Shingles

[wans917]

I am new to this group and am looking for any help or advice.

I was just diagnosed with shingles. My primary care physican gave me a script for famvir.

I am currently nursing my 8 month old. This doctor was very vague about whether or not the baby would get any of the medication through my breastmilk. He suggested I use this as an opportunity to "wean" my baby. He also said breastmilk has no real value at my sons age anymore.

I have no intentions of weaning. Just need to know if anyone has had shingles and got through it without an antiviral, while breastfeeding. I feel very sick, but am willing to go without the meds if I have to.

Thanks in advance

[annettemarie]

I'm going to move this out to the general forum.

[lynsage]

I had shingles while breastfeeding and took Valtrex. My doctor assured me that it was reasonably safe and all the materials I could find said so too. As far as I was able to observe, neither myself nor my daughter had any negative effects from the drug. She was about a year old at that time.

I was not able to find much information on Famvir and breastfeeding safety. Maybe you could ask to be switched to Valtrex?

Shingles would be pretty hard to go through without an antiviral, IMO. I am not a big drug taker but I did it for the shingles. They are painful and can be severely scarring and extremely unpleasant to deal with.

Also, I would switch doctors!

[PatioGardener]

famvir is L2. acyclovir is preferred for breastfeeding mothers according to hale. hopefully someone can post the info in detail. you have to take meds right away for shingles. sorry your doc was so ignorant.

[boobs4milk]

here is the info on hales:
http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/discus/messages/40/150.html

i'd ask to switch to acyclovir simply because it's been better tested, but dr. hale seems to think both are ok.

[candipooh]

I got through shingles when I had a nursing baby. I treated it naturally. It was, however, a light case. I don't remember everything that I took though. I know one was lysine.

[Sharlla]

i got shingles 2 weeks after having dd but didnt take meds for it
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[ellemenope]

I always amazed by these mild cases of shingles. You are so lucky. I got shingles when I was 22 and it was more painful than a really large kidney stone I had when I was 19 as well as childbirth.

I was severely scarred, thankfully in a place where its not seen all that often (lower back, butt). And, I still suffer from post-herpatic neuralgia.

Before, I knew what it was I thought I was suffering from a cyst on my ovary or something and that i just happened to have a really bad rash on my back that just happened to be turning black. The pain was internal and intense and the rash was just secondary. It also felt like my hip was being microwaved. (that is the best I can explain it)

So, I would def recommend taking the anti-virals. Once I started those, I was fine.

And, your doc sounds like a jerk.

[lynsage]

Originally Posted by ellemenope

I always amazed by these mild cases of shingles. You are so lucky.

And, I still suffer from post-herpatic neuralgia.

Me too! I am very glad for people who didn't get it as severely- mine was in my face and was starting to go into my EYE, and I still get tingling, pain and numbness in my forehead and face

[wans917]

Thank You, everyone. I started meds yesterday as I spoke to my regular Doctor who was previously out of town.

Since my pain started to increase, she highly recommended taking the meds, and that they are not going to hurt the baby. She said not to stop nursing(duh) and that the anitbodies in breastmilk will help him possibly not get infected with chicken pox.

I just take the med right after I nurse my son, so he gets as little as possible. I still can't believe the lack of info on this subject. It is a shame, because many women will probably be scared into quitting breastfeeding.

Really thanks again

[PatioGardener]

glad you could see your regular MD! hope you feel better soon!

[lynsage]

Originally Posted by wans917

Thank You, everyone. I started meds yesterday as I spoke to my regular Doctor who was previously out of town.

Since my pain started to increase, she highly recommended taking the meds, and that they are not going to hurt the baby. She said not to stop nursing(duh) and that the anitbodies in breastmilk will help him possibly not get infected with chicken pox.

I forgot to mention that, too- the nurses at the office told me my daughter would definitely catch chicken pox as a result of being exposed to my shingles, but she didn't, and I believe it's because she got antibodies from my milk.

I'm so glad you were able to see a well-informed doctor!

[Heba]

I have been given to understand that if mum is immune (as would typically be the case if she has had cp), then her baby is born with immunity that lasts several months. Anyone know if this is true?

[candipooh]

Just a quick fwi
The only way that anyone can catch chicken pox from a person with shingles is to come in contact with the oozing sores.

[lynsage]

Originally Posted by candipooh

Just a quick fwi
The only way that anyone can catch chicken pox from a person with shingles is to come in contact with the oozing sores.

That's what I thought, and my case never even got to that point, so IDK what those nurses were smoking