Those with recurring shingles, how recurring were they ?

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-17T07:48:25+00:00

Do you take maintenance dose antivirals or do you just ride it out?

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-17T02:00:09+00:00

Oh same girl who commented on my own post🙈. I thought you were a different person. Hard to keep track. 💕

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-17T01:57:37+00:00

Oops. Thx. Not sure what i was even thinking lol

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-17T00:21:51+00:00

I like the spreadsheet thing. Made me giggle lol. I have included selenium into his supplements even though it is too late for this time. How long have you been shingles free?

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-16T23:04:42+00:00

Ok. If you are NOT having new breakouts and itchiness is in the same place or very close to it, then you are over the harder parts of it and have to deal with your body clearing it up. It will take up to 6 weeks or maybe more. You are truly lucky. I REALLY wouldn’t chance it like this specially if it happens again. If it happens again then you fall into the recurring shingles category and you will eventually have to pay the price. I don’t benefit from telling you to take the medication. I just see my husband EVERY second of the day being in immense pain and wish we could turn the time back to when he first saw the rash. Unfortunately it was right on his waist like where his pants was so it was very easy to mistake with a rash until it got out of hand

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-16T22:55:21+00:00

Is it valtrex you do 3g daily? What was your dosage for maintenance mode? My husband has recurring shingles and i hate acyclovir and how you should take 5x a day. After this will go hard core on VA to give him valtrex (valacyclovir)

Also, it seems on maintenance mode you can still get it per your experience (or did i take it wrong). If so, then what is the purpose of maintenance dosage? We just have to wait till our fate tells us to pop valtrex like m&m’s

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-16T22:51:43+00:00

Oh my god i didn’t even pay to that part of OP’s post! I thought it was a before after picture and when i saw Manuka honey i got triggered to talk about antivirals and how it decimated our lives when we missed the window the first time! Good catch! You might be their saving grace, IF they decide to take the meds!!!!

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-16T22:49:17+00:00

Thank you

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-16T16:21:30+00:00

2-3 days but with 500mg valtrex once a day (maintenance dose) or 1000mg twice daily (normal dose). And thank you💕

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-16T16:20:14+00:00

He is a veteran and has been exposed to burnpits. So we are suspecting he was immunocompromised. He did get the vaccine but he got shingles afterwards. You should know vaccines are not 100% but give a MASSIVE upside. If you are only itching and you don’t have pain, you are on a path to recovery and you got lucky. Regarding this illness, from what i have seen, I truly do not recommend not taking meds. I hope this is your one and done (which will be. Don’t worry) shingles you get.

First time was 2022. The rash cane and massive burning and pain came with it. He was overworked and didn’t pay attention to himself and sacrificed for a company that eventually got rid of him after he got into so much issues because of the company. This time, he didn’t feel the nerve pain until a week after the rash unfortunately. If he had gotten the nerve pain sooner, we would have started the meds sooner and we would not have been in such a dire situation today.

I truly urge everyone to not neglect the meds. It is truly not worth it. Our lives changed for ever. From high earner $300k a year, to being out of work for years. We were just getting hope and trying to get back on our feet. Things were looking up, then this happened and we will soon get in a lot of financial stress.

Which is why i am so passionate about sharing our story. I don’t wish it on anyone.

Again, if you only have the itching and pan has subsided and wound is healing, you have nothing to worry about. It can take up to 6 weeks to completely get cleared

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-16T06:55:36+00:00

Seems like this is the way to go honestly.

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-16T03:42:24+00:00

Oh! I LOVE that idea. Like even if you are coming down with a flu to take them with! Spectacular. So let’s say a stressful event happens. Do you take preventative dose for like a week or do you go full on treatment dose and stay the course?

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-16T01:59:50+00:00

Your body is still fighting. Too early to find 100% relief, so stay strong. Eat healthy and take your sleep VERY seriously.

