Shingles

[Marielittleton21]

Hello anyone, I am trying to find a cream or gel for the nerve pain I have from shingles. I live here in Michigan and have good access to Walmart. What would be a good topical cream or gel that I can by over the counter?

[Sazntef]

The best I found was camomile Lotion. Same as we use in the UK for chicken pox, not talking all the pain out but certainly eases it.

[Chickapea]

Hello Marielittleton21! Shingles is known to be a painful condition for some. Have you seen a doctor? A doctor can write you a prescription for an antiviral, if you have blisters. This stage is contagious. When the blisters dry out, your doctor can prescribe a suitable agent to numb out the discomfort. Otherwise, you might ask a pharmacist to suggest something. Everyone is unique and each can react differently to treatment plans. Therefore, it's best to start with your physician. You might even go to an urgent care center. I hope you will heal, feeling comfortable in your Shingles-free skin soon.

[Marielittleton21 in reply to Chickapea]

Thanks, I am trying ☺

[dtech]

I've had shingles three times😥. Unfortunately I was told, and found out, there's not a lot you can do to reduce the nerve pain which is non prescription. Then I found the only prescription drug they give you is an anti depressant which has some 'interesting' side effects and can be habit forming! So decided to go without. Sorry to be negative and hope you get relief.

[Marielittleton21 in reply to dtech]

Yeah , so I found out.

[annacruachan]

I found lavender oil helpful. Two drops in about half an ounce of carrier oil, such as almond oil or the much cheaper sunflower oil. It soothed the soreness and took away some of the pain for me as well as speeding up the healing. Hope it works for you xx

[Marielittleton21 in reply to annacruachan]

That's what I plan on doing next. Thanks

[susanna555]

After having repeated episodes of shingles pain my Dr prescribed lidocaine patches which have really helped. Hope this maybe could help you. Xx

[Madlegs1 in reply to susanna555]

I agree- Lidocaine patches are the real deal- and don't cross the blood/ brain barrier, if used correctly. But expensive.

[Marielittleton21 in reply to susanna555]

I haven't found those yet. Do I have to have a prescription?

[susanna555 in reply to Marielittleton21]

Really not sure if you can buy lidocaine without a prescription best to ask at your chemist, mine were prescribed by Dr at pain clinic.

[sandbird]

my mums just had it they gave her amatriptaline pills they seem to help x

[Marielittleton21 in reply to sandbird]

OK I will ask my doctor about those. Thanks

[Scat319]

I had Shingles almost 2 years ago on the upper left quadrant of my face, affecting my eye. I was on antiviral meds for almost a month, about 7 or 8 visits to the eye doctor to keep checking vision, Neurontin for pain but made me feel numb, so opted out of that. Tried every "miracle" salve on the market, nothing really worked. Took 4 months to go away but because of where it was, it left me with phantom smell where I'll suddenly smell strong exhaust fumes. They said once you have Shingles you won't get it again, and that's not true. Where mine started on my forehead it left me with a slight indentation and if I'm sick or stressed, it will turn red and itch. Unfortunately, I couldn't use the Lidocain patches because it was on my face. Good luck

[rosewine in reply to Scat319]

You have my sympathy with the shingles I have also had it three times. I had it three same as you down the one side of my face, in my ear, mouth and eye and had to keep on going to the doctor for eye checks. It is exactly as you described as when I am under the weather I have the pain in my face exactly where I had the shingles.x

[SqueakMouse]

Hello there, fellow American MarieLittleton21 (I'm originally from PA, and currently living in the Denver area:)!! I apologize for the delay in replying; I've been dealing with a combined case of zoster-related meningitis and shingles myself, so I haven't been able to check the site very often:(:(. I only just got back to it tonight after a couple weeks away and noticed your post, and I was very moved to hear of your suffering...as I mentioned, I can definitely empathize:(:(.

