Shingles???!?

I do not have them. But i just found out that my mother-in-law indeed does. And my husband and I were supposed to be visiting them the tomorrow and staying with them for vacation. She is not treating them because she does have insurance( i know stupid very bad) Is it contagious? What should we do to be safe in not getting it. I know not go, but easier said then done. Thank you in advance!

Well I just asked my doctor and it is only contagious to those who have not ever had the chikenpox. And well I never had them But he said to be extra careful and not touch anything that has toutched the sores. Thank you all

Shingles is basically "Adult Chicken Pox". You know how you only get Chicken Pox once, usually as a child? Well that is true 99% of the time, but some of us were unlucky enough to get it a few times after that.

Since it is caused by the same virus that causes Chicken Pox, it is contagious in the same way - i.e. only through direct contact with the blisters. It is not spread through coughing, saliva, etc.

Also, note that Shingles is not contagious, just the virus that causes it is so if you have already had Chicken Pox you can't get infected, but anyone who hasn't had Chicken Pox before will likely be infected if they touch the blisters.

Bottom line, you probably have nothing to worry about as long as you have already had CP.

Also, it probably doesn't matter that your mother-in-law isn't being treated because there really isn't any good treatment available. All the doctor gives you is anti-virus pills and/or cream which at best cuts down the length of the outbreak by a few days.

Not go? She has shingles, not the plague during the Dark Ages. shingles are highly contagious but you have to be in physical contact with the actual sores. So, unless you're rubbing up on your mother-in-law in rather --uh--"strange" ways, you won't have a problem. BTW, shingles can be on various parts of the body, including those common cold sores people often get on their lips. Acyclovar cream & oral (prescription, but over the counter in Mexico, if she's near the border) works well for me (I have had out breaks of them on the small my back since high-school, when I kissed some guy who had an almost healed cold sore--boy was he ever NOT worth it! ) Enjoy your visit to Mom's (and don't "kiss the cook"--ha-ha)

I had shingles...didn't give it to anyone, it is hardly contagious at all, unless you plan to rub any of her open sores on an open sore of yours! Its not that easy to treat anyway because nothing really gets rid of it but it is incredibly painful - so instead of worrying about yourself, be nice to her and make sure she is comfortable!

I'm not a doctor, but as far as I know, shingles isn't contagious or infectious. I believe you can only develop shingles if you've had chickenpox at some time in your life, because it's caused by the chickenpox virus which stays in the system, lying dormant. Sometimes, years later, It is activated often as a result of stress of some sort, and causes shingles to develop.

My mother had shingles when she was in her late 70s, after having had a small gynaecological procedure done in the hospital. It took her several weeks to get over the effect of the anaesthetic, and during that time when she had returned home, she developed shingles on her face. It was extremely painful, and even worse after the blisters had gone. She had quite severe nerve pain in her face that didn't disappear for two years after the attack.

Please check with a doctor that I've got my facts straight, because I would hate you to "catch" shingles on my advice about it not being infectious or contagious, but I certainly didn't get it from my mother, with whom I was in close contact during the time she had it. I've had chickenpox, so it is always possible that I might develop shingles in years to come. I'll just have to make sure I don't find myself too stressed!

wimsey

I had them as well, basically adult chicken pox. The virus stays in your system when you were a kid. As long as you had chicken pox and your not sucking or licking the sores from your in law, you will be fine. If you hadn't had chicken pox, you probably wont get it just from being in same room.