Anything else?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hiya .I've looked at this forum the past week and it's been very helpful .You're all so kind.The title of my post relates to the fact that I was taken to hospital just after Christmas with an exacerbation of COPD.I didn't die,as you can see,but I believe it was pretty close.Spent 2 weeks in and was sent home with nenbulizer and nurses every day assessing my ability to be at home.I was doing OK then started to get what I thought was muscle pain between my ribs.Then definite pain on my skin.Shingles from my spine all the way round to the spot between my boobs.Luckily my doc came out same day and prescribed aciclovir.That stopped the rash from blistering which was a great help,as I couldn't reach to put dressings on to keep it clean.I can honestly say I have never sworn so much in my life as I have with this .I hate this virus with a vengeance.Doc gave me painkillers when I asked too.Tramadol.Made me painfully constipated(silly me),but in desperation and pain one day i looked up to the skies and said "Anything Else?".(I presume you've all seen the film).Indeed there was.Trying not to put all my weight on the side where the shingles is ,I must have put a strain on my back and I now have lumbago on the opposite side ,which is so bad I can't walk.Yet.I've been trying to rest it ,but it's a trial.Into week 3of the shingles now and It's beginning to itch a bit where it started.Any tips on what to use please,cos when I touch my skin,it's still painful in a burny sort of way.Thanks in advance..--- beth
1 like, 8 replies
Srini beth97678
Posted
Hi Beth
So sorry to hear what is happening to you. I empathise fully!!! I'm currently going thru it on my face and in my eye. I was in hospital and had to undergo MRI to rule out meningitis. It's 4th week and the itching has driven me up the wall!! Crawling under the skin and electric like shocks! On my face, eyelid, eyebrow, scalp!! The only thing that is giving me any respite are cold gel packs. I ordered some on amazon prime, freeze them and use in turns wrapped in a dish cloth. I've heard calamine lotion can be tried but if I apply and use the packs pressing on my eye and scalp, I can get it into my eye so I don't use but probably you can. Also try lidocaine patches, my pain consultant advocates but for me unfortunately due to the location it's tricky. Get your doctor to prescribe it for you. Apart from these measures if the discomfort is too much, see your doctor for Amitriptyline (antidepressant) + Gabapentin or carbamezipine (anticonvulsants). I'm on both and increasing every 4-5 days, not sure how much it is helping but it is important to not allow it to escalate otherwise it can turn into postherpetic neuralgia for months or years! Do not take opioids (codeine, tramadol etc) as I have read they can increase post herpetic itch. Unfortunately no pain relief works for this dreaded disease. I have a very high pain threshold but have been reduced to tears! But hold in there I'm sure this too shall pass and we will come out the other end. My disadvantage is the trigeminal nerve that is involved causes more problems but the natural course of that on torso, as in your case, should heal quicker - fingers crossed. Take some Vit C and B12 or Bcomplex. Good luck. Take care
beth97678 Srini
Posted
Oh,Srini,I can't imagine having this on my face and in my eye.That' s got to be SO painful.My heart goes out to you.My daughter has trigeminal neuuralgia after chickenpox i think.We never did work it out,Started at the dentist and he diagnosed it really.I've never seen anyone in such pain,but it's controlled by carbemazepine(tegretol) and Gabapentin.My doc said to take some of her gabapentin and,apart from the wooziness that I'd not experienced since the swingin sixties,it works very well.I may just try some of her tegretol too.If I'm brave enough.I don't like taing too many pills ,but with shingles----well,you know.The Lidocaine patches sound good(Why don't docs just give you these things when they see you?) I 'll ask the GP .And I can get the vits: from the supermarket online-All my shopping is done online at the mo.I can't move out of my lounge,even to go to my bed upstairs.But that's the least of my probs.At least I have lovely views through the windows and a package of care from social services which means I can pay people to come in and help me with cleaning and laundry etc:They've been very good to me.(My daughter's disabled and I've never asked for any help in the past-she's 26 now,so perhaps they reckon they can give me some help now in this way).Whatever the reason,|I appreciate any help offered-which is difficult for me sometimes,as I've always been the fixer and the" doer" for my family.That's 2 things I've learned really-never turn down the offer of help and appreciate every day-even if it rains. :-)
X Beth
davideastchurch beth97678
Posted
Hello Beth,
You really have have been in the wars!
