Posted , 4 users are following.
been taking acyclovir tablets and i now have such a dry mouth and white tongue which not had before when taking these pills. is this normal?? i drink bottled water and ive been ok but someone bought me mineral water instead of still water is there a difference? would that cause dry mouth and white tongue?? im so tired too. i cant be dehydrated as ive had alot of water with each tablet i take!???
0 likes, 13 replies
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cindi22524 ruth12256
Posted
shingles is HORRIBLE! Everyones experience is different it seems. I'm convinced that not too many doctors know how to treat it. I had the Shingles on my right side of face, hard to hide! It went from my edge of nose down towards my chin. I got to doctor BEFORE a breakout occurred . I was having a bad headache and pain on right side of my face, I knew something was wrong. I was diagnosed with sinus infection and they sent me home with an antibiotic.
The next morning I woke up with a horrible rash on my right side of face, scary looking. I immediately went back to Urgent CARE. I was then diagnosed with Shingles and sent home with anti-Viral. 3 weeks later I WAS still on anti-viral. I don't think it did any good and I caught this Shingles extremely early. I was in so much pain after the rash was long gone that I went back to ER and the doctor was appauled that previous doctors didn't prescribe a pain pill for the horrible pain. The itching was unbearable too. The best advice I got from my facial lady (not a Doctor) was "to quit itching it". I somehow did this and within a few days the itch was almost gone.
Its been 5 months and I still have pain in my nerves in face where shingles occurred. Don't believe that the sooner you treat this the sooner it will go away!!! That wasnt true for me. I have also had the 2 part Shingle vaccination. I still itch and hurt everyday. I have some scaring on my face. It's just a horrible disease. I have been told over and over that it's caused by stress, that you DID NOT CATCH IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE IF YOU HAD CHICKENPOX AS A CHILD!!!
My best advice is to fight through it the best you can, dont scratch it if it itches . Make sure a doctor gives you medicine for pain, YES an Opiod is necessary for this pain. I've had neck surgery and the pain I experienced with Shingles was equally as painful.
Again, fight thru this horrible disease and do get your Shingles shots (2) . Try not to stress so this will go away. The nerve pain can be temporary or permanent, everyone is different, every case is different. I wish I had a better answer for you . I just don't want you to believe that every case is the same, it's not and one program does not work for all.
Let me know if you have any questions.
ruth12256 cindi22524
Posted
thank you for your reply. yes i am fighting through it, i have had them 15times so im used to it BuT its different this time around having flu symptoms after the rash has scabbed and a dry mouth tongue and lips which not havd before whilst taking antivirals! the nerve pain i have is permanent numbness since my first attack of shingles ages 18yrs old. my doc says i have more experience than him lol!!! not funny to have. i feel like crap and just wish could get vaccination but here in uk you have to wait until you are 70yrs old!!!!!!! i am only 48!!!!!!! i have a weak immune system because of pernicious anemia!!! i cannot fight infections and last time i ended up in hospital with shingles on face in my eye and swollen like i had been in a boxing ring with Mike Tyson. its just hard to deal with having it reoccur all the time with NO WARNING !
cindi22524 ruth12256
Posted
yes, keep fighting through this awful stuff known as Shingles... I can't believe you have to be 70 years old in UK to receive the vaccination!!! I'm 56 and got mine in USA after my breakout of Shingles.
So it sounds like all the crap the docs told me about only being able to contact Shingles once in your life is WRONG TOO!!! Unbelievable!!!! It's not an old person disease either. People of all ages get this thing called Shingles... I wish doctors knew more about this disease. It's awful when you have to self-diagnose yourself. It's very sad that there is not more information out there on Shingles.
I sure don't wish it on anyone, it's awful and seems to never go away!
