Shangles

Why dont you think you have shingles? It sure sounds like it to me. I have never had them but my mom and a couple friends have and this is exactly how they felt. One friend had it around her eye and it was terribly painful and itchy. It lasts for months. Is usually around the trunk of your body, itches and is painful. If 3 Drs have diagnosed you, Id say thats what you have. I feel for you. Im sure its miserable. Hope youre better real soon.

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It sounds like shingles to me, if it's not treated it can cause damage to other parts of your body. If it's not healing call the doc, well one of them at least, and tell them it's not healing and what next.

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I had shingles on my back. it was like a sunburn. I was 21 years old. Sucked!!

If the rash is not getting smaller or lessening after 4 days on medication, then you need to call your doctor. When I had shingles, they gave me a topical solution to put on my back. I couldn't wear bras...it last about 10 days. I had blisters at first that then turned into a rash.

Now that you've had it for over 4 weeks? i would go back to the Dr and let them know nothing is changing. Stress is another factor that lengthens the duration of shingles...it is a Herpes virus...

If you don't like what this doctor is saying...get a second opinion!!!

GOOD LUCK!!

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Sounds like what I had, but I didn't let it go 4 weeks. I was 3 weeks away from my due date and went to the doctor immediately. He put me on Valtrex (the Herpes medicine) and the itching stopped within a few days and scabbed over in a week. Be very careful, it can be contatigious. The worst thing you can do for Shingles and will make the problem worse is to use a Hydrocortizone cream, which we often use for rashes.

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It sounds very much like what I had when I had shingles. The itchiness is because the rash always pops up along some nerve endings which makes it easier. My Doctor also prescribed me Lidocaine Patches to help calm the nerve endings and make them less itchy. I also took an anti-viral medication and my doctor told me that as long as I finished the medication I could not be contagious anymore. I would still have the rash for several weeks (I think it went away after 3 weeks). It takes a while for it to go away completely. I had the rash about 2 weeks before going to the doctor but I was 6 months pregnant at the time.

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Good morning!! I am sorry you are going through this. I have to be at work in a bit so I won't be long.

I am a Pharmacy Tech and can tell you that there is no cure for Shingles. It is a Herpes Virus and the antiviral medication they have you on is most likely TRYING to reduce the amount of time you have the shingles.

Did this start out as blisters or just a rash? I can recommend that since it is in your armpit, to avoid further rubbing and touching, to put an ace bandage on or around the area. Yes. It can be more uncomfortable but having it there will help control the "itch" - if you go to itch, you will not be scratching the affected area directly, but on top of it.

Most shingles don't last for more than 30 days. I would ask your PCP to do a blood test and to get a second opinion.

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3 different Doctors?
What will convince you?

You have Shingles.
The way you describe it is exactly what having a case of Shingles is like.
I had a friend that had them on his back. He was single, so he had to hire a nurse/caregiver to help apply the medications every day..

He had a lot of discomfort.
A really bad case it is Very hard to get rid of.

Call one of the doctors and let them know after 4 days you do not feel any relief.

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My husband had shingles. He said it felt like a shotgun blast to his abdomen. He is a marine and not prone to whining but he said it was some of the worst pain he's ever had.

One thing a pharmacist recommended, which helped with the discomfort, was to apply plain Maalox with a cotton ball to the rash--since it's kind of like a skin ulcer. It helped him some with the discomfort.

My husband's aunt had shingles that lasted over a year! So be sure to finish that medication and any others that follow--it can be very persistent and painful.

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I was diagnosed with shingles a few months ago. I just had the itchy rash. I had also heard how painful it was, but I never went through that. My doctor was very concerned that it would get worse though and put me on the antivirals. It didn't end up lasting terribly long for me and it was never serious, but I know that it can be. I hope you are better soon!

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it might not be shingles at all. Check out dariers disease. I have it, have had it since my first pregnancy and it flares up now and then, usually in the summer. It will appear along my bottom left rib bone and circles around to my back. It stays visible even when it's not itching and irritated. I've had it for 30 years. Your doc can prescribe a topical ointment that takes it away if a few days.
Here's the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darier's_disease
It is often thought to be shingles at first glance because it usually only affects one side of your body. Another thing that causes it to flare on me is if I use a lotion with lanolin in it. Check your products for lanolin... could be your trigger as well.

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If I were you, I'd ask for a blood test. They can test for shingles through blood work. Then you would know for sure.

That's an easy answer to your question. I'd do it right away before you miss that testing window. (Hopefully, you haven't already.)

D.

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Immuplex from Standard Process work like a charm within a week, even for the worst rash! I also have used it for chicken pox (same virus) and the symptoms were gone in 2 days. We have friends with baad shingles and literally within a week, they were perfect. 7 daily, so get the big bottle AND it works like a miracle for any virus, especially the flu.

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If you don't mind my asking, what makes you think the doctors are wrong?
It sounds like shingles to me.
I've had shingles. Severe, to the point of hospitalization shingles, but my friend's husband was complaining of pain and a rash. He let me look at it and I had one word to say...."shingles".
He went to the doctor and sure enough.....
Unfortunately, antivirals can't help much once you're already so many weeks into it running it's course. Taking them much earlier on can help with the severity and duration, but shingles basically just has to go away on it's own.
It's just my opinion, but until you're feeling better, I don't think you should be overdoing it and working out, etc. Getting hot and sweaty and then showering is just going to irritate the rash more.
Eat well, get plenty of rest and touch the rash as little as possible.

Wash your hands well. Don't share towels and wash them after use, especially while you have active blisters.