I know your post is several hours old by now (with many people offering some excellent advice in the interim:), so with luck, you've already found something that's addressing your pain well (or better yet, your shingles are healing well enough that your pain has lowered in severity, and doesn't require pain medicine anymore; I know, I know...wishful thinking, yeah? One can dream...:) You'll be in my thoughts and prayers that that is indeed the case!:):)....but if for any reason you're still in a lot of pain (and/or have further questions about shingles), I'd be delighted to try and help.

I have an immunodeficiency and also don't make antibodies to the zoster virus, so unfortunately, I get repeated and extensive cases of shingles (and other zoster-related illnesses) all the time:(:(.

But the silver lining of this medical history is that I've experienced a lot of trial and error regarding medications/treatments/etc., and have accumulated a pretty good list of the more effective ones. Let me know if you'd like the information, and I'd be happy to share my experiences with you:):).

Since other people have mentioned having some success with lidocaine patches, I won't get into too much detail about them here; in my experience, they can indeed be a real life-saver in times of severe intractable neurological pain, and are therefore well worth looking into if your doctor can provide a prescription and you have good insurance (they can be pricey, even though there are rarely more than a handful of patches in a prescribed pack).

But since I've also learned that many patients can't tolerate the adhesive (including me; I break out in extensive hives within minutes of application), I thought I'd give you a few more options to look into, just in case:)

One such possibility that I can enthusiastically recommend (that I haven't seen mentioned by other posters so far) is a topical prescription cream called "Emla" (but is easily available as a generic: Specifically, "Lidocaine 2.5%/25mg, and Prilocaine 2.5%/25mg").

Though I'm allergic to the lidocaine patch adhesives, I have gained significant relief from lidocaine---so I was immensely grateful to discover that there's an alternative option available that provides the benefits of numbing agents, without the negative side effects of the patch delivery system. It is a tremendous help for managing even the most severe burning/itching; I honestly don't know how I'd get by without it, while I'm waiting for the oral meds to do their healing work (which as you've seen can be an unpleasantly long wait; post-herpetic neuralgia can last long after the blisters have cleared, and the usefulness of antivirals has run out).

The cream comes in a small (30g) tube, so it can be specifically targeted to the individual blisters and/or a wider symptomatic area, and can usually be reapplied as needed (because the dose isn't titrated for long-term delivery like patches, and isn't so concentrated either), which you no doubt know from experience is an important consideration (how many times have you managed to finally achieve a level of decent pain control, only to have a breeze or your dog accidentally brush up against the rash and flare it up again---but you're not scheduled to take your oral meds for another six hours?:):). Which usually means six long hours of unbroken suffering, unfortunately

But with this Emla cream, it's possible to treat the area immediately and gain significant relief within minutes (even if the dog scratches your rash again 30 minutes later!, 'cause you can spot treat the painful areas once again--usually several times over--depending upon the prescription instructions and your doctor's specifications).

And even if you don't have good prescription insurance, you don't have to worry, because this medication is usually quite affordable--often less than $30 per tube for the generic, which lasts quite a long while (depending upon how extensive your rash is, of course, and/or how often you need to reapply it).

Also, it isn't a highly regulated product like narcotics or benzodiazepines, so if you are an established patient, your doctor should be able to fax or call in a prescription for you without requiring an appointment, and/or a trip to the office in order to pick up a paper script in person (an important consideration when you're dealing with disabling nerve pain, especially when it flares in response to movement or fatigue, like shingles often does).

Many types of doctors from varying fields of expertise prescribe this medicine (neurologists, dermatologists, and GP's for sure--all of whom treat shingles), so if you bring the suggestion to your doctor, they will very likely be familiar with it, and shouldn't have a problem prescribing a few tubes for you to try:) They will be able to give you the most useful advice regarding how and when to apply it, based upon what brand they order and what your particular needs are as a patient:)

There is also a lidocaine product called "lidocaine oral viscous" that can be used to address shingles sores inside the mouth and throat (as opposed to the surface skin that Emla /lidocaine cream is meant for; I think I remember you saying your rash has spread there?); you can apply it with a q-tip to individual sores (I sometimes hold the swab against a particularly painful ulcer until I can feel the numbing "kick in"--this technique allows the medicine enough time to work before your saliva can wash it away), or just swipe the inside of your mouth with a finger coated in the gel.

