Shingles had me sidelined
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Shingles had me sidelined
Suffered Shingles back in February (after retiring in January) resulted in bad left eye nerve damage. On top of this, cataracts was creeping before the Shingles and already hindering my vision. Depressed, I was accepting to rid myself of bicycling (a central retirement activity) for safety reasons.
Unexpectedly in October, my nephew, Matt tells me to buy a Wahoo Kickr and ride with him on Zwift. Fortunately I listened to him, and in the last 2 weeks I am safely riding in a virtual world. Additionally, with all the statistics, I think Matt enjoys outriding his old uncle.
Unexpectedly in October, my nephew, Matt tells me to buy a Wahoo Kickr and ride with him on Zwift. Fortunately I listened to him, and in the last 2 weeks I am safely riding in a virtual world. Additionally, with all the statistics, I think Matt enjoys outriding his old uncle.
Likes For jlmonte:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
This is awesome. And sorry about the shingles. I had a mild case this summer and it still sucked. I still get the occasional jabbing pain out of nowhere. Hang in there, and see you in Watopia!
Likes For caloso:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 895
Bikes: 2017 Co-op ADV 1.1; ~1991 Novara Arriba; 1990 Fuji Palisade; mid-90's Moots Tandem; 1985 Performance Superbe
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 390 Post(s)
Liked 572 Times
in
332 Posts
My father had a case of shingles in his 60s. He thought he couldn’t get it again. Wrong. He had another case in his late 80s and it was worse.
He then got the vaccine as did I as soon as I qualified.
It was very painful for him.
He then got the vaccine as did I as soon as I qualified.
It was very painful for him.
Likes For flangehead:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,442
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4413 Post(s)
Liked 4,865 Times
in
3,011 Posts
Virtual riding can be a lot of fun. Often more fun than a solo outdoor ride in crappy weather and of course there are no idiots to mow you down! I do about 99% of my winter riding on the trainer now.
#5
Senior Member
Very sorry to hear about the nerve damage. Regarding the cataracts, in the past three months I had cataracts removed from each eye and in both cases my visibility was 20-20 the morning following the surgeries. That may be of help.
#6
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,547
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3674 Post(s)
Liked 5,437 Times
in
2,763 Posts
Bummer! I got the shingles vaccine as soon as it was available, both variants. Hope it won't be too bad if I get it anyway. Your Kickr setup looks great. Love the Krispy Kremes!
Likes For shelbyfv:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Hotel CA / DFW
Posts: 1,733
Bikes: 83 Colnago Super, 87 50th Daccordi, 79 & 87 Guerciotti's, 90s DB/GT Mtn Bikes, 90s Colnago Master and Titanio, 96 Serotta Colorado TG, 95/05 Colnago C40/C50, 06 DbyLS TI, 08 Lemond Filmore FG SS, 12 Cervelo R3, 20/15 Surly Stragler & Steamroller
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 601 Post(s)
Liked 781 Times
in
498 Posts
Sorry about the shingles and like your using the colnago setup on Zwift with the Krispy Kremes as motivation
Likes For joesch:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,296
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8281 Post(s)
Liked 9,052 Times
in
4,479 Posts
In 2017 I had Shingles in my right eye. No special treatment other than steroid drops for the eye along with anti-virals. I don't think there was any nerve damage but it left me with floaters in the eye.
#9
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,992
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6196 Post(s)
Liked 4,810 Times
in
3,318 Posts
Okay, I'm convinced. I'm getting the shingles vaccine.
I never knew that shingles could affect vision.
As to the OP, I've always found trainers boring, but imagined that zwift or other virtual cycling programs might give me enough interest.
I've just got too many other toys I want to buy before I earmark money for that.
I never knew that shingles could affect vision.
As to the OP, I've always found trainers boring, but imagined that zwift or other virtual cycling programs might give me enough interest.
I've just got too many other toys I want to buy before I earmark money for that.
Last edited by Iride01; 11-15-21 at 09:53 AM.
Likes For Iride01:
#11
Made it to 84 WHOOPIE
My wife has tremendous and severe daily pain for 15 years from the effects of permanent nerve damage from shingles. It's called post herpetic neuralgia. Nothing can be done we've tried every single remedy possible. Get your shingles shot.
Last edited by gobicycling; 11-15-21 at 11:56 AM.
