Help! 35 y/o husband with face and neck rash

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my husband 35 years old, healthy, no immune issues, started with a small rash on his neck on friday, i thought something was wrong, he thought razor burn, by friday night the area grew larger with new areas, he went to urgent Care, they first said allergic reaction, came back in the room and gave him prescription for antivirals and steroids before he left. he will call our doctor Monday (tomorrow morning) but we are concerned about all the facial problems (hearing loss, facial paralysis, eye damage, etc) in addition to increased risk for heart attacks!!?? ***anyone have experience with this? he's on an antiviral acyclovior 800 mg 5 times a day for 10 days methylprednisolone 4 mg 6 tablets on day oneand decrease by one tab each day for a total of 6 days.. (he has been on atenolol 50 mg daily for blood pressure for years)File size is too big

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6 Replies

  • Posted

    The good news is that he got prompt treatment with the antivirals, he's young and healthy. Many people have no complications from shingles. If he has eye problems, get to an ophthamologist who's familiar with shingles. I'm not aware of a connection to shingles and heart issues. Remind him to take it easy, he is ill, this is a viral infection and he may have fatigue, pain, itch and generally feeling lousy. Or not. I hope he's feeling better soon.

  • Posted

    Hi Michelle,

    I am so sorry about your husband's shingles diagnosis. As he has a hearing loss and facial paralysis, may I ask if he has a severe headache or earache? It sounds as if he has Herpes Zoster-Shingles Oticus or Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. I have had this every 3 weeks in my right ear, mouth, and throat for the past 23 years. My first episode was when I was 44 years old. I have had two ischemic strokes, also a risk factor, but they were really due to Atrial fibrillation and a clotting disorder.

    I take Famciclovir as it is more efficacious than acyclovir. Where are you located? The UK?

    Your husband needs to take off from work and rest and sleep. The pain often increases in the second week of the disease.

    He will probably be more exhausted.

    People experience more pain in the face with shingles. Has he been prescribed strong analgesics and are they effective in controlling the pain? If not, please ask for stronger analgesics, ie, opioids.

    Please feel free to ask me anything. I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States.

    Best Wishes

    Merry Juliana

  • Posted

    I want to clarify. I read your post as the problems like hearing loss, visual problems etc are those you READ ABOUT, not ones he has. Merry read it as symptoms he currently has. Can you help us wit that?

  • Posted

    I want to clarify. I read your post as the problems like hearing loss, visual problems etc are those you READ ABOUT, not ones he has. Merry read it as symptoms he currently has. Can you help us wit that?

  • Posted

    Does he have facial drooping causing his eyelid to be partially open? If so, his eye needs to be taped shut and have moisturizing drops and ointment instilled in the eye.

    Is Zoster actually affecting his eye, redness, pain, lesions, vesicles, blurred vision? If so, he needs to see an ophthalmologist tomorrow!

    Best Regards

    Merry Juliana

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