Hi,
I unfortunately am having a bout with shingles....praying my only bout....wow, when people say it's painful believe them! Wondering if anyone on here has experienced it have tried mag lotion on the blisters, or would that just be crazy to even try because of the potential burning problem....any. Input would be greatly appreciated. Not sure why I even got them, thought I was doing everything right as far as diet exercise and supplements.....oh well, this to shall pass! ( hopefully sooner than later)
Shingles
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Hi Lou Ann,
I am so sorry to hear you are experiencing this. I remember my grandfather having shingles and the pain he was in (and he was very "tough")! While I can't offer you any advice, I know you're not alone in this as most of us have the virus in us and our immune systems are definitely struggling (which is why so many of us have other auto-immune / multiple health issues) too. Surely more experienced veterans will have more detailed advice for you; I just wanted to write and offer support, and my thought would be to perhaps increase the supplements and stick with the foods that help boost your immune system and promote healing.
Hoping this will pass quickly
~ Holly
I am so sorry to hear you are experiencing this. I remember my grandfather having shingles and the pain he was in (and he was very "tough")! While I can't offer you any advice, I know you're not alone in this as most of us have the virus in us and our immune systems are definitely struggling (which is why so many of us have other auto-immune / multiple health issues) too. Surely more experienced veterans will have more detailed advice for you; I just wanted to write and offer support, and my thought would be to perhaps increase the supplements and stick with the foods that help boost your immune system and promote healing.
Hoping this will pass quickly
~ Holly
2015 Hashimoto's, MTHFR
2016 LMC, Malabsorption
2017 Lymphocytic Dermatologic Vasculitis
"I strive to live in my heart, not in my head!"
2016 LMC, Malabsorption
2017 Lymphocytic Dermatologic Vasculitis
"I strive to live in my heart, not in my head!"
Lou Ann,
I'm sorry to hear that you're having to deal with shingles. Here's what Dr. Carolyn Dean (the magnesium guru) says about treating shingles:
http://drcarolyndean.com/2011/05/shifting-shingles/
I've often wondered if magnesium deficiency might play a role in the development of shingles. Shingles is attributed to stress, and that implies a mast cell event. Magnesium deficiency is known to cause increased mast cell activity, so presumably magnesium suppresses mast cell activity.
Best of luck with your recovery.
Tex
I'm sorry to hear that you're having to deal with shingles. Here's what Dr. Carolyn Dean (the magnesium guru) says about treating shingles:
http://drcarolyndean.com/2011/05/shifting-shingles/
I've often wondered if magnesium deficiency might play a role in the development of shingles. Shingles is attributed to stress, and that implies a mast cell event. Magnesium deficiency is known to cause increased mast cell activity, so presumably magnesium suppresses mast cell activity.
Best of luck with your recovery.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Brandy,
I am also on valtrex and Gabapentin and a topical cream. It is on my back so I did luck out that it is not on my face or by my eyes. I know that can get very dangerous. I hope your mother is well now and All healed up. I am 50 years old and never expected it, but fro what I read it hits any age.
Tex,
Thank you for that link.
I have been doing a lot of topical mag in the last few months....I thought maybe I was getting enough but I guess not....I just got the re mag today so maybe that will help....I try to oral mag every now and then hoping for the best but 9 times out of 10 it gets me running to the bathroom in no time at all...
I don't see myself as a very stressed person but my body sure says otherwise in many different ways!
Thanks again!
I am also on valtrex and Gabapentin and a topical cream. It is on my back so I did luck out that it is not on my face or by my eyes. I know that can get very dangerous. I hope your mother is well now and All healed up. I am 50 years old and never expected it, but fro what I read it hits any age.
Tex,
Thank you for that link.
I have been doing a lot of topical mag in the last few months....I thought maybe I was getting enough but I guess not....I just got the re mag today so maybe that will help....I try to oral mag every now and then hoping for the best but 9 times out of 10 it gets me running to the bathroom in no time at all...
I don't see myself as a very stressed person but my body sure says otherwise in many different ways!
Thanks again!
Sometimes stress can trump everything, and apparently our body sometimes perceives stress differently than our brain does. And as I posted elsewhere, it appears that some of us have a very low tolerance for oral magnesium. I have no idea whether that's a temporary issue or a permanent problem.
You're very welcome
You're very welcome
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Lou Ann,
So sorry you're struggling. I got shingles and I think it was one of my triggers for developing LC. Definitely related to high stress. I was going 100 miles and hour and my body just couldn't take it anymore. Make sure to get plenty of rest. Did your doctor prescribe an antiviral? I caught it in enough time so didn't suffer for very long but remember the pain vividly. Feel better soon!
So sorry you're struggling. I got shingles and I think it was one of my triggers for developing LC. Definitely related to high stress. I was going 100 miles and hour and my body just couldn't take it anymore. Make sure to get plenty of rest. Did your doctor prescribe an antiviral? I caught it in enough time so didn't suffer for very long but remember the pain vividly. Feel better soon!
