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Recurring shingles
I have had shingles on the right side of my right knee...7 times in the last 2 years. I am sure this is not normal. Buy my doctor does not seem too concerned. I am concerned due to the continued zinger nerve pain that I have in that spot all of the time now. Also, I have been previously diagnosed with epstein barr virus and chronic fatigue syndrome so when the shingles hits me; I feel so irritable and miserable. It makes my chronic fatigue flare up and I just have to let everything run its course. My doctor gives me a stand-by prescription of an antiviral medicine to help shorten the shingles cycle. Can someone help me figure out why this is happening. Should I find another doctor? Should I just press the issue more with my current doctor?
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It may be that you have “cold sores” on that knee.
Herpes simplex is capable of colonizing sites other than
the area around our mouth.
Your doctor can send out a culture if you want to find out. Longer term treatment with oral antivirals such as
Valacyclovir daily has been used safely for prevention . If you don’t
want orals topical antiviral meds will help when it occurs.
Have you noticed any triggers for your outbreaks?
Please try this:
1) have your doctor check out your iodine levels just in case they are low.
2) Supplement with iodine 12.5 milligrams and
3) Take a 500 mg pill of lysine in the morning and another 500 mg of lysine at night.
When you feel better (possibly in a week) , take the above combo for three more weeks to put the virus in remission. You have nothing to loose. Try it.
Stress is my trigger. And I take Valacyclovir when I feel the shingles come. She does not want to put me on a daily antiviral medicine. And does not recommend the shingles vaccine. I will ask about a topical. Thank you.
Why would your Dr. not recommend the shingles vaccine? I might be getting a second opinion on that one.
This is NOT medical advice, as I am not a medical provider.
However, I have persistent sarscov2 infection. This virus activates dormant viruses- like epstein barr and shingles. I have had shingles several times since I had covid, even though I was vaccinated for shingles. Yes, shingles are quite painful.
Your symptoms do sound like many of the same symptoms that the millions of people who have “long covid”, or post covid sequela syndrome (pcss).
Most physicians do not know anything about pcss, as it is only a 5 year old disease.
You could ask your doctor about pcss.
Good luck.
My doctor said that it is not recommended under the age of 50 and insurance will not cover it for my age either. This is why I am inquiring on this forum.
Got ya. I think that it is 60 or 63 they start paying for it. My sister got the shot when she was under 60 and it cost her $300.00. All I know is . . . . you don't want to get those shingles.
The shingles vaccine would not
help with your current outbreaks.
Good idea to keep it covered to avoid transmission with skin to skin contact when it is active.
Treating the outbreaks is the most
reasonable approach. Sorry you have to deal with the nuisance recurrences. Have you seen a dermatologist for management?