I have always posted about my Afib and cardioablation. And all you nice people have helped me immensely. But now I'm going through another matter. Thirteen days ago I came down with shingles. The rash started on my back around my left shoulder blade and moved under my arm and onto my left breast. I can honestly say that this seems a lot worse than the cardioablation recovery. This pain (as any of you know that has had shingles) is excruciating! It doesn't let up. Along with that, I'm very weak, not eating well, lightheaded and so on. Tried topical creams, tylenol and even Tramadol (narcotic) which helps me sleep at night. I really hate taking that. I tried the viral med the doc said to try, but felt bad from that. I don't do well on a lot of meds. So I probably made it worse from not taking it. Can anyone help me? How long has your pain lasted? Please be truthful. No one here tells the truth or they sugar coat it.
Shingles.: I have always posted about... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Shingles.
If you take antivirals within 48 hours of noticing first rash then a few days. Otherwise - as long as it takes as shingles attacks the nerves so no amount of topical creams will help. It’s a horrible condition and I feel for you. I have a friend going through it at the moment and she has it in her eye.
Have you seen your doctor?
I know it won’t help you but for everyone else, if you qualify - get the vaccine. I had shingles back in about 2016 but had the vaccine 12 months ago.
How long does the pain last?
Most people find it fades along with the rash but you can develop postherpetic neuralgia, and it’s a complication of shingles. You might feel intense sensations of tingling, burning, and shooting that don’t let up. This could last for 3 months which is what happened with my son. You doctor can prescribe meds to lessen the pain.
If you’ve had shingles and rash has faded and you’re hurting weeks or months later, talk to your doctor. It’s a horrible, painful condition so hope you find some relief soon.
Hi
I have heard that you could get strips which have this hot stuff on it ? Chillie.
Apparently it is the nerve endings which causes the pain.
Someone may know about this product.
I have never had shingles but I nursed my Mum whilst she suffered. She had lots of baths! Cool.
It runs its course as I understand.
Take care, JOY
A friend of mine had it about 5 years ago and still has to wear morphine patches on her back for the pain.
I have no personal experience as being over 70 have been vaccinated and never had it before however my wife had this many years ago and luckily was given a topical liquid to paint on the rash and antivirals and it lasted 4 days. Like you hers started in the middle of her back between shoulder blades she took the dog for a walk and was in pain and itching on her back and noticed the pain didn't ease whatever she did. When she got home she had a soak in the bath and when I went in to see if she was OK and I noticed the rash on her back it was about the size of a 50 pence piece - so straight off to the GP. Glad it was noticed so quick. My wife still swears to this day that for a number of years when she was tired and stressed she still got a pain in that area - though not as bad as when she had full blown shingles. My friend who lives in Spain has had shingles for well over a month now. I do hope you can get something sorted soon.
What,may I ask was the topical liquid called?
Don't know this was many years ago at least 20 and have not heard of anyone else getting it - it was on prescription so not available over the counter and actually don't know many people who have had shingles until my friend in Spain rang to say he had had it for about 3 weeks or more. The liquid was in a a precious little bottle about the size of a perfume sample so I am told and there was just enough for treatment for a few days - just painted on the rash 3 or 4 times a day - it would stain clothing and sheets so we wrapped cotton around - which also helped stop itching and scratching. There are probably far better things available on prescription now.
Poor you! Shingles is how my paroxysmal AF and fatigue started. I got the excruciating pain before the rash and the dreadful doc just said “Take paracetamol and if it’s over by the time your appointment comes round remember to cancel it”! By the time I got an appointment nearly two weeks later, the pain had gone and the rash had appeared but sadly, I wasn’t offered an antiviral so it put an end to my previously active life. I’ve made it to 80 so have outlived both my parents but wouldn’t manage without my husband.
I’m so sorry to hear, that on top of AF. …
Quick reply as I’m off to work, I don’t know where you live but see if you can find an FSM practitioner! I just treated another shingles patient last week. After 1 two hour treatment she was able to sleep again at night We dit 3 sessions to reduce it to a minimum. It didn’t totally disappear but significantly reduced, she’d had it for about 10 days already. She had been using lidocaine patches which she said helped a tiny bit! Hope you find some relief!
Frequency Specific Microcurrent
Dr Carol McMakin who has taught many in the UK. She lives in the USA!
Take care- and no- FSM will not affect your AF!