Likes For gobicycling:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,296
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8281 Post(s)
Liked 9,052 Times
in
4,479 Posts
It's a different strain than the one that appears on the body. The virus affects only one eye and that quadrant of the head. I had it on the eyebrow and on my scalp under my hair. The worst part was the eye pain. The doctors gave me pain meds that knocked me out. The only way I could function was when a friend gave me THC pills. It didn't eliminate the pain but allowed me to stop concentrating on it, if that makes sense to you. I didn't go to work or drive but I could function around the house for the days when the pain was bad. I was off work for a week, I think.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,480
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 966 Post(s)
Liked 1,629 Times
in
1,045 Posts
Colnago-Kreme... Fantastic!
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 857
Bikes: Cannondale '92 T600 '95 H600 '01 RT1000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 109 Times
in
82 Posts
I finally got around to getting my shingles shot this fall after ignoring it for eight years. Guess I got lucky in not getting the shingles! My wife also sucked it up and got hers too, since it's the year of shots.
I love the modern version of the carrot on the stick! KK pulled out of MN a few years ago. I think there was only one location, at the Maul of America.
I love the modern version of the carrot on the stick! KK pulled out of MN a few years ago. I think there was only one location, at the Maul of America.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,931 Times
in
2,556 Posts
If you haven't gotten the vaccine yet, read my story below:
I was in the company bathroom getting into riding gear for the commute home. Glanced in the mirror and saw an odd line of small red spots, seemingly following one rib from back to front. "That's odd." Decided I'd go by Medical on the way out. (My first stop every ride morning. HR told me early on at that job I was welcome to use it for my post-ride morning shower. The nurse was the first person I spoke to and had patched me up a couple of times after crashes. She took one look and in less that a minute said shingles. And that I wasn't leaving until I had an appointment with my doctor to get the medicine within 24 hours. Next afternoon I went straight to my doc from work. He diagnosed just as fast, wrote me a prescription and told me I was going straight the pharmacy to fill it and to take the first pill before I left that pharmacy, I did, I swallowed it dry. The next week was not fun and feeling of being majorly "off" lasted a fed more.
Told my mom and she told me this: Her aunt saw those spots. She had a deep distrust of doctors (they'd blown a surgery and she spent the rest of her life with a locked knee) and did nothing. She went through 3 months of pure h***. Her sis (my grandma) knew this and when she saw the spots immediately went to the doctor, got the medicine and went though a few rough weeks, just like I saw.
So, if you see spots along a line, following a nerve - go to the doctor! Get that medicine! All of us who've had chickpox has that virus hanging in hibernation in our spinal cord. With enough stress (or maybe it's spring, sun has warmed their cave and they're hungry), they come out of hibernation and travel a nerve like teenagers piled into a car, driving to the coast. At every town, they pull fire alarms, maybe set a fire or two ... If we are lucky, maybe no real damage, (I do have an odd itch in the hollow of my sternum.) If they're on the highway to the eyes, maybe a lot worse. I've heard 72 hours is the window - first symptoms to the drug no longer working. I took the drug 27 hours after first seeing the spots.
Everyone told me stress is often the triggering event. Well I had two. Tuesday I had a closed door meeting with my boss that was not fun. Like, do I still have a job. And six weeks before I'd rented a wood chipper. Starting it was hard for this skinny cyclist. By midday, I felt like I'd pulled a muscle. Eventually I couldn't start it at all. My right arm continued to hurt. I just figured I wasn't helping by sleeping on it. Thursday I saw the spots. Before I went to bed, just for the heck of it, I raised my arm and looked at my armpit in the mirror. I had a lump the size of a golf ball! I'd just watched two friends pass from cancer. Next day I showed it to the doc, He asked me if it hurt, then said "Good. Cancer doesn't hurt. That's an infection. It will probably go away as the shingles die down." (It did. I took nothing for it.)
This year I got the Shingrix. I was 58 when I got shingles, I don't think Shingrix was out yet and in any case, then I needed to be 60 before I qualified for the old vaccine. But (through pure luck) I did exactly what was needed to minimize a pre-vax case. So, all of you who have not had the shot - if you see spots, either horizontally on your chest as I did or following a nerve - go the the doc! Get the pills! And do it fast! (My spots did not hurt or itch until much later. I would never have known if I didn't see them.)
