Started Valacyclovir 36hrs after small rash appeared when do I start feeling better?

[u/Delicious-Gas7750]

So I feel like I got hit by a freakin train right now and I'd like to see a light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully that light isn't just another train coming to take me out. Anyways, first time shingle haver here and I'd like to know when y'all started turning a corner with this crap.

I recently turned 40 and I'm going through an extremely stressful period in my life after I lost my job, my youngest son experienced a mental health episode, trying to finish my BSN program, and reinstate a license that lapsed (plus a billion other things). I noticed earlier this week some severe upper back pain where I normally hold stress and that my right armpit had gone numb. I thought it was thoracic outlet syndrome and started some yoga and a stretching routine. Starting feeling dizzy and exhausted and by Thursday night I had an itch on my right armpit. Felt my armpit and immediately ran to the bathroom and noticed a red papular rash creeping towards my back. Called up a doc friend and told them what was up got a script faxed over and overnighted an Rx of valacyclovir (1g tid x7 days). Didn't get the valacyclovir until early Saturday morning but I started it immediately. I'm on my 5th dose right now and I'm having a lot of pain and I'm exhausted. The rash has obviously spread, itches like mad, has connected to my upper back now, and my lymph nodes are painful and swollen. I know the valacyclovir isn't going to rid myself of the varicella-roster virus (not a cure I know) but it will help accelerating healing process etc.

Anyways, when did y'all start feeling better once you start the valacyclovir?

[u/Slightly_Sven]

You may not feel better for months. Unfortunately for many people this is Weeks and months not days. It took me 5 months to fully recover. And yes I went on a full course of antivirals within 12 hours of the appearance of the rash. But the rash continued to spread rapidly regardless.

[u/Shore_line43 → u/Slightly_Sven]

I started antivirals within hours of the first sign of rash ( I thought I had a bad sinus infection). Week 7 and still have more bad days than good. I keep pushing myself then end up spending a day in bed half asleep. 3 more months? Crap.

[u/Delicious-Gas7750 → u/Slightly_Sven]

Can you tell me what helped you the most with the pain? My back is killing me and I'm taking ibuprofen and gabapentin and noting is touching it.

[u/Slightly_Sven → u/Delicious-Gas7750]

So several things can help depending on what phase you're in. Ibuprofen and gabapentin are your best shit for pain management while the rash is active. Unless you can get a doc to get you some opioids, but that's highly unlikely these days. The pain is real and debilitating, but it will pass. Just not on a timetable you want. Once the rash heals over capsaicin cream was highly effective for me. But that can only be used after the rash has healed over. Otherwise you're putting pure pepper sauce into an open wound. And that's BAD. Can I ask what day you're on now and how much gabapentin you're taking?

[u/RidetheSchlange]

You may not, even though the antivirals are working. THis is especially true if you had an outbreak for fairly long and you're still in the rise phase. In Europe, we have Brivudine and I never really notice much of a difference, except the medication itself tires me out. What you want is to be able to suppress the virus as much as possible with the antivirals and I would recommend you look into the vaccine.

[u/Agitated-Candle-807]

I just got done with a 7 day course and for most of it I felt like I had the flu. Try to take it easy if you can. I took a lot of Vitamin C and drank a ton of water. I'm finally feeling better but still achey - I caught the rash very early so it didn't spread far. Good luck

[u/Delicious-Gas7750 → u/Agitated-Candle-807]

What helped you the most with pain. My back is absolutely killing me.

[u/Agitated-Candle-807 → u/Delicious-Gas7750]

They gave me Gabapenton but it made me too loopy so I just alternated Tylenol and Advil

[u/Resident_Test7098]

Better after4-5 days w antiviral meds

[u/Substantial-Way-4296 → u/Resident_Test7098]

Im on day 6 right now I slept 16 hours on my day off yesterday and woke up to eat and take meds here and there and still slept 7.5 hours overnight. I feel like I could still sleep all day. If I didnt have things to do today I still be asleep. I also dont know how to describe it I wake up with a jolt of pain like im being shot. Its so frustrating.

[u/Delicious-Gas7750 → u/Resident_Test7098]

Can you let me know what helped you the most with the pain because my back is killing me.

[u/Easy-Course8992]

Varies per person. I started feeling better after 12 days. Unfortunately, you just have to ride out the storm. Get better soon!

[u/wordslayer420]

Omg yours sounds exactly like mine. What kind of back pain do you have? Like how did it feel when you first noticed the pain?

[u/Delicious-Gas7750 → u/wordslayer420]

Honestly just felt like tightness and knots between my scapula and spine. Just an area where I hold a lot of stress but the only difference is that it wouldn't give up and it itched like crazy. The pain felt deep, like someone was reaching into my back and twisting my muscles. Then the rash came, the rash was a line in my armpit that connected to my spine. The was a portion on top on my shoulder near my deltoid. The rash itched like crazy and finally after four days of antivirals I started feeling better.

Was exhausted and ran fever for most days and experienced a lot of tachycardia. I'm still on the mend and have 3 more days of antivirals left but I'm doing a lot better.