Posted by yxibow on August 17, 2006, at 3:40:34
In reply to Shingles and AD's, posted by llrrrpp on August 13, 2006, at 20:43:16
> I posted on the health board, but it's a little slow today. I'd be interested in your feedback.
>
> I've had it before, many years ago- a small area affected on my back. It was really painful, felt like someone had been hitting me with a baseball bat in the same spot.
>
> I don't have any blisters or rash yet, but there is one area of my skin on the back that is very sensitive and painful to even a delicate touch. doesn't look inflamed, and I can't think of any other cause for this.
>
> I know shingles attacks people with weakened immune systems, I don't think that's my case, because I haven't gotten an infectious illness in 12 months, at least. Recent sources of stress include a lot of international travelling.
>
> Current meds are cymbalta 90 mg, seroquel 25 mg (or sometimes a half dose, when I'm already sleepy) and provigil 200mg.
>
> Current supplements are B vitamin supplement, fish oil (2000mg/day) a multi vitamin with iron, and glucosamine.
>
> Any idea why I might be getting shingles now? Ideas on how to avoid pain? I put hydrocortisone on the area, seems to help somewhat.
>
> I guess I'd like to avoid the permanent nerve damage and chronic pain that often follows shingles. The websites I've found reccommend Anti-Depressant therapy. haha. I'm already on a pretty high dose. Any other ideas? I'm going to have to take some ibuprofen to get some sleep tonight. ouch.
>
> Thanks for your ideas,
> -ll
> p.s. I'm 27 years old, and aside from major depression I don't have any major health concerns.
Actually sometimes antidepressants -- specifically tricyclics are used to dull pain from herpes zoster (shingles), amitriptyline, usually.For those over 60, which wouldn't include your age group obviously, Zostavax, an attenuated shingles prevention vaccine has been used.
poster:yxibow
thread:676154
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060810/msgs/677339.html