But for more numerous sores, you can also "swish and spit" (and/or gargle, if the shingles have spread down your throat) the oral lidocaine, and the relief it provides is indescribable. It's only available by prescription, but it's FAR more effective (and longer lasting) than OTC oral numbing agents sold for canker sores, cavities, inflamed gums, etc.(but if you're desperate, these are viable options); nevertheless, it's usually not expensive at all (especially in generic form), and pretty easy to get a prescription for. Dentists prescribe this often, but so can/do any doctors who treat shingles (neurologists, primary care, etc.).

But if you cannot get a prescription for topical lidocaine creams or oral viscous lidocaine gels (or simply don't want to), don't despair--there are similar OTC products with similar ingredients that you can get easily and affordably:)

Amazon sells several Lidocaine creams that require no prescriptions, most for less than $10. Some of the better known brands (Aspercreme, Icy-Hot) have begun selling pain creams/gels/rubs with Lidocaine as their primary active ingredient, and can be found not only at online stores/sites like Amazon, but at most pharmacies, "big box" businesses (like Walmart), and grocery stores nationwide, making them easily and speedily accessible.

*Important note: Take care to read the ingredients list closely; many of these more widely advertised products also contain menthol, which can be an excellent pain reliever--especially when combined with Lidocaine--for back, joint, or muscle aches...but NOT for shingles. The menthol (which provides that familiar "cooling" sensation that makes it such an effective pain reliever) can ruin all the positive pain relieving effects that the lidocaine has on shingles, because that menthol can feel like hot coals on an open blister.*

The same goes for the popular OTC pain relieving creams containing capsaicin; though they are usually marketed specifically for neuralgias and neuropathies (and are indeed helpful in certain cases of neuropathic pain, like diabetic neuropathy, sciatic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and/or CRPS), that doesn't mean that they're good for ALL instances of nerve pain--and in my experience, shingles (and/or any other nerve pain that's characterized by open or raw sores/blisters/rashes) is one of those cases where capsaicin can be really counterproductive (ineffective at best, and agonizing at worst).

If you're unfamiliar with capsaicin, it's more or less hot pepper extract; essentially, the "heat" in the pepper distracts the nervous system from focusing on the pain from the nerve, thereby "neutralizing" it (to describe it in very basic and unscientific terms:):). But if I ask you to just imagine rubbing oil from a hot pepper into your shingles blisters...well, there's not much more I need to say about how applying capsaicin to those sores will probably feel, right?:)

I've found a lidocaine product on Amazon that works very well (but there are several you can choose from; I'm only mentioning the one I've used, so you can hear a firsthand experience before/if you choose to purchase it:)

It's called "Lidocaine Plus Maximum Strength 4% Pain Relieving Cream", made by a company called Kleen. It contains the highest level of lidocaine (4%) sold without a prescription, and contains no other irritating ingredients (fragrances, menthols, oils, etc.)--just Aloe Vera, which adds another layer of healing, moisturizing, calming, and comfort to the product's list of benefits.

In fact, it's so mild that it's approved for use not only on surface skin, but for mucus membranes and other such "sensitive areas"; that's a testament to how gentle it is, on both shingles rashes and the skin they cover--but the 4% lidocaine makes it very effective, too, in addition to being gentle:):).

