I've got shingles

Ruth,

I would take more days off and rest. The problem is, if you overdo the work, the pain becomes more severe, and it is harder to relieve it.

Your GP put you on Antivirals for 7 days, didn't he? They stop the virus from replicating, so it is important to finish them.

I do hope your case is mild. May I ask your age, Ruth?

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

I am surprised that you were not advised to have the herpes zoster virus immunization which helps control the outbreaks .

After 4 ER visits and 3 doc visits in 12 days I was dx with Shingles. 

On a Wednesday evening I began to have pain in my left lower back. On Thursday I called my Urologist, thinking it was a kidney stone. On Friday @ 9am I had an X-ray to see if it was a stone. By Friday afternoon, I had not heard back from my Urologist, so I called. They stated they did not have a result back and that if I was in 'that' much pain to go to the ER. Later in the afternoon I went to the local ER. A CT was done to determine if there was a kidney stone. There was not. I was told that my pain was a muscle strain and was given a couple medications. I knew it was not muscle, but went home with the medication. The medication did nothing to alleviate my pain. The pain continued to get worse and worse. It was not muscle pain. So on Sunday night (new years eve 2017) my husband took me back to the ER. The ER doctor told me it was muscle pain but I needed different pain medication. He gave me stronger pain medication. I went home, took my medication and the pain continued to increase. On Wednesday I went to my doctor’s office and saw the Nurse Practitioner.  She increased my muscular pain medication and stated I should look into physical therapy. I went home that day, by evening I was in so much pain that my husband again to me to the ER. The ER doctor was rude and very unsympathetic to me. He even said to me, I know it is not muscular pain and I needed to see my PCP. He then said, it’s Shingles within a week you will have the rash. Then he left and sent me home. The next morning I saw my PCP, wonderful doctor. He checked me over, felt my abdomen and told me it was Diverticulitis. He gave me an injection of an antibiotic and started me a high dose of antibiotic. I told him I was leaving that afternoon to drive 900 miles to my nephews wedding. He told me to go that I should start to feel better the next day or so. I got to the wedding rehearsal dinner and couldn’t stay I was in so much pain. I then went to the wedding on Saturday afternoon. I was unable to eat or stay at the wedding reception. The night went on and I was in more and more pain. My husband took me to the ER (out of state). The doctor was very nice, did a CT and told me no kidney stone and no diverticulitis. She gave me anti-anxiety medication. Why – I guess I was just making up the pain in my head. We traveled home all day and night on Sunday and at 9am on Monday I was in seeing my doctor. At that time he was worried about an abscess. I then told him I think I have a small rash on my waist, left side. He looked at it and immediately said, it’s Shingles. He put me on anti-viral medication and Gabapentin.  I have been treated now for 4 days (Thursday) and I am doing a bit better but still hurt.