Wellness

[gramygram]

I just had shingles a few weeks ago and still have burning on the site where rash appeared. I started with a pain on my left side above my hip. Rash came out a few days later on my back and abdomen. I got the anti viral meds within 3 days rash appeared but boy they didn't help much. Still have pain but bearable but rash is still there. Faded but still burns and itches. Hope you get better soon.

[emmysmom]

On 11/4/2014 littleblueparakeet2 said:

I currently have it and it s#cks.

I went to my PCP last Thursday after I developed a rash on the left side of my neck 2 days prior and was told I was having an allergic reaction from a bug bite. I was put on a course of oral and topical steroids, neither of which helped. I started to get much worse over the weekend and ended up at an urgent care center on Sunday and was diagnosed with shingles; now on Valtrex.

The burning pain is brutal and now bands of small vesicles have developed on the left side of my face. I called my doctor and was advised to see an ophthalmologist ASAP as a precaution.

If you have had shingles, how long did it take for it to resolve?

I got it last January. I took 2000 mg of Lysine and it really helped. I also used tea tree oil and it dried up the blisters quickly, relieving the pain. I had it 1 month or so but I had residual nerve pain for several months. I will always take Lysine, it keeps herpes at bay! I am so sorry..hopefully we'll never have this again!

[emmysmom]

On 11/4/2014 bluenaomi said: I just had shingles a few weeks ago and still have burning on the site where rash appeared. I started with a pain on my left side above my hip. Rash came out a few days later on my back and abdomen. I got the anti viral meds within 3 days rash appeared but boy they didn't help much. Still have pain but bearable but rash is still there. Faded but still burns and itches. Hope you get better soon.

Try the tea tree oil, it really helps to heal and ease the pain! Mine was on my left side, I googled natural remedies as I was too ill to get anything. Thankfully I had some tea tree oil and it was amazing!

[Gooday]

On 11/4/2014 littleblueparakeet2 said:

On 11/4/2014 I am still oxox said:

My husband found out he had shingles about 3 years ago while on vacation at the beach, needless to say it was not the best vacation. Hubby really did not have a horrible time of it, but still has some phantom pain where some of the sores were.

Sounds like your husband has PHN; that stinks.

It sounds like what my husband had/has. His breakout was in his left hand and arm. We were on the road traveling home. He called his doctor but once the breakout starts, the best you can do is treat the symptoms.

After a few months the pain went up his left arm and into his neck. He had an EMG that revealed permanent nerve damage. He was given a prescription for Lyrica which helps him when he has a flare up.

Needless to say, I got the shingles shot and I was 57 at the time.

[gramygram]

On 11/4/2014 graceandmercy said:

On 11/4/2014 bluenaomi said: I just had shingles a few weeks ago and still have burning on the site where rash appeared. I started with a pain on my left side above my hip. Rash came out a few days later on my back and abdomen. I got the anti viral meds within 3 days rash appeared but boy they didn't help much. Still have pain but bearable but rash is still there. Faded but still burns and itches. Hope you get better soon.

Try the tea tree oil, it really helps to heal and ease the pain! Mine was on my left side, I googled natural remedies as I was too ill to get anything. Thankfully I had some tea tree oil and it was amazing!

Thanks for the information! I have some tea tree oil. I'll try it! Anything that will help.

[culebra]

I had the shingle shot. I have friends that have had shingles and it is not fun. I have great insurance and my shingle shot was not covered. It was expensive, but worth it.

[emmysmom]

On 11/4/2014 bluenaomi said:

On 11/4/2014 graceandmercy said:

On 11/4/2014 bluenaomi said: I just had shingles a few weeks ago and still have burning on the site where rash appeared. I started with a pain on my left side above my hip. Rash came out a few days later on my back and abdomen. I got the anti viral meds within 3 days rash appeared but boy they didn't help much. Still have pain but bearable but rash is still there. Faded but still burns and itches. Hope you get better soon.

Try the tea tree oil, it really helps to heal and ease the pain! Mine was on my left side, I googled natural remedies as I was too ill to get anything. Thankfully I had some tea tree oil and it was amazing!

Thanks for the information! I have some tea tree oil. I'll try it! Anything that will help.