I also love that one tube is 2 to 4 times larger than what most pharmaceutical creams are (4oz., as opposed to the usual 1-2oz.), so it lasts a long time, and you have more than enough product to treat large areas of affected skin (if your rash is extensive) many times over--and all for less than $12:)

I've also found ice packs to be a great emergency solution (it also calms pain and itch by numbing those sensory nerves, and much better than heating pads, in my experience). I get a pack of miniature latex-free balloons (about the size of a golf ball to a tennis ball when expanded), fill them with water (again, not too much--you want it to fit easily in your palm), tie off the ends in a tight knot, and freeze them overnight. I like to prepare at least four; that way you can rotate them as the ones you're using begin to melt, and you'll never be left without one in case of emergency:):).

Once they've frozen solid, just wrap it in a thin soft cloth--cut up old cotton T-shirts are great--and place it over the painful area (though I sometimes prefer the balloon directly against my skin to start with; it seems to soothe the pain more quickly, and the balloon skin is usually a sufficient barrier to protect the skin from "ice burns").

For less intense pain, a partially melted ice balloon can also be comforting---even if it's mostly cold water--and more malleable too, for awkward or bony areas like under the rib cage, over the eye, or around the ears.

I find commercial ice packs to be too large/heavy/unwieldy for shingles care, but these little homemade options are much more handy---they fit easily almost anywhere (depending upon where your rash is located) without tiring your arm out or blocking your vision.

I've even used them as trigger-point relief, e.g., when I have shingles on my back; if you lie down with the "ice balloon" under your shoulder blade, it can not only numb the pain and itch, but it can release the muscle tension and soothe the ache that often results from shingles pain. And they are inexpensive and reusable , too!

Another bonus: You can bring these ice balloons with you in the car and hold it against the rash while traveling (I often get severe pain triggered by the seat belt or an open window,)--a time when applying cream or taking a medication usually just isn't feasible, and severe neuralgia is particularly distracting and dangerous--so these ice packs are uniquely useful under these circumstances )

Just remember to bring along a ziploc bag or a cup to store the balloon in when you arrive at your destination; they don't leak (unless they get torn somehow), but they can "sweat" a little in the sun, so I find it's a good idea to have a plan in place to protect your car/clothes "just in case":):).

Hope these tips are helpful to you...and most of all, I hope you're doing better and fully healed very very soon:):). And again, please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions; I don't know for sure if I can be of any help, but I'd be more than happy to try:)

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[2happy]

Gabapentin is supposed to help with nerve pain

[SqueakMouse]

P.S. Since you specifically asked about products available at Walmart, I did a little research on what items they sell OTC. They do indeed sell several numbing agents--including ones containing Lidocaine hydrochloride, and at the maximum allowable percentage of topical anesthetic allowed by the FDA--but as I mentioned in my previous post, many of them contain other ingredients that might erase all the pain relieving benefits that the lidocaine would give you, due to the presence of other additives that could prove anywhere from irritating to agonizing (menthols, alcohols, adhesives, etc.)

Unfortunately, most of Walmart's offerings fall under this category. Aspercreme with Lidocaine 4% Maximum Pain Relieving Creme; Aspercreme Lidocaine No Mess Roll-On 4% Maximum Strength; Salon-Pas Maximum Strength 4% Lidocaine Pain Relieving Gel; Gold Bond Multi-System Maximum Strength 4% Lidocaine Pain Relieving Cream all contain at least one of the following (and often several of them);

petroleum, mineral oils, alcohol, adhesives, menthol, or camphor...all of which are contraindicated for nerve pain associated with raw rashes/open wounds like shingles. Some of these also contain other "good" ingredients (like Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, oatmeal, etc.) that are safe--and even beneficial--for shingles, but as long as those other irritants are on the ingredient list, I wouldn't recommend trying any of them.

