Shingles, worth hunting for antivirals on boxing day?

[Labradorlover]

Been sore and itchy in a band around my stomach/back on one side since Thursday evening. Starting to get rash as well.
Having googled, it would seem that I've got shingles. Advice is to see doc within 72 hours to get Aclovar (?) antiviral.
As tomorrow is boxing day,and the only way to see a doc is to go to hospital, can anyone tell if this is worth doing to clear the pain and itching up quicker? Or as I'll be near the time limit for antiviral treatment should I treat myself at home.
I've got Co codamol and Amytryptaline (spelling?) for back pain anyway.

If you can get antivirals do. Shingles can be horrible and you want to try to get it cleared up as soon as possible. Do you have an out of hours GP, also if you go to A&E early tomorrow you should be ok as most people only go early if they are properly ill on bank holidays!

Do it without delay! DH is recovering from shingles on his face and very much wishes he had got his antivirals a day or so earlier than he did.

Cold sore cream is the same (aciclovir), from a pharmacy. If you can't wait for the doctor!

yes - its worth it, IME shingles can be very painful once it takes hold and anything that can help is worth it IMO. You can also get longer term problems from an attack of shingles (in terms of nerve pain in the area) so anything that can reduce the severity of the attack is a good idea. - hope you feel better soon. (certainly take painkillers though as well)

Thank you for your replies. I'll go to local hospital tomorrow. They have out of hours GP and minor injuries service there.
Also is there any point in taking piriton for the itching. I don't see it recommended anywhere.

I don't think piriton would do any harm labradorlover, - have you got any calamine lotion - that can soothe it a bit, - or if nothing else I found a flannel run under cold water and squeezed then held against the rash helped a bit.

Thankyou all again. Can't get over how efficient NHS24 and hospital were on boxing day. A doctor phoned me back in 15 minutes and I had no wait at the hospital!

yes it is worth it. I didn't and as a result, I have post herpetic neuralgia, which is basically where the infection SCARRED the nerve.

If the skin isn't broken, emla cream (sold at pharmacists) can help with the itching

I found a strong cold shower on the affected area did help a little.

You poor love - I had shingles (on my face/ear/eye) in October, only just got my energy levels back. But the rash was HUGELY helped by the antivirals - so glad you went and got them!

Take it easy, really - rest, rest, rest. Hoep you feel better soon, xxx

Okay another question. Have been taking the antivirals since yesterday morning and the rash isn't developing anymore.Hasn't spread , but also no fluid filled spots like I was expecting. Skin stills feels "burny" and itchy and sore though. So have I got away with not having oozing spots or is that still to come.

And would it be foolish to go to work on Wednesday (my job involves standing/walking the whole shift).

I never got blisters Ll - the pictures you see on google seem to be fairly extreme cases, I think you've got a good chance of not getting blisters now you've started on the anti virals.

Not sure about work, it will depend (obviously) on how you feel, but even if you feel up to it, you can technically pass on chicken pox to someone who hasn't had them when you've got shingles, so probably best to phone work and ask if they'd rather you didn't.

I never got blisters either, as I started antivirals pretty sharpish. Just burny feelings on skin, and stabbing pains internally (but that is probably because of the location - pains were behind ear and eye).

Agree with Kurri re work - see how you feel, and ask them what they'd prefer if you DO feel up to it. But if you are very tired, don't go: it will take you longer to recover. I napped every afternoon for two weeks - and I am so not a daytime napper!

From what I've read, shingles is less infectious than chicken pox as only the fluid from the rash has virus in it. So even if I had the blisters,if they're covered the risk of passing on the virus is low.
However, seeing as I've spent the last 2 days on the sofa and didn't really sleep last night due to the pain, I think I'll give work a miss.
Any ideas how long the pain/sensitive skin goes on for?

You're right about infectivity - its catching from the blisters, so as long as either you don't have any, or they're covered and you wash your hands after covering them, you are not a danger to anyone.

Sensitivity went away gradually, but tbh it took about 3 weeks for main sensitivity to go and even then I would get pangs of it when overtired or cold - for about 8 weeks. Not awful or needing painkillers (after 3 weeks), just an unpleasant reminder.

Very glad you're not going to work, maryz is right, exhaustion took me aback - I kept going in v v low gear, iyswim, but it still took a good 5 weeks to feel anywhere near normal energy levels again, and even then not great. I was also very susceptible to colds/flus so another reason to stay in for a bit longer!

Dh was pretty wiped out for about a week - the antivirals contribute to that. As for the infectivity, dd (5) has developed chicken pox right on cue.

DD 4 just went back to school the week before xmas after having chicken pox.
Doc I spoke to on phone said in his experience being in constnt close contact with CP could trigger the shingles. Doc at hospital said that was a load of shite.

Only the labradors left to get infected.....