Painful shingles

[doadeer]

I have developed shingles, been given 2 antiviral /biotics from gp and amitriptyline as it's infected. It's under my arm pit, around over my breast and shoulder. It's enormously painful it's making me sweat.

Anything I can do to ease the pain until drugs kick in?

[allen200]

I had shingles a couple of years ago, calamine lotion was my saviour when it was in the painful itchy stage, along with an antihistamine and then when it had scabbed over, coconut oil really helped to heal the scabs and stop them from itching so much. Hope you feel better soon, shingles are NOT fun!

[allen200]

Also cream designed for chickenpox helps too.

[doadeer]

Ohhh I'm hoping it doesn't scar.

How long does it take to improve?

[YummieMummyof3]

Hi Op can I ask how old are you? I have been looking into getting the shingles vaccine, however, it's only available to the over 50s I can't remember the cost.
Sorry to hear that you have been suffering. I hope you feel better soon

[allen200]

It started scabbing over around weeks 2-3, would still get extremely itchy but coconut oil definitely helped. Stopped being itchy after about a month then did take a really long time to fade (sorry!) but it did fade eventually! How long have you had it for?

[doadeer]

Ohhh goodness that's so long. It's in my armpit and crazy painful. Not itchy just so sore. I'm 32

[choosername1234]

Don't forget you can take paracetamol & ibuprofen alongside the other medications

[jimpamdwight]

Hope you're ok op! Mine was in a similar place and actually started to clear up very quickly once I started antibiotics, just to give you a more positive look at it!

[HappyAsASandboy]

I had shingles when I was 21. Around my rib cage, front and back, under boob level.

I took the antivirals, but not until day 4 or so. I have heard that they are more effective if you can get them earlier.

For me, the spots were itchy as hell for about 3 weeks; I found a tight smooth vest too was most soothing as material moving on them was so so itchy.

After about 3 weeks the spots scabbed over and lasted a few more weeks. The itch eased at this point but I still had a fair amount of pain until about 7 weeks.

I had shadowy scars for a year or so. They faded and eventually went away.

Shingles is a horrible thing.

[longwayoff]

You need painkillers, ibuprofen possibly best as it's anti inflammatory. I'm sorry to tell you that you may have residual pain for a few weeks after spots have gone. All my sympathy, it's a horrible thing. Keep a pack of Acyclovir in the house in case it returns.

[jerometheturnipking]

I had shingles in November and definitely recommend ibuprofen every 4 hours. At the time it felt like my life would just be the horrible skin and nerve pain forevermore, you have my sympathies op Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[doadeer]

Can you take amitriptyline with iboprofen?

[longwayoff]

Yes you can and with acyclovir. Do it ASAP. Good luck, hope its gone soon.

[longwayoff]

Hope it's improving OP.

[Joolsin]

I thought ibuprofen shouldn't be taken with chickenpox, so surely it wouldn't be advisable for shingles either.

[Merrlin]

No, it's totally acceptable to take painkillers with amitriptyline. I took Acyclovir from the Canada Drugs Online pharmacy and they also mention paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin can go with it. However, it's important to avoid taking opioid painkillers as they can cause side effects.

[longwayoff]

Are you sure OP that you've got amitryptyline? Which is not an antibiotic. Have you got ampicillin perhaps? Either way, the ibuprofen etc should be fine though.