Cathy,
My back was in extreme pain for about 4 days before my rash started.....It felt like an extremely tight pulled muscle but nothing I took was relieving the pain so I knew something was up. I got to the doctor very early because putting two and two together with the pain and the rash I figured it was shingles, so I was on the Valtrex on day 2 of the rash. I hope it shortens my experience with this painful condition. All I was given for pain was gabapentin which is for the nerves. I finally talked the doctor into giving me Vicodin because I couldn't sleep and it was in excruciating pain. These doctors these days won't give you a pain pill unless your limbs are falling off LOL… I don't get it. Begging for pain relief it's ridiculous. I hope I have enough to get me thru.....a refill will be out of the question. Sometimes I think doctors should experience things their patients do so they can truly understand.
My back was in extreme pain for about 4 days before my rash started.....It felt like an extremely tight pulled muscle but nothing I took was relieving the pain so I knew something was up. I got to the doctor very early because putting two and two together with the pain and the rash I figured it was shingles, so I was on the Valtrex on day 2 of the rash. I hope it shortens my experience with this painful condition. All I was given for pain was gabapentin which is for the nerves. I finally talked the doctor into giving me Vicodin because I couldn't sleep and it was in excruciating pain. These doctors these days won't give you a pain pill unless your limbs are falling off LOL… I don't get it. Begging for pain relief it's ridiculous. I hope I have enough to get me thru.....a refill will be out of the question. Sometimes I think doctors should experience things their patients do so they can truly understand.
Lou Ann, I am so very sorry you are going through this. I hope it's short-lived and you have no nerve pain after it has cleared up.
I was just asking the other day about taking the shingles vaccine, as I've been told how painful it is to have shingles. With you being 50, they don't even recommend the vaccine at that age. You poor thing!
I think it's great that you got the Valtrex so soon....sorry about the trouble getting something for pain.
Take care,
Terre
I was just asking the other day about taking the shingles vaccine, as I've been told how painful it is to have shingles. With you being 50, they don't even recommend the vaccine at that age. You poor thing!
I think it's great that you got the Valtrex so soon....sorry about the trouble getting something for pain.
Take care,
Terre
I have had 4 minor bouts of shingles in 2 years but only on my face and head. I am always on Valtrex 1000 mg daily as without it I never stop having fever blisters on my lips. So when I feel the tingly feeling start all over my face, I look in the mirror and there are the small blisters forming on my face. I immediately up the dosage to 1000 mg 3 times a day. I have also found that Blstex Lip Medex (comes in a tiny bright blue pot) works great to put on individual outbreaks. I've always used it on fever blisters and I put it all over my face and within a few days, the shingles outbreaks disappear. Although I can feel the tingly feeling all over my body, no blisters ever appear, probably thanks to the Valtrex.
My immune system has been screwed up for years and Valtrex has been a life-saver, as has this Blistex. These new shingles outbreaks are troubling as they are close to my eyes but I am closely monitoring them. None have become huge blisters or painful. Just very itchy.
I talked to my doctor about these repeated outbreaks and he was not surprised, given my screwed up immune system. And because I'm having repeated outbreaks, I read that it is not suggested that I take the shingles vaccine for two years after an outbreak. Is this true??????
My immune system has been screwed up for years and Valtrex has been a life-saver, as has this Blistex. These new shingles outbreaks are troubling as they are close to my eyes but I am closely monitoring them. None have become huge blisters or painful. Just very itchy.
I talked to my doctor about these repeated outbreaks and he was not surprised, given my screwed up immune system. And because I'm having repeated outbreaks, I read that it is not suggested that I take the shingles vaccine for two years after an outbreak. Is this true??????
my mom had internal shingles without a rash only tingling and itching around her back and waist. Once I told her about her magnesium not being absorbed (she took buffered), she switched it to the chelated, nonbuffered and lo and behold the symptoms were gone. She swears by the magnesium. She feels a lot better everywhere else too....
Martha E.
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
gac,
I am so sorry you are dealing with shingles so often… Once was plenty for me! I did not know you could take Valtrex on a regular basis. I am pretty much over my pain, but still have some of the rash left, but now I'm getting cold sores, not sure what's up with my immune system right now. Maybe I will refill my Valtrex and take it for a whole. It's funny that the nurse in the doctors office said they are saying quite an outbreak of shingles and they are not sure what is happening.....very strange. I was also under the impression that you do not have to wait to get a shingles vaccine, that you can get it anytime after an outbreak. It is just that insurance will only cover it after the age of 60… I have a friend That just got one and she paid $200… It's only a once-in-a-lifetime vaccine so I think it would be worth the money in my opinion to get it if It can help lesson or avoid the pain associated with shingles .....no fun! I hope your bouts with it are done!
I am so sorry you are dealing with shingles so often… Once was plenty for me! I did not know you could take Valtrex on a regular basis. I am pretty much over my pain, but still have some of the rash left, but now I'm getting cold sores, not sure what's up with my immune system right now. Maybe I will refill my Valtrex and take it for a whole. It's funny that the nurse in the doctors office said they are saying quite an outbreak of shingles and they are not sure what is happening.....very strange. I was also under the impression that you do not have to wait to get a shingles vaccine, that you can get it anytime after an outbreak. It is just that insurance will only cover it after the age of 60… I have a friend That just got one and she paid $200… It's only a once-in-a-lifetime vaccine so I think it would be worth the money in my opinion to get it if It can help lesson or avoid the pain associated with shingles .....no fun! I hope your bouts with it are done!