PLEASE dilute with a carrier oil, like olive oil. It talks about it in this article!

https://www.hellolife.net/shingles/b/try-tea-tree-oil-for-shingles-outbreak

[Drythe]

On 11/4/2014 Ford1224 said:

I had it on my scalp shortly after coming down with Rheumatoid Arthritis ten years ago. It was horribly painful for weeks, and is still very easily irritated. I thought I was going to lose all of my hair. As it was, I was going to let my hair grow in white anyway, I had been dyeing it for years and was sick of it. So I just cut it short, let it grow in white and it's been white ever since. I can put nothing on my scalp.

Because of its location I remember the doc being very concerned about my eyes. Fortunately, that didn't happen.

Good luck . . . it's a terrible affliction, but it does end. I have not had a recurrence.

Me too, Ford

I have have RA and developed shingles that went across my head, down my forehead and into one eye, right down my trigeminal nerve. Was hospitalized for 4 days. Still have postherpathic neuropathy from nerve damage. My scalp was a mess and so of course was my hair, one reason I'm such an ardent WEN girl now because it has helped amazingly with hair growth and doesn't hurt my sensitive scalp.

Old school thinking was that once you'd had shingles you could not have a recurrence. Not true, I had several and carried the medication with me so I could treat at first signs. As soon as physician cleared me I got a shingles vaccination and have not have a flare since. I strongly recommend shingles vaccinations!

Best wishes to you littleblueparakeet2, and hope you feel better soon.

[Wildapple]

I've just gotten over shingles. Got it Oct. 18 (Sat). I remember exactly how it started...with a severe headache during the FSU/Notre Dame football game. Woke up Sunday morning with the same headache on the left side of my head. Thought it must be what people call a "sinus headache" although I've never had one in my life. The next morning a large red bump appeared between my eye and my nose. By Tuesday it had turned into a blister and hurt like heck. I went to the dr on Wed and got Valtrex, an antiviral which must be started within 72 hrs of the rash appearing or it's not effective. I did not break out anywhere else and I know for sure it was due to getting on the Valtrex soon enough. I did have shooting pains in my head for a week and was very tired. I also had to get a Rx for Zirgan, which is an antiviral for the eye. The Zirgan was like buying the Hope Diamond but my eyesight is priceless. Today I am back to normal.

This is the second time I've had shingles. The first time was in 1972 before the invention of the wonderful antiviral drugs. That time it was around my waist and was a nightmare for months. I couldn't let anything touch my waist because the pain was so bad. Had to wear dresses.

I literally feel your pain and am so sorry that this happened to you. I've read that the amino acid L-Lysine is a good preventative for shingles. I bought a bottle and have started taking it. Don't think I'll get the shingles vaccine as it does not prevent shingles only makes it less severe. For me, the Valtrex did that. So, if I get it again I'll take the antiviral. Another good preventative is to control stress when possible. It was the stress of that football game that brought on my shingles.

[emmysmom]

On 11/4/2014 Wildapple said:

I've just gotten over shingles. Got it Oct. 18 (Sat). I remember exactly how it started...with a severe headache during the FSU/Notre Dame football game. Woke up Sunday morning with the same headache on the left side of my head. Thought it must be what people call a "sinus headache" although I've never had one in my life. The next morning a large red bump appeared between my eye and my nose. By Tuesday it had turned into a blister and hurt like heck. I went to the dr on Wed and got Valtrex, an antiviral which must be started within 72 hrs of the rash appearing or it's not effective. I did not break out anywhere else and I know for sure it was due to getting on the Valtrex soon enough. I did have shooting pains in my head for a week and was very tired. I also had to get a Rx for Zirgan, which is an antiviral for the eye. The Zirgan was like buying the Hope Diamond but my eyesight is priceless. Today I am back to normal.

This is the second time I've had shingles. The first time was in 1972 before the invention of the wonderful antiviral drugs. That time it was around my waist and was a nightmare for months. I couldn't let anything touch my waist because the pain was so bad. Had to wear dresses.

I literally feel your pain and am so sorry that this happened to you. I've read that the amino acid L-Lysine is a good preventative for shingles. I bought a bottle and have started taking it. Don't think I'll get the shingles vaccine as it does not prevent shingles only makes it less severe. For me, the Valtrex did that. So, if I get it again I'll take the antiviral. Another good preventative is to control stress when possible. It was the stress of that football game that brought on my shingles.

I had been taking 1500 mg Lysine and got a milder attack, so I have upped it to 2000mg..I DON'T ever want to go through this again! I agree about stress bringing this on!