Shingles pain is the worst thing EVER!!

Posted by hollyrayne @hollyrayne, Jul 25 5:43am

Returned from vacation to end up in ER with what I thought was gallbladder pain. It was so intense. 8-9 out of 10. Scans showed clean. They told me it was soft tissue/muscular. No one mentioned shingles. 2 days later the rash was full-blown. RUQ rib cage to back extending down to stomach area.
I am on fire. Went to family dr 4 days later. He said "oh my I am so sorry " and prescribed valacyclovir (which gives me horrible side effects/flu-like symptoms) and gabapentin (which does kill the fire a bit). This is the worst thing. I had a horrible case of chickenpox when I was 8. It was inside and out. I hope I can clear this sooner rather than later. Day 8 from first onset of pain. Any thoughts on calming the pain?

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bajjerfan | @bajjerfan | Aug 3 12:56pm

In reply to @charliesophiedaisyro "I like the idea of the medical tape. . ." + (show)

@charliesophiedaisyro

Is that the same as paper tape? I used some from the doc's office to hold some gauze pads in place. It was on my abdominal area about belt high. When I took the tape off it left a big red shedding spot about the size of a quarter that took a couple of months to heal.

tillymack | @tillymack | Aug 3 1:15pm

In reply to @hollyrayne "UPDATE:I am now 2wks plus from the onset of pain. I am fairly much stabbed over..." + (show)

@hollyrayne I've never had shingles but thought patients would be treated with valacyclovir until symptoms subside...?

hollyrayne | @hollyrayne | Aug 3 1:50pm

In reply to @tillymack "@hollyrayne I've never had shingles but thought patients would be treated with valacyclovir until symptoms subside...?" + (show)

@tillymack
I was given the valacyclovir, but not within the recommended 72 hrs of my symptoms beginning which is when it's most effective. Additionally, if you scroll back up, I mention that the side effects (headache, nausea, stomach pain, etc.) made me discontinue it.

hollyrayne | @hollyrayne | Aug 14 8:00am

UPDATE: It's been 4 wks now. My pox are scabbed over and most are healed (scabs came off). I still have pain which is worse at night. If I don't move, I'm mostly okay. Taking gabapentin for that 200mg. It's prescribed at 3x/day but it only lasts about 5-6 hrs most days rather than 8. So some days it works out to be 4x/day. Not great but it's getting me through. Hopefully only a few more weeks to go to be completely free of this.

mrsjohn101 | @mrsjohn101 | Aug 26 10:02am

In reply to @charliesophiedaisyro "I like the idea of the medical tape. . ." + (show)

@charliesophiedaisyro did it work for you? I used paper medical tape available at a local pharmacy

hollyrayne | @hollyrayne | Oct 1 10:35pm

UPDATE: I still have pain. Today is October 01. I am still taking Gabapentin at 200mg 3x/day. Yes I have seen doc again and the above was just to be continued until pain is done. I have been dxd with PHN (postherpetic neuralgia). Yay me-NOT!
I've been reading stuff online and looking up Youtube videos. Does anyone have recomendations on natural remedies to heal the nerves that are proven? I've added a few vitamins to my regimen. Also wondering if anyone has intel on the Scrambler therapy that I've heard about. Which doctors perform this?

sarajmeyer | @sarajmeyer | Oct 2 5:20am

I have had PHN FROM SHINGLES FOR OVER TWO YRS. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING. Nothing worked. The band of pain is still there but tolerable. I just have to live with it. Still get on my trike everyday. Being outside helps tremendously.

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