Other non-lidocaine OTC pain and burn relief products (Lanacane Maximum Strength Anti-Itch Cream; Solarcane Burn and Itch spray; Oralgel Severe Toothache and Gum Triple Medicated Pain Relief Gel; Anbesol Instant Pain Relief Gel for Mouth Sores, to list the most popular choices) are similarly problematic; in addition to the petroleum, mineral oils, alcohol, adhesives, menthol, or camphor additives, their main active ingredient is often benzocaine--a good pain reliever, but one of those like menthol that brings relief by that "cooling" sensation, which for shingles is essentially a "set on fire" sensation:)

For these reasons, I would only go with the one Walmart product that could qualify as safe AND effective: Alocane Maximum Strength Emergency Room Burn Relief Gel. It's water-based, contains the 4% maximum strength Lidocaine, and nothing else but the soothing ingredients Vitamin E and Aloe--no menthols, camp hits, adhesives, oils, aerosols, "cooling agents", petroleum, etc. The only size available (2.5oz.) costs $7.47 online.

It would be safe for you to buy a Cortisone product (like Cortaid, Cortizone 10, or the Equate Generic forms) to layer under or over the Alocane as an extra itch-Relieving option (I find that Lidocaine does address itch well--after all, it numbs the nerve endings--but not as well as when it's combined with cortisone)...try the "Sensitive Skin" versions with added ingredients like oatmeal, vitamin E, and Aloe Vera, and be sure to skip any that boast "cooling relief/agents".

The Original Cortaid and Cortizone 10 is just fine, and Cortizone 10 has an Intensive Healing version with ten added healing g ingredients that are all relatively mild. But if you're using this on an active shingles rash, I'd actually go with Cortizone 10 Feminine Relief over the others--it's got the same active ingredient in the same concentration as all the others in its line (1% hydrocortisone) , but it has the added benefit of Vitsmin A, C, and E, plus seven more healing moisturizers like Aloe Vera--and most importantly, its water-based, non-greasy, and fragrance-free, which are all very important considerations when it comes to treating shingles rashes. A 1oz. tube costs $4.42 on the Walmart website.

The only possible "drawback" to Alocane is that it cannot be used on mouth sores, if you happen to have oral shingles. But I looked through the entire Walmart oral pain products list, and none of them would work for this purpose--because they are all benzocaine and antiseptic/alcohol-based, which would not only be irritating but possibly destructive to delicate shingles ulcers.

And as of yet, no lidocaine-based oral rinses or pain products are available OTC anywhere, much less Walmart; the only such items are the prescription-only Lidocaine Oral Viscous Gel I mentioned in my earlier post (available at any pharmacy), or a similar custom-mixed product that compounding pharmacies can create for you with a doctor's prescription (a good option, since they can add flavorings that make the stuff more palatable, too:):).

Hope this proves helpful to you!:):). Let me know if there's anything else I can do:)

[Marielittleton21 in reply to SqueakMouse]

You have been SO WONDERFUL WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATIVE INFORMATION, I THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH I DO FEEL MUCH BETTER. I HAVE to return to work IN one week so this is why I have to speed up the healing, and you have done just that! THANKS ☺😊

[SqueakMouse in reply to Marielittleton21]

Hello there, Marielittleton21😍❣️ It's SqueakMouse here🐭 I just wanted to send you best wishes for a pain-free day tomorrow (I think the post in which you mentioned you're returning to work in a week was dated six days ago, which means your first day back is tomorrow😃?).

You've been in my thoughts and prayers all week, in hopes of helping to achieve that speedy recovery you were aiming for😇😍😉. I hope you're feeling a bit better at this point (or ideally, you're feeling fully recovered and better than ever, all bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed😍❣️).

If you happen to get this note before you leave for work (and you're still feeling some of the effects of your bout with shingles), I also wanted to recommend a few tips😋:

(1). If you managed to find a Lidocaine cream and/or something else to lessen your pain, be sure to take it with you to work. Some of these medicines are applied every 2-4 hours, and it's important to stay on that schedule lest the neuralgia take on a life of its own, and you have to play "catch up" with your pain control😮 That's distressing and unwelcome enough at home, and its that much more so when you're stuck at work with no opportunity to rest, ice the rash, etc. If your Lidocaine/cream is in a larger or otherwise unwieldy tube, I find it helpful to squeeze a couple tablespoons into a small jar or a Ziplock bag---it's really portable, and you can either dip your finger into the bag in order to apply the medicine, or trim a small corner off with scissors and squeeze a dime-sized dose on to your finger (like piping cake icing😋).

