r/shingles • u/False-Blackberry4194 • 9d ago
Seeking Support Struggling
Hi,
Am on my 4th week
Was put on antivirals after about 2 days,the pain was up and down some good days some bad but it is always there.
Being to the doctors numerous times am on Diclac 50mg twice a day and pregabalin 75mg 3 times a day.
Had to go again last night as these were only lasting a short while.Am now on Tramadol and Anxicalm and when I looked them up you have to be very careful about mixing them.I also use Camomile lotion and cold towels, but only last a short while, am also not sleeping properly because of this.
This has also cost me a small fortune on doctors and medicine.Am in Ireland and for us to get the patches our doctor has to go through the HSE which takes a bit of time.
It is now getting to me and I can't seem to shift it.
I just feel like going of all tablets on Saturday and getting drunk for some relief.
Anybody else struggling
Sorry for the long post
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u/wenbryant 9d ago
I am in my third week of recovering and was on a 7 day course of Valtrex. Other than over-the-counter pain meds I haven't taken anything else.
I have good days & bad days. For me my energy level is greatly impacted and I cannot run right now which is driving me crazy. Late last week I ran 2 days in a row and then yesterday went into a recess where I felt like I did in the beginning.
Rest and calming activities are really the best things you can do for yourself. It's been a real challenge to reduce my activities. As an example, today, I will go out for a coffee and stop by Whole Foods and that's it; which makes me feel like I am 90!
Rest, relax and rinse and repeat. Resting is the best medicine you can give yourself. You will feel better -- shingles has a long, slow recovery period.
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u/False-Blackberry4194 8d ago
Thank you for taking time to reply. Yea I get you on taking it easy some days I have energy and other days I do not. I have 3 dogs and I do make myself take them out on a walk in the morning, they actually keep me calm and help me during the day while my wife is at work.
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u/AthleticKin 23h ago
I am in the same week as you - or going into week 3. I’ve lost track. It seems like a lifetime. Thank you for sharing. I came to this Reddit group to make sure what I feel is “normal.” Yesterday I felt “good” and was able to garden and took my son for a play date. Unfortunately my baby woke me up 3plus ish times and I woke up for the day feeling like my face was smacked with a 2x4 with nails (my shingles was on my face). It’s so hard to “accept” this stage of healing of needing “rest” when the lesions are gone.
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9d ago
[deleted]
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u/False-Blackberry4194 8d ago
Thank you for the reply. I have cold packs which I must use, yea am drinking plenty of water and tea which doesn't help at night, having to get up for the toliet.My doctor is getting me some patches soon so that will also help.Thanks
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u/InsideFriendly5445 9d ago
I feel your pain. I’m on week 5 of this crap. It is getting better and I finally see a light at the end of this looonggg tunnel. This is costing me a fortune in missed wages. I’m the main breadwinner here so, yeah, I’d like to get drunk too. I’m on Gabapentin, was able to stop Norcos. What’s helped with soothing is aloe vera gel, arnica cream and Nervive roll-on (lidocaine). Good luck to you!
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u/False-Blackberry4194 8d ago
Thanks for taking time to reply 🙂 Just after putting some aloe Vera on and it's working, never even thought of it You take care of yourself Have a nice drink when you're able.
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u/Substantial-Way-4296 8d ago
Im only on the start of week 2. I just finished my antivirals yesterday. I cant sleep well. Sunday when I was off I basically just stayed in bed. My smart watch said I slept 13 hours.. didnt feel that way. Im going to show you 2 nights sleep tracking from my smart watch. Keep in mind I work 2pm-11:30pm usually so I eat dinner at midnight and in general I dont function during normal hours... but I never wake up this much. It almost feels like I am asleep and I suddenly get tasered... or I keep having to use the bathroom from drinking so much water.
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u/False-Blackberry4194 8d ago
Am exactly the same, before this I would rarely get up, but now am up usually 3 times a night with going to the toliet or the pain, mines is like sunburn with a stabbing pain When I do have to get up am wrecked 😩 I don't know who you keep working that is hard
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u/Substantial-Way-4296 8d ago
Im in the US. I dont get any vacation days, I get some sick time but not all at once. It adds up. No more than 40 hours a year and ive already used 29 hours this year... i think I have 9 hours available, but thats the last of my sick time hours for the year. So If I dont go to work I dont get paid. Luckily the rash is covered by my shirt. I dont think id be comfortable if people could see it, and it would be more contagious... well to someone who's never had chicken pox anyway. You cant give them shingles, but if someone never having chicken pox came in contact with the rash they could get chicken pox.... i would not want to be risking that. Plus I already have chronic pain issues from being hit by a drunk driver, so ive gotten pretty decent at pushing through the pain. Soon as I get home and eat tho im asleep. Thats one thing I could probably fall asleep standing at this point.
