Diagnosticado hace una semana con Culebrilla. El brote en la parte baja de la espalda está casi curado. Tengo dolor/ hormigueo en la cadera y pierna externas. El médico me dio recargas de Aciclovir. No estoy seguro si debería seguir tomándolo debido a los otros dolores o dejar de tomarlo y esperar a que no haya más brotes. El médico está fuera de la oficina durante el fin de semana. Por favor, denme sus opiniones/experiencias.
I was late going to the Immediate Care, given Acyclovir for 7 days then followed up with my doctor. Extreme pain and stabbing pains stomach and back on right side. Bottom line from my Doctor was good luck, will prescribe a narcotic only if I cannot stand the pain and discomfort. I am 9 weeks in. Age 72, very active before this. Had the vaccine. Luck to you
Hola Ju. Lamento mucho que tengas herpes zóster, es horrible. Ahora llevo tres meses y acabo de empezar a sentir que estoy llegando al final. Los míos estaban en la espalda, alrededor de la ingle y la pierna. Fui mal diagnosticada y me dijeron que tenía dermatitis de contacto, así que quizás fui un día o dos tarde antes de descubrir que tenía herpes zóster por otro médico. Ella me recetó famiclovir (no estoy segura de la ortografía) durante cinco días y adasol 30 para el dolor. Lo usé durante unos días, pero tenía algo de tramadol sobrante de una dolencia anterior, así que lo usé para ayudar con el dolor. Cuando se acabó, me las arreglé con tylenol de venta libre. Después de dos meses y con la erupción aún presente, fui a ver a otro médico y ella me recetó pregabalina para el dolor nervioso, lo que ayudó. Ojalá la hubiera tenido desde el principio. Comencé con un buen régimen de vitaminas de un multivitamínico, 500 de vitamina C, 2000 de vitamina D3, 2500 de vitamina B12, lo que me ayudó a recuperar mi energía y a sentirme menos deprimida. Soy una mujer activa de 75 años y esto me descolocó, había estado bajo algo de estrés antes de que esto ocurriera. Ahora estoy de vuelta caminando sin dolor e incomodidad. Todavía un poco de mi pierna con sensación de congelamiento y hormigueo, pero eso va y viene sin mucha incomodidad. He dicho mucho, pero esa ha sido mi experiencia. Espero que te sientas mejor pronto.
You need to ask the doctor, but I believe that they normally prescribe a dosage that is used in that 7-10 day window and not refilled. I'm not sure why he gave you refills. How long did he say to take it and at what dose? You could call your pharmacist, they may be able to help explain this. Remember, it is not a cure for shingles, but it can slow down or almost stop the replication of the virus if caught soon enough.
How soon after your first symptoms were you diagnosed and given the meds? It should be given within the first 72 hours to be effective. Unfortunately, the pain may last a few weeks or longer, the breakout is only one sign of the infection. The real battle is internal. You have a virus which is affecting your entire body, not just where the rash is. You may have headaches, nausea, and especially severe fatigue. REST is the mos important thing. As others mentioned, there are meds that can help with the pain. I used (and am still on one year later) Extra-Strength Tylenol 3 times a day, Aspercreme 4% Lidocaine and a previous prescription NSAID. I'm also on Neurontin/Gabapentin for pain. Other's mentioned pre-gab, also known as Lyrica. It helps with the pain as it breaks up the nerve signal, but has a lot of lousy side effects. Rest will keep the nerves from reacting too much. Avoid anything that increases the pain--I know that's hard, but you do NOT want PHN, which is the pain due to nerve damage, which is what I have.
Estoy de acuerdo con las sugerencias de Bab sobre descansar mucho. Se me olvidó mencionar. Me dijeron lo mismo: más descanso, más descanso y más descanso, que es lo que tu cuerpo necesita para combatir este horrible virus, y si lo fuerzas, ralentizarás tu progreso. También cuestiona la duración del tiempo que estás tomando el antiviral.
Hi Ju,
I am sorry you have Herpes Zoster-Shingles.
Regarding the duration of Acyclovir, the correct dose is 800mg 5x daily for 7-10 days. The only reason to extend the medication would be if you were having a spreading or dissemination of your Herpes Zoster-Shingles or if you were immunocompromised.
As it sounds like you are beginning to heal, I would stop it after 7 -10 days.
There are some things that help to heal faster. As you probably have read from other friends on this site, you need to rest and sleep. You cannot power through this. This virus is circulating throughout your body and gives you the symptoms such as headache, aches and pains, chills and sweating, malaise, fatigue and exhaustion. Your job is to eat well and to rest and sleep.
The more active you are, the more painful, the Shingles area will become.
Ice works to soothe the area.
If you are still having pain, please see your Physician and request Gabapentin and an Opioid for the pain. If your pain is not controlled within the first month, the risk markedly increases for the development of Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN and or recurrent Herpes Zoster-Shingles.
I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States and have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every twenty-one years and twice in my right eye..
I hope I have helped you.
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana