Shingles

Hello @oliver22, welcome to Mayo Connect. I've never had shingles but have received the shingles shot to hopefully prevent getting it. I'm sorry for the pain you are going through. Have you had a chance to talk with your doctor to tell him the gabapentin is not working for you? I would definitely make sure he knows it's not helping. Mayo Clinic has some treatment information on this page - http://mayocl.in/2rAnjH7.

I'm tagging a few Connect members who have talked about shingles in hopes that they may be able to provide some information. @elainesharon, @ladyhawk, @apriltbo1995, @mkat5955, can you provide any suggestions for @oliver22?

John

@oliver22 Hello Oliver, I am sorry to hear of your six-week long bout with Shingles. That sounds very uncomfortable. If the current med is not working well for you, I hope that you contact your doctor about another drug. The Mayo website regarding Shingles that John provided offers some alternative meds, take a look at that and then discuss with your doctor. I would also like to invite @mariemarie into this discussion. She recently had a bout of Shingles and may be able to offer some encouragement and thoughts as well.

Thank you Teresa!

thanks John i had epidural shot between 2 n 3rd vertabrea 12 days ago nothing!

Hi Oliver - was the epidural shot to treat the shingles? I agree with Teresa about contacting the doctor to see if something else might work better. If it's been 6 weeks and you're still in pain I would be making loud noises to the doctor. Have you tried any topicals/creams to see if they help?

Hoping you can find something that works quickly.

John

13 days sice the shot feel same pain level six weeks of shingles with constant pain sometimes level 8 lidocainepatch help some thks for your input and if you have not....get the imune shot to prevent it.

I had two bouts of Shingles but thank God they weren't bad. The last one was caught early - within a day - and the dr. prescribed a drug whose name escapes me and it worked. I understand the pain is god-awful and my hopes are that you feel better soon. About 3 years ago I got the Shingles Shot which gives a person about a 60% chance of not getting the Shingles - heck, it's better than nothing. Medicare doesn't pay for it but my supplemental insurance picked up a good chunk.

Thanks for your response, @shoregal45, It is encouraging to know that there are good meds available for dealing with this painful disorder. Teresa

I have shingles on an ongoing basis. Dr ordered Acyclovir 400 mg, 1 tab 2 times daily once I feel the tingling. Homepathic Rx works as well using L-Lysine and Vitamin C. Ask your health food store or look it up on line. I had the shingles shot but don't go there it makes it worse at least mine did.

I had chickenpox as a child, got both shingles vaccines about 2 years ago and just got shingles. I take Lyrica daily already which the doctor changed to gabapentin and the shingles med. I have a 10 day cruise planned for over Christmas. Am I going to be able to go?