Posted on 08/31/2025 12:07:04 PM PDT by conservativesister
SIL has shingles any help suggestions appreciated?
So sorry to hear. Prayers that your SIL mends quickly.
I had shingles maybe 20 years ago. I waited it out. But if the shingles are near an eye, don’t wait. See a doctor promptly.
Oh, one more thing. Wikipedia is a trash site when it comes to politics. But otherwise it can be a well-organized source of information, and worth a look.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles
Doctor can prescribe anti-viral cream and/or anti-viral oral drug. They won’t make a difference unless started within 3 days of when the rash appears. The oral drug made my elderly mom confused, so we had to stop it.
Take OTC pain meds. Rest. It may take several weeks to get her energy back. The pain can last after the rash is gone. It’s called post herpetic neuralgia. The virus originates in the nerves, and the lingering pain is nerve pain.
Allegedly L-lysine is supposed to help and Lemon Balm tea.
Dr Berg recommends massage on the opposite side and mr. mm who is just recovering from it, found that to be helpful but mostly only while the massage was going on. Some people claim it’s helpful for a longer time after the massage.
Get Rid of Shingles Pain Fast – Dr.Berg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xu4BWF-jC0
Mr. mm also found ice packs to be VERY helpful in taking care of the pain. It’s been four weeks since he came down with it and the pain is down a LOT, but still lingering.
The absolute best thing is to catch it early in that window where the anti-viral will work. Mr. mm just did and stopped the rash cold, but he still had to heal from it.
Leaning Right is 100% right. Shingles near an eye can cause blindness, amongst other things.
Valavyclovir helped me quite alot the few times I had it, and I only took it for a few days. I know there is a lot of vaccine hesitancy here, but we recommend Shingrix to over-60’s and the immunocompromised for a reason. A few weeks after she’s cleared, she should consoder it.
Valcyclovir. Pain meds
Check yr mail
Ban her from polite society.
/s
Justin Bieber has it (or had it).
High dose lysine has always worked well for me.
My non-medical advice is acyclovir, benedryl, no underclothes is that would rub against the rash, and just plain gut it out.
Shingles is a self-limiting disease. It will go away. No medicine will really sped that up. The meds are just palliative. To get over it, you just have to wait.
Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is best treated with a combination of antiviral medications, pain management, and supportive care. Here’s a concise overview based on current medical guidance:
Antiviral Medications:
Drugs like acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir are most effective when started within 72 hours of rash onset. They reduce viral replication, shorten the duration of symptoms, and may prevent complications like postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Typical dosing: Valacyclovir (1g three times daily for 7 days) or acyclovir (800mg five times daily for 7–10 days), prescribed by a doctor.
Pain Management:
Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help with mild pain.
For severe pain, doctors may prescribe gabapentin, pregabalin, or tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline) to manage nerve pain.
Topical treatments like lidocaine patches or capsaicin cream may provide localized relief.
Supportive Care:
Keep the rash clean and dry to prevent bacterial infections. Use calamine lotion or colloidal oatmeal baths to soothe itching.
Cool compresses can reduce discomfort.
Rest and avoid stress to support immune recovery.
Complications (e.g., Postherpetic Neuralgia):
If pain persists after the rash heals, consult a doctor. PHN may require stronger medications or nerve blocks.
Early antiviral treatment reduces PHN risk.
Important Notes:
Seek medical advice promptly, especially if the rash is near the eyes (risk of vision damage) or if you’re immunocompromised.
Shingles is contagious to those not immune to chickenpox, so avoid contact until the rash crusts over.
Always consult a healthcare provider for a tailored treatment plan, as individual factors like age, health status, and symptom severity matter.
Valacyclovir, as suggested by others, is a great idea. For nerve pain, have her ask her doctor about Gabapentin or similar scripts.
Too late for your SIL, but get vaccinated if you don’t want shingles.
The posts on high-dosage lysine are correct as far as they go, but there are a few other items that should be done to make this the most effective and also not irritate the stomache.
Taking the lysine has been known for over 50 years.
(See book, out of print, “Life Extension,c.1980, Dr. Drew Pearson and Dr. Sandy Shaw)
Lysine is an AMINO ACID.
It affects the healing of not just shingles, but other viruses of the same type, i.e., herpes and chicken pox.
There are three things to remember and accommodate.
1) Take the Lysine in powder dissolved in liquid
on an empty stomache. Or at least with no protein of any sort, as it is a protein building block.
If you take it with protein, the lysine an d other proteins will dilute each other and compete in the body.
It is an ACID, and can irritate stomache lining. Please dilute it with a base, most common would be sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), or if sodium must be restricted, potassium bicarbonate, available at health food stores.
and, MINIMIZE INGESTION OF ALL ARGININE-CONTAINING FOODS DURING THIS OUTBREAK.
Arginine feeds the herpes and shingles viruses, and competes in the body with the lysine, reducing and possibly negating the efficacy of the lysine intake.
Common foods containing ARGININE are all poultry and some legumes. Eliminate or minimize these protein sources during the outbreak.
The item above is not generally known or included and can be a reason for the lysine intake not having the desired effect.
This protocol also helps s on herpes simplex and chicken pox outbreaks.
Olive Leaf Extract is antiviral. It is used for Shingles.
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