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.
I was diagnosed with shingles 2 weeks ago. I had all the classic symptoms but the rash was not bad. I did take the antiviral medicine within 48 hours and I believe that helped. Now, three days after the ending of the antiviral medication I am having the same beginning symptoms of pain, rash, itch in the same areas that it started in. Has this happened to anyone else? Since the antiviral is out of my system are the shingles emerging where they were all the time?
Sorry to hear you got shingles. Your symptoms are very typical. The shingles virus usually runs its course from 2 to 10 weeks. However, that period is only a guide and the length of the affliction can be different for everyone. Unfortunately after shingles has run its course some people suffer from postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which can last for quite a while. Shingles is just a really awful virus.
It's actually quite good that you took a course of anti-virals. Most research concludes that medicine helps limit the damage from shingles. Talk with your primary care doctor about possibly adding neurontin (central nervous system medicine to help combat PHN), antihistamines (for the itch), and OTC or Rx pain killers for the pain.
Key takeaways for myself were: stress in my life and my response to that stress, as well as living a healthier lifestyle more generally.
Hang in there - this too shall pass and you'll come out of this a stronger person!
In my life I too try hard to eliminate stress as I feel it was the biggest cause of me getting the shingles. I have found that the doctors are not forthcoming in telling you that you will suffer pain long after the blisters go away. PHN is a daily way of life for me now.
I hope you heal soon and get all the rest you can.