Shingles & meds for treatment

Alohagirl · Post by **Alohagirl** » Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:35 pm

Aloha - I have a rash unlike any I have had & will contact PCP to see if it is shingles. It is on my lower back & on the front by lower panty line. It does not itch nor hurt It is not raised just blotchy red. In case it is shingles, are people with LC MC able to take the meds that treat shingles? I read here that people take the vaccination but I do not know if they take the meds when having an outbreak. Thanks in advance for your input!

Post by **tex** » Sat Apr 16, 2016 4:25 pm

Several members here have posted about going through a shingles treatment. Everything I read and hear about shingles suggests that it is intolerably painful. A month or so ago I went to see my doctor about a red blotch behind my right knee. I thought it might be a fungal infection, because I've had those in the past. But normally those are very itchy. This one has no symptoms, other than being a red blotch. He immediately wanted to inspect my back, because his first thought was "shingles". But my back is clear. Even so, he still thought it was shingles because I also had a few red bumps on my belly due to a mast cell reaction. I don't see how it could be shingles though when it is completely painless, itchless, and everything elseless.

I tried some common anti-fungal creams on it for several weeks, but they made no difference. It's still there. He told me to come back if that didn't work, but I'm pretty sure that if I do he will want me to go through a shingles treatment.

So I'm just watching and waiting for it to go away.

But I doubt that will happen. I'm wondering if it could be psoriasis, but it's not scaly, either.

If you actually have shingles, I'm guessing that by now you would be begging your doctor for the treatment (regardless of the consequences). There really isn't much choice because of the severity of the symptoms, in most cases. So I reckon what I'm trying to say is that I really don't have any advice. Hopefully someone else will have some more useful insight into your situation and your options.

Tex

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat Apr 16, 2016 4:41 pm

I havent had it, but it is viral overload on the body, if you want to look at 'natural' remedies then there are some good options, MC safe, that can help the body fight the viral overload

http://www.drwhitaker.com/treating-shingles-naturally/

http://www.about-olive-leaf-extract.com ... irals.html

Alohagirl · Post by **Alohagirl** » Sat Apr 16, 2016 5:56 pm

Thanks to both of you for your quick replies. I now feel much more prepared to deal with this whether or not it is shingles. Sounds like it is not luckily. I stopped taking all of my supplements for 2 days in order to have blood work for various tests ordered by the naturopath. I thought I'd experiment and see how I did with just a few supplements - probiotic, magnesium, B & D this week. One I stopped was used to manage histamines. I stopped taking it for almost a week but just decided I'd better get back on it. Thanks again!

DJ · Post by DJ » Sun Apr 17, 2016 5:26 am

About two years ago, after completing several months of Entocort, I had a mild case of shingles on my neck. It was mildly itchy or mildly painful if I touched it and it was gone in two weeks. I felt like I dodged a bullet. Shingles can be so painful.

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:36 am

A funny thing:

If I were to translate the word we use in Norwegian for "shingles" ("helvetesild"), it would be "hell's fire".

Very descriptive, I would say

Lilja

Post by **tex** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 12:47 pm

That's a perfect description. Why someone ever decided to call it "shingles" is beyond me, but I'm sure they had a reason.

Tex

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:59 am

I just found this thread, because I think I may have shingles. My husband was diagnosed yesterday with it. We were told that it is not contagious. I have had pain in my thigh, which I thought was muscle from working out. Then the pain went to my back around the bra area and down into my hip. I had that for a few days. Saw my husband yesterday with the classic shingle rash around his mid-section and sent him off to the doctor. Meanwhile, my pain got a bit worse and last night noticed a rash on my upper thigh. I read that it's rare to get shingles in the lower extremities. Leave it to me. So, I am going in to see my doctor this morning.

I would love to take something natural, and know this will probably have a big effect on me, but I saw what my mother went through with shingles and don't want to take a chance. She had had open heart surgery about a year prior to getting the shingles and said the shingles was far more painful and had to be hospitalized. I also had a friend that suffered for a year from it. Of course, because I am on Imuran I couldn't get the vaccine.

