Help - I can't stop getting shingles

[BlisteringHell]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any tips for me. I'm in my mid 40s.

I have had shingles twice in 6 months. Second time I've got them they are twice as bad as the first time,

Gp is going to run a blood test but I know I am in good health as I had a work MOT blood test a few months ago. Only slight issue is I get low vitB12 every now and then.

I am at my wits end. The pain is unbelievable. This time the blisters are seriously weeping. I'm just relieved it's on my back and not my face. This time the patch is bigger than the first time and I'm worried it will just get bigger!

Does anyone have any tips or advice?

Gp said I can pay for the vaccine but have to be shingles free for 6 months first and I'm not managing that at all.

I know that piriton takes the itch away from chicken pox. Maybe that would help?

I took orovite 7 years ago and miraculously got over glandular fever, so rapidly even the doctor was surprised. Id give that ago.

Shingles is awful. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks ohio had never heard of orovite. I am going to order it straight away. I am so desperate I will try anything!

Personally I’d be checking out the emotional reasons for developing it.
More info on this blog here:
www.sarahjanedooley.com/blog/2017/5/12/trusting-the-process-learning-from-the-shingles

It really was like a miracle. Orovite 7. Don t forget the 7. My mum swears by it. It's a powder of orange you dilute and drink.

There are no emotional reasons why I'm getting it!

Second time I got it I was on a tropical beach with my feet up and a Pina Colada in my hand

I'm not meaning to be dismissive but I'm really not stressed or upset about anything. My life is about the least stressful it's ever been.

GP said some people it just happens with no known reason :(

I wish I could find a cause because I don't want to get it again!

Thanks ohio re the orovite7

Thanks for the link though lulu. It's good to read other peoples' journeys with shingles. Sigh.

My friend had repeated shingles for years. Eventually the drs agrees for her to take antivirals for a period of time (6 months I think?)

She's not had it since!

ohio that stuff is like gold dust! Out of stock almost everywhere. Will keep looking

getmeout yes the GP did mention that they will consider this for me once they've done a blood test. Problem is I can't tolerate aciclovir which is the one they prescribe. And at the moment, I'm not getting to the GP quick enough to take it anyway (they only give it to you if it's in the first 3 days).

When I go back I'm going to ask about other antivirals as there are newer ones that you only take one a day but they don't like prescribing them

How long is your B12 OP? Vitamin D?

It's for sale in tablet form in Amazon.

rememory I have to take vitD and vitB12 supplements as I don't absorb enough vitamins from my food (I have malabsorption but not all the time it seems - think it's something to do with dairy). Saw the gastro last year and they couldn't highlight a cause but said that vitamin levels weren't low enough for vitb12 injections so I take an under the tongue thing that is absorbed quickly. With that, my level just scrapes up to the lowest acceptable level. No matter what I do, I can't get it higher. VitD is fine with the supplement.

I'm going to mention this to GP. With this vitB12 supplement I don't fall into the category for injections but I am wondering if I should pay for them privately.

It's worth joining this group on FB and asking the question there. You'll be skewing your B12 by supplementing and if you're taking folic acid too that will give you an incorrect result. I'm not a Doctor but it's worth asking the question and seeing what comes back re shingles.