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Shingle

(41 Posts)
valeriej43 Fri 09-Feb-18 10:01:36

Woke up a few days ago with itchy red lumps, which being just on one side made me think of shingles, as my sister has had it and said she thought that was what it coukd be
It got quite painful and stings when touched,or clothes rub on them
Anyway went to Drs yesterday who confirmed shingles
Has anyone had this, and if so what did you use to ease the pain of it
Dr recommended calamine lotion, but the chemist said best to leave it until the blistering has dried up, but i really need to do something,its so painful and itchy too
Would appreciate any advice
Also how long did it last,Dr said i had seen him early so gave me antivirals, would painkillers help too

valeriej43 Mon 12-Feb-18 14:13:28

Sorry, yes i got the name wrong, couldnt remember exactly without going back to the page

No i live in England, it might have been an American site i looked at, a lot of health ones seem to be

valeriej43 Mon 12-Feb-18 14:17:34

I wont take Amytriptaline, i was once prescribed it and almost fell downstairs after getting out of bed,i was so dizzy
It is old fashioned now, but i know a lot of Drs still prescribe it

brook2704 Mon 12-Feb-18 22:20:50

Hi there
I had shingles for 6 weeks - started November last year. It was a really painful rash with many blisters front and back on my left side and general lack of energy the whole time Once the blisters healed the pain was still there so got the Capsaicin cream from the doctor that really helped once you get used to it. Luckily all pain seems to have gone now so I’m counting myself lucky as many people seem to have ongoing pain for ages. Hope you’re feeling better soon

valeriej43 Tue 13-Feb-18 11:58:59

Brook thank you for your input, i am hoping it doesnt last as long as 6 weeks,
I thought Capsain was hot, im sure its what i used to put on my back to ease back pains i have only got it on one side, just a little spreading round the back, and not as painful today, just a bit prickly
How long did your blisters actually last for
Hope you feel better now too,

brook2704 Tue 13-Feb-18 17:41:56

Hi Valerie, my blisters lasted for about 3 weeks then they gradually fell off and the red rash faded bit by bit. You’re right about the capsaicin cream - it’s the chilli pepper cream that burns when you first apply it but you get used to it after a while. I’m so pleased it’s not as painful today for you - hopefully it will be gone very very soon - take care ? ?

grannyactivist Tue 13-Feb-18 18:07:39

I had shingles in my left eye and all through the left side of my face and head. I had the antiviral, but was so ill I ended up at the hospital on a drip! It took months for the eye to be treated with steroids and it's now permanently damaged and I have eye drops four times a day. The worst of it though was the exhaustion, which still bothers me six months since the start of my attack. I get so tired at times that it interferes with daily life.

brook2704 Tue 13-Feb-18 18:39:01

Oooh grannyactivist I feel for you so much - what a bad time you’ve had , hope things get much better for you soon , take care

valeriej43 Wed 14-Feb-18 19:34:22

grannyactivist so sorry to hear what a bad time you had with shingles, i think i have it quite mildly, the main problem now,and not sure if its connected but awful pain tonight and last night around kidney area and under my rib, my sister says thats normal with shingles, but it seems worse when i have eaten, the blisters are not so prickly but one are just itches so much,
Is this pain normal with shingles? has anyone else had this?

MawBroon Wed 14-Feb-18 21:45:08

I found Acyclovir a godsend when I had shingles in my head, fortunately not spreading below my left eyebrow. It certainly shortened the consequences but had to be taken early enough after diagnosis.
This is the thing I saw about ibuprofen

valeriej43 Wed 14-Feb-18 23:09:20

Tomorrow is my last day of Acyclover, dont know what is causing this pain, but have a feeling its bowel pain, and i am belching a lot, but will call in at the chemist tomorrow and see if they have any idea,
All i know is Ibuprofen is ok to take, maybe with children it makes a difference
Thank you MawBroon,I will ask about this too

valeriej43 Thu 15-Feb-18 10:54:45

Been awake most of the night with this pain, could be trapped wind pains,all over stomach and back as well

valeriej43 Thu 15-Feb-18 18:16:13

Have now got a kidney infection, and got antibiotics,and Gabapentin for the pain
Also my rib and around it is numb, very strange ,
Hoping to have a better night,

valeriej43 Sat 17-Feb-18 19:06:23

Well didnt have a better night really, slept a bit better ,but woke with intense pain back and under ribs
The Gabapentin made me very dizzy, and im supposed to take 2 during the day then 3 then 4 in the following days
I have not taken any more,cant get that dizzy that im falling over which i would ,
Chemist said the Dr has given a very strong one and to ring up and tell him,he might give me a weaker one
The chemist said just try the Gabapentin at night taken early then might not make me dizzy in a morning
My ribs at that side are numb as is my back now, cant feel a thing if i touch them
Googled best pain meds for shingles and co codamol was one, nut the numbness seems a common side effect of shingles,at least its not just me which is a relief
Sat with a hotwater bottle on my back just now

brook2704 Sun 18-Feb-18 08:02:56

So sorry to hear you’re still in so much pain - how long ago was it that your shingles first started ? I had really bad pain for a full 6 weeks but then gradually went although I still have some numbness that doesnt bother me. I didn’t take Gabapentin so can’t help with symptoms of that. Hope you can get some sleep and wishing you a speedy recovery, take care ?

valeriej43 Sun 18-Feb-18 11:37:04

Thank you Brook, i have not taken Garbapentin since, just paracetamol and Ibuprofen,
Not as bad this morning although i was woken up at 4-30 by the cat walking over my face lol
I think the pain under my rib is due to constipation, i have taken something for that so hopefully that will ease, my upper stomach felt bloated thats why i think im bunged up, anyway it has eased plus wind pains,
Back is still aching but blisters are not bothering me much, although still using the virasoothe,
So hopefully wont last too long
Still taking ABs too for kidneys,