Your Questions About Shingles

Have shingles about 2 weeks now, and still in very bad pain. Looking for a cream to relieve?

Hi: 2 years ago I took the shingle shot. Well, abot 2 weeks ago, I came down with the shingles. I don’t have any itches but I certainly have pain. Using Lioderm patches and a nerve medication. Stll in alot of pain. Can I apply Triamcinole Cream which is a cream to relieve rashes? My main e-mail address is jbass1214@comcast.net.

I was diagnosed with shingles around 24 hours after the apperaacne of the first blister. I started medication?

I was diagnosed with shingles around 24 hours after the apperaacne of the first blister. I started medication
right after I was given the prescriptions.

I am on prednisone, valtrex, a pain medciation, and some cream. Do you htink these will stop more blisters from forming as well as making the shingles go away or will it still spread?

Shingles medication + Alcohol?

My dad got shingles in June of this year, but it got to advanced shingles, so he is taking the following medications:

Gabapentin
Hydrocodine/acetaminophen (online, it seems that hydrocodone is a more common name, not sure if it is the same thing?)

He takes the medicine frequently, at least 2-3 times a day, which is the prescribed dosage (depending on pain). However, he also takes the medication with alcohol on a regular basis (usually white wine). The shingles can last a long time, but I am wondering if alcohol in combination with the medications can delay the process of getting better, or if it there are any SPECIFIC dangers or consequences that make the medication less effective. My dad still seems to be experiencing a fair amount of pain, and I wonder if the medication doesn’t work as well because of the alcohol. I’ve said this and so has my mom, but he says that it’s fine and that the alcohol isn’t bad. He has not actually mentioned to his doctor that he takes the medication with alcohol, and he seems to be a little stubborn to do so. Does anyone with any medical background have knowledge about this situation? It would really be appreciated.

Should I discontinue breastfeeding to treat shingles?

I gave birth a week ago and developed shingles on my back shortly afterward. The area is small (maybe 3″x2″), I am not in much pain at all and the doctor at urgent care advised me to continue breastfeeding and stay off the antivirals if I am handling it OK. However, my sister had shingles a few years ago and dealt with postherpetic neuralgia for 2 years as a result. She is advising me to to take the antivirals to avoid any further pain/medication. Should I just allow the disease to heal and continue to breastfeed (which I really want to do), or should I take antivirals and pump to keep my milk flowing until the drugs are out of my system to help prevent any complications? I am afraid if I don’t take anything and I develop this complication that I will have to take other medications and then refrain from breastfeeding while dealing with nerve pain. What is the likelihood of developing postherpetic neuralgia? I am 23 years old and in relatively good health.
When I say pump to keep milk flowing, I mean that I won’t be giving the milk to the baby, just keeping things going for when the milk is safe again. But I think I won’t be taking the antivirals.

Shingles Pain getting worse (please help)?

My step mother has had shingles for the past month. The rash went away after she got medication for her Doctor after a few days but the pain has only gotten worse.. She got the strongest pain pills possible and it hasn’t even phased the pain. The pain isn’t like it should be for shingles, its more like a pain on the bone. The pain is so severe that it feels like she even broke her bone. Her entire hip is throbbing. She took xrays but the doctor hasn’t gotten back to her and she has been fighting the urge to go to the hospital because the pain is so bad. Do you think the pain is caused by something other than shingles? 10 points for the quickest best answer.