Shingles

[lilcl95]

Hi guys
First post on this topic

I've got a shingles rash on my thigh, was confirmed and prescribed antivirals by a doctor which I started taking last night. I managed to get a video appointment with my actual GP this morning (I have trust issues 😂) who also confirmed it, but she said since I've had the rash since Sunday that I should stop taking the antivirals.
I've stopped taking them but now I've been stupidly reading other threads and people shouting that everyone HAS TO TAKE ANTIVIRALS for shingles.
I've got a mild burning pain down my leg and feel a bit run down so it's a mild case, presumably cause I'm only 25 and otherwise healthy.

Any advice?

I had it when pregnant and didn’t take anything. It was only a mild case luckily, but you certainly don’t have to take them, especially if a doctor told you not to! I thought they weren’t effective once the rash has appeared.

I had shingles and never took anything. They were a bit painful, mostly just uncomfortable though. I slept a lot and recovered no bother

Thank you both, that's reassuring!
I'm starting to worry cause the top of the leg has started to burn more than I noticed before. Not sure whether it's cause I'm now conscious of the fact that it's shingles or whether it's just generally starting to kick in!
Doctor also gave me Canasten HC cream which says don't use on shingles rash but they said not to worry about that

I thought the anti-vitals didn't work if you started taking them later than 72 hours from when the symptoms started?

You have to start taking them really quickly after symptoms start. They only minimise it, don't take it away. You don't NEED them. It will clear on its own. It's just shit in the meantime

@jiltedjohnsjulie yeah you're right, but when I had the initial consultation last night, I said I noticed the rash on Sunday so he prescribed me them ASAP. I hadn't really thought about it since I didn't really consider shingles until it was mentioned. It was only this morning after talking it through with my doctor that I realised the rash actually started on Saturday and she said that I shouldn't bother taking the antivirals

I was given antivirals - 5 days after diagnosis with shingles, apparently to avoid post viral neuropathic pain. I took them for three days then stopped without finishing the course. No pain issues left over.