topic Re: Shingles in Wellness

Shingles

Dancing Barbara — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:31:22 GMT

I was just diagnosed with Shingles and am on an antiviral medication. I am having a lot of pain especially in my back. The rash with blisters is under my right breast and is going around to my back but not there yet. Will it continue to spread? I am taking Aleve but still can't sleep at night. Anyone have any experience with this?

Re: Shingles

evelyner — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:50:08 GMT

Poor thing, I remember it well. I never got the antiviral. I was given strong stuff painkiller, but I still felt the pain. My blisters were kind of where yours are. I will get better, but so painful.

Re: Shingles

Jersey Born — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 15:05:43 GMT

Good morning, Dancing Barbara. Perhaps one of these items may help you recover more quickly and thoroughly. I am a big believer in using things that God created to help me heal. Check out this article.

Good luck, and please let all of us know if anything on this list of ten things helps you.

ETA: I would try the coconut oil and aloe vera with cayenne, honey, green tea for sure. I don't think I would try using acetone.

Re: Shingles

RedTop — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:12:40 GMT

When my mother battled a severe case of shingles, she was given both an oral and topical antiviral, pain medication for a limited time, and Gabapentin for the neuropathy pain, which she still suffers with nearly 3 years later. Mom's outbreak was in the same location as yours, although she had more on her back. My opinion is that you need more than the oral antiviral to battle this outbreak; I would contact your doctor regarding your extreme discomfort and ask for more medication to deal with this issue.

Re: Shingles

chrystaltree — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:14:08 GMT

No, but if I did, I'd ask my doctor what I should take for pain.

Re: Shingles

Perkup — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:54:37 GMT

RedTop, I truly understand your Mom's situation. I became very ill in January 2013 and no one could figure out what was wrong. In late February I broke out with Shingles, beginning on the right side of my upper back and eventually continuing on around under my right breast and ending up between my boobs. The pain, the need to scratch were very intense. I was given a viral medication, sleeping pills, pain pills, etc. And told to put Capsaicin on the lesions. They said it would burn, but they didn't tell me it was like soaking your hand in gasoline and then sticking it in the fireplace. DO NOT TRY THIS!! I couldn't tolerate most of the meds.

I was sufficiently ill that I had a whole month I don't remember. The burning, stinging and need to scratch were intense for me for at least eight months. They have become a bit less intense, but are still present most of the time. My rash scabbed over and the scabs fell off, but the redness, the pain and need to scratch are still there. I am told that especially in older people the symptoms clear very slowly. It may take several years. I hope it doesn't last too much longer for your Mom or me.

I do have two relatives who have recurring Shingles. One on her thigh and the guy on his waistline. They both had Shingles shots, so I don't know how effective they really are. I was told that I probably should get a shot after my rash cleared, but I am reluctant to have the shot and take a chance on a recurrence like my relatives.

I do not understand why, given the high ratio of people who get Shingles, no one has come up with a spray on pain and need to scratch. Rub- ons are impossible if you live alone, and gross for a caregiver to put ointment on these oozing lesions. A spray on would sell like hot cakes!!

I hope that you get some speedy relief Dancing Barbara. And I wish for RedTop's Mom (and for me, too) that this miserable situation will clear up soon.

I apologize for saying "need to scratch'. It won't let me posts the word because it rhymes with another similar word to witch.

Re: Shingles

Daysdee — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:01:01 GMT

My DH had shingles over 10 years ago and I don't recall he was given antiviral meds at that time. Pain was horrible. Affected his eye and had to see eye specialist for many years. Pain continued for years after lesions were gone. He had many illnesses, but I think shingles was one of the worst for pain. Very, very painful illness. Seeing a doctor immediately is very important. I've known others that had a mild case without many problems. I wish you luck for a speedy recovery.

Re: Shingles

Daysdee — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:02:22 GMT

On 3/17/2014 Perkup said:
RedTop, I truly understand your Mom's situation. I became very ill in January 2013 and no one could figure out what was wrong. In late February I broke out with Shingles, beginning on the right side of my upper back and eventually continuing on around under my right breast and ending up between my boobs. The pain, the need to scratch were very intense. I was given a viral medication, sleeping pills, pain pills, etc. And told to put Capsaicin on the lesions. They said it would burn, but they didn't tell me it was like soaking your hand in gasoline and then sticking it in the fireplace. DO NOT TRY THIS!! I couldn't tolerate most of the meds.

I was sufficiently ill that I had a whole month I don't remember. The burning, stinging and need to scratch were intense for me for at least eight months. They have become a bit less intense, but are still present most of the time. My rash scabbed over and the scabs fell off, but the redness, the pain and need to scratch are still there. I am told that especially in older people the symptoms clear very slowly. It may take several years. I hope it doesn't last too much longer for your Mom or me.

I do have two relatives who have recurring Shingles. One on her thigh and the guy on his waistline. They both had Shingles shots, so I don't know how effective they really are. I was told that I probably should get a shot after my rash cleared, but I am reluctant to have the shot and take a chance on a recurrence like my relatives.

