Wow - I too am now battling shingles. I was diagnosed with a mild case on my upper arm about 6 days ago. They put me on antivirals on the 2nd day of rash. It has really helped. They actually biopsied two places just to confirm since I caught it very early.

I have had electric and pins and needles sensations, but nothing really bad yet. I am waiting - I know that the nerve pain can really kick in after the rash has dried up. My neighbor had really good luck with amitriptyline which is an anti-depressant but used for dulling nerve sensations in shingles. My doctor told me to call her the minute I had this type of pain so that she could prescribe. They felt that it was caught very early and with use of the antiviral medication perhaps I would have an easier time. That is yet to be seen. Ice bags have helped me on the location of the rash.

I know what you are going through and am sure that many on this site also can add their 2 cents worth. Keep in touch with your doctor until they find something to help you cope better.

Sending hugs your way and know that I completely understand!!

Linda

I just got over these dreadful things. I did oatmeal baths, cortisone cream, valtrex and rest. It is aweful. I hope you heal fast. I took a lot of deep breaths and prayed extra hard

Thanks Linda and pitt RA. I have been back to my GP again today to get stronger pain meds so I can get some sleep. Thanks for your advice. A gentleman in the Pharmacy told me today that his wife had relief from putting apple cider vinegar on the rash. .As you both know, it's just horrible.

I had them before meds were available..I found relief by laying right on them. guess the pressure helped... Had them for 3 weeks then had the pain for what seemed to be forever.

Thanks, Cassie, for your input. I have managed to get some sleep the last couple of nights with stronger painkillers but pain is still about 11 out of 10.l
Go back to see my GP tomorrow.

Well hell. Add me to the list. It never occurred to me that I could get shingles in my early 40s, but yay. And its on my face/eye. What a great year, eh? I did not pick up the codine prescribed, because it doesn't hurt so much as itch/sting. After reading this I think I'll pick it up tomorrow, just in case.

Angel- make sure you get Lyrica...preferably NOT the generic.
And Famvir - again preferably NOT the generic.

I assume you already got these though. Lyrica was a life saver for me with shingles

Oh, I'm praying for all of you! I had shingles several years ago, before RA diagnosis. It was horrible! Some of the worst pain I've ever had. I was having to take narcotic pain meds with ibuprofen every two hours after.

I pray that you all get over it very soon. I wish I could offer advice, but I just had to suffer through it. Oh, I was taking valtrex, I think it was. Isn't that the anti viral?

My first out break was in 1982 while the wife and I were stationed in Japan. Breaks out on the inside of my right thigh just below where the jockeys ride. First out break was horrible, could hardly walk, let alone do my duties. Finally got a week bed rest from the base Dr. Now I have learned the effects that start before the actual break out, my lower back hurts like hell, spot that breaks out starts to tingle and become very sore, then the break out. As you have them, they usually become less frequent in recurrance, and smaller in area that is broken out. I can certainly agree with everyone that they are horrible and very debilitating. Charlie

I found out this week.i gave shingles, I thought it was poison sumac but now I know what it is. I can't sleep at night and I take the medication for it and looks to be drying out. Just want it to hurry up and go away.

Also mine is on my right side neck and top of shoulder and above my armpit. Just ugly i felt like a blister monster lol.

Like Ladybugg, the first time I got shingles, I thought it was a horrible case of poison ivy. But I have found out I was lucky that I mostly experienced only moderate pain and much more itching. It was my worst experience, and have had mild re-occurences since. Funny, my rheumy just recommended shingles vaccine to me this morning and was going to require it if going on a different med (that we decided against).

I had shingles after my foot reconstruction in 2009, plus aggravated by a bad sun burn. It took me 2 weeks to figure out what it was, and take some Valtrex I had for cold sores.

Valtex didn't touch it. The itching was deep and painful. I finally went on Famvir for a month, and it got it under control, till the next three times. Once a year for 4 straight years! The good news is I haven't had it since!

I had a soft ice bag, I would wrap it around my arm with a large rubber band. That was the only way to sleep. I did not know anything could be worse than RA, but shingles was!

Get treatment immediately, ask for Famvir, because of the compromised immune system. If you wait, it is much harder to treat!