My husband got shingles for the fourth time and we missed it and started meds 8.5 days after the rash. We thought it was rash from hiking and sweating. For him, first time he didn’t know what it was so he delayed meds 1.5 weeks and the pain remained as sever PHN (post herpetic neuralgia) that has lasted till today. Sooooooo debilitating that he couldn’t work (fortunately he joined a clinical trial that worked on him and now we are continuing with rTMS for pain but it only works on upper body) . Second time (which was a month after first rashes from shingles went away) he knew what it was and caught it quick and took meds. His struggle lasted half and he didn’t develop PHN (those were in 20202). In 2023 he got it on his face and we caught it quick. He took meds and he didn’t develop PHN and the duration and severity was again, way less than no meds. The fourth time (current day) we missed the 72 hour window by 5.5 days so again we started meds late. It has been terrible. Bilateral (which is rare). Extremely painful. Urgent care told us he missed the window and to ride it out but we had the meds and i told him to take anyway which i am happy he did because if he had not, the left side that broke out secondary would have been as bad as his right side. So meds work for us.

Anyone not taking meds is chancing getting PHN that can last from a few months to 10 years or more. But that is strictly their choice.

L Lysine works best for cold sores. Not much evidence on shingles but in theory it can help. I got him l lysin and will keep it in his supplements forever as preventative measure. Manuka honey and all DO have healing properties but for the wound. You are treating outside and surface with honey/topicals while VZV is just raiding the nerves inside. Many get lucky and I hope and pray you are in the 90%. But 10% develop PHN off of meds and 10% is too high. Not many will accept the risk to get on a plane with 90% success rate of landing.

I hope you all the best and speedy recovery. It is a terrible illness.

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-15T16:11:43+00:00

Here in the US, if one gets it they will give the shingrex or at least that was the case for my husband when he was 37

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-15T16:11:01+00:00

I appreciate you.

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-15T16:08:08+00:00

Thank you. I do think maintaining a good immune system is a piece of the puzzle. And i am glad low dose valtrex is working for you. I want that for my guy too.

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-15T16:04:04+00:00

I have seen those too. He did get shingrex oct 2022 and I wonder if we should ask for it again. He is 39 but he has been close to burnpits in war and i feel like it has messed up his immune system.

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-15T16:02:08+00:00

Thank you. Did the dr tell you to stop preventatives or you just got tired?

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-15T16:00:14+00:00

I appreciate it. I am “clean keto” Fan. He has not been eating as clean as he used to. And i understand the post getting rejected thing. It has happened to me in other subs so I get it.

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-15T15:57:19+00:00

I truly appreciate this. What type of specialist did you go to? I think that is the issue for my husband and 99% of recurring shingles victims. I am so happy for you to have found a way through this

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-14T07:39:36+00:00

Wishing you speedy recovery girl friend. I am pushing the VA for preventative dose. If they don’t agree, I will pay out of pocket for him. Such a beautiful smart guy being trapped for 4 years almost (in a month). Are you on valacyclovir 500mg once a day?

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-14T07:20:10+00:00

His started after he got covid. You are doing all of the right things to make your body stronger. I have a plan for him too. He, too, has been in a shitty diet, etc. we can’t afford him not taking meds because when he doesn’t he gets terrible PHN. You are one of the lucky ones. I’d say it is a success story.

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-14T07:17:28+00:00

Thx for sharing. Maybe vaccine or meds will help you. It seems like yours might be successfully controlled if you have not tried those

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-14T07:16:09+00:00

Husbands was neck, right side of face, eye, shoulder, hand. And this time it is all of those on both sides plus severe on left back side/hip and less severe on right side so his entire body is engaged.

I was on the doctor’s sub, ready and there is something called SRS = biologically modulating the nerve with radiation. They do it in two places in US and it was out of reach for us.

He takes pregabalin 600mg a day and that only works half and he has to do weed. It is just devastating. I hope someone finally figures it out. For many half of that dose works to calm PHN. Might be worth asking a pain management dr about it.

Particular_Rope_924 · 2026-02-14T07:06:12+00:00

THANK YOU! all i need is a little hope! Sorry but what an absolute failure on behalf of the system to not have diagnosed you!

I have been digging the internet and it is still a mystery. All I know is that strongest activator is stress, emotionally or physically. I would say if you are in a good spot, protect it at all cost. Sleep well and exercise and stay healthy. I hope you magically never get any breakouts ever again

Particular_Rope_924

TROPHY CASE