I thought I was getting better.....

hi julia 

i have had another bout of shingles this morning next to my last one which was only two weeks ago 😟 this is the 6th time this year .

i am age 51 .. i only use cream on the blisters ..

i seem to get a headache for two days before the rash these last two times.

have you had your Vit D levels checked .. as i discovered i was Vit D deficient in May and have to boost up on vit D.

also i am post menopause and wonder if this is all connected ( no HRT) 

so sympathise with you .. 😟

jay x 

I took shingles 1st April this year. It developed into post herpetic neuralgia and I have just returned to work on a phased plan. My left hand side ribs still ache I get tired if I sit down to relax. Pain management advised could be up to 12 months before back to full recovery. Continue to take low Gabapentin, amatriptaline, lidocaine patches at night and paracetamol. 

I find company is the best cure. 

Hello Julia,Kevin

I have been on the forum for quite a few months now, having had all the things you talk about . If you look back on this discussion group, you might  find some of the information useful. I did.

I've had shingles and Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN) I was told I could be left with it for life.  With reocurrences either regularly or far apart. 

I'm currently suffering, but it seems to be quite common in my area. Many of my acquaintances have the same experience recently. 

I live in a village in Essex and know most people here, it's quite a close community.

Hope you both feel better soon

Pauline

i will repost as last one needs modification ..

when my first outbreak began the doc here gave me daily B12, B1 and anti inflammatory injections..

with all these outbreaks i feel i need some answers .. its worrying why.

had lots of blood tests loads ..

my vit D was low deficient ( vit D is a hormone we need ) 

also B12 abit low ..

i am just about to have some B12 also Vit C daily is a must with shingles and Vit E .. 

this may interest you .. i just reading this below ..

The best cure for a shingles attack is Vitamin B 12 injected IM 0,5cc 3 times a day until the lestions disappear.  

As a nurse, I was able to do this at home.  If your doctor won't prescribe this, I have recommened sublingual B12 2,000-5000 mcg. sublingually until the lesions disappear and then continue once a day as prophylaxis.

 20 friends have been cured with this recommendation.  

Could it be possible that Shingles is a B12 deficiency disease just as Scurrvy is a Vitamin C defficience disease?  Or Beriberi, Vitamin B deficiency.  

Hi Julia, Sorry you're suffering. I know exactly how you feel. I had my first diagnosed attack in April this year at 72. Several patches followed on for about 2-3 months. I think I may have had some mild ones in my scalp previous to this though. I've been taking L-lysine as some people on this forum have recommended. I also take Vit D3, have been for some time before Shingles!Fingers crossed and all that, so far I've not had another bout recently but still have PHN and terrible fatigue. Doc prescribes Amitriptylene to help this but still feeling very tired although I sleep better now. Being retired I can rest when tired and can sleep for England during the day!  I have an audio book and listening rather than reading helps me relax more and doze off. I also have OA so used to pain. It'e the fatigue I find worse, not used to sitting around being "lazy" but I believe the body tells us what we need and I listen these days! Hope you feel better soon. Best wishes Ellie X

Hi Julia,

I am so sorry for your suffering, as well. You don't mention exactly the location of the rash.

Remember, Shingles is a Herpes Zoster Viral infection, and therefore, you are experiencing a viremia in your entire body.

There are three stages.

The predromal, which is much like the onset of the flu, consists of FATIGUE, mild fever, generalized aches and pains, headache, and malaise.

The onset of pain usually precedes the vesicles-blisters, which come in crops, which crust over.

The last and one of the most dreaded sequelae is post herpetic neuralgia, in which the excruciating pain of Herpes Zoster is chronic.

The actual viremia, or disease process last weeks, and depending on your age and other conditions, can impact those diseases, as well.

It is much more than the rash, agonizingly painful as it is. It can recur in some of us with maddening frequency.

If you are immunocompromised, and you will already know if you have SLE, Psoriasis ITP, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögrens Syndrome, take corticosteroids, or have cancer, you are at higher risk for recurrence.

Please know we are here for you, and to help with support, emotional and educational. I am an NP stateside with recurrent Herpes Zoster Oticus in my right ear. I understand what you are going through.

Merry Juliana