I do have an appointment with my acupuncturist tomorrow and hoping she will still take me. That may help.

Just thought I'd share this wonderful information. LOL

Nancy

Lou Ann · Post by **Lou Ann** » Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:09 pm

Hells fire is a great name for it!! I had it last September on my back. I had excruciating muscle pain in that area before the rash came out...I don't know if you've ever had a bad cold sore on your lips, but it has the same feeling at first, then I got the nerve pain...shooting like electricity.....it was awful. Like Tex said , you'll know you have it....and you will want drugs. I was given Valtrex, gabepentin, and cream....it lasted about 6 weeks total. Insurance won't cover it until age 60....I'm 51 so It never even crossed my mind to look into it, but if I would've known how painful it was going to be I would have paid out-of-pocket for it if it would have lessened my symptoms. I hope yours is just a rash!
Lou Ann

sunny · Post by **sunny** » Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:13 pm

What did you gals learn about those rashes? When my hubbie had shingles, he thought he'd been stung by a swarm of bees....he was mowing the lawn when it hit....his symptoms drove him to ER immediately....and he rarely goes to the doctor or complains of anything! So I knew this was serious....the meds helped but he was uncomfortable for 6-8 weeks. The rash was on his neck and shoulders only.
Sunny

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:10 pm

My husband is on Valacyclovir (antiviral) and Methylprednisolone and is fine. He has a big rash from his back around to the front. It's not bothering him at all. He is carrying on like nothing happened. Let's hope it continues.

Now for me, my doctor did dx the rash as shingles and I too have had a lot of muscle pain. She put me on the same antiviral drug, but not the other because I am on Imuran. She said that if it spreads to other parts of my body to go to the ER and they will give me meds through an IV. I also went to the health food store and got a homeopathic topical cream which is very soothing. I can't say the rash is painful and it has spread a little on my leg since yesterday.

I thought my appointment with the acupuncturist was today, but it's tomorrow. I called to see if she would still take me and she said absolutely. So, hopefully, she'll be able to help too.

I am usually very active, never take naps, but for the last three weeks I have been very tired and just not myself. I think I may have had a virus overload (not sure if that is a real clinical term) and this is how it popped out.

If there is anything you can do to prevent this, please do it. It is not fun.
Nancy

TXBrenda · Post by **TXBrenda** » Wed Aug 09, 2017 9:23 pm

Since I turned 60 this year, my PCP wrote me a prescription for the shingles vaccine when I saw him on Monday for my yearly. When I went to get the shot, the pharmacy was out but they ordered it. Hopefully it will arrive Friday.

My mom had them several years ago. Her rash was on her face near her eyes. Thankfully it did not have any affect on her vision.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:10 am

nancy
I put some links and info in the reply to Aloha

repasted to help

but it is viral overload on the body, if you want to look at 'natural' remedies then there are some good options, MC safe, that can help the body fight the viral overload

http://www.drwhitaker.com/treating-shingles-naturally/

http://www.about-olive-leaf-extract.com ... irals.html

hope the acupuncturist was able to help
healing hugs
xoxo

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 4:10 pm

Thank you Gabes. The acupuncturist had me pick up L-Lysine, which I took today. 2,000 IU's in divided doses. The rash is not painful, but other areas of my body are very painful. And, the areas come and go, like move around.

My husband's are looking great, drying up and fading. He had no pain, probably because of the steroids he is on. I will see how I am tomorrow and decide whether to call me doctor back or not. It will be day 4 of the rash and 7 days with just the pain.

Nancy

Lou Ann · Post by **Lou Ann** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:29 am

It's funny...as soon as I even feel the twinge of a cold sore I run for my L-Lyisne and B vitamins and it works like a charm. It never crossed my mind to try it with the shingles....I think I was in so much pain I was just desperate for quick relief.....I wish I would have tried it.... I hope you have great success with it and don't need any other meds.

Lou Ann

MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

Shingles & meds for treatment

Shingles & meds for treatment

Shingles & Meds for Treatment