give your provider a call and ask them to call in the acyclovir instead. You take it more often but it works just as well. The cheaper generic price is far worth the pain of taking it more often. acyclovir is way cheaper than valtrex.
did you have a recurrence of shingles that you are on medications again? if so, did they confirm that it's shingles with testing or were these just visual diagnosis of shingles?
Acyclovir, time and Ibuprofen have been the best healers, in my opinion, even with taking neurontin. If I lower my dosage of Acyclovir below 600mg/day, the symptoms (right arm pain and blisters) begin again. My dermatologist told me I will probably have to take Acyclovir the rest of my life.
All of this began after opthomologist took me off of Acyclovir after nine years of daily Acyclovir (400mg) to prevent a recurrence of herpes iritis (eye disease).
even shingles would've responded to acyclovir. also typically they also test for shingles when they do the herpes lesion culture. if they didn't , your provider can call and ask them if they still have the culture in the lab to do so.
how long has this been going on?
a pelvic shingles outbreak would not cause symptoms in your arms too.
did your provider also swab this rash for bacteria too?
time for a trip to the dermatologist monday if at all possible.
I am also 23 and I had shingles when I was 19. Its an adult form of the chicken pox and I know it hurts like hell. Unfortunately it will last for a month after you start your meds. You should see another doctor because if in fact you have shingles, it's a virus like the chicken pox, and antibotics won't do anything. You need a viral med. I was prescribed valtrex.
She first suggested shingles so gave me the acyclovir and also tested for HIV to see if my immune system was compromised- that came back clear. She then said it wasn't shingles because it happens most months and also happens in the exact same place which cold sores would do. She also said menstruation is a common trigger.
I find it odd that she hasn't tested me but have started the acyclovir - should I go back and ask for a test?
Do shingles and herpes look the same on the back? Does getting HSV-1 trigger shingles?? My god if I ever figure this nonsense out. I have genital HSV-1 for goodness sakes. It is not supposed to hang around chronically! I ran once at 10 a.m in Sun for 30 mins 2 months ago. Got a 3 inch round on my back. Did not test. I am so over it.
Brian, the arm pain is shingles without a rash. I am 100% certain of it, as I dealt with the misery of it for months last fall. You need high doses of acyclovir. The pain relief will be rapid. Do not discontinue it quickly though, as the backlash is awful. Stay on it as long as your doctor will allow. If your dose does not give you relief, try a mega dose. I had to take 800 mg/day, five times per day. I ground it up between two spoons and swallowed the powder with water.
On 8/14, I came down with shingles and blisters. My urgent care provider prescribed Acyclovir for 7 days and pain medication. I completed the medication for the 7 days. I saw my physician on 8/25 and he told me that it was healing nicely. On 8/27 it felt like it was coming back, so I saw my physician a second time. The evening before, I called the urgent care clinic that I went to on 8/14 and they prescribed Acyclovir a second time for 10 days.
I ended up getting my first fever blister 7 years ago and started taking Acyclovir for it, so I decided to try it for my glandular problem and it seemed to work.
My last doctor said that it could be shingles, not genital herpes because high fever does not accompany genital herpes. I have a new doctor who has not seen it yet because I always try to nip it in the bud. I just take Acyclovir and it seems to do the trick.
Can you tell me what it sounds like I have to you?
Thanks for the reply.
I had chicken pox when i was 5. The doctor who prescribed me acyclovir diagnosed it as shingles right way though he didn't do any swab test. I was under a lot of stress (stress from work, family) last few months. So, is it possible to get shingles from that? Is there any other case of shingles you know at this age?
In the course of a few days he broke out in a large rash that was misdiagnosed as a fungal infection. After things got worse he was admitted to the ER the rash was easily recognized as a shingles outbreak on the S2-S3 dermatome area. He was then given a course of Acyclovir to take. Now he is having severe bladder spasms/pain, especially at night. My question is this - is the shingles outbreak related to the bladder spasms/pain, or is the most recent BCG course most likely the cause?
I've on acyclovir for shingles prevention and had a one night stand 14 weeks ago. I had a blood test at the 7 week mark and it was negative. When should I have my next blood test to be sure I'm negative.
There are other medications out there to manage your shingles - have you tried valtrex or acyclovir? There are medications for nerve pain. I think you should speak to your doctor about a plan to get off if you feel you can, there are meds that will help.
For me personally, I've lived with chronic pain for years and the fear of how I would feel without the pills was worse than what I am actually experiencing.
The doctor thought it might be shingles or a herpes outbreak! She put me on 800 mg of Acyclovir 5 times a day. I have had 9 doses and it seems to be getting worse not better. I have had bumps come up and form blisters within just a few hours today. HELP!!! I have been around about 100 kids under 5 over the past month and at least 2 of them have been diagnosed with chicken pox, which I had as a child and I had the shot... Could this be herpes or is there another explanation?
probably just after effects of the shingles. There's no way Acyclovir is the culprit. Also the fact you felt really good from the medication was a coincidence. Headaches can be a side effect of depression/anxiety. Treat that and you treat the headache.
Is it possible to have shingles on labia area? Could it be psoriasis, and what type of physician would be best to have an examination. Gynocologist or dermatologist?
You should have told me your partner had already seen a dermatologist and that your partner is being treated with acyclovir. The way you asked the question suggested the diagnosis of herpes zoster (shingles) was your partner's suspicion, not a professional diagnosis. It makes a big difference. The dermatologist is the person to ask about diagnostic tests.
That the derm doc recommended acyclovir indicates s/he believed your partner had shingles.
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