Shingles

I am not yet a year post-shingles, so I can’t have the regular vaccination available in the U.K. I’ve been trying to access the new Shingrix vaccine, which is not a live vaccine and can be given as soon as the rash has gone. However, it appears that there is a worldwide shortage.

I had shingles 2 year ago,it was not very pleasant, but the best thing i found to soothe the itch was virasoothe as mentioned earlier, it is mainly for use for children with chickenpox. but good for shingles
You can buy a gel or spray,i found the spray better as you don't have to touch the rash
The pain was bad,all round one side,and my side was numb for months after, but i am very annoyed that i could have had the vaccination,i didn't even know there was one
The pain was like kidney pain,more than anything it made me feel very tired
I did get antivirals just in time which has to be no longer than 72 hours after the rash comes out

In my experience the itch of shingles is the least of your worries, I was extremely ill for a long time as the pain was excruciating.

Worth paying for the vaccination (about £160) if you are not eligible because shingles can leave you never really well again. As carer for DH I can’t afford to be ill and it seemed an appropriate use of attendance allowance.

We live in Canada and the vaccination is available at age 50. She has been advised by her dr. to get the vaccination a year after her symptoms disappear,apparently this will ward off a future attack.

Shingles is horrid so your daughter has my sympathy.

I have had it twice and have now had the vaccine which is only available for certain age groups from the NHS. I paid for mine at a pharmacy.

I’ve remembered that my GP prescribed lidocaine, which turned out to be cream for vagina itch, and is available on the shelves in big pharmacies.

I was prescribed Emla cream which contains lidocaine, it did give some relief from the itching and I believe you can now buy it over the counter ( for pre tattoo numbing ) hope it helps
?

a neighbour of mine had such severe pain from shingles, for months later that she was prescribed gabapentin for the nerve damage, but the pain persisted, may have been slightly less sharp than without. that was 5 yrs ago.
her health never really picked up, but she had underlying rheumatology disease, and is now bed-bound, having suffered 2 severe infections this year, including NF with large surgical excision and skin grafts.
I believe there is a vaccine against shingles, but usually only given to over 70s.
there is some connection to chicken pox, and I was interested to read that rarely some severe childhood cases of chicken pox can lead to NF.

I’ve just stopped taking amitriptyline after 5 months. It really helps but made me a bit sleepy, which in itself is a blessing when you are coping with the itch. Shingles is horrible. I had it on my face and scalp. I found Aloe Vera gel soothing (kept it in fridge) and I got an Aloe Vera shampoo. I used my grandchildren’s soap as it is ph neutral.

My GP gave me amitriptyline - it was the only thing that worked for me!

Thank you everyone. The witch hazel was a big help, thanks to Grandmajan. No anti virals as her diagnosis came too late to be of any use.

Acyclovir Daddima - sudden flash of memory!

Anti-virals are a must. I was given amitriptyline together with an anti-viral. The antidepressant was to deaden the nerves to help reduce the itching and it worked. I only had a minor bout as things go but the pain was something else.

Hope she gets better soon

Maw was it Zovirax? A friend ( a doctor) gave me some when I had it many moons ago, and my own GP said he wouldn’t have prescribed it, as the rash was already out, so it was too late. Amytriptyline was the only think which touched the pain.

Chamomile oil, witch hazel and cold compresses are recommended. Witch Hazel is probably the most effective. It’s a horrible virus. I presume your daughter is taking anti virals now which will hopefully shorten the length of time she has to suffer

Flippin Eck
Poxclin

Also Pox lib.
As she has just been diagnosed I hope she has also been put on anti-virals. Can’t remember the name, but they were BIG!

Virasooth, normally used for chicken pox

I used ìt on both occasions when I suffered from shingles.
DD also used it when her sons were suffering from chicken pox

I hate calamine lotion as it is very drying.

I think my friend took Piriton .