(2) The same goes for any pain medicine and/or anti-inflammatories you may have been prescribed; be sure to pack it in your bag, and bring enough to cover every dose you are scheduled to take during the hours you expect to be at work, PLUS one extra dose--just in case you get kept late at work or run into traffic or whatever. Again, you don't want to be in severe pain, nor do you want to have to play the catch-up game if you inadvertently miss a dose😳

(3) I don't know what the weather is like where you are, or where your rash is located, or what kind of hairstyle you have...but anytime I get shingles and have to go outdoors, I always take care to loosely cover the area, in order to protect it from a flare-up (I'm sure you've noticed how shingles and/or its post-herpetic neuralgia cousin can be fanned into an agonizing flame from the lightest touch or the slightest breeze😮). So if the rash is on my ear, I'll pull my hair into a loose ponytail to cover it (and/or tie a loose lightweight scarf on my head); if the rash is under my clothes, I'll put Lidocaine on it first, then wrap gauze around/on top of the area, to protect it from my clothes rubbing on it and disturbing the blisters (but be sure to affix any first aid tape to the gauze itself, on BOTH ends...you don't want adhesive of any kind on that rash or the skin around it😳 (For this reason, traditional band-aids are a no-no😋). If you're driving, be sure to keep all windows/sunroof closed; again, any breeze can be irritating to the rash and therefore excruciating to you😋😥. You can remove all the coverings once you get to work, but have extra supplies so you can cover up again before going home.

(4). If you made any of those ice balloons I told you about (and you have a freezer or fridge at work), bring that along in a ziplock too; it can be soothing if you're having a pain flare. Another good alternative (if a freezer isn't available) is to pack a small washcloth, and if you find yourself in a lot of pain--and the rash is easily accessed--run some warm water on it, wring it out, and use it as a hot compress; this can also be very soothing😃

(5). If you have colleagues (and they are the type of colleagues you can share this kind of information with), let them know that you've been fighting a bad case of shingles (but reassure them that you're not contagious; in my experience, folks tend to think we're contagious for months and that the virus is easily transmitted, and that they'll somehow get it if they stand close to you--or worse, bring it home to the kids😋; however, once they are given the true facts, most people are understanding and sympathetic); describe any painful symptoms you're still having now (neuralgia, fever, achiness, etc.); and give them a few tips on how they can best help you (e.g., put you on desk duty for a few days, so you can rest while you're still feeling run-down; ask them to try not to hug you or otherwise touch you in a way that might irritate the rash, etc.). People who care about you will care about your illness and your suffering, and people who care about you usually want to show their support and empathy, but just don't know how...so giving them ideas is often a huge relief to them😍

(6). If you can swing it with the management/your boss/etc., try to only come in to work for a half-day in the beginning (for maybe 3 or 4 days--depending upon the severity of your rash/symptoms--or at the very least tomorrow; you'll be surprised how wearying shingles is on the body (it's been through a lot, and even if you're doing much better than you were initially, your immune system is still working on overdrive to control the infection), and you might very well "hit the wall" much earlier than you usually do. If you find that you're handling the day just fine, you can always stay for the full day--but if you end up NOT feeling so fine, it's a great blessing to have that half-day already approved so you can conserve your strength and support your healing😍

(7) I would recommend cancelling as many non-essential activities (at work and outside of it) for at least this week, and ideally next week as well. Again, your body has been through a lot and is still working hard to heal, and any extra activity (even "fun" activities like dinner with friends) just stresses your immune system that much more, and steals energy from it (that would be better used if allowed to focus on healing the infection) in order to get through that outing/event😳.

