Shingles Support Group

Herpes zoster, colloquially known as shingles, is the reactivation of varicella zoster virus, leading to a crop of painful blisters over the area of a dermatome. It occurs very rarely in children and adults, but its incidence is high in the elderly (over 60), as well as in any age group of immunocompromised patients.

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AusSue 01/18/2009

Hi everyone,
I know you arent Dr's but just wanted to know what others think.
Since Thursday I have been feeling awful, like I am getting a virus with aches & pains (more than normal), fatigue has gone thru the roof. I am tired after 12 hours sleep & struggling to do much at all.
I have one red spot on the base of neck/throat area that looks similar to what my last shingles was like. It has spread & is not itchy but is painful & feels like it is burning.
I am suspicious that it may be shingles again as I have been more itchy than normal (I get excema), not sure what to do.
Should I go to the Dr tomorrow or leave it & wait & see? What do you think?
Thanks, Sue

deleted_user 01/19/2009

Hi, I'm in Melbourne too. Sorry not a med dr just a naturopath who has PHN from shingles. Unless you have a fantastic relationship with your doc he won't give you anti-virals until there is a blister to swab and test. There probably is by now. If not you might have a mild case. You could always buy a bottle of lysine (used for cold sore herpes) from the health shop. Also St Johns Wort is an anti viral. I would take all in really whopping doses for about 3-4 days. Can't hurt you unless you are on SSRI anti depressants. Big doses of St Johns Wort could then elevate your seratonin so high it would make you seriously ill.
Hope this is some help
love
Ringtail

deleted_user 01/19/2009

I forgot to write Vitamin C
Ringtail

deleted_user 01/19/2009

Hi Ringtail:

What is a mild case? Isnt supposed that zoster only attacks one time? As far as I know if the zoster repeats is because is not zoster, its a herpes simplex case that is reincident and its behaviour is "zosteriform". I really appreciate your comments.

AusSue 01/21/2009

It wasnt shingles this time. It is an allergy, to what I dont know. It did clear up in a few days but comes & goes now.
Thanks for your advice, I have written it down to know if it happens again.

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