🙏🤞🏻
I can tell you my truth and I sincerely hope it does not turn out to be your truth. I had shingles in my RH rib cage area, front and back from navel to spine in January 2019. I was on holiday in Madeira when I developed a chest infection which affected my heart (I have permanent AF and HF). I was hospitalised for 5 days and on oxygen for quite large parts of that time. They also started me on various medications which I had been refusing to take up to that point. I missed my flight home and was eventually repatriated by my travel insurance company. The shingles started the day before I was due to leave but I didn't do anything about it initially as I just wanted to get home until I got back to the UK when I managed to get antivirals prescribed, just and so within the 3 day window. I think the shingles was caused by the stress of all this including the medications and my immune system presumably being depleted at the time. I was quite ill for a while after I got home and the rash eventually disappeared but has left me with something called PHN (post herpetic neuralgia) pain. It is horrible and so far, although I have tried a wide range of alternative/complementary therapies, remedies, etc. to try to alleviate it, it has not gone. Strong medication seems to be all they can offer and I don't want to take these as other people report how awful they make you feel. I did try Tramdol which made me vomit and I did take 30mg of Amatriptyline which I don't think did much for the pain but did help me to sleep which, as a lifelong insomniac, was a big help. I have now managed to get a referral to my local pain clinic and have an appointment for a video consultation for an assessment on March 12th. I will be interested to see what they say and if they can offer anything. Please look after yourself, rest and try to stay as stress-free as possible as you DO NOT want it to develop into PHN. I had not had the vaccine even though I was in the eligible group but I have had it subsequently as I don't want to get shingles again. I wish you well.
I've not had Shingles myself but know people in my family that have had it and it is a very serious and painful virus. I don't know if Tramadol would help you because I use it for back pain and I don't like some of the side effects so only take the 50mg dose 3 times a day. I'm not able to take many painkillers that are on the market myself so I use Tramadol as I can tolerate it but don't find it a very good painkiller. On the other hand it seems to suit my husband with his bad back.
My daughter said she used the anti viral medication when she had the virus but can't remember the name of it now. We have also had the vaccine to prevent us getting it, and I strongly advise that for you in the future.
I think Tylenol is the same as Paracetamol which is what we use in the UK for medium pain and I would recommend starting off with 2 tabs of that every 7-8 hours but you should speak to your doctor and take their advice.
Ask your doctor if you can use Voltarol on the rash as that has Diclofenac in it which is a strong painkiller but be careful as it might be too strong to rub on the rash.
I'm afraid I can't give you any more advice and recommend you take the doctors advice. I hope you get over it very soon.
Thank You
Aciclivor is the antiviral I took.
I got shingles on 18th December (rash appeared then). My rash was exactly same area as yours. I was in pain etc until about 10 days ago. I’m still itchy /uncomfortable in the same area. I was advised by GP / pharmacists etc not to use anything topical. I used ice packs to ease discomfort. I was prescribed Gabentin?? To ease the pain
How do we cope? I saw a dermatologist yesterday and he said that my shingles is crusting over and at this point an antiviral won't help any more. I'm into this outbreak 16 days and I'm very weak, tired and in extreme burning pain. Doc said to try a steroid cream which I'm doing now. It helps only for a short time but better than nothing. Did you have the burning pain also? I can't take gabapentin. I'm very depressed and feel lost and scared that this will never go away.
Yes I still have the burning pain, itchiness and occasional sharp pains like hot needles. My gp has just prescribed a shingles pain patch for me - I haven’t dispensed the prescription yet so I don’t know the name of it. It cannot be used if a rash is still there. I find ice packs are good to numb pain but obviously it’s not always convenient to use them. I hope you get some relief very soon. I’m 63 so do not qualify for the vaccination and I wouldn’t be able to afford to go privately for it
I'm now 77, and have had shingles twice.
The virus seems to lie dormant in the spine until a period of high stress allows it to break out as shingles. And I was certainly highly stressed on both occasions, although it might well I am also more vulnerable.
If you are unlucky like me, you might get post herpetic neuralgia which lasts the rest of your life.
During my last shingles outbreak, in an identical area to your description, and for many many months afterwards (at least a year), I was even unable to tolerate clothing touching this area. Years on, I still have intermittent feelings of discomfort and heat, and occasionally sharp pains, from this nerve across my left breast.
Hopefully your shingles will be resolved much quicker than mine.
After all, I only had "man shingles".🤕🤫😄
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