(7) On that note, your body will likely be craving a lot of sleep--and that's good thing, because it really REALLY needs it. Most of our body's repair work happens while we sleep, so we prolong the healing process if we stay up too late and/or don't get the extra sleep our bodies are asking for (no matter if that request is for one extra hour or six 😴).

(8) Another important aspect of conserving/preserving energy is around cooking/preparing meals--the effort to do that this first week back to work is often just too taxing. Try to plan ahead how you can make meals as easy as possible for each day/night of this week (e.g., order take-out; stock up on microwaveable heat-and-eat dinners; get some pre-cooked canned products--soup, ravioli, etc.--that you can just put in the microwave or pour in a saucepan to heat up😋),

(9) Pack a healthy snack with a little protein in it (nuts, protein bar or shake, peanut butter crackers, etc.) to have in mid-morning or late afternoon (or both). Your body needs a little extra fuel while it's working so very hard to heal (and pain drains energy, too), and as mentioned above, you will likely be more easily fatigued than usual, and a snack will help control that a bit. What you choose is ultimately a combination of personal preference, availability, and portability--but I would recommend limiting fruits like apples, bananas, and citrus (and any of those in a dried form); they are healthy, but they are also usually high in natural sugars and low in protein, which gives you a quick pick-me-up but also an equally quick crash-and-burn, since they raise the blood sugar briefly and then send it to the basement--leaving you more fatigued and hungry than you were before you ate it😋. But it's OK if you add a protein to it--apples with cheese, bananas and peanut butter, berries in low sugar Greek yogurt😉

(10) I think that about covers everything😍❣️ I hope and pray that these tips are helpful to you😋 If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask😉 Best of luck tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you😀!

[Marielittleton21 in reply to SqueakMouse]

Hi🌞💟 it's just so pleasing and up lifting to read the healing words you have written on the shingles subject. I will put forth &do 'everything ' you have told me to do. I have to go back to wk today and here in Michigan the weather is tolerable for the time being. I wk inside fed ex warehouse in Bellville mi and by us not having a union they do us any kind of way. Iam 62 yrs. but I don't plan on being here for the rest of my life so I will definitely do the best I can to weather this storm. I went you the health food store and they gave me certain vitamins and cream to us and it really helps so I hope to speed up the recovery time , so keep your suggestions coming and luv to youuuuu. Thanks ☺😏

[SqueakMouse]

P.P.S. I just noticed that the Auto Spell Check feature of my phone changed the word "camphor" to "camp-hits" a time or two in my last reply?):):):). I have NO idea why (is there ever any rhyme or reason to anything technology does?:):). So sorry about that! Just wanted to reassure you that I wasn't recommending "camp hits" of any kind--whether in the Poconos, by the Mafia, or on the Hot 100 lists:):):). Haha:)

[SqueakMouse]

Oh, MarieLittleton, that's WONDERFUL news!:):). I'm SO SO HAPPY to hear that the information was helpful....as I mentioned in my earlier posts, I've had shingles a LOT, so I know firsthand how disabling and distressing they can be; as a result, I've been concerned about you all day, ever since I first saw your post--worrying and wondering what suffering you must be going through, and wishing I could magically take it away for you--and keeping you close in my thoughts and prayers:):). Please don't hesitate to contact me if any other questions or concerns come up for you over the next week while you're recovering (about products, symptoms, or anything else:); I'd be delighted to do everything in my power to support, promote, and accomplish the speediest possible healing for you...it sounds like you've suffered with this awful illness plenty long enough, so I've got all ten fingers and all ten toes tightly crossed in hopes that you're fully healed and feeling bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed by the time you're due back at work:):). Best of luck and best wishes to you!

[Marielittleton21 in reply to SqueakMouse]

☺😊😉😌😏🌝THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU I will keep in touch