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?
I went to see an OBGYN for painful swelling and bumps in my vagina/vulva. At first he was 90% sure I had herpes. But it didn't make sense because my husband and I have only had one partner. Then as the test results came back, it showed negative for herpes and positive for a virus.
I'm sixteen years old. Young, yes, but I have had the shingles.
It started off as a just a pain on the ribs underneath my left boob and when it started to turn into a rash about five days later, I went to my school nurse and explained. She immediately sent me home and that day I went to the doctor. It's rare for someone my age to get Shingles, but I did. And I don't think I could have stood the pain if it wasn't for the codeine. He gave me Acyclovir and I'm glad I took it.
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?
I have had shingles for a week now. 10 spots on back, 10 under arm. They seem to be going away slowly. Minor pain in back muscle. I did not take acyclovir. Is it too late to start now? I feel lightheaded all the time, was wondering what was wrong with me.. could it be from the shingles?? Maybe I should start meds. Don't know. Second time I have had it. First time in 1989 was not stressed at all. This time was very stressed.
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?
one day i went to go check the pills she gave me because i was on birth control and wanted to know if it would affect it so i looked up the name acyclovir to find out it was for the herpes simplex virus....i freaked out and called and asked them why they gave me a pill for herpes if i didn't have that and the nurse on the phone told me that its for more than one thing and that its best not to google things cause it give me false indications.....
It freaked me out cause I am just 28 years old, so i went for HIV testing and it was negative. I am now curious to know if it is common to have shingles at this age, what could have possibly caused shingles on me (though i think it is because of stress)? Do I have weak immune system? Do I need to go for another hiv testing? or see a primary care doctor?
I would be very thankful if you put your expert idea on this matter.
Also, if the shingles and bladder trouble are causally related, what should be done to minimize the trouble now, and what is the most likely time-frame for things to resolve (or progress)?
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.
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?
There's a vaccine out now for shingles. I have a prescription from the doctor, and the vaccine is commonly given at grocery store and drug store pharmacies. We should all be getting it to avoid shingles. I hope I don't procrastinate until I get them.
By the way, the doctor gave my husband a prescription for the vaccine, too, and he had the shingles a few years ago.
In case you don't know, shingles is a form of the herpes virus and there is a forum on medhelp called herpes community. I'm sure they can answer all your questions. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.
Hello,
It is good that the doctor has started with antiviral drugs for shingles. There is evidence that treating shingles with antiviral agents can reduce the duration and occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia. Steroids and antiviral drugs can help prevent long-term pain after shingles(post herpetic neuralgia) if they are started within the first two days of the appearance of the rash.
I hope it helps. Take care and regards.
Shingles (Herpes Zoster) is caused by varicella zoster virus (responsible for causing chicken pox also). Shingles does not occur in the genital areas.
However, a virus belonging to the same family, herpes simplex virus can cause genital herpes involving labia, which is a common and highly contagious disease transmitted from one person to the other through sexual activity.
The two conditions can appear similar, but the rash location is typical for shingles and very unlikely for HSV.
The only test for shingles is a swab specimen collected from the rash. But a dermatologist's examination normally is very reliable. They deal with herpes zoster all the time, and if s/he is confident of the diagnosis, probably no testing is needed. And I certainly see no need for you to be tested for HSV.
Yes they prescribed antiviral meds for shingles called Acyclovir (generic for Zovirax). I guess this med is used also though for herpes, from what I read on the pamphlet we received from the pharmacy.
So getting a culture at this point will maybe show negative? Is that because it's already passed several days or???
If it really bothers you, ask your doctor for acyclovir.
I am 28 years old. I had shingles around my left last month. I went to see a doctor, who prescribed me acyclovir. It in fact worked very well and the rashes were gone in a week after i started taking the medicines. I read that shingles is mostly common in those who are above 50 years old, with HIV, or it may also cause because of stress. It freaked me out cause I am just 28 years old, so i went for HIV testing and it was negative.
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