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I had the "old" vaccination (Zostavax) about five years ago. That vaccine is supposed to make an outbreak less severe. If this is "less severe," I shudder to think what a "severe" attack would be like. This has been a horrible experience for the past two weeks. Today, for the first time, I feel that there may be hope and that the rash and pain are both a little less.
As soon as my shingles go away, which I'm hoping will happen soon, I will get the new vaccine, Shingrex, for which I will have to pay a co-pay of $140 per shot. There are two shots a few months apart. Since I have Medicare and a ridiculously expensive supplement with Humana, one would think the co-pay might be a little less, or that Medicare Part D would cover the vaccine, but that's the amount I've been quoted by Humana and by the drugstore. However, since Shingrex is supposed to help eliminate the possibility of having the nerve pain last for years, I'll take it. Apparently this nerve pain (PHN) has no cure, and there isn't much doctors can do except prescribe pain medication and anti-depressants. I have read that having on-going PHN for years is one of the leading causes of suicide among elders.
For anyone wondering what the outbreak is like before the rash appears, I had a bad pain on my left side for a few days, and I hadn't done anything strenuous to cause this. I went to Urgent Care one day (who thought it might be shingles starting but was unsure and prescribed nothing) and the ER the next day (who diagnosed a muscle strain and prescribed Norco). The night the rash broke out (in the middle of the night) the terrible burning pain woke me up. I actually thought of calling the paramedics, but decided they could do nothing. The next morning I went back to Urgent Care and got the anti-viral medication. I should have started it sooner, I think, but no one prescribed it and I didn't even know about it.
I hope this posting might help someone who wonders what the horrible pain on one side of the body might be. My shingles go from my spine on my back around the middle to my belly button. I'm so grateful they aren't on my face, threatening my eyes!
So take the painful side to a physician, and if there's any chance of shingles beginning, get the anti-viral medication and a pain killer. After that, there's not much to be done except resting and waiting for the attack to disappear.
So if anyone had had chicken pox get the vacine ASAP. I tried to do this about ten years ago before it was widely available. Drs could not get it and the health dept told me they had to have 20 people signed up before they could order a vial. Don't you know one week later i woke up with an angry rash under my right breast. Of to the PCP that moring and she ordered an anti viral. Caught it in time to not blister but not soon enough to prevent the nerve pain which still persists sometimes quite painful.Some gabapenten was ordered but that did not work. Since then i have tried Lidocaine gel and that does provide some relief when it is also itching. There are also Lidocaine patches which can help. The pain is sometimes long term or can continue for the rest of ones life.
I still went ahead and got the vacine when it became available because one infection does not prevent a recurrence.
As others have mentioned the sooner you see a Dr the better the outcome. If it occurs on the face round the eye it can actually cause blindness and the pain is far worse.
Not a minor disease.
Never too late to get a chicken pox vaccination.
Antivirals have to be given extremely quickly to work.
I second the point about making sure you mention the possibility of shingles specifically if your aunt sees a generalist. My SIL was at first sent home with some anti-fungal ointment - by a young GP, hadn't seen shingles in real life before, and apparently wasn't using her brain that day.
One diagnostic clue is that shingles generally is seen only on one side of the body. I think that Jeanne's idea, to call the 24 nurse line that insurance often provides would be a good place to start.
Mine started two weeks ago and the rash is just now drying up, and I have nerve pain in my big toe.
I remember that my PCP took one look and said "I don't do rashes. I'll refer you to a dermatologist." You might double-check when you make an appointment that you are seeing the right kind of doctor!
Does your aunt's insurance provider or clinic have a 24-hour nurse line? They can usually answer questions like this. They are also very good at helping you decide whether go to ER, Urgent Care, or make an appointment, etc. Those are numbers to have handy!
I hope this turns out well for your aunt.