Shingles

After a stressful year,having coped with everything after my husband passed away last October ,I have now been diagnosed with Shingles.

It is so painful and being around one side of my waist is very uncomfortable.I shall have to find some loose clothing.

As you can imagine,sorting out a time table for added medication of 5 doses of Aciclovir through the day + another pill at bedtime plus my T4/T3 has needed a tick off chart for timing my pills for the next week. The meds make me so drowsy which is probably a good thing,but I do need to do some chores as well.

If anyone has any tips for the best thing to use to soothe the rash,I will be very grateful.

[TSH110]

I had it on optic nerve (forehead) it was excruciating and I could find nothing to alleviate it I ended up weeping at the doctors desk looking like I had gone 9 rounds with Ali my face was so swollen. What did help was the very powerful pain killers the doc gave me but it was so long ago I forget what they were. It is worth asking to try and get the pain under control. It needs to nullify the nerve inflammation I’d guess so doubt creams and other unctions would be of any benefit. Once I got the powerful pain killers in me the pain was tolerable. The antiviral medication will help subdue it but is probably slower to work. It is a wretched business so sorry to hear you are suffering so. It will pass.

☘️👍🏽☘️

I found this article which could be of interest. I’d ask doc for the pain killer mentioned to be most effective and there appear to be good reasons to take it.

urmc.rochester.edu/news/sto...

[Hidden in reply to TSH110]

You are right ....it is an excruciating pain and I'm sorry you've suffered it too.Thanks for your help.I was on painkillers before going to my doctor,thinking I was having a gallstone flare up and then the rash came out in the same area!!. The other pill was a low dose antidepressant.

When I saw that I was saying what did he give me that for? I don't suffer depression!!.............However, I can now see that he knew how this would develop and did say to take it at bedtime and it will help you sleep.

I will just have to go with it and as you say,it will eventually pass

[TSH110 in reply to Hidden]

Are you taking oxycodone? If not ask GP for some to quell the pain and reduce chances of long term nerve damage and further even life long nerve pain problems. I heard antidepressants are also given for the pain not sure how effective they are, not very if you have not got any relief. They say the optic nerve one is the most painful but sounds to me like all of it is agony - nerves are nerves after all wherever they are! It was hideous pain like millions of red hot needles stabbing randomly - unbearable.

[Marz]

How are your B12 levels - maybe take a bigger than usual dose. B12 works on the nerves and Shingles affects the nerve endings - hopefully the connection works for you ...

Will try and find the research I found for a friend recently - Hugs M x

[Fruitandnutcase]

Oh Marfit poor you, that’s all you need. When I was in my teens I developed shingles - it started on my back around where my bra went and then cont8nued right round one side. That was many years ago - probably at least 50 years ago - anyway the treatment I got back then was a daily injection of B12 for I’m not sure how long. I never thought much about it at the time but now it seems an unusual sort of thing to be given - or maybe not I don’t know.

So based on my experience have you checked your B12 and if it’s low maybe take some while your shingles is still active.

Actually I’ve just googled and read that ‘high dose B12 is the time honoured treatment for shingles!

I also found this (see below) and if I take L-lysine as soon as I feel the tingle of a regular herpes cold sore it doesn’t come to anything so that might be a possibility. I was thoroughly dabbed with calamine lotion at the time but I remember hating that I think I’d prefer a cold compress to dull the pain and itch.

Over-the-Counter Therapies for Treating Shingles

High-dose vitamin B12 is a time-honored treatment for shingles.

The amino acid L-lysine, like vitamin C, inhibits the replication of the herpes zoster virus.

[Hidden]

Thank you so much to all of you for your suggestions and help.Where would we be without our friends here on TUK.I am so grateful to you.I am going to have to re stock on B12 as I have just disposed of mine,being out of date.

I too have the rash around the bra area and admit I went out to get food this morning without it on as I couldn't stand it on my skin!!!........covered up with a long Woolley over my tee shirt ... .not a pretty sight and I was so so hot!😱

I have just looked at my blood tests done in April and found that my B12 was 565 ng/L ( 191.0 -663 ) which I would have thought was OK? However,needs maintaining.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Hidden]

I know - so many people owe so much to TUK don’t they.

Your B12 looks t be quite good doesn’t it. Although I know I’ve been a good bit over the top when I’ve tested in the past and not had any worrying comments on the BH doctor’s report.

Not funny at all having shingles and being too hot. Would a fitted vest under a tee shirt hold you firmly enough to look decent and not be too hot? I’ve got a few old M&S ones that are close fitting and firmish - kind of like yee old fashioned liberty bodice but not so thick! Either that or you could pop a nice loose man’s shirt over a loose tee shirt. That could be cool in hot weather and baggy enough to look stylish and not scare the postman 😉

[humanbean in reply to Hidden]

For future reference, to hide the lack of a bra I wear a t-shirt covered over by a man's casual shirt which is big and baggy. It is less hot than a jumper.

Edit : Oops! I see Fruitandnutcase got there first.

[Hidden]

Thanks for your reply Fruitandnutcase,you have given me a much needed giggle.Yes ,I have some vest tops that I can wear under my teeshirts.The loose shirt is a good idea...thanks.

I'm 77yrs old so I don't think the postman is going to look twice!!!😱

However,I shall smile and think of you next time I see him 😊🌷🌷

[sweetsusie]

They have shingles vaccine now (here in the States). I've had one because shingles runs big in my family. So far..so good. Sorry you're suffering. I have a couple who was miserable with them, and also an Aunt...terrible things.

[Hidden]

Hi sweetsusie,

Yes,we have it here too,but I think if I'm right it gets offered to people of a specific age.......I was not offered it ..........Oh boy if I had known better I would have asked for it,so I am pleased that you are already protected😊

However,I shall rest up as instructed and keep taking the meds!!

Thank you for contacting me from the USA and all best wishes to you and yours 🌷🌷