Today is “one of those days...”

So sorry to hear how u are struggling. I had been vaccinated and still developed shingles.

Have researched so much about PHN. Learned that the “old” vaccination is old 65% coverage for herpes zoster. Saw my PCP last month and asked her if I should get the new vaccine-Shingrix I think it is called and she said she didn’t know. I am so glad I found this site. As I said it helps with not feeling as isolated. Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

Thanks for your reply Babs. My situation is somewhat similar. I think I mentioned in a previous post that I had just retired at age 64 when my Shingles happened. I struggle not to wallow in self pity but I feel like the cliche individual who retires and then physically falls apart. I have had a long history of insomnia and that is now greatly impacting my coping with my PHN. Have been taking Ambien CR but it appears to have stopped working for me. PCP is going to have me try trazadone. Tonight will be the first time. When I can sleep 5 or 6 hours my overall coping is better. I haven’t had a good cry in awhile, but maybe I am due for one. Again thanks for taking the time to respond. Jeaneen

Thank YOU Jeaneen. I felt later that I had hijacked your rather positive post, but I just felt it all pour out. I find I can say things here, rather than to family members at times, knowing we all understand and it dosn't sound self-pitying--it's just sharing what we're dealing with. There's a quote I liked (my daughter's boyfriend was drafted by the Montreal Expos and he said how other's didn't understand him, thinking he was bragging "it's aint bragging if it's fact".) I believe, "it ain't whining if it's fact". How's that?

I had to quit my very part-time job because of the PHN. I was on leave for two  months, came back for four months, but between the Gab brain and the pain, it didn't work. I've worked since I was 16, so this was and IS hard.  I agree "fell apart", my parents were VERY active, Dad was a nationally ranked tennis player into his 80's, so that's what I figured would happen with me too.

IT ALL STILL CAN GAL, WE WILL GET BETTER!! I do think a good cry can help too. This was a different med induced cry, this was a normal, "gee this sucks and I'm not sure how much better it will be" non-emotional (if you get my drift) cry. And sleep definitely makes a difference. It is a fact that as we age, our sleep patterns change too and PHN and the meds can alter it even more. I NEVER took naps, and I find myself dozing now, but I feel better afterwards.

If I'm being perfectly honest, to me, it seems weak to be in pain or to nap during the day. Hey that's not ME, that's couch potatoes!! Well, the judgement's on the other foot now. Oh how the mighty have fallen LOL! One thing about this, it does teach compassion and realizing that you never know what others are dealing with.

Babs- well said. I have had to allow myself to be a bit of a couch potato of late. Between the pain of PHN, the bitter cold here too, and the lack of sleep, the past few weeks have been particularly hard. My goals today are to get some laundry done! I had a very demanding job and was quit active so the new reality is hard to accept. Thanks again for sharing. I think anyone going through the PHN course is going to struggle to stay positive day to day. Jeaneen 

Hi Babs. It’s been awhile since I have checked into to the site with you and Charley.  I am happy to report that I am doing better after more than a year and a half of PHN.  Yes, the skin sensitivity is still bad at times with clothing.  I am managing it better.  Got down to 400 mg on the Gab and that seems to be about right for the PHN and neuropathy.  I still find that any stretching, don’t know how to describe that or stress makes it worse.  I still wear the lidocaine patch when I have a long day out.  Other than that, an ibprophen or two and lidocaine cream make it manageable along with a lot of interesting things to distract me from pain.  Babs,  I hope you are back to ballroom dancing and Charley, thank you for your wisdom in dealing with this awful PHN.

Hi Ruth, I've wondered about you too, so it's good to see you. Ironically, yesterday I finally got back to dancing. The ribs have, also, finally healed. I fell back on 8/28 and it took this long to heal. I had to take off about a month to let them heal, then my lessons would have been on the "Eves" so there were no classes AND we were out of town. I was REALLY rusty, and discouraged, feeling I'm too old, too decrepit, too everything to even bother. But my tough, but gentle instructor helped me get thru that and I felt REALLY good afterwards and today. My pain is level is lower, my mood is better all because of dancing. If anyone else would have said that, I'd say bull. But, I do believe activity and blood flow helps, movement increases joint fluidity, focusing on something else and using my brain successfully all add up to a general improvement. I'm feeling more hopeful now, but have decided against a big competition in April. I've lost too much practice time and I don't need the stress until I'm more comfortable. Last year I had hoped this year I'd do it, now I have to accept it will be next year (it's a yearly competition, WI State Ballroom Championships).  Good on ya' on that Gab!  I'm down to 1300, and I can see an improvement in my memory and functioning. I also have fewer negative side effects from the tapering and I do see either and end to the gab or at least getting to a much lower level that won't have an impact on my brain. The memory loss and vagueness is terrifying at times. When I went from 1600 to 1500 there was the first, really noticeable improvement. I became "me" again for the first time in over a year.

You, Charlie, Jeaneene and Merry have helped me so much.