Shingles

[Stephen1]

And not the type on your roof.
I have shingles erupt on my head, should, back and chest. My description is someone poured a kettle of hot water on my head and it ran onto my shoulder, chest and back. At its worst I had blisters and massive red welts,
I am 5 weeks into this mess and am looking for homeopathic fixes that will let me sleep at night. I have been thru Tylenol 3, other drugs from the Dr. Right now I am using Advil and Tylenol together. I can usually keep busy enough during the day , so that I can ignore the pain. It is the night time that I need some help. I really need some sleep.
Any thoughts are welcome. Cheers

[thecfarm]

That is not good. No help from me,but I hope you get better soon.

[Onthesauk]

I feel so sorry for you!  Have heard it can be miserable.  Not much as to suggestions but from what I've heard it should ease up soon.  Just keep telling yourself, just one more day.

[LAZERDAN]

I don't know for sure, but the dog had sores and the vet said ALOE I have to say I think it eased his pain, and healed very quickly.  just my 2 cents, and it's cheap.   get better soon   Lazerdan

[sprucebunny]

The amino acid L-Lysine is supposed to help surpress the virus. Available at most drug stores and doesn't usually have side effects at 1000mg/day.

[711ac]

I think your just about done from what I've heard. I just had them a few weeks ago but it was only a "cluster" about 4" long on my belly. The Dr. said that was good, like getting a "booster" (if it didn't get any worse) and would work like the shingles shot that they have. I'm not trying to be funny, and I don't drink, but would a good stiff shot or two of whiskey at bedtime help? It would put me to sleep.

[Stephen1]

Thanks Sprucebunny, I will try that tomorrow.
The whiskey only works for a few hrs
I like that, only one more day!!!!

[sawguy21]

I had it, had no idea it would hurt that much. :'( My doctor prescribed Valtrex but the important thing was treating it early.

[mesquite buckeye]

I've had them 2 1/2 times. :( Just know that they will pass. Both of the major ones followed a time of high stress and exhaustion. Every time it was less bad.

For some people the pain never leaves. I have a spot on one shoulder that always is a little itchy.

[Chuck White]

Wow Stephen1, my heart goes out to anyone who goes through that agony!

I guess I'm fortunate, I got my shingles shot 3 years ago and was told that I should get a booster at 10 years.

The bad part is that getting the shingles shot is not a guarantee, but if you do get the shingles, it is usually less traumatic!

Get well soon my friend!

[sandsawmill14]

believe it or not i had the shingles at 19 :-\ they were just across my back and right side right at the waist where my jeans and belt go absolute worse backache i ever had  i  went to the doc and he gave me a shot and some pain pills that i could take 2 a day that really helped for 3-4 hrs each but that was a big relief. that was in 1991 so before the dope heads had got so bad that the docs are afraid to give pain pills to people that actually need them >:(   i feel for but you should about have whooped so just hang in there ;)

[SLawyer Dave]

I had them several years ago.  It started with what felt like a dull muscle ache, so my wife used some topical mentholated cream on the area.  The next day I was out cutting wood, and it felt like my skin was on fire.  I thought I was having an allergic reaction to the cream, so I loaded up on anti-histimines and kept working.  After a couple of days, I realized it wasn't an allergic reaction and finally went in to see my doctor.  He immediately diagnosed it as shingles and gave me 2 anti-viral drugs that seemed to really help.  The rash stopped spreading and within two days the pain was pretty much gone.

The downside was that because I waited so long, it did spread over most of my left side and shoulder and I have had some occasional neuropathy.  Luckily, I don't get the burning feeling much, more like pins and needles, or my skin "crawling".  So don't put off going to the doctor and make sure you get those anti-virals in you as soon as possible.

Also, everyone make sure that you get the Shingles vaccination as soon as you can.  Generally you can't get the shot until age 60, but my doc says that if you have had shingles before, you can get the shot at age 50, so while I don't like shots, that one is definitely going to be on my post birthday plan in September.

[Ron Wenrich]

I talked to a gal yesterday that had recently got shingles.  She said it started off with small welts, and she thought it was a spider bite.  They kept spreading for 3 weeks.  They did go away, and she said they weren't too bad.  She had gotten the vaccine shot, so she didn't think she would get them.  Without the shot, maybe it would have been worse.

[Jeff]

I have had them too. In 2010 just after, maybe even before final recovery of Pancreatitis. After going through the pain of Pancreatitis, the shingles, for me were tolerable, but I think if I had not been tempered into the pain, they would have been horrible.  If you are 5 weeks in, I would think even if you come up with a homeopathic treatment, odds are the virus will have just ran it's course versus the treatment having been of any effect.

I'm going to move this to our health section where Doctorb is more apt to see it.

[Roger2561]

In the mid 90's I too suffered from a bout of shingles brought on by an incredible amount of stress.  It was concentrated to the left side of my face just above the left eye wrapping around to the left ear.  Thankfully it didn't affect my eyesight.  But, it was perhaps the most intense pain I ever felt.  The analogy of boiling hot water is as close as it gets but it doesn't let up.  Unfortunately for me, there was nothing available either over the counter-top or at the Pharmacy that would do anything to alleviate the pain, even the prescription the doc gave me did nothing for it.  All I can offer is, it will over time get better.  Good luck to you and I'll pray from you for a quick recovery.  Roger

[doctorb]

You bring up 2 issues in your post.  The first is the pain associated with shingles.  It can be severe and it is neurogenic, meaning it originates from nerve irritation.  Standard pain meds, over-the-counter or prescription, do NOT treat neurogenic pain well at all.   So those patients taking over-the-counter medication still have significant pain, and those with access to prescription pain meds just get drowsy.  Sometimes, meds like Neurontin and Lyrica are successful in treating the nerve pain of shingles.  These can take a while to get the dosing correct, so many patient are frustrated on them as well.  Bottom line is we don't have a very good handle on lessening neurogenic pain.  So the treatment of shingles pain remains fuzzy and somewhat ineffective.

