Shingles

Hello
My advice would be to schedule an appointment ASAP. My doctors would never prescribe medicine without seeing me. Is that even ethical?
Anyway, get checked and have labs done to rule out other medical conditions.
So sorry that you are not being properly treated. I once worked in a health department and heard about how painful shingles can be.
Best of luck
Rox

Note: CONTAGIOUS! !!"""" Stay away from expectant mom's

I have had shingles myself. I f.you can see the dr within 72hrs of the shingles appearing there is a course of tablets that you can take. Unfortunatley your shingles have passed this stage. Please personally go and see the Dr. Medications shouldn't be prescibed like this. You need something to control the shingles from spreading anymore. You are in my thoughts and I hope you feel better soon. Piglit

Thanks. I did go at the beginning. That is how she initially decided on the medicine. However, everything that I read says the rash should only have been for several weeks, and it has been three months - although no blisters after the first two weeks - just red, itchy, bumpy rash and a left arm that is very painful.. The doctor told me that it was not contagious after the blisters dried. I was just trying to find out if what I was experiencing was within the "normal" range and if it would eventually go away.

Piglit isn't that horrible to treat someone suffering over the phone? What kind of doctor is that?
Poor thing.

Well, in fairness, she may have been trying to save me the cost of going to the office - since money is always tight. I have no problem with the phone messages, I was just trying to find out if the length of the bothersome rash was normal. Thanks for your care.

Oh if you were diagnosed in person that's different but suffering 3 months is horrible.
Keep calling and say the shingles are not healing properly ...perhaps she could give you samples because docs do get tons of samples.
I hope you heal soon.

Not good unbelievable to me. As to the length of time the shingles have occurred. Feel sorry that this situation has occured in this way. Piglit Not sure what the dr was thinking.

Hi in fairness to you the dr should have seen you and maybe not charged you for the visit. Unfortunately for you in this situation the shingles which is a virus as you know has continued to spread. This is a trait of shingles if left untreated. You have been the one that has been placed in a position of great discomfort. I have only had shingles mildy and they were bad enough. Please if this continues go and see someone else I just don't want this to get any worse for you. Take care please let me know how you go

I sent a report on my PHN to Mayo Clinic Community on 11 March 2012 as follows (in anonymous mode):-
I had Shingles from from mid-July to mid-August 2011, while on a visit to Phoenix(US). The area was on my torso on left side, in a patch of 4 inches, all round, starting from 2inches above belly-button to back center line. Dr prescribed Acycyclovir on the first day itself. After all the scabs fell off, Post-Herpetic Neuralgia started appearing. At first i was having pain in my lower part of the left lung, even while walking. I was virtually dragging my feet. The pain was severe while on a road trip, due to bumps of the vehicle. Any light clothing, like a vest, was giving an electric shock like sensation (allodynia) on the area affected. The cool air from airconditioner was giving a burning sensation & ceilng fan's breeze was giving electric-shock like sensatons. One day I tied a crepe bandage of 6inch width,(like the one used for Varicose Veins condition), all round the torso covering the area, and slightly tight. The effect was good, that i had less pain & skin sensation of clothing, & walking was pretty comfortable. Only it had some restriction on the full expansion of my lungs, which was tolerable for the period of walking. Now I keep my torso bare while at home.
Slowly the walking got better & i could attain 75% of my usual speed in 3 months. But the pain while road travel remains, & is a bit less with the crepe bandage in place.
So I avoid road travel nowdays & undertake only if essential.
I engage myself in some activity or my hobbies all thro' the day & do not brood over the bodily discomforts. By God's grace the sleep at night is comfortable.

Thank you for sharing. If you have had this since last summer, I guess three months for me is nothing to worry about. It definitley is not a pleasant virsus; and since I have a challenging job, it has made life rather stressful. However, at least I won't be concerned about the duration. Thank you.