Post Shingle Aciclovir

[omits]

I had the vaccine 2017 (the older one which is less effective). I got Shingles six weeks ago and four days in started Aciclovir. It was in my right side face. I did not have it really serious (almost indetectible blisters but one on eyelid. The real pain was in my jaw like I had multiple abscesses. This pain moved around upper and lower teeth. It started to go away for about a week but now the jaw pain seems to be returning with slight itching on forehead. Very bad when I eat as chewing exacerbates the pain and takes hours to settle.

Should I go back on the pills or is this just still working its was out.

Thanks.

[Otterfield]

Shingles is horrible - you have my sympathy!I'm afraid, as fellow patients, we cannot advise you about what to take. It's best to contact whichever doctor prescribed the Acyclovir.

If you are on MPN medication that suppresses your immune system, it might be worth asking about a prophylactic (ie for prevention) dose of Acyclovir.

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

hello omits, so very sorry that you have shingles. As Otterfield has said, we are unable to advise you about medication, you do need to speak to your GP. Best wishes, Maz

[omits in reply to Mazcd]

I worded that wrong didn't I? What I was asking was for anyone's experience and if they went back on the medication and cleared it up finally.

[Notdiagnosed]

I had a complication of the shingles virus. Ramsay hunt syndrome. I took high dose acylivor and slso high dose steroids and tramadol for the pain. For the skin I used hydrogen peroxide and calomine lotion. But of course you cannot on the eyelid

I was left with post herpetic neuralgia. Not nice but it eased eventually. What you have sounds like this. I doubt more than a course of acylivor would help now. Its just time.

I also developed synkinesis where the nerves grew back wrong and Iwas left with a grade 3 to 4 palsy. Shingles is horrible.

I take preventative acylivor but got shingled again in lockdown.

[omits in reply to Notdiagnosed]

Thanks for that. I will speak to the Dr. about the problem just in case there is a solution but at least its on record. Currently if I chew food the pain ramps up and then eases. It can occur anywhere in the jaw around the teeth. My problem though is buried not on the skin of the face (so far!). I am going to investigate getting the newer vaccine as the old one is ineffective. Did you get the new one?

[Notdiagnosed in reply to omits]

Sounds like post herpetic neuralgia.

[SuET2017]

Hi, I had shingles in June (jubilee weekend it started). Also right side of face, and in my ears and throat, but not on my eyes. I took acyclovir for a week, but I still had the ‘nerve’ pain for about 2-3 weeks after. I am fine now, just a little bit of scaring/discolouration on face, even though I didn’t touch it. By the way, I was advised, by doctor and pharmacist, not to put anything on it. But as others have said, speak to the GP if you have concerns. Take care, it’s not nice at all, and I hope you feel better soon

[3195]

As someone who has had Shingles 2 dozen+ times, over the past 25 years; in spite of taking acyclovir daily. When having an outbreak, I was prescribed Valacylovir, 3 grams per day, for 21 days. It was one of the reasons I stopped Jakafi, and was after Shingles attacked the optic nerve in my left eye. I now take 1 gram of Valacylovir daily, and that has kept the Shingles at bay. Shingles are extremely painful, and can cause permanent damage like post-herpetic neuralgia. When my body/bone marrow are under great distress, it alerts me by causing pain in the 5 main places where I've had Shingles. It's like an early warning system. I hope your medical team will consider Valacyclovir, as it has greater bio-availability than Acyclovir.

[omits in reply to 3195]

You have and are suffering indeed. I will try to get the newest shingle vaccine, Shingrix. I understand it is 90% effective. The one I had 2017 is less than 50%.

[3195 in reply to omits]

Please let me know how it goes. So far I have been unwilling to get it. My hematology oncologists haven't pressed the issue either! Not long after being correctly (finally) diagnosed, I was told, "You have a rare & weird blood cancer. In the future, you will get other rare & weird things! Your body is not going to react in a so-called normal way ". Boy, was he right! I once had a cardiac tumor on my eyelid. Why? "It's a mystery"! 😂😂😂

[Wyebird]

Hi, how are you doing? It’s been 3 days since I really read any posts so I’m now catching up. I do hope you contacted your doctor and now things are improving

[omits]

OK, I found Ibuprofen 200 helped. My not see Dr as pain reducing slowly. Maybe finally on the wane.