I've got shingles! Dr was a bit vague, googling has given differing opinions, can I have some advice please?

[Lovecat]

Have had a weird, painful sore feeling round my hip for the last few days, came out in a rash last night, went to docs this morning and had it confirmed as shingles. I've been incredibly tired, thought it was just me being a bit crap, turns out it's part of the virus.

I asked if I should keep away from people, he was a bit non-committal, said I could go to work if I felt all right, but that it was up to me.

I'm supposed to be going to the theatre tomorrow night and baking for the St Pat's day church fair on Sunday.

Checking on google, I've seen varying advice, from 'yes of course it's fine to go about your normal business' via 'don't be in contact with anyone in a risk category' (old/child/pregnant/immuno suppressed), to 'stay in bed and rest for 3 weeks'!

Much as I'm tempted to take the last option, it's just not feasible...

So am I okay to be in contact with people? Apart from the pain in my hip (which makes walking a bit of a bugger) and the excessive drowsiness, I feel fine in myself, but I'm wondering if I should going out and, more importantly, be making food for people (most of whom are elderly at our church!) if I've got this?

Any advice would be gratefully accepted...

sorry, there should be another 'be' in that last sentence... (wondering if I should be going out)

You're ok to be in contact with people, your main risk is giving chicken pox to someone who hasn't already had it. Keep it covered, wash your hands, and don't underestimate how long you're going to feel bad for.

Ibuprofen helps with the pain

Shigles are your own acitivated chickenpox, ie you can only get shingles if you have had CP at some point in your life.

You cannot pass shingles on to anybody however you can give CP to somebody who has not had it yet. Mainly a problem for non-immune pregnant women or anybody who is immunosuppressed (ie undergoing chemotherapy or v tiny newborns).

So 3 weeks in bed not necessary IMVHO , sorry, and you are perfectly 'safe' to be preparing food for others.
As long as the rash in under clothing you should be fine with normal social activities.

HTH and you feel better soon.

Thanks guys, I thought as much. The food thing was bothering me, but logically it should be okay (don't want to let the old ladies down - they're expecting LDC!)

DH is immunosuppressed because of his radiation treatment, but we've been sharing a bed all through the incubation period and he hasn't got it as yet, so fingers crossed he'll be okay. Don't know anyone with newborns anymore so I should be fine.

Although I am supposed to be helping on the tills with the NCT nearly new sale next week and there are always loads of pregnant mums and newborns there... hmm... had better check with the organisers and see if they're happy or not!

Just wanted to jump in to say that if you have shingles, you really shouldn't be mixing with people for whom CP could cause serious complications, so if I were you I wouldn't even bother asking the NCT organisers, just take the decision yourself not to expose any babies or pregnant women to possible CP because you can contract chicken pox from someone with shingles if you've not had chicken pox before.
Get well soon.

I don't think you should do the NCT thing, it's too risky. If you give a pregnant womann chicken pox you could cause them to have a miscarriage. The rash is going to start itching like a bastard in the next couple of days - calamine lotion is good, and you may want to cover it up with some of those cloth patch things, otherwise the feel of your clothes rubbing will aggravate it.