I was in the company bathroom getting into riding gear for the commute home. Glanced in the mirror and saw an odd line of small red spots, seemingly following one rib from back to front. "That's odd." Decided I'd go by Medical on the way out. (My first stop every ride morning. HR told me early on at that job I was welcome to use it for my post-ride morning shower. The nurse was the first person I spoke to and had patched me up a couple of times after crashes. She took one look and in less that a minute said shingles. And that I wasn't leaving until I had an appointment with my doctor to get the medicine within 24 hours. Next afternoon I went straight to my doc from work. He diagnosed just as fast, wrote me a prescription and told me I was going straight the pharmacy to fill it and to take the first pill before I left that pharmacy, I did, I swallowed it dry. The next week was not fun and feeling of being majorly "off" lasted a fed more.
Told my mom and she told me this: Her aunt saw those spots. She had a deep distrust of doctors (they'd blown a surgery and she spent the rest of her life with a locked knee) and did nothing. She went through 3 months of pure h***. Her sis (my grandma) knew this and when she saw the spots immediately went to the doctor, got the medicine and went though a few rough weeks, just like I saw.
So, if you see spots along a line, following a nerve - go to the doctor! Get that medicine! All of us who've had chickpox has that virus hanging in hibernation in our spinal cord. With enough stress (or maybe it's spring, sun has warmed their cave and they're hungry), they come out of hibernation and travel a nerve like teenagers piled into a car, driving to the coast. At every town, they pull fire alarms, maybe set a fire or two ... If we are lucky, maybe no real damage, (I do have an odd itch in the hollow of my sternum.) If they're on the highway to the eyes, maybe a lot worse. I've heard 72 hours is the window - first symptoms to the drug no longer working. I took the drug 27 hours after first seeing the spots.
Everyone told me stress is often the triggering event. Well I had two. Tuesday I had a closed door meeting with my boss that was not fun. Like, do I still have a job. And six weeks before I'd rented a wood chipper. Starting it was hard for this skinny cyclist. By midday, I felt like I'd pulled a muscle. Eventually I couldn't start it at all. My right arm continued to hurt. I just figured I wasn't helping by sleeping on it. Thursday I saw the spots. Before I went to bed, just for the heck of it, I raised my arm and looked at my armpit in the mirror. I had a lump the size of a golf ball! I'd just watched two friends pass from cancer. Next day I showed it to the doc, He asked me if it hurt, then said "Good. Cancer doesn't hurt. That's an infection. It will probably go away as the shingles die down." (It did. I took nothing for it.)
This year I got the Shingrix. I was 58 when I got shingles, I don't think Shingrix was out yet and in any case, then I needed to be 60 before I qualified for the old vaccine. But (through pure luck) I did exactly what was needed to minimize a pre-vax case. So, all of you who have not had the shot - if you see spots, either horizontally on your chest as I did or following a nerve - go the the doc! Get the pills! And do it fast! (My spots did not hurt or itch until much later. I would never have known if I didn't see them.)
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 760
Bikes: 1969 Peugeot PX10, 1992 Della Santa, Linus Roadster 8, Biria 700C ST-8
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 794 Post(s)
Liked 508 Times
in
322 Posts
I am waiting for my second Shringrix shot. Thanks for the motivation. I won’t miss it!
Likes For Joe Bikerider:
#17
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,992
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6196 Post(s)
Liked 4,810 Times
in
3,318 Posts
It's a different strain than the one that appears on the body. The virus affects only one eye and that quadrant of the head. I had it on the eyebrow and on my scalp under my hair. The worst part was the eye pain. The doctors gave me pain meds that knocked me out. The only way I could function was when a friend gave me THC pills. It didn't eliminate the pain but allowed me to stop concentrating on it, if that makes sense to you. I didn't go to work or drive but I could function around the house for the days when the pain was bad. I was off work for a week, I think.
I still plan to get the shot after I fully recover from my COVID booster which
Last edited by Iride01; 11-15-21 at 05:42 PM.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,296
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8281 Post(s)
Liked 9,052 Times
in
4,479 Posts
So taking a look at Shingrix, and a site that talks about shingles infection of the eye I didn't see if the vaccine is for the strain you are talking about as well.
I still plan to get the shot after I fully recover from my COVID booster which through for a loop for a full day and the better part of the next. I've got to do an eye exam soon anyway so I'll ask my ophthalmologist about it.
I still plan to get the shot after I fully recover from my COVID booster which through for a loop for a full day and the better part of the next. I've got to do an eye exam soon anyway so I'll ask my ophthalmologist about it.
