I had asked a question over a week ago regarding shingles and received some great input to my question. Now I have another one that maybe someone knows the answer to. I have been diagnosed with shingles and have had a ras for almost 6 week now. The Dr. put me on antiviral meds. which made me itch all over so I had to stop taking them. No I still am itchy in some places but I am noticing some bumps where I am itchy. The are abouth the size of a pimple. Not alot of them just a couple areound the itcy spot. Could this be a mild from of chicken pox? I know that shingles is from the same virus that is doormat in your body after you have had the chicken pox, which I did when I was around 5.
If anyone knows the answer please let me know!
Thanks in advance.
Shingles and Chicken Pox are pretty much the same thing except that shingles can hurt like crazy. I had shingles while pregnant and they were spreading (but not hurting) so I had to go on an anti viral.
Did they give you a patch to wear? That helps a lot. Otherwise, can you try another anti viral med - different brand perhaps or not a generic?
Sorry you're going through this.
Did you have the blistering rash when you were first diagnosed? It could be that they are just coming up now. I would get a blood test to be absolutely sure that this is what you have. I have never known it to last for so long, but I am not an expert or Dr. In the mean time here are some home remedies that you can try to get some relief.
You can apply wet dressing to soothe the burning sensation
Avoid being in humid areas. Always keep yourself cool.
Keep the blisters open and dry. Do not burst the blisters by scratching.
To provide relief, make a solution by mixing 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar in 2 cups of water. Use a cotton cloth to moisten the affected areas by using the upward movement.
Baking soda and water solution can also be applied as a cold compress.
Avoid food which contain amino acid such as chocolate, cereal grains, nuts and seeds.
I don't know the answer to this, but I wanted to suggest emu oil for your itchy spots. When I had shingles, that helped more than anything. You can find it at health food stores.
What I do know, is that shingles only effects one side of your body, so if you're noticing breakouts on both sides of your body, it might be something else. It was my understanding that you couldn't get chicken pox again though, but I might be misinformed on that.
I don't know the answer to your question, but just wanted to offer hugs. I have had shingles THREE times! Every time I just hear the word I cringe. I truly hope you get better soon!
F.:
Shingles is a strain of the Chicken Pox. Please contact your primary care physician and get checked out.
The antiviral meds aren't working or the rash you have is related to something else - whether it be a topical allergy or something else - but the rash I had for shingles didn't last six weeks.
Have a blood test done to find out what exactly is going on in your body. Have an allergy test done to find out what you are allergic to - POSSIBLY - that keeps this rash around for more than 30 days.
GOOD LUCK!!
It is still the shingles coming out... I know when I had shingles it took 3 months for the rash to fully go away and had these awesome pain med patches to put on the rash spots (they were wonderful!!!). The antiviral that is given does not really work unless it is caught with in 24-48 hours of when shingles starts to become "alive." Those who said the antiviral worked for them are lucky they got there in time, it did not work for me and there really is no antivrial to take that will help if it has not worked the first time... now you have to do pain management, maybe a blood test (if not done already to make sure) and work through it. Yup it sucks but you can get through it.
I have to say it took about a year for the areas I got shingles to calm down and be back to normal (got shingles in Feb 2010, by March 2011 back to normal). By this I mean the rash/bluster area was healed BUT the nerve damage took that long to stop causing me pain. Now on very rare occassion do I still feel pain in the area I got shingles, maybe ever other month and the pain is usually gone in 1-2 hours. I have heard it takes a good 3 years for the nerves to fully heal and no longer cause the pain (of course depends on who mild or major the case of shingle outbreak is, so shingles can last a long time or a short time depending on your body).
Your chicken pox look a like really is shingles not chicken pox (yes shingles is the dorment virus but it is just that not a second case of chicken po) BUT beware that a person who has not had chicken pox can get chicken pox from your shingles if the area is not healed yet. Keep it well covered and wash your hands well after touching the area.
Most likely is is still the Herpes Zoster virus in your body erupting.
Google Herpes Zoster for images and I'll bet the pix of the little red bumps looks similar.
It can take a year for someone to get over shingles.
Are you on anything at all now? Maybe they can give you something for pain?
Try putting Maalox on the itchy spots.
