Your Questions About Shingles

I have a disability insurance policy that I pay through payroll deductions. Can they legally deny a claim?

I have been off of work ill since 11/1/2007. I have post herpetic neuralgia (nerve damage in my forehead from a shingles outbreak in 1999). I have filed a claim on this before and it was honored; now, I have filed again and the insurance co is giving me the run around. Its ok to file as many times as needed; but, their argument is that I have not seen a treating dr since my absence. I have seen my diabetes dr and he had been prescribing my meds for this but since they are questioning him, he referred me back to my specialist who can’t see me until 2/22. I treat this illness with med and I still have meds and I take it; it only makes me sleep and when I awaken sometimes the pain is still there. I take it again and sleep again. The insurance co says I should be able to work. I can’t because the pain is constant and causes me to miss work too much–my boss agrees. Is the ins co justified in denying my claim? Many meds have been tried-same results. PHS has a mine of its’ own.HELP!

What are some home remedies for Shingles that have worked for you?

I am a young woman who has no business having shingles, but, unfortunately, I get them several times a year (always in a small patch on my arm) and this has been going on for about 7 years.
The only thing that worked to avoid them completely was Valtrex, but it’s an expensive drug I can’t afford anymore. I use Neurontin for the pain once they go away, and it totally works.

I currently use tea tree oil to try and help the outbreaks go away faster (I think it helps). But the itching is driving me crazy and I’m tired of all the scarring it causes! I see conflicting information on different websites suggesting treatment of symptoms, so if anyone can give me some pointers on what has worked for them to alleviate the itching, I’d appreciate it very much.
Thank you!

is my baby doomed for birth defects? and malformation?

i just foiund out i was preg at 9 weeks… before i knew i was preg i was given meds… doxycycline, diflucan, azithramicin, ibprofen, cephalexin, and i had gotten drunk about two times a few weeks after conception would have occurred. then i just found out i have an outbreak of shingles. on my leg. i was given all those meds to clear up an infection well they did a pelvic exam and he said he thinks i may have a lil bit of PID but he anted to wait for my test to come back… is my baby bound to have malformations and birth defects.. i already have one child with health problems that the cause is very unknown and i did nothing harmful with that pregnancy.. so i am sooo worried that all this is goin on with me will it absolutely harm my baby? they gave me and ultra sound b/c i was cramping and said it looked good, tho there is a little bleeding by the placenta where it attached, and the baby heart beat is 168 i am 9 weeks.. is that a good heart beat?

Got a rash that is killing me and I cant figure out what it is?

Initially my legs were quite itchy, to the point of waking up to scratching. Small pimples appear mostly on my leg area, friction definitely triggers it and maybe sweating. I noticed after playing racquetball or ice hockey it was the worst. I haven’t been playing either sport in a while. I assumed it was my hockey equipment, but I haven’t played in months.

Lately, 5 to 10 small white pimple appears on legs. If I don’t put cream on them quickly, a red mark the size of a quarter will develop and it will itch and hurt, almost like a tact is stuck in my leg. I finally noticed my right leg is more sensative due to my work badge continually bumping that part of my leg, the inseams of my pants can cause irritation to. I have been using Bacitracin lately, but at first I was just using a skin moisturizer, which helps reduce the outbreaks.

I tend to line dry most of my pants and started to suspect a “outbreak” from my washing machine. I have bleached it since, but I think it is more likely that line dried clothes are not as soft on the skin and it is more a friction issue. We use a skin sensative detergent.

I been searching the internet for rashes and pictures of rashed, really disgusting stuff out there. I am freaked out that it could be scabies, but haven’t seen any pictures that match and nobody else in the family has this issue and it has been going on for almost a year. I doesn’t look like shingles , but it can be quite painful, it was really itchy all over my legs months ago, but now it manifests itself in a few white pimples with a red mark around them, they eventually turn red though as they heal.

I also started thinking about bed bugs, mostly get it on my legs, but sometimes on my back of my neck and no pimples but slight symptoms of a rash on my face.

I have been to the doctor, they suggested a low dose of an antihistamine and OTC moisturizer, helps but does not stop the symptoms. I also have not been great a keeping moisturized

Dentist prescribed an antiviral drug for CANKER SORES?

I am a frequent sufferer of canker sores (mouth ulcers). I always use Crest toothpaste (until now) that contains Sodium Laurel Sulphate, I have a horrible diet, have sharp teeth and anytime I cause damage to my internal mouth flesh a canker sore will appear. It could be from biting it, or my mouth rubbing against my sharp teeth, or a toothbrush slipping off and hitting a corner of my mouth. But it’s clearly a combination of bad diet and physical damage. And I generally only get one at a time. I don’t get like an “outbreak” of them at random times or anything.

Any research I have done says it is NOT viral and is NOT herpes.

But I had a really really bad one the last few days, like a constant burning pain because it was big, even had a swollen lymph node. My mom called the dentist to see if he could prescribe Aphthasol and he did not but he prescribed something else; Acyclovir.

I went to pick it up at the pharmacy and it said it was an antiviral used to treat things such as chicken pox, shingles and herpes. So I asked the pharamacist and she said canker sores are viral and I’m like umm no they’re ulcers and she flatout told me they’re caused by herpes. I didn’t feel confident in the recommendation so I got a refund.

What do you think? Were they right or wrong?