Shingles

[sad old git]

Hello All. My wife has been suffering from shingles for about two weeks now. She has been to her local gp and he put her on a 5 day course of antiviral tablets ( 5 times a day for 5 days) and they seemed to have helped to stop the nerve ending pain that she was experiencing which was in her words "bloody excrutiating".However, since then her gp has prescribed aciclovir cream and painkillers. I administer the cream to the rash which is confined from the spine to a short distance around her left waist. Some of the spots have blistered and dried out but there seems to be a small core of spots "about the size of a penny" that are giving her a lot of pain which seems to come and go meaning last night she was fine and today she is not so good I have w

[Jackdaw33]

Been there, done that, got the T shirt at the grand old age of 36 (many years ago). I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy; all I can say is that providing there are no further complications it should pass within 3 weeks, 4 at the most. I know what it's like, as you cannot somehow seem to get comfortable. It will take another week or so after the symptoms have disappeared to feel really well again.

[Samuraisan]

I also suffered from shingles a few years ago. It is the most painful condition I have ever experienced, including childbirth. Give her plenty of sympathy. It WILL pass.

[sad old git]

Thank you both for your replies, they are very helpful. The rash seems to be fading but the pain is still there especially in the mornings when it gets so bad she has to take painkillers and they do ease the pain quite considerably, my worry is that she may become addicted to these things,Hopefully not....We are just entering the third week now so hopefully things will start to improve fairly soon. So many thanks to jackdaw33 and Samuraisan. Greatly appreciated.S.O.G

[gingejbee]

Sorry to be the bearer of not-so-good news, but some people who have had shingles....have long-term pain at the site of the original rash/blisters. I hope it's not the case here!
More info...

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/postherpetic-neuralgia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[murraymints]

afraid the resulting neuralgia can take many many months to suside

[sad old git]

thank you all once again for your replies; very much apprecieated. I suppose all we can do now is hope that the pain will ease within the next week or so and hope for the best. All the best to you all S.O.G.

[xstitcher]

I also have had them about 25 years ago and Samuraisun's post took the words from my month. I only had 4 spots but the pain which lasted about 6 weeks was indescribable. Just a phone ringing was enough to set me off.
My commiserations to your poor wife with hopes that it will soon pass.

[sad old git]

thank you for your reply xstitcer as you say I hope the pain will eventually pass.At present she has been prescriebed codiene tablets which seem to do the trick but my worry is that she could become addicted to them....Sorry I am rambling on but I find you people are good to talk to to ease things a bit.All the best to all you ABRs

[ladyalex]

Please don't worry about addiction to codeine at the moment. Your wife needs the pain relief. Any addiction problems, which are unlikely, can be dealt with later when she is no longer in pain.
When I had shingles I took very large amounts of B complex vitamins and I think it shortened the illness.You can get them over the counter a Boots or wherever and they are unlikely to do any harm. Just a suggestion.
Huge sympathy for her, though. The pain is dreadful.

[Sqad]

Good advice from ladyalex .......don't worry about addiction.

Not so sure about the large doses of Vit B complex.

[murraymints]

as above..pain management is the priority !

[RATTER15]

Codiene is a very common pain relief medication, my partner has taken large doses every day for years and I have also taken it regularly, I have never heard of anybody becoming addicted to it, I also administer codiene to people at work everyday. Please don't Sperry about addiction!

[sad old git]

this is the fourth week of my wifes shingle problem and today is the first time she hasn't needed to take any painkillers. She says the pain still comes and goes mainly in the small hours when it used to wake her up and later in the day but last night she had a good nights sleep and so far today she says the pain is bearable without codeine so hopefully this is the beginning of the road to recovery???.

[Mamyalynne]

Sounds like she is through the worst, I know how very debilitating it can be - hope her recovery continues apace.

[sad old git]

Thank you mamyalynne.Hope so too

[1ozzy]

All the best to your wife SOG, hope it is all over soon.
Maybe you should cook her a brilliant meal in that new fangled halogen cooker of yours.

PS: My daughter loves hers.

[sad old git]

Many Many thanks 1ozzy. I think I will do just that this weekend. Pleased to know that your daughter likes hers. I still haven't used my main cooker yet.