Sharing my experience - recurring shingles

A solution I found - after years of not knowing what the  boil-like blisters were, and all the other accompanying symptoms came after LOTS of trial and error and wanting to get rid of the blisters before a date with my mate....catch my drift?

Mind you, this worked for me, and I've had the longest period of no outbreaks after several years of recurring episodes.

>>>>> At first sign of itch - alternate applications of coconut oil and a topical antibacterial ointment - with a dab of essential Lavender oil at least twice a day. 

The blisters dry up super quick, and after three or four outbreaks (which usually coincides with my menses) I haven't had an outbreak in about five months, with all other variables in my life the same. 

Possibly worth a try?

Have just experienced insulting and extensive doctor ignorance regarding atypical shingles.

I first got it 5 years ago - spent a night in hospital with suspected gallbladder stones only to be told there was nothing wrong. Three days later, got the rash. Suffered with nerve pain for months. 2nd time was 2 years ago - woke in the night with the horrible itchy lumps developing, although no nerve pain. By the next morning I had 4 or 5 extremely itchy lumps. Saw a doctor immediately who diagnosed shingles. I went on antivirals and cleared up quickly - no real nerve pain.

So last week i developed 4 or 5 extremely itchy lumps in a line around the ribs within 2 hours. I went to emergency at the hospital (it was in the middle of the night) and they gave me anti-virals which worked really well, only got a few lumps, no nerve pain and lumps quickly crusted then started healing. But I only was given 5 days of meds and I realised that I needed to take 7 days (or even more as this is my third time and I also have an autoimmune condition). Saw a locum doctor today (my doc is away) and he said:

- it's not shingles as shingles is painful not itchy

- it's not shingles as the blisters have healed well over the five days and are now not causing problems

- it's not shingles because there are only 5 or so 'sites'

- it's not shingles because while most are on one side of the body I had one on the other side

- it's not shingles becuase recurring shingles is almost unheard of

-it's not shingles because the rash isn't extensive and pus filled

He then showed me photos of shingles online ("Dr Google", basically)

I ended up leaving, absolutely furious, without the extra days of meds.

What really really upset me was that he seemed to think I was making it up and that although I had had a few days of feeling terrible before the itchy lumps (very flu-y and sore and feverish and upset tummy etc), I was confused as the rash was something else. I told him that as I had had shingles twice before I knew exactly what the nerve pain felt like (1st time) and also that it could be contained at the itchy lump stage if I got on the drugs early enough (2nd time). And that this time was exactly the same as time 2.

He still didn't believe me and smugly kept telling me it's not shingles.

I think his refusal to accept that shingles are ITCHY was what upset me the most. The itchy blisters I had last time and this time are just unbearably itchy and i did tell him its a weird sort of below the surface as well as on the skin type of itch.

he clearly thought I was an idiot. and a hypochondriac. I don;t know what he thought I was going to do with two days of anti-virals - sell them on the street??? 

Overally I am deeply deeply disgusted and insulted by his atitude and refusal to believe that I might know something about my own health and problems!!! I will never need to see that doctor again but if I do get shingles again soon due to not taking enough meds, I am making a formal complaint. I can't see why doctors are so ignorant about this condition. He even told me the old story that people used to believe if you got shingles on both sides and they joined you would die. relevance??? NONE. Expertise? NONE!

I would love to find an authoritative medical paper online which explains that shingles can occur even without a rash; that shingles can occur without pain; that shingles can be very itchy! In fact, shingles can occur very regularly in all sorts of weird places.

I am sorry you have this recurrent shingle problem.  I did too for years, once or twice a month on my head.  It was horirible.  I tried several medications and nothing helped until now.  I am going to post to my wall for everyone to see.  I hope I can help others the way my doctor helped me.  I take acyclovir  generic for zovirax.  The first two weeks I still got shingles, but It was the last outbreak I have had.  I have nothing to do with the pharmacutal companies, just a person that had a solution and I no longer get shingles, what a relief.  I hope it others.  It has no side effects that I notice.

See if you can ge this medicine it worked for me it could work for you as well

Tammy Finden

I was diagnosed with shingles,es yesterday. I am in a lot if pain even though on medication. The rash which has started to blister is from the waist Dow, I have not been able to open my bowel s for 2 days. My bladder won't work except for allowing me to pass a few drops of urine. I am in so much pain basque of my full bladder that won't open. How can I make my bladder open again? The pain is killing me.

 

hi everyone! I am thankful for finding this forum, and all the information shared here, some of it I had tried and some I will try. I am now in bed unnable to work, and this has been happening on and off for the last 8-9 years. It has affected me and my family emotionally and financially in a big way, but I have found some ways to feel better, heal faster, i will share that shortly. I have also found that at least in my case, recurring shingles might be a symptom of something else, but doctors have no answers for me or permanent solutions, so I gave up on them. It is refreshing to find so many people that know what it is to deal with recurring shingles, since I think that unless you had it before, you fully dont understand how bad it can get. Its not only a rash that itches and burns, its so many more symptoms that stop you in your tracks, drain you emotionally let alone physically.

