Shingles pain and itching HELP pls

Hi pauline

sorry to hear about your suffering and depression....it's crazy how they only help when ur close to suicidal....people should be helped at the onset of a problem....then they can function better and the NHS cost is much less in the long term. I have ANkylosing spondylitis as well and it took over a year to get diagnosed and now another few months have passed without being on any treatment....go back to doc and ask again for counselling...it really does help. 

Shingles pain and tingling can be intense. I'm praying that the pain goes away and isn't PHN although it seems very likely. Even the parts of my skin that has healed is sore and zingy to touch....I wear a vest all day. 

I think ink ill go doc in the morning and get lidocaine cream or patches.,,my husband tried to buy them but when the chemist hard it's for shingles they said we should go doc first.,,,anyways

may I ask your age? I'm 34 and I want to get the vaccine.,,,will I be allowed.,,,I'm willing to go private....I'd do anything not to feel this way. I feel like itching and scratching so much...I think I irritated the nerves by itching it....it was not this bad when I had the actual shingles blisters....it's been two weeks since the onset of shingles. 

Apologies if if this message doesn't make much sense.... I'm losing my mind. I feel like this kind of illness shouldn't exist in this day and age.. It's horrid!

Hello Sudeco

yes this is a UK based website but people from around the world participate. I thinks it's good to learn about other countries approaches and things they find useful....I'm open to ideas as the intense sensitivity is maddening. 

In in the UK we have the NHS but I was thinking of going private to get the vaccine....but I've been doing research and I'm in two minds now...I'll continue my research until I come to a final decision. 

Although it feels like this is the worst feeling if it goes then I'm grateful . The worst thing is the post pain PHN. At what stage is it considered PHN does anyone know? My pain was much less during the blisters but now they have fallen off and my skin is sore and some parts chapped and raw it feels at its worst. I'm just praying that it all ends and I don't get permanent or long term pain. I have two small ones and can't handle the, and the irritation at the same time . 

I really feel for people with PHN they can't forget this nightmare of a disease. 

So so what do you do with the oatmeal do you soak it in the bath and then just lie in the bath? 

I had had a long soak and rubbed the shingles off (once they were dry) I think I might have been impatient and made matters worse... Now I'm paying for it. Ouchy

take care

a doc told me to crush a veltrx and add vasaline potroleum jelly mix it up and put it on ur area  it numbs it

 

Hi Jubs,

From Munich understanding, PHN is classified as if you are still having pain, sensitivity, tingling, and stabbing sensation on the affected area 30 days after the first shingles rash outbreak. Normally, it takes 2-4 weeks for all the stages to compete including the headaches, pricking needles feeling, pain, rash, blisters, scabbing and skin healing. However once the rash is gone and skin is healed after 30 days, if you are still having the pain and any other symptoms, that will be classified as PHN.

I'm currently on day 19th, my scabs has started to peel, skin still looks red but it's more of a maroon. Hopefully, it won't scar! As far for pain, I still feel a lot of sensitivity and slight tingling/pricking sensation when I put on a shirt or move on a certain way. Whenever I eat, I can really feel the temperature. I lost like 7 pounds from this because I lost my appetitive but I also stop working out and I'm thinking I lost all my muscles too since muscles weight more than fat.

I'm hoping to get better because i been off work for a month. Shingles sucks! I hope you and everybody else dealing with this will get better!

I don't know what day I'm on... I started sun or Monday with painful teeth for a few days, then my jaw muscle swelled badly, dentist and Dr said TMJ, then Saturday morning blister patches appeared at my chin and near my ear. Shingles! I'm been improving on valtrex and methylprednisolone for the swelling because I couldn't stand it. Not sure if the steroid was a good move or not, is a 6 day dose pack. But it seems to have helped. Now it is Tues evening and no new blisters today, Sunday was the worst. The redness is going down. Some have scabbed, I still have some tingling in my lips and my cheek where it started. Since it's getting better do I seem to have good chance of being ok? The dry crusts near my mouth are annoying, any suggestions? I'm still afraid it could go to my eyes...

hi Ellie

i really appreciate your message and the information you have provided. I agree the sufferers on this forum know much more than the doctors...

i will be ordering the acyclovir cream thank you...I wish my doc had given these things to me as if only just learnt about it and have suffered for two weeks! 

Today i I applied coconut oil and it is proving much gentler and calmer on my skin. I stopped using Vaseline as the open wounds have healed with some layers of skin...it may take months to fully heal and be like normal skin. 8 hope I don't get scars but T the moment my primary concern is the pain and wishing it away...beauty comes later....need to survive first.

im struggling because I have two little ones and have hardly spent time with them the past two weeks😢 it is so hard to do anything with this illness....and you want to avoid all physical contact. 

I think ink my immune system was weakened by two steroid injection in the past 3 months and I have been very stressed lately because I have ankylosing spondylitis and it's taking over a year to get on a treatment. I'm worried as I will be going on biological therapy that suppresses the immune system.....so will have shingles repetitively....I fear....

so far ive learnt a lot from this forum and I don't find it confusing when people say different things....I think it broadens your knowledge and options.....nothing will work exactly in the same way for everyone.....it's trial and error for all of us. This is a great place I think as only those that have this can truly understand....everyone else can give sympathy and support but not fully understand how it limits and effects us.... I'm writing I'm cringing from the twitching and tingling in my neck.

I hope everyone finds something that eases their symptoms.....will definitely keep in touch. 

Thanks

jubs

Hi Jubs. If you have ankylosing, it's an auto immune disease so you are more likey to get reocurring bouts of shingles I'm afaid. If you have to take steroids or other disease modifying drugs, the same applies.  It's best to ask your GP or pharmacist before taking any other stuff as they might conflict. I don't really have any scarring as such but a red patch on shoulder/arm where the worst spots were. Can't see my scalp but it still gets very itchy, especially if i'm hot and sweaty like after housework or in the garden. It's fading slowly. Bio oil is supposed to help prevent scarring. I take Tramadol for pain, it's an opiate type but only available from your Doc. I have osteo arthritis in my spine and other joints, that's why it was prescribed for me originally. (Chronic pain, 24/7)! It helps a bit plus the amitriptylene in the evening as I said earlier. Most of these strong ones cause tiredness and feeling sleepy so you would have to think about that having young children. Your GP is really the only one who can help you with pain control. None of the over the counter stuff is strong enough. In my experience, (72 now), I tried to rest when the chidren did and s** the housework if your feeling ill. If working you will probably need time off. Rest is most important if you want to get better quicker, you have to let whatever immune system you have left do it's job.  

 Sorry, don't know how to turn auto correct off but try going into settings if your on a smart phone. Best wishes Ellie. X

PS. I don't think you can have the vaccine (Zostavac) when you have auto immune problems or are on steroids as it's a live vaccine. X

Hi mmsmith. Strange way to turn off auto correct on a mobile phone! lol

Oops