Shingles Support Group

Hi Sandy. Sorry you are going through such a hard time right now.
I have recurrent shingles/PHN. It is a nightmare to live with. Is this your first bout of shingles? If so, I highly recommend that you get the vaccine. It was too late for me.
Were you also given an anti-viral medication by your physician? If not, why? That is so important.
Suggestions: I get so tired I feel like I am going to drop at times. Now, after a horrible bout of shingles in August, I broke my foot. I am in a cast. And that is a complete other story. Very hard!!
Are you taking any supplements? There are many good writings on this website. I take calcium/magnesium/zinc; vit. D3 (5,000 mg); B-12 supple. Oh, important is Lysine. It is the amino acid that is lacking in our systems. When argenine gets out of control and our immune system goes down, shingles can happen. Why it happens to some and not to all I do not know. Why the rash just goes away for some and others never get nerve pain is another. Doctors sometimes do not understand the severity after shingles rash heals. My primary did not really understand this at first because I have the pain/nerve problems anyways. I also take Gabapentin and nor Oxycodone for this. I usually take Norco. I am seeking further follow-up with a UC Davis neuro clinic and a pain mgmnt doc. My body has been through much. This foot break is really hard on me.
Hope this info helps. As for your hands, I do not know what kind of work you do. I have had carpal tunnel surgery for both wrists. My numbness is now in my right foot. If this is new for you, hopefully it will just improve in time and/or it might even be related to the medication. If not, a neuro is a good place to start.
Hugs to you. Hope you feel stronger soon.
Colleen

Thank you Colleen. this is my first time with shingles; I thought I had a pulled muscle in my back and then 4 days later, the pain was into my tummy, and I was vomiting; thought I would die. Dr thought kidney stones. Then put me on pain meds, etc. and I broke out with a rash on my right side. I went to a new doctor after the rash showed raised bumps. She gave me antiviral...acyclovir 5x a day for 10 days. She says I have PHN. Never do I want this again. My hands falling asleep she says is unrelated, but only started once shingles began. That is why I asked, seems odd to me.
I am an accountant, so on the computer at least 6 hours a day, but isn't it strange that it happened at same time as shingles?

Last night was a better night I must say. Less pain meds were needed. Maybe the worst is over. Thank you!

And btw; so sorry you broke your foot. I had a broken foot several years ago, but was not caused my weakness just an accident.

Get better soon and thank you again!

You are so welcome! Glad you feeling better.

This thread is a little old and you probably have recoverd and went on your way. But if you are still here, yes one of my first problems was the arms and hands swelling severely and numb and couldnt get up cause I couldnt push of with my hand hubby had to come in and pull me up, now I got the hospital bed and it is helping alot.I push the buttton and the head of the bed raises up so I kinda catapult myself up LOL