#19
Senior Member
I got my shingles shot a few years ago. Shingles is the risk of natural immunity from chickenpox.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 700
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
When you get chickenpox, you don't actually "clear" the virus but your immune system drives it to hide in your dorsal root ganglion. It basically is trapped there by your immune system until one day when you are old or tired and your immunity is reduced. The virus at that point comes out and travels along the nerve and comes out at the endings (eyes, fingers, feet, etc). The pain can be significant and the nerve damage often does not heal. Anti-viral drugs taken very early can have good results but the vaccine is a game changer. The concept was argued heavily - the vaccine does not prevent infection but rather just boosts the immunity that is there to prevent disease and many people never thought it would work. And many wondered why it would work. But it works.
I did much of my graduate work with herpes viruses and although I left the herpes field, I still love those viruses.
I did much of my graduate work with herpes viruses and although I left the herpes field, I still love those viruses.
Likes For vespasianus:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,752
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4391 Post(s)
Liked 3,016 Times
in
1,865 Posts
It's surprising how immersive and satisfying Zwift can be. I'm mostly an outdoor rider who formerly hated his trainer, but now I rather enjoy it. And I've met people who are dedicated zwift riders and almost never ride outside any longer.
It seems that sharing your story is helping other people take precautions. That's a great service for which we all thank you.
I had my first Shingrix shot two weeks ago, at the prodding of my wife. Second shot will come later this winter.
It seems that sharing your story is helping other people take precautions. That's a great service for which we all thank you.
I had my first Shingrix shot two weeks ago, at the prodding of my wife. Second shot will come later this winter.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 6,882
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 768 Post(s)
Liked 1,742 Times
in
1,014 Posts
my sister had shingles along her eyes....yikes. I got the vaccine as I did not want to potentially suffer that pain and agony.
Likes For jaxgtr:
#23
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Reminds me, I need to reschedule my shingles vaccine. It was offered last month but I got the flu shot and was on Prednisone for a month for a persistent upper respiratory inflammation and I didn't want to combine too much stuff at the same time. Usually I don't react to flu shots at all but this last one left a tiny lump and scab that didn't heal for a week or so, very unusual for me. I was a bit worried my immune system was already struggling.
But my mom went through the miseries with shingles so I'm already convinced.
But my mom went through the miseries with shingles so I'm already convinced.
#24
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
When you get chickenpox, you don't actually "clear" the virus but your immune system drives it to hide in your dorsal root ganglion. It basically is trapped there by your immune system until one day when you are old or tired and your immunity is reduced. The virus at that point comes out and travels along the nerve and comes out at the endings (eyes, fingers, feet, etc). The pain can be significant and the nerve damage often does not heal. Anti-viral drugs taken very early can have good results but the vaccine is a game changer. The concept was argued heavily - the vaccine does not prevent infection but rather just boosts the immunity that is there to prevent disease and many people never thought it would work. And many wondered why it would work. But it works.
I did much of my graduate work with herpes viruses and although I left the herpes field, I still love those viruses.
I did much of my graduate work with herpes viruses and although I left the herpes field, I still love those viruses.
Unfortunately we didn't take that seriously enough, even after the first major SARS outbreak in 2004 appeared to cause, among other complications, neurological and cognitive disorders, possibly even some forms of dementia. It took this most recent pandemic to finally get our attention and put some money into research.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Along the Rivers of Pittsburgh
Posts: 1,255
Bikes: 2011 Novara Forza Hybrid, 2005 Trek 820, 1989 Cannondale SR500 Black Lightning, 1975 Mundo Cycles Caloi Racer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 258 Post(s)
Liked 291 Times
in
157 Posts
Here's my shingles story. Our kid was on a competitive travelling team and we were on our way to a meet. While on the 4 hour drive, I started to become aware of a discomfort along my right lower rib cage. Didn't think twice about but mentioned it to Mrs. Altair when we got to our hotel. She immediately sent me to a local urgent care. I was examined and they saw nothing. By then the discomfort was becoming pain. I told the doctor of my suspicions and due to "evidence-based medicine," they wouldn't give me anything (no rash). By the next morning, it was excruciating and finally a bit of rash was appearing. Went back, and only then would they give me a script. I was really p!ssed about it and suffered for several weeks with it. Showers in the morning were a new experience in pain. I couldn't lean back while sitting at work. Even months later, I would sometimes get a ghost of the pain while taking a shower. I was super glad it didn't hit my eyes. My local PCP told me that I didn't have anywhere near the worst case he had seen. Can't imagine what a "bad" case would be like.
I've had the Shingrix shots since then. No way would I chance going through that again.
I've had the Shingrix shots since then. No way would I chance going through that again.