Help needed with shingles

I had repeated attacks of shingles for a few years after I had chicken pox, and I feel for you. It's bloody painful. I was prescribed acyclovir each time, and it really cleared it up quickly.

The third time it happened, the GP prescribed me an extra course of acyclovir, so that I could start taking it at the first signs of an attack, and the next one was the last one I had for years.

That was nearly 30 years ago, but completely out of the blue I had another attack, albeit nowhere near as bad, just a couple of weeks ago. I did an e-consult, the GP rang me a couple of hours later, sent an electronic prescription to the chemist, and I started acyclovir almost immediately.

I'm old enough to have the vaccine, so will get it later in the autumn, but acyclovir sorts it really quickly.

You need antivirals ASAP. Antihistamines can help too. I hope that you feel better soon.

You poor thing. I was terribly ill with shingles when I was 29 and I was sofa-bound for over 2 weeks. I would honestly choose to give birth over having it again. You have my sympathies. Codine seemed to be the only pain meds that helped a little.

My daughter had shingles and like yourself she couldn't move without being in severe pain. It helped marginally to wear 100 % loose cotton next to her skin. Also I managed to buy a high % lidnocaine gel from Boots which did give some relief . I think it was higher than you are supposed to use, but at the time she just needed pain relief so used it. I think it was 10%

A pharmacy can pre .scribe antivirals some of the supermarket ones will be open or you can ring 111 you might get an out of hours appointment

Ok first of all doctors do not take seriously the impact that shingles has on your life. Ring 111 and see if you can get a GP app or walk in app today. You can get the antivrals by IV if its bad enough.

Pain relief is ESSENTIAL. Ordinary pain killers are useless, you need a nerve blocker like amytriptiline or ( even better) gabapentin. If you can, take a nerve blocker with an opiod like codine or co cocodamol. High doses of antihistamines. If you have a bath, wrap some porridge oats in a cotton or muslin cloth and hang from the bath tap. Run a warm bath with the porridge oats and soak for as long as you can, it really really helps. If you dont have a bath hang it from a shower head.

Tight clothing or even bandages to stop the scabs rubbing or being exposed to air also really helps.

If you go to the hospital/GP, tell them you want antiviral and nerve blocker painkillers as chances are they will not offer them, so you may have to get a bit arsey to get what you need.

You have my utmost sympathy OP. I had shingles 2 years ago that lasted 3 months and covered half my body. I had to demand all the meds/painkillers ect as doctors couldnt give a toss. Its utterly soul destroying how painfull it is. I hope you feel better soon.

Ask for referral to an immunologist.

Pretty sure my friend used this with shingles www.boots.com/poxclin-coolmousse-10076517. It says children with chickenpox but she said it caused immense relief. My husband used Piriton and said it gave him relief too. I would definitely call 111 though.

Call 111 and you might be able to get antivirals/medication to help with pain