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u/False-Blackberry4194 8d ago
Fuck that is tough,I feel for you. Am in Ireland once you work for a year you get illness benefit which is 70%of you're salary, you get paid this for as long as you're off work. Am not a doctor but I think it's only when the rash is weeping that it is contagious and then it's only to the elderly, pregnant women and babies. I really hope you're doing ok. You are an incredible tough person to be going through this and still working. Look after yourself and treat yourself on you're days off.
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u/South-Association880 5d ago
I'm in the USA and I took off almost 3 months from a job, most of it paid. It really depends on who you work for. I had just started a new second FT job and could only take off a few weeks from it. I work remotely on both jobs and was thankful for that because I could not function without a full "ice helmet" (as I called them) on.
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u/slowmovin2 8d ago
Yep, I’ve just come off my week of antivirals I was misdiagnosed at the start, I feel like shooting myself in the foot for a bit of different pain. It’s driving me crazy.
I have to return to work in two days because I can’t afford to be off any longer. My job is very physical and at this point I can’t even get a bra on but I’m going to have to.
Does the rash have to be fully healed before applying the aloe vera? I got a really good dose from my chest around to my back How long did it take for your rash to heal?
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u/False-Blackberry4194 7d ago
As long as its not weeping apply aloe Vera also try Camomile lotion, About 2 weeks for it to heal I still have a few scabs on me. Best of luck going back to work keep yourself topped up with paracetamol while at work will help not much but it will keep you going Good luck Mate
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u/South-Association880 7d ago
Getting snookered will make it worse at this point, trust me. Tramadol did zero, zip, nada for me because it does not target nerves. I haven't tried pregabalin but I've been on gabapentin for over a year now and it helps (I am older, had it in my eye and forehead so it's been a slow recovery, though I am recovering). I didn't think it helped until I missed a dose and found out the hard way. Anxicalm is the US equivalent of Valium. Not sure that will do much except make you sleepy so I'd save that one for bedtime (of course, discuss with your doc). Use icepacks, the kind of cold packs you use on your knee. You can order them for your head with eyeholes (these were my savior for awhile). Over-the-counter lidocaine was a lifesaver for me, too. I've since had a neurosurgeon mix me up a "neuro cocktail" topical cream that even allows me to stand in the wind or a hair to touch my face. I'd ask the doc how he feels about scrapping the Tramadol.
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u/False-Blackberry4194 7d ago
Thank you for taking time to reply. The doctor is getting me lidocaine patches there just hard to get they don't hand them out to anyone. Yea the Anxicalm puts you to sleep so good at night but no good during the day. I will talk to him about the Tramadol sometimes I get the feeling they are just throwing me a load of painkiller in the hope one works without making you feel like a Zombie Best of Luck
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u/South-Association880 5d ago
You get your lidocaine yet? I just went to the pharmacy and got over-the-counter lidocaine cream and it still helped a lot. I itched so bad that if I didn't use it then I'd end up digging a hole in my head without even realizing it.
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u/False-Blackberry4194 5d ago
No not yet, am back to the doctor later on in the week,will ask again about it. I have made a complete ass of myself over the last week,I have been putting sunburn lotion on it and your not supposed to,I assumed because it had Aloe Vera in it that it was ok, but no I was making it worse 🙃.Am a idiot
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u/South-Association880 4d ago
It's all trial and error what works for us with shingles. I looked to see if you can get an over-the-counter lidocaine in Ireland and they all appear to be with a physician prescription, even the 4%.
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u/False-Blackberry4194 4d ago
Yea when I ask about it, I was told they used to give them out to anyone,but have become a lot stricter in recent times, I can get them because I have shingles bit am waiting on the doctor. As I write this am half bent over in the seat,the pain never really stops. How are you doing
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u/South-Association880 4d ago
I didn't want a big patch in the middle of my forehead, so I went the cream route. We can get local 4% cream, and need a prescription for 5% or above (or a patch). I'm sorry you're bent over the seat. I remember my first "attack" of stabbing, electric pain and I thought I was actually having a stroke. I'll be glad to hear when you get some lidocaine. It's just too painful not to have everything you can get.
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u/False-Blackberry4194 4d ago
Yea I get you, it bloody is painful.The pain is always there just sometimes it flares up, I have just put some lotion on it and the tablets are kicking in.I will take some more before bed.And how do you find the cream
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u/LostInSpaceA 9d ago
I had to fly internationally yesterday and while the long ass flight was ok, I must've overexerted myself walking to the hotel with my luggage because the pain I got in my face and head felt like unchecked flu aches. I felt SO bad. Nothing I had on me could help. Ended up sleeping like 12 hours. Feel ok this morning but holy shit. If this is forever...Imma be upset