Shingles

Hi Clementine, sorry to here that , yes they are a wicked thing to have the pain is so bad , I do hope he improves
Soon . John.

PHN not PNH !

Hi John, I hope you continue to feel better. My husband had a terrible bout of shingles back in May. he's been left with PNH ( Post herpetic nerve pain). He was prescribed Lignocaine patches and gabapentin medication . Six months on things are much improved. There is help out there but you need to ask for it ! We did our own research and GP was happy to comply

Thankyou for all your help the rash is drying up and I feel a tad better thanks again John.

Possibly I would take some antihistamine and try to keep cool - in both senses of that word. I hope you feel better soon.

Thankyou it is the itching more in my head that is driving me up the wall the sore rash I can cope with but do you think the itchy head is linked with it please Thsnks John.

If it is merely prickly and itchy you could try anti histamine tablets such as Piriton and or cream (Anthisan) but if it is still painful and shingles can be excruciating, then go back to your doctor.

Forgot to say I been putting Coconut oil on the rash it cools it is this ok, Thanks John.

Thanks for your help but please I only have one days supply of the tablets left and I still have the prickly itchy sensation do this mean they have not worked and should I go back to the Doctor? When should the prickly itch go away do it mean I still have it, Thankyou, John.

I hope that the Acyclovir does work John.

I'm presuming that you did not have the shingles vaccination, not everyone can have it.

However, although I hope you won't ever get shingles again, if you do feeling that pricking, burning sensation along the nerves in future, you will know to go straight to the GP for the Acyclovir tablets.
Perhaps your GP may suggest having the shingles vaccine when you are completely well again.

Calamine lotion can help to stop itching, or Caladryl cream.

Take care.

Acyclovir is only really effective when treatment starts within a very few days of the onset of shingles.
Given that shingles is caused by a virus which we carry and which strikes when we are run down, perhaps your body was doing a reasonable job of fighting back.
Sometimes post shingles pain can last for months. Prompt treatment with the Acyclovir can reduce that.

You might be suffering from shingles without a rash (although you have a rash now). It's isn't common, but the antiviral medication should help. I expect the GP gave you pain medication too.
I do hope you get relief soon, shingles pain is horrid.