The second issue is the desire for a homeopathic sleep med.  I'm sure you've seen all the suggestions and potions online that are "natural" solutions to this problem.  These may help, but i don't think they are strong enough to overcome the night pain associated with shingles.  I might suggest you try and catch up on some sleep loss during the day with a nap, if your schedule permits.  I know it doesn't sound like much of a doctor recommendation, but many patients seem to be able to deal with pain during the day while they are active and engaged in life.  At night, your brain only gets to focus on your shingles pain, and very little stuff will be effective in alleviating this problem, prescription or otherwise.
The good news is that, given your time line, the worst of your problem is probably past and you will improve soon.   Good luck.

[Ozarker]

Hypnosis for pain management (as well as healing) can be quite effective, if you can find a hypnotherapist versed in that (those).

[North River Energy]

Knew a guy who suffered a bout of shingles, wrapping one side of the torso from spine to sternum. Said it was a bit like having a framing spike driven through his body from front to back. (Probably exaggeration, but then who knows?)
After a week of lost sleep and general discomfort, he got a prescription for Valtrex/Zovirax (Acyclovir).
If memory serves, there was a significant improvement that first night, and the situation cleared up shortly thereafter.
I understand your desire to find an alternative treatment, but you might want to reconsider your position.

As doctorb mentions, nerves are kinda persnickety.

[Stephen1]

Hi Guys, Dr B thanks. I did combine some advil and tylenol and it is helping me sleep. I at least am getting 6 hrs which works for me, and a rest before dinner. I also have some beanbag type chill bags, I am keeping in the freezer, and then sleep on them. It is helping me get that sleep, and then the sleep helps you deal with the irritating pain. Thanks guys!

[doctorb]

There is no question that the future of treating viruses medically is changing.  Acyclovir and other anti-virals are being used in many different medical circumstances now, and often with good results.  I would like to Eecho North Energy's post.....Stephen1 and Ozarker mention non-traditional methods as a desired alternative to exisitng treatments for diseases.  These can be quite effective, but they have not been shown to be effective in all clinical situations.  So "looking" for a non-prescriptive or holistic treatment is fine, but if they have not been effective in your case, do not be so rigid as to continually avoid other more traditional treatments.  Both types of medical care have their place, and patients should not only consider one or the other.

[Stephen1]

There is no question that the future of treating viruses medically is changing.  Acyclovir and other anti-virals are being used in many different medical circumstances now, and often with good results.  I would like to Eecho North Energy's post.....Stephen1 and Ozarker mention non-traditional methods as a desired alternative to exisitng treatments for diseases.  These can be quite effective, but they have not been shown to be effective in all clinical situations.  So "looking" for a non-prescriptive or holistic treatment is fine, but if they have not been effective in your case, do not be so rigid as to continually avoid other more traditional treatments.  Both types of medical care have their place, and patients should not only consider one or the other.

Hi doctorb, I do agree that both medical care have a place. I am just in week 7 now, and I was just looking for something that might help. The Dr, had me on Valtrax when I first developed this, and it was working quite nicely, now I was very close to the end of the 72 hour window when it was diagnosed.  After I had taken it for the 7 days I was improving and asked for an extension and was told that's it, only allowed to take it for 7 days. Since then it has improved but very slowly for sure. i was given Tylenol 3 with codene, but the side effects got to me( constipation) and I was given some other pain killers from the Tylenol family, but I had issues with those also. I was just looking for some help at night to sleep as I find going to the DR a pain, in the sense it uses Time. I now use a bean bag type of chill pack at night, Tylenol, and sometimes I combine Advil with the tylenol and I get 5-6 hrs sleep. Most of the skin burns, sores, are gone, only some residue scarring is there, it seems to be mostly the nerves are my complaint, mind you, before the chill pack, there is a small area that does get very hot and itchy, especially in hair.
I have a feeling that I will have this for a while, stress seems to fire it up for sure, so fishing season will be great, and I got the mill out today to saw some wood and we all know that is a great stress reliever. 8)
thanks doctorb!

[elk42]

Stephen1 have you tried Tylenol PM it helps me to sleep with my hip pain. I don't take it regular, so it works for me when it flares up.

[doctorb]

If Motrin (Advil / Ibuprofen) helps, why not try Aleve (Naproxen), which lasts 12 hours.  May prolong your sleep time.

[rick carpenter]

I got a pain-killer and two anti-virals for the mild case I had over Christmas. I was lucky, the pain seemed to be only on the skin rather than deep down. One thing I learned from being allergic to poison ivy is that endorphins are a natural pain reducer. I would get in the shower and turn on the water as hot as I could stand it, then let it hit the shingle rash areas for about five minutes. Seemed to help for a few hours, but you have to protect sensitive areas!

[Jim_Rogers]

Hey doctorb:
Is there anything to take, over the counter, to prevent you from getting shingles?
I hear if we have had chicken pox that the virus is already in us. How can we prevent flair ups?

Jim Rogers