I wish you the BEST !!!! Keep fighting this terrible stuff....
ruby55 ruth12256
Posted
Hi Ruth
I have found the same thing in the past when I have taken the anti-virals. I have found drinking or eating Keffir helps restore your gut bacteria. I have filmjolk on a daily basis with my breakfast oats to combat this. I haven't had any problems since. I hope it works for you too. Get well soon. Ruby
ruth12256 ruby55
Posted
thank you Ruby for your reply. i am eating natural yoghurts to see if they help too. ive not had this symptom before with the virus. ive had shingles and this is my 15th time of getting them. although this time blisters are massive but scabbed over now but i now have aching legs and runny nose along with dry mouth lips and tongue. is this normal?? as previously ive had flu symptoms before the rash not after its scabbed???? xx
ruby55 ruth12256
Posted
Hi Ruth
Unfortunately natural yoghurts do not contain the variety of naturally occurring probiotics that keffirs do e.g flimjolk contains 15 different varieties. I feel for you I suffered from recurring shingles throughout 2017 & early 2018 and found that a multi-disciplinary approach is the only way to cure it.
I consulted: An immunologist (to check all vitamin levels and conduct a thorough series of tests to pinpoint the underlying cause), a naturopath (to ensure you are taking the correct dosage of supplements to build immunity and following the correct diet), acupuncturist (to assist in building immunity) Chinese herbalist (to assist in building immunity).
1.Manuka honey 1 teaspoon with 1 tablespoon of a probiotic rich keffir 3 times per day
2.Turmeric and black pepper 1 teaspoon 3 times per day with warm skimmed like a cup of tea DO NOT HAVE THIS IF YOU HAVE GALLSTONES
3.Black seed oil ½ teaspoon twice daily
4.Chinese herbs prescribed by a qualified Chinese herbalist twice daily -when needed
5.Kundalini yoga to build a strong immune system
6.Acupuncture once per week
7.Anti-viral medication prescribed by a doctor WHEN NECESSARY –DO NOT TAKE THE CHINSESE HERBS AND THE MEDICATION AT THE SAME TIME
8. High doses of vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B complex, vitamin D
9.A 500ml freshly squeezed juice with carrot, celery, beetroot, ginger, lemon, watermelon, kale and spinach
10. Avoid foods high in arginine and eat foods high in lysine
11.REST, REST AND MORE REST
Best wishes for a full recovery. Ruby
ruth12256 ruby55
Posted
dear Ruby, thank you for list of foods etc. i have to be careful what i eat as i am allergic to all artificial colorings and i have pernicious anemia b12 deficiency, b6 b9 i have a very low immune system all because i had to have an operation on my bowel when i was born to save my life and they damaged the part of the bowel that makes intrinsic factor and absorbes b12. so therefore i cannot absorb b12 i have to have it by injection into blood stream which is annoying. but those injections were stopped as both me and my gp thought that was causing shingles (allerigc reaction) because shingles started ages 18 and b12 injections started aged 18 too! each time had injection a couple weeks or months after it i would get shingles! but now this outbreak has occured after 4years of being free!!! i intend to get to the bottom of my outbreaks this time with my new doctor as i do not intend to live like this! coz each timd i get a cold or my rhinitis is bad or i get chest infection i will be freaking out as to whether shingles is on its way! this has turned me into a GERMAPHOBE once again and a HERMIT!! as i wont go out incase i catch something off someone. x
Guest ruby55
Posted
Hello RUBY
Well i am another of the sufferers here. I Have had shingles for a year now. I have outbreaks every 4-5 months. THE last tine was for Thanksgiving Day and I actually thought that it was over till yesterday. Have a blister right in my left
side of the scalp. It burns and hurts plenty.
Started by zovirax tonight fir 7 days. I dont like to take the anti-virals unless i gave to.
My doctor has me on a regime of vitamins! SINCE I had the flu, it triggered the outbreak.
I an eating a good diet as well. We try to what is best to rid this terrible disease.
HOPING you are better too!
Myrna
Guest ruth12256
Posted
Dear Ruth
I thought i had the influenza, but test came negative. I did have a bad cold with flu symtoms abd had to take meda for the cold. Right there after four months I got an outbreak of shingles!! I Thought i had gotten rid of the damn shingles!
