would definitely see someone and make sure you are treating the right thing. I would also consider telling the surgeon about it before you go because of the simple fact that you may get there and go through all the steps only for them to see them right before surgery and not do it.

[SpartanMaker 941]

You need to talk to your surgery team. I would be very surprised if they allowed you to go through with the surgery. Aside from your own health, varicella is contagious, and especially if you're going to Mexico where vaccination is likely more spotty, you could actually give the virus to someone else.

Please do the right thing.

[Starwarsandcupcakes 2,071]

Guys- Valtrex is a RX medicine in the US used to treat shingles along with chickenpox and herpes outbreaks. And shingles can happen more than once, along with chickenpox.

That being said, I personally would reschedule surgery. It’s a major surgery and your body is already working hard to fight an infection. The last thing you want is to stress your body more with surgical inflammation and pain. And shingles is contagious until all pustules have scabbed over so you’d be putting others as risk during your travel and surgery.

[KimA-GA 540]

@Starwarsandcupcakes and @SpartanMaker are spot on. talk to your dr and be honest and open to avoid potentially serious complications.