Whilst there are undoubtedly medications that you can use to help the itch, I made my own application using a recipe I found on the net:
HOMEMADE ECZEMA CREAM/SKIN MOISTURIZER
Items needed:
1/4 cup of oats
3/4 cup of coconut oil
Few drops of rosemary oil {optional}
1 tbsp of olive oil
Recipe:
1. Finely grind the oats to a powder/flour consistency and set aside. {You can use a blender, food processor or a Magic Bullet type of appliance.}
2. Over a low heat, melt the coconut oil in a pan until it has a liquid consistency.
3. Add in a few drops of Rosemary Oil. {If you are adding it.}
4. Add ground oats in the pan and mix until well blended.
5. Now, pour the olive oil into the mixture until blended.
{This is what it will look like once all items are added…}
6. Once all ingredients are mixed, remove from heat and pour in to a small storage container. {It filled up 1 1/2 baby food jars.} Let it harden for several hours.
Now that your recipe is complete… Apply to hands and skin as needed and feel the magic at work! 😉 This recipe lasts for a long period of time so enjoy!
-----
WHY OATS? Oatmeal contains healthy fats. When they come into contact with your skin, these fats help to add moisture to soften and repair your skin.
WHY COCONUT OIL? Coconut oil works wonders as a moisturizer for all skin types, especially dry skin and aging skin, leaving you refreshed and looking wide-awake. The fat in the oil helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles without any irritation.
WHY OLIVE OIL? It is a great skin moisturizer, in part because it contains linoleic acid, a compound not made by the body, but which prevents water from evaporating.
WHY ROSEMARY OIL? Rosemary essential helps in toning your skin and removing dryness.
I actually used lavender oil as I had it already - it does much the same job. And I found the cream really helped.
If it's simply too painful to apply a cream (and it really does go on easily because it melts with the heat of your fingers) try an oatmeal bath. Just put oats in a muslin bag (or anything that will contain them) under the hot tap as you run the bath. Just don't have the bath too hot as your rash is probably very sensitive to heat.
Hope you get some relief!
David
beth97678 davideastchurch
Posted
Thank you David.I already have 2 out of the 4 ingredients so I'll try and persuade someone to make this up for me.At the moment,I can't move out of my chair without some help.I'm really fortunate that I'm not one of those people who have to get up in the middle of the night to use the loo.If I was,I'd need an overnight sitter for a few weeks and I'd probably be broke,LOL I can reach the front of my chest to put cream on,but the side and back is just that little bit too high for me to reach.I'll have to ask again....It sounds really soothing.
X Beth
Merry19451 beth97678
Posted
Hi Beth,
My heart goes out to you. Struggling with COPD and Herpes Zoster Shingles is quite difficult... For itching, David's potion is wonderful as I have used it on my eczema and allergies to many medication rashes. Another possibility that may help is Solarcaine with Aloe. It contains the following ingredients: Aloe which is soothing to the skin and either lidocaine or benzocaine in a high concentration. Place in refrigerator for the cooling effect to promote vasoconstriction and decrease the itching and burning.
I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States and have had Herpes Zoster Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past twentyone years and twice in my right eye twice.
Best Regards
Merry Juliana
beth97678 Merry19451
Posted
Oh,thank you Merry.It has been difficult,as the shingles also feels like a tight band around my chest which is restricting my breathing.Quite frightening at times.I'll ask one of my friends to try and get David's potion together-I've not been able to get out of my chair atm and it takes me 20 mins or so to transfer to a commode next to me.Solarcaine I remember from the 70's when i bought some for sunburn relief-wonderful stuff.Ididn't think they still made it :-)
X Beth
Goodwater_Betty beth97678
Posted
I had a triamcinoclone 0.1% cream which helped some. My major aggravation wasn't so much from the itching but from the sharp, stabbing pain which was agonizing. If you are in week three, you SHOULD be approaching the downside of the worst part of this. I'm a little over six months since I began my bout with shingles and have been virtually pain free for over four months. However, I do have a place about the size of a silver dollar on the palm of my hand which is still sensitive and this extends up my thumb. It's so minor that I usually don't mention it, but I regard it as a little reminder of what I went through, kind of like a battle scar.
beth97678 Goodwater_Betty
Posted
Oooh,thank you Goodwater Betty,I'll try everything I can that people recommend,as I still have all the stages of shingles.Where it started round my spine ,the rash is fading and it's mainly burning now.Under my arm and bust (including all my boob,to the middle of my chest,I'm still getting the stabbing pains as it travelled to there last.My chest and back go into spasm sometimes which is weird,painful and frightening too.The lumbago seems to be receding,probably because I've hardly moved and rest is the best remedy for lower back pulled muscles.I'm told.I'm really glad about that,as it means that today,I could stand to swivel round to the commode and I could pull my own pants up.That means a lot.LOLI'm glad yours has reduced a lot,though I suspect the experience is etched on your memory forever.
X Beth