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Shingles aftermath.

Posted , 7 users are following.

Ophiana68
Ophiana68

It's four weeks today that I've had shingles across the left side of my face from top of my head, neck, shoulder and top chest (front and back) along a band of skin, with Rash/Tiny Boils’. I’ve been in sheer pain all over that area. As of today 02/06/16 I'm still left with really bad pain in my left cheek, neck and back. And the skin still hurts with burning, gnawing, stabbing pain on my ear-lobe. I'm just wondering if it's the side effect of the overdose of Amitriptyline that I happened to take (accidently) 4 a day with the Acyclovir which is 5 a day at 4hrs gap. My face, neck ‘n’ all has been swollen, and my head felt like tonnes. I just have to do something to divert my mind and not feel like a ‘bear with a sore head’.

Any idea why I'm lightheaded and feel dizzy even ater the whole thing has passed.

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Ellie1943
    Ellie1943 Ophiana68

    Posted

    I agree with Victoria, nerve damage! Do you take gabapentin or similar nerve tablets? Your GP can prescribe them and together with one Amitriptylene in the evening should help you with pain and sleep better. I've been taking 1000mgs per day of L- Lysine since I had shingles a year ago. I think it's helped me recover and is supposed to help with recurring bouts if you are unfortunate enough to have them as some of us do. I'm sure others will come on later with more advice and support. It's a truly horrible illness to have, you have all my sympathy. Plenty of rest and loads of sleep helped me more than anything I think. Best wishes, Pollyanna UK
  • Merry19451
    Merry19451 Ophiana68

    Posted

    Dear Orphiana,

    Do you have a severe earache, as well? How much Amitryptyline in mg were you taking daily for how many days? How much were you prescribed?

    Has the rash affected your eyes, vision, ears, or hearing?

    Do you have any other medical diseases, conditions or are on medications?

    Did the physician give you an Opioid such as oxycodone for the severe pain? You absolutely need to have an excellent strong Opioid such as oxycodone to relieve the pain. I am a nurse practitioner in the States.

    I have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the last 20 years and have had Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus twice. I understand the severe intractable pain.

    I am here to support you and help you advocate for yourself and answer any questions.

    Best wishes

    Merry Juliana

    • Ophiana68
      Ophiana68 Merry19451

      Posted

      ....and yes it was 10mg Amitriptilyne tablets, so I took 40mg a day for probably 3-4 days, with the Aciclovir as prescribed.

      Headaches are going away temporarily thanks to the Paracetamol. 

  • Merry19451
    Merry19451 Ophiana68

    Posted

    Dear Orphiana,

    Do you have a severe earache, as well? How much Amitryptyline in mg were you taking daily for how many days? How much were you prescribed?

    Has the rash affected your eyes, vision, ears, or hearing?

    Do you have any other medical diseases, conditions or are on medications?

    Did the physician give you an Opioid such as oxycodone for the severe pain? You absolutely need to have an excellent strong Opioid such as oxycodone to relieve the pain. I am a nurse practitioner in the States.

    I have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the last 20 years and have had Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus twice. I understand the severe intractable pain.

    I am here to support you and help you advocate for yourself and answer any questions.

    Best wishes

    Merry Juliana

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451

      Posted

      I am very concerned re the Amitryptyline overdose as it is heart toxic. If you were given a small dose of 10 mg and took 50 mg daily, no problem. If you were supposed to take100- 150 mg daily and took 500-750 mg especially for several days, you need to go to the emergency room STAT as that can cause heart damage!

      Please let me know how much you took!

      Merry Juliana

    • Ophiana68
      Ophiana68 Merry19451

      Posted

      In the first instance the doctor at the hospital didn't give any written/verbal info on the dosage of Amitriptilyne except the Aciclovir which was 5 a day.  I was in 'no state of mind' the first day I received the medication. My hubby didn't bother reading it either, and I ended up taking 4 a day with 5 a day of Aciclovir.  On the 7th day of my Shingles when I felt better I decided to read properly the leaflet for Amitriptilyne, beacuse I was retching every other day. Only then I realised that I had taken a massive over-dose.

      I don't know what type of adverse effect this might have, but as of today I'm able to type this. Anyway, I still get searing pain on my left side -behind the ear, neck, cheek and shoulder. The skin hurts so bad that I feel as if the shingles haven't gone. Although they've scabbed.

      Besides, I had developed Psoriasis after honey-bee bite on the left under the hair-line in 2007 which became worse with time. And now I've had shingles beneath the psoriasis. A bit complicated condition.

      So, I don't know exactly what's going on underneath my skin in that part.

    • Ophiana68
      Ophiana68

      Posted

      .....and yes it was 10mg Amitriptilyne tablets, so I took 40mg a day for probably 3-4 days, with the Aciclovir as prescribed.
    • lori13
      lori13 Ophiana68

      Posted

      Hi Ophiana67 If the doctor perscribed 10 mg a day that is what you should take and take it at night because it can make you very tired.  40 mgs is not a dangerous dose I was on 50 mgs at night for a few years because I couldn't sleep and it worked very well.  The problem with Amitriptilyne is that it can make you feel extremely light headed and sleepy for the first 3 or 4 days espically at that dose but is not a dangerous dose and should not cause any problems.  Please stick to your dose of 10mgs as perscribed and taking it with your anti virals is fine no adverse reactions have been reported.  Take it at night and this could be the reason you are feeling ofel.  As far as the shingles Merry is really good at giving advice in that area.  I was a nurse for many years also in the states and have some experience with both of the meds you are on.  Have that ear checked ASAP..
  • Thedwp
    Thedwp Ophiana68

    Posted

    I was diagnosed march 7th. Had breakouts on my forehead and around my eye. After i took the anti-viral meds the spots dried up and subsided. But I have suffered with fatigue, upper leg aches and other stragne unexplainable symptoms to this day...so going on 3 months. I keep track of my symptoms everyday and this whole time the most 'Non-symptomatic' days I've had are 3 in a row. So not a full week has gone by where I wasn't dealing with somthing. Needless to say iI feel your pain as do so many others on this site. 
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