Regressed? Got better and then got new rash and feel worse

Infections
1

Hi, my husband got shingles, he just turned 50.

He felt a weird ache sensation under skin but not muscle on his right side 10 days ago ( day 1 ).

A few days later he noticed rash on his belly he thought was dry skin or bug bites. he was also feeling he was coming down with something thought it might be flu. 

Day 7. Multiple rash with blister, on right side ( belly, back, buttock ) Bad headache right back of head. Finally emailed his GP in  the afternoon and got antiviral ( acyclovir 5 times a day )in the evening before pharmacy closes.

it seems antiviral has helped his headache. It went away the next day.

but rash continue to spread like wild fire. Area afflicted got 5 times bigger. covering much of his right side, lower back to buttocks, also to belly. Hundreds of thousands  of blisters.

on his right groin area, he developed a pink/discolored patch, no blisters or rash, just skin color turn pink and then slightly darker and expanding.

day 10: yesterday he was feeling better energy wise.  although still awful looking, rash area has not changed much. Some blisters have turn very dark red. So far the rash area, though really large, has not been too painful, but it is getting more sore and uncomfortable.

day 11: today he woke up feeling exhausted although he slept ok. Now also discovered several new bug bite looking rash spreader along on his right arm. Now we are thinking maybe virus has spread to the arm.

my question is: why new rash? Did antiviral stop working? Has anyone experienced this kind of regression?

He is 50 years old without known health issues but now I am thinking his immune system somehow might be compromised. maybe he should ask his doctor to prescribe some blood test, what kind of test?

He is finally going to see his GP. But maybe he should ask to see a specialist? Dermatologist or neurologist?

Sorry this is a long post. thanks for reading and I’d really appreciate your response.

2

No worries about the post you have kept a good account of his progression of this disease. I see how caring and loving you are! It will help when you see a specialist to see how your tracking of his progression & the timeline.

I agree with you to see a specialist ASAP, then all his medical history and meds, supplements can be considered along with a good treatment plan. Lyrica is a bio drug helps with nerve damage. Ask about hydroxyzine HCL, a RX pill for the itch. Works better than antihistamines.This will help keep it from spreading if he does not scratch and protect the blisters with pressure bandage from fluid spreading then the rash can be contained. See pressure bandage online to make your own or ask your doctor for a RX. 

Stress seems to also be a factor for shingles or exposed to chicken pox by children who may or may not know they are infectious. He is only 50 so sorry he seems to have a serious breakout. Which is hard on the family. 

See online the many meds and creams  and techniques used to help with the rash and blisters. Generally the fluid from each blister is what spreads the rash. 

One last important thing to remember once the rash has cleared get the new shingles vaccination asap. This is very important. It is not too late to get the virus vaccine once there is a breakout. Once the vaccine has been administered then all future breakouts will be far less severe and less frequent. 

Keep in touch .

 

3

I would like to add that there is a new vaccine coming out I hope this month and I am waiting on it. I have RA and take Xeljanx for it. While taking Xeljanz I can't take the one out now. Just might ask your doctor about that. Good luck. So sorry about all this. Those of us that have had shingles can certainly sympathize. Diane n

4

Some bio drugs really help stop the damage from RA. in some cases it may take a few months to take effect. I had taken etanercept and stopped taking it for awhile as it does interrupt the immune process to receive flu and zoster vaccine. Not taking bios at this time.   Especially during flu season here. I don't know where you live but the flu this season has been the worst in a decade.

 Depending on how long you have been taking a bio drug it can improve quality of life. I hope you are doing well and continue to do so! 

Have a great day! 

thank you for your comment,

 

5

Most of my blisters were in my mouth and throat.  Started on the right side of my tongue.  Two days later I had them on the right side of my throat.  Two days after that, there were blisters on the right side of my palate.  Two more days went by and I had one blister on my right collarbone and a few on the right side of my lower back.  The entire time I was exhausted, had flu-like aches, and the worst headache I’ve ever had.  A day or two after the exterior blisters appeared, I started feeling nauseous and that lasted for 2 weeks.  I lost 22 lbs in that time, as all I could eat was Jell-O.  The nausea finally went away as well as the blisters, and then about 5 weeks into it, I got a lone blister on the right side of my back about halfway down.  12 weeks later, I’m almost completely recovered.  Still sleeping about 11 hours/night and my appetite is nowhere near what it was.  I’m down a total of 28 lbs.  So, I guess what I’m trying to say is this can go on for a while and can be quite different from the general descriptions you find on medical websites.  

6

Omg Kate. How have you survived? And this is from someone who has fought shingles three times and am fighting them off constantly. God bless you. I am on Xeljanz for RA and can't take the present shingles shot but can take the new shot coming out soon. Have you had a shingles shot? Good luck. Diane