Week 4 shingles

[B0xermad]

Well still getting blister and pain from nerves tingling and burning sensation, having to wear loose clothing and taking paracetamol with codeine 4hrly.A bit concerned regarding dependency on the codeine as it's been 4 weeks since gp prescribed it so trying to reduce the amount I have to 2 a day this week. It certainly is taking a bit longer than I expected to feel better.

[sassy59]

That sounds horrible B0xermad but shingles can take a long time to recover from. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer for you.

Sending gentle hugs. Xxx🤗❤️

[B0xermad in reply to sassy59]

Thank you sassy it starting to get literally on my nerves now .pardon the pun but sometimes it seems OK other times unbearable but less each week 😬

[sassy59 in reply to B0xermad]

Fingers crossed for you. Such a nasty thing. Xxx🤞🏼

[peege]

Ouch you poor thing, shingles is so horrible. My sister had it recurring for many years, last time she was in hospital after a stroke & they immediately put her in isolation so she couldn'tgive chickenpox to the staff. As a matter of interest, did you ever get the shingles vaccination?

Apparently if you get chicken pox the virus stays in body and can reactivate later when immune system is low or compromised as shingles.

I don't know if this will help.....my young grandson in France has chicken pox, over there they put bicarbonate of soda in the bath to soothe. Over here its oats tied in a bag to put in the bath - have no idea if those work!

Really hope you feel better soon BOxermad

[B0xermad in reply to peege]

No to the jab as not old enough apparently and I only have shower no bath but using oat cream to soothe area .its just timing I think being unlucky

[peege in reply to B0xermad]

Ah, that's one little advantage to being 'older then. Really bad luck, it must be so difficult 😕. Best wishes, P

[B0xermad in reply to peege]

One year away lol but I don't like this year very much so far 😜

[Dottie11 in reply to B0xermad]

A light 100% thin cotton hankerchief ( to protect contamination) and then placed a very cool pack on top. The type used in sports injuries. Plus the cream on sores and pain relief. Not sure if you will find helpful but worth a post. Take care. xx

[B0xermad in reply to Dottie11]

Thanks for that helpful reply

[Dottie11 in reply to B0xermad]

Maybe you will be allowed a Shingles vaccine now. Worth asking once you feel better. xx

[Dixy in reply to B0xermad]

I have shingles at the moment on my face, neck and upper torso and am still on the anti viral medication. The Pharmacist said not to put anything on the shingles under any circumstances as it can help cause infection.

[B0xermad in reply to Dixy]

I can sympathise with you on this and thank you for the information on infection

[Dixy in reply to B0xermad]

It is horrible and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Good luck with yours and hopefully a speedy recovery

[Patk1 in reply to peege]

I use bicarb in Bath for chicken pox whn they were young and for grandkids as it hels blisters to scab.x

[Patk1 in reply to peege]

Bicarb in Bath helps to harden scabs + reduce itching.there is calamine cream thTs also good x

[B0xermad in reply to Patk1]

Thank you for the tip but I only have a shower in the house but keeping the temperature down so it doesn't burn the blisters

[djbctla]

Perhaps try antihistamines, it’s worth a shot. BERNARDINE xx

[B0xermad in reply to djbctla]

I take fexofenadine regularly x

[Hidden in reply to B0xermad]

Me too

[Alberta56]

So sorry you're in the wars. It's a shame that younger people with conditions like ours are not allowed the jab. I hope it starts to clear up soon. xxx🤞🤞🤞

[Welshcatlady]

Sounds terrible, hope you recover soon. As for the Codeine dependency, I got quite 'hooked' on Co-codamol a few years ago after taking the maximum dose for a long time. I weaned off them by reducing 1 tablet a week, took a long time but now I take them when it's absolutely necessary. Sending you a gentle hug. x

[B0xermad in reply to Welshcatlady]

Thank you for your reply and I am trying to reduce the amount of tablets I take starting today as its been a short time before I get to that point

[LDC72 in reply to B0xermad]

I’m struggling with the same problem. I have quite bad arthritis (as well as a multitude of other problems) and so far the doctor has handed them out quite freely. However, I’m concerned that this isn’t going to continue for much longer, given the situation with opioid addiction, so I’ve been trying to reduce them. I can’t take ibuprofen and I’m in so much pain! I’ve gone from taking 8 30/500s a day to 4 30/500s with 2 8/500s in between over the past two weeks and I feel like I’ve got the flu. Do you think I might be reducing too fast? Sorry for the highjack! I had shingles during covid - a terrible experience, I wouldn’t wish it on anybody! Thanks x

[B0xermad in reply to LDC72]

No I don't think that ,it's when sometimes you need it I am on 30-60mg codeine 500 x2 paracetamol 4 times a day but only at the beginning and now 30/500 twice a day so reduced a little bit tried without the codeine yesterday but was quite unwell

[LDC72 in reply to B0xermad]

It’s hard isn’t it? Good luck x

[Welshcatlady in reply to LDC72]

Sorry to hear that you're struggling with the Codeine reduction, if you read my reply to the original post, I was in a similar position, and reduced 1 tablet a week, it took a long time but was worth it, I had no side effects when reducing them, thank goodness, I can't take Ibuprofen either. My husband had been in a similar position years before, and didn't realise he needed to wean himself off them and he was quite ill after just stopping them.

[peege in reply to Welshcatlady]

For a different medication I needed to wean off slowly I bought a £4 pill cutter from the chemist 7 and reduced by a quarter off a tablet for a couple of weeks, then half, I then took longer periods to reduce by another quarter. For the final quarter I reduced that slowly by taking alternate days for a bit, then every 3 days. Long winded I know but I'd tried faster and it really didn't work. P

[B0xermad in reply to peege]

Yes a better option, I do have a pill cutter but the codeine are so tiny it will be a battle to chop it in half lol but trying to have a lesser dosage by 1 tab 3 x a day instead of double

[peege in reply to B0xermad]

The ones I had to cut were really tiny too! I wouldn't cut tablets that are coated though.

[Littlechoceclair in reply to peege]

Well done thats the way to go nice and slow bit by bit.

[Ern007]

I had shingles and it took a while, it's such an annoying condition, does not last forever though.

[B0xermad in reply to Ern007]

Oh god I hope not lol

[jacic64]

I had shingles last year it's horrible! I had amitriptyline for the nerve pain which really helped, may be worth asking your GP if you could try it. I bought lemon balm ointment which really helped with the tingling. I had the antivirals as well, not sure how much they helped as it was still quite painful. The nerve pain took about a year to go, I still get what I call shingles tingles in the scars. Hope you feel better very soon it's miserable.

[B0xermad in reply to jacic64]

Gp offered me amitriptyline but I denied it and opted for codeine instead had antivirals but not sure if they helped really but I'm having good days and some rubbish days too. Thank you

[Bingofox007]

as above reply by jacic64 something like amitiptyline or gabapentin may help and reduce the need for codiene. I wish you well, it’s a nasty thing to have. Take care 🦊x

[Souielouie]

bless you, sending you love & gentle hugs 🥰 🤗 xx

[Lebod]

I feel your pain I'm five weeks post shingles on my face and head, and still wanting to rip my hair out with the scratching, it is starting to ease slightly so hopefully things will get better for you too, I've stopped taking any tablets as like you I don't want to become dependent on them, good luck though it's a horrible experience

[Ergendl]

I take co-codamol regularly for pain, and have done for many years. To make sure I don't become dependent, I only take them when I need them, when the pain makes me a pain to others. So I'm rarely at maximum dose.

Hope your shingles eases soon. Could you make a bicarb or alkali paste to put on the sore parts?

[Thinkhealthy]

sounds rotten - hope you’re better soon . We read there is a vaccine now for 70-80 yr olds . My husband says what about me I am 80 !!

[Musicalways]

Is sympathize for you. I am in the same position with reoccurring shingles since having my first covid infection March 2020 it leaves me in agony because of nerve pain my GP has been given me antiviral medication and Coldsore cream and of course painkillers but this time when it all settles down because I'm only 62 and not having a break from the dreaded shinglespe they've decided to give me the shingle jab. I do hope you feel better soon. Hold on in there

[ProudYorky]

Wow so sorry to hear about your shingles virus I wasn't aware until reading these posts how prolific and horrible it is I Wonder what age we can get the jab at .I do hope you are on the mend soon sounds absolutely horrific take care

[B0xermad in reply to ProudYorky]

Age 65 apparently or if you have immunity issues

[ProudYorky in reply to B0xermad]

Cheers I'm 68 will give my Drs a call I'm not risking what you have gone through take care hope your feeling better soon

[B0xermad in reply to ProudYorky]

Good idea as it really is horrible

[Magician-be]

I sympathise it is such an unpleasant experience. I had it around 25 years ago, and it was misdiagnosed by my doc, probably due to misleading information I gave him. Right hand side of head face and neck. Dermatologist finally diagnosed correctly and antivirals worked vey quickly with sores cleaning within 5 days, however scaring was still slightly visible after a couple of years, due to my inattention. I used an oatmilk wash to sooth the irritation once diagnosed. It was a period of extreme stress that brought it on.

[B0xermad in reply to Magician-be]

It's definitely not a nice disease especially on top of other things we have to cope with

[Rosiespace]

Hi When I had Shingles my GP put me on Gabapentin for the nerve pain and virasorb cream to gently put on the rash, both of these helped me so much xx

[Louiss]

I'm in week 8 of shingles I had the jab but still succumbed. Itsbeen purgatory over my breast, under my arm to shoulder blade a nd an other patch on back. Still painful and sensitive but easing now. Hope your rid of it soon.

[B0xermad in reply to Louiss]

Oh god you por thing 8 weeks I didn't realise it would be that long to ease up .I am hoping that week 5 was going to be the turning point for me as its a lot less pain than last week but I do know it can be longer. Wishing you a speedy recovery soon

[Mavary]

Hi! I had shingles a year ago and it’s not very pleasant. Luckily I’d had the vaccination a few yeas ago an I only had it mildly. I had Covid and shingles together. Someone advised me to get some Aveeno with Coloidol in it. I rubbed it on every day and I’ve got no scarring where I had the spots. It’s worth a try. Mine shot from the middle of my back right round to the front middle. I was so lucky because it could have been so much worse.

[B0xermad in reply to Mavary]

I am lucky to have been using aveeno with colloidal oats since week 2 which has had a soothing effect .

[Mavary in reply to B0xermad]

Ah good! I was recommended it when I had shingles.