Here i am suffering in pain with the blisters on my scalp! Its 4am and sitting on the bed crying with pain! Took my anti viral meds again! Let me know how are yiu dealing with it now ok!
Hope you are better!
Myrna
Guest ruth12256
Posted
DEAR RUTH
I Also have dry mouth and tongue. MY hair also is getting dry! I Stopped the zovirax five months ago. I Mean i am getting shingles for the past one year or so. I get a blister or so every 4-5 months. SINCE NOVEMBER I was clear till yesterday. I had this burning pain and there it was a darn blister after almost five months. When yiu get shingles on the scalp, it can last for years! Its depressing! PLEASE let me know how you are doing now!!
A Friend,
Myrna
ruth12256 Guest
Posted
hi Myna thank you for your reply. its so annoying when you think you are all clear and it wont come back isnt it? its awful for anyone who suffers isnt it. ive had them reocurrung since i was 18 and my last episode was 2014 i ended up in hospital ad went into my eye i looked like i had been beaten up my whole face and eye was swollen a purple i had cellulitis so i under my eye i couldnt open my eye i had to be put on a drip every four hours it was changed i also had antibiotic for secondary infection all of these drugs high doses made me hallucinate little pixies running around my bed on my bed the soap dispenser turned into a cobra swaying its head side to side i went crazy in the head i didnt no what was happening i was so ill. this time i had a tiny red pimple on my cheak no itching or anthing it never ever entered my mind about shingles but the next morning i woke with big blisters the biggest ive ever had in any episode i went straight to hospital they gave me acyclovir tablets to take and i had to go doctors the other day to check how i was. its a new doc as ive only just moved area and she gave me another course of the tablets to keep in house incase it comes back and she is going to refer me to consultant if it does come back. i have to go nxt week for blood tests check my b12 as i have pernicious anemia and thats causes weak immune system and thin hair! at the moment my face is scabbed over thick and crusty yellow its awful. the swelling has gone down but i have facial numbness as usual which never goes away it subsides after healing but never completely goes i always feel like i have been to the dentist that awful numb feeling. i now have numbness other side of face i am praying that its just where i have slept on that side since LAST SUNDAY as cannot lie on scabbed infected side dont want to knock scab as i worry about scarring!! i am sorry to hear you suffer from this, has your doctor ever done anything for you like send you to dermatology or someone who knows about shingles? have you been offered the vaccination?? im not allowed it until i am 70yr old here in UK!! my doc says shes going to look into me being able to take a tablet a day for rest of my life to stop the virus from being so severe as there is NO CURE for shingles which is so annoying! i would give anything for someone to find a cure!
let me know how your doing. stay strong!! i know its hard as i am depressed as hell to but we as sufferers have to stick together give each other support, having someone to talk to that is going through the same thing is better than talking to someone who doesnt understand x
Guest ruth12256
Posted
hi RUTH
Well i guess we are
all suffering here. You said you have had shingles since you were 18 years old? ITS been a full year since i got shingles and I am 65 years old! Since a full year of shingles ingave gotten it every 4-5 months. I had it this past November for Thanksgiving Day to be exact and just got a blister yesterday after four months! I thought it had really gone away! My doctor says it can take years for it to go when shingles are on the scalp! I live in the carribbean now after i lived my whole life in NYC.
Here the vaccine is available but i am reluctant ti get it as I have had complications with other vaccines!
Many people I KNOW have gotten worse after taken shingrex too.
So I am truly confused and depressed as well! Hoping for a miracle because a cure is impossible! Hoping we can one day say we are cured of this terrible disease! Be well my friend!
Myrna
ruth12256 Guest
Posted
hi Myrna, yes i was 18 when my first outbreak ocurred and im 48 now and am in my 15th outbreak of it.
its must be painful on your scalp i can imagine what its like it kills on my face burns itches pain and numbness. your scalp must be unbearable for you hair on it must cause it to itch more?
i am not sure about the vaccine either because alot of people have said its worked and others have said its made them worse so i dont know what to believe either. it is really depressing i know. i agree that one day i wish we can say we are cured!!!! stay strong mt friend xx