My first episode was about 9 years ago, after a very stressful period in life. It kept coming once a year aprox. for the following 2 years and it was severe. During that time I was also diagnosed with Lyme disease, fybromialgya, chronic fatigue, post mononucleosis, and in the middle of all this, after doctors told me I could never get pregnant, I got pregnant. I had to stop treatment inmediately and had the next recurring shingles episode on the day my son was born. After this shingles has hapenned every 3-4 months, and it was really bad in the begining right after I gave birth the pain and fatigue where so big I think I became a little suicidal. But a lot has changed since those days, it still happens, but not as bad, so that means my inmune system is stronger. the blisters last only a few days, the fatigue and depression are still there but the healing time is down to 3-5 days. the worst part of the symptoms are really before the blisters show up. So when they do show up, its kind of a relief. I have been in a 80% vegetarian diet for 4 years now. I drink home made organic kefir every morning with lots of fruit, whole chia seeds and flaxseeds. I avoid sugar at all costs and limit my coffee intake. I do low impact excersise and drink lots of herbal teas. I also take multivitamins and when I feel the burning sensation anywhere in my body, I take high dose vitamin C (crystals work a lot better than capsules). I avoid buying GMO's corn and soy. Almost everything I purchase to eat is organic. What has helped the blisters heal without almost any pain is a mixture I make with 1 part powder boric acid and 2 parts petroleoum jelly. Do your own research about this, I did and found it is not toxic at small amounts. I trick I have found is that when I feel a little tired for no reason, flu like symptoms for example, it might be shingles trying to take over so I drink a bottle of h2o with 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract, its bitter but I prefer this than an outbreak. 

Something interesting I noticed, I had shingles without blisters for almost 8 years before a blister finally appeared (yes, shingles without blisters do exist). I had severe pain, burning sensation on my legs and flu like symptoms since I was in my 20's (I am now in my 40's) but never a blister until I had a stressfull event happen in my life (I did have chronic stress all my life, since I was a kid) It is been hard, and I still get shingles 2-3 times a year, but not as severe, not as painfull and there is almost no scars thanks to my petroleum/jelly boric acid mixture. I hope this helps someone that is in pain. Another thing I do often is drink organic raw apple cider vinegar with organic raw local honey (one  spoonfull each). Its a tonic for your inmune system 

It can get better, it did for me. Avoid stress at all cost, smoking and drinking, and people that stresses you also . I will start doing some of the stuff that people here posted, because I believe the cure is in making our inmune system stronger, peace to all!

I am from the st louis mo area in USA, I am 52 & have been getting shingles since I was 33.  sooooooo tired of it. I get it about 4 or 5 times a year. I hurt alllll the time, it never ends. I also herniated 2 disc in my back about 4 years ago.  that made me get shingles even more. I have been to several doctors. they tell me i cant get it over 1 time till they see my medical records. I am almost to the point where i dont !!!! well i wont go there. but any help would be nice. I also read above that a female got the shot for shingles at 61 years old & is now sick.  & she has had shingles a lot.  if you get shingles all the time you dont ant the shot.  I have been told more times than i can remember  that i can not get any flu shots or shingles shot or i will get deathly ill. anyone close who has this can email me at allendad4 at aol com  would be nice to talk to other people who have it. if you are from the st louis area then that would be kul also. I have not been able to work for a few years & have medicaid & they onlt give me seizor or syc drugs for pain. they are so stupid.  they should go through this & they would give me normal pain meds. valacyclover work so i dont get it as much but still do 4 times a year usually. I have found that pot helps me more than anything. instead of making me tired like it does other people,  it makes me not think of the pain & gets me working in the yard & stuff.  I drove a truck for years & didnt smoke. then after being in pain for years a friend said here,  I tried it & will never quit untill i get normal pain meds. IT WORKS SOOOO GOOD.  I have tried for disibilty a few times but was told I couldnt get it for shingles or a bad back till i was in my 50's.  I am trying again now.  I was in ber for 1 1/2 years when i herniated my disc.  I dont understand how i could get turned down when i was in bed that long. but do whatever helps you. doctors just dont understand. they dont care if you cant stand the pain. they could care less if you just kill yourself. I will post again on here in a few days. take care everyone !!!!

I got my first and only batch of shingles when I was 15, two years ago. I'm kind of paranoid whenever I get sick that it'll recur, but it has been dormant since then.

The symptoms lasted for about two weeks, and it affected my upper back and neck area. I'm pretty sure the outbreak was caused primarily by stress. Every site I look at barely even acknowledges that people my age can get shingles. It's rather frustrating, especially with my paranoia of reoccurances. 

The point is, I was 15. So, yeah. It can affect pretty much any age.