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shingles and supplements helpful for me

Posted , 3 users are following.

adrianab
adrianab

I had the same issue...felt pain in my chest under my breastbone. Thought it was gas or indigestion. Went to see my doctor and was told I had shingles. The sad thing is my doctor gave me no medication for pain or shingles. I went back to work and thankfully I worked at an Oncology office. One of the doctors asked me if I was feeling better I told him I was diagnosed with shingles and he was so upset my doctor failed to give me medication. He was able to prescribe me medication and we also luckily had a nutritionist in our office. He had me also take lysine and b12 sublingual drops along with medication. This was back in 2013...since then I have continued to get shingles off and on. When I stress which I often do I get an outbreak and just take supplements and it always seems to help. Last year I had a bad outbreak and went to see a Dr and was told since it was over a week that I had symptoms medication wouldnt really help other than help with pain. So I took double the amount of Lysine and medication and was better in a couple days. I am 34 yrs old and healthy with no other medical issues other than shingles.

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • scott83219
    scott83219 adrianab

    Posted

    Recurrent shingles in a young individual who's healthy such as your self is very rare. Has this been swabbed to confirm this is shingles? Recurrent shingles is almost always a heretic infection that is not shingles.
    • adrianab
      adrianab scott83219

      Posted

      The first doctor I saw back in 2013 I think did a swab but the doctor I worked for saw and gave me the first prescription. Last year the Dr visually saw the outbreak on my back and based on symptoms confirmed it was shingles.

       

    • scott83219
      scott83219 adrianab

      Posted

      Symptoms and visual diagnoses is not valid. You need a swab test.And it needs to be done within 48 hours. Unfortunately. Modern doctors don't take these types of cases seriously so you need to be persistent.
  • Merry19451
    Merry19451 adrianab

    Posted

    If the blisters / vesicles stay on one side of your body,( in this case, do not cross the breastbone-sternum) it is Herpes Zoster or Shingles. Shingles certainly reoccurs in people. Although, '2scott' is correct in implying? that Herpes simplex occurs more frequently than Herpes Zoster-Shingles, Herpes simplex occurs orally or genitally, and as Bells Palsey, but not on your thorax. My Herpes Zoster Oticus-Shingles started in my 40s, when I appeared to be healthy. I do not have antibodies to Herpes simplex, but definitely to Herpes Zoster. A PCR ( blood test Polymerase Chain Reaction) is the most definitive lab test to date. Another way that Zoster (Shingles) differs from Simplex is that the Zoster vesicles are not uniform or identical, and occur in crops; meaning they are not the same size and appear in waves at different times. Zoster-Shingles is usually more painful than Simplex. I know when I was stressed at work the frequency of Zoster increased. I use Auralgon ear drops which has Benzocaine, a local anesthetic, to soothe the excruciating pain on my ear drum and ear canal. I also take oxycodone for the severe pain and Topamax, an anti-seizure medication, which I am certain, decreases my need for oxycodone and prevents the dreaded post herpetic neuropathy. The Auralgon also has reduced my need for oxycodone. If your pain is horrible, ask for lidocaine patches topically by prescription and capaicin topically, to see if these help. I am sorry you are going through this too. I have Lupus, which explains the recurrent Zoster every 3-5 weeks. A warm hug to you.
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451

      Posted

      Also, I have my antiviral, (Famvir works better than Acyclovir!) @ home and take it at the first sign of pain or rash! Also, the pain meds have at home, too!
    • adrianab
      adrianab Merry19451

      Posted

      Thanks Merry19451. My pain is never too excruciating. As soon as I feel the symptoms arise…itchy in the area I get the flare up I take lysine, B12 drops (nerve pain) and vitamin c to avoid it getting worse. I then have rash but never too long after that it goes away. I also put tea tree oil with carrier oil on the area of blisters and this seems to help scarring and rash heal quicker.  

       

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451

      Posted

      The PCR requires fluid from the vesicles-blisters, best when they have just appeared 1-2 days.. My error, not blood.

      My Zoster was later confirmed this way, but initially my antibodies were elevated to Zoster and negative to Simplex. PCR did not exist yet. The diagnostic indications were always clear, the rash recurrence in identical area, severe 10+pain, response to antivirals, non- uniform vesicles, vesicles appearing in waves over a period of 2-3 days... vesicles turning into crusts, malaise, fever...generalized weakness. I lost my hearing in my right ear as it attacked the 8th cranial nerve, (theacoustic nerve.) The Herpes Viruses are wicked. An excellent diagnostician can make the diagnosis, as the fifth doctor and third ENT doctor finally did, but he was an otoneurologist. I am forever grateful to him, 19 years ago.

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 adrianab

      Posted

      I had tried B12, as I had 2 strokes ischemic, during my Zoster outbreaks, but never lysine. I shall try some.

      Does anyone in your family have autoimmune diseases, sush as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, Sjögrens Syndrome, or ITP or developed early cancers? The reason I am asking is sometimes individuals with Recurrent Zoster develop autoimmune disease, such as I, or very rarely, cancer. I have ITP, Psoriasis, and Systematic Lupus Erythematosus. Of course, I didn't know it when I first developed Zoster. My family has a strong history of autoimmune disease. I do not wish you to worry, just for you to be aware.

    • adrianab
      adrianab Merry19451

      Posted

      I dont really have contact with my relatives other than my immediate family members. And no one has any issues other than allergies, eczema, psoriasis. I really dont have any medical concerns or symptoms that I am aware of. I do however appreciate the heads up. I will keep in mind when I have another outbreak and go to doctor. I appreciate all feedback as I was worried myself becasue I had read it was rare in young adults. As a child I had chickenpox and measles...the only other illness was hives when I was 22. But nothing else that I can think of.

       

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 adrianab

      Posted

      Psoriasis is considered an autoimmune disease, just so you know.
    • adrianab
      adrianab Merry19451

      Posted

      oh had no idea. My mother had a really bad case when she was young.

       

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