I do not understand why, given the high ratio of people who get Shingles, no one has come up with a spray on pain and need to scratch. Rub- ons are impossible if you live alone, and gross for a caregiver to put ointment on these oozing lesions. A spray on would sell like hot cakes!!

I hope that you get some speedy relief Dancing Barbara. And I wish for RedTop's Mom (and for me, too) that this miserable situation will clear up soon.

I apologize for saying "need to scratch'. It won't let me posts the word because it rhymes with another similar word to witch.

After a case of the shingles, be sure and check with your doctor before getting the shot. Some don't recommend the shot if you have already suffered from shingles.

Re: Shingles

jewelfool — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:14:48 GMT

I take 3 anti virals every day and have for 3 years. The pain will subside and you will not necessarily break out in blisters in the place you have the nerve pain. I have pain in my back and sides, but break out on my chest and under my breasts. Also, be careful about those blisters getting infected or developing fungus. I have an anti fungal cream that I use on my blisters....in my mind, fungus and shingles are somehow connected. At least it has been my experience. The best relief for the pain for me is ice packs and lying with cool sheets on me. I can't stand clothes touching me when I have a flare up but the sheets feel good for some reason. I have also had good results with zinc oxide on the blisters or even just Desitin.

Re: Shingles

scotnovel — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:34:08 GMT

Talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine, especially if over 60. You can get it even if you have had shingles. Many of the pharmacies have the vaccine and will give it to you without a prescription if you don't want to pay for a doctors visit, do some research on it, discuss it with the pharmacist, etc. The local wellness center (associated with the hospital) provides it in my small town also.

I had shingles once and then got the vaccine (a few years ago now) and had never had a recurrence.

Re: Shingles

Upnorth1 — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:57:43 GMT

OP how timely is your post for me. I was diagnosed almost three weeks ago with shingles on my head and neck. this has to be the most awful thing I have been through. I took antiviral medication for 7 days along with Lyrica. Also, have pain medication. Pain meds only give some relief as it is constant 24/7. Did I mention that two years agoI had the vaccine? I am so sorry for all those suffering with this terrible disease.

Re: Shingles

twinkies — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:08:52 GMT

dab white vinegar on it and it will help with the pain . ask your doctor for lyrica because it

helps with nerve pain . white vinegar is used on jellyfish stings because it works .shingles are so painful because they usually run along the nerves.

cathy from ma

Re: Shingles

luvmyteddy4 — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:24:24 GMT

I had this in the 80s in the same place you do. Mine did go all the way around to the back and up the spine. I had to take the medication twice since one treatment didn't work. I do have nerve damage in one leg but that came out years later when I got Lyme disease. Lyrica made my nerve damage more painful and more active.

Re: Shingles

culebra — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:29:21 GMT

I am so sorry about your shingles. I know it is painful. I went and had a shingle shot since I have the Chicken pox in my system.

Re: Shingles

sarpy — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:30:03 GMT

I had shingles but didn't get them bad. Dr. told me it was because I am already taking 9 meds and the combo probably stopped the pain.

Re: Shingles

goodstuff — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:30:16 GMT

I hate to say "you'll have to wait and see", but I think that's the case. Hopefully you got started on the antivirals early enough that they will decrease the severity and duration of your shingles outbreak. Shingles can be very painful. If the pain is severe, interfering with sleep, etc., don't hesitate to ask your doctor for stronger pain medication. I hope your symptoms aren't too severe and pass quickly.

Re: Shingles

voyager1980 — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:30:43 GMT

OP I'm sorry you're in pain.Agree w other posters:: talk w your doctor. The pain & rash aren't anything to play around w home remedies.A friend of mine ended up w infection, scars & long term nerve damage from home remedy & not talking to her doc. Hope you feel better real soon.

Re: Shingles

grandma r — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:41:08 GMT

Sorry that you have shingles. The pain is intense. Unfortunately, it does last a while and usually runs along nerve paths. Call your doc if you need more relief, just be aware that some topicals will burn on the blisters. Hope you feel better soon!

Re: Shingles

Shelbelle — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 20:44:45 GMT

Sorry you are suffering, so glad I got the shot last year.

Re: Shingles

Nikalette — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 22:03:21 GMT

Shingles is excruciating. You should try to get something other than then OTC NSAID, like a low level opioid just till the pain decreases. Also once the rash clears there are so,e topical patches with lidocaine that work well. Some folks get post herpetic neuralgia so you need to get comfortable talking to your doc...maybe get a referral to a pain specialist. I have a severe chronic pain problem, which I suffered with for years. I had to really be assertive with my doc to get the pain meds I need. The problem is there is so much abuse of opioids by people with no pain issues that docs are really concerned about not just addiction but the perception of they prescribe too much. You have what is hopefully a short term acute pain issue, so your doc should support you, unless you have a history of addiction. I wish you the best and a speedy recovery