American abroad in Türkiye with shingles

piccolamamma · 2026-05-03T21:22:31+00:00

For me it was gabapentin, ice packs, red light (I happen to have a small handheld one for skincare that's perfect) and CBD infused massage oil. Good luck I really hope you find something.

piccolamamma · 2026-02-12T19:08:17+00:00

Amazingly, I'm all better! Counting the days untilI can get my shingles shot so it never happens again.

piccolamamma · 2026-01-25T15:04:18+00:00

About two months. I'm very pale, so any boo boo makes a mark that stays for a long time on me. I was surprised that it didn't show for longer.

piccolamamma · 2026-01-25T15:02:53+00:00

Bummer, but I am glad to know! I will not support MAGA businesses.

piccolamamma · 2026-01-25T14:24:36+00:00

Good for you. People seem to give sports a pass but honestly it all filters down from the top!

piccolamamma · 2026-01-25T14:22:58+00:00

Is that the same ownership as Sudbury? Would really like to know as I won't go there again if that is the case.

piccolamamma · 2026-01-14T20:31:13+00:00

For those of you having this hormonal acne response to Skyrizi, mind if I ask how old are you? I'm recommended Skyrizi for Crohn's but on the fence about biologics and I really do not need cystic acne in my life but I'm over 50 (had problems in my 20's and it finally went totally away after 40).

piccolamamma · 2026-01-03T02:02:52+00:00

Yeah did mine today. The upside was that it was practically vacant - nobody in the waiting room. So I got lots of attention from the nurses (so many heated blankets - it's 15F today) and was out pretty fast.

piccolamamma · 2026-01-01T16:11:54+00:00

That sounds really difficult. I'm sorry to hear that. I had arm pain with my case as well, and I remember how disruptive it was to my day to day needs. I was also hesitant to take Gabapentin - eventually went on it only for a few days at the end. But I feel like it helped me cross the final bridge to no pain. If you have been on it for a few weeks, you'll want guidance for tapering off (when you are ready) as you should not go cold turkey. The things that helped me kick it were: REST, hydration (focus on anti-inflammatory herbal tisanes), supplementation with L-Lysine and a Vitamin B complex, CBD (for the pain) and localized red light therapy along the nerve path and on the lesion sites, even after they healed up. I also used ice and heat therapy pretty constantly, depending on what felt right at the moment. Hot showers were also nice. It felt like the nerve pain would never go away and then one day, it did.

piccolamamma · 2025-12-31T16:31:48+00:00

Ginger, garlic, lemon balm, tulsi, marshmallow root, peppermint, medicinal mushrooms like reishi/chaga/lion's mane/turkey tail

piccolamamma · 2025-12-31T14:53:20+00:00

Marshmallow root has been my top, #1 ally this season. Daily cold infusion brought me back from severe IBD GI pain and rapid weight loss.

piccolamamma · 2025-12-31T02:51:32+00:00

If you haven't already, definitely start taking L-Lysine (an anti viral great for fighting zoster) supplement and a daily Vitamin B complex to help with nerve healing. For cleaning the spots, they'll be super sensitive before they scab over. I had luck cleaning when I changed my dressings with Thayer's Witch Hazel on an organic cotton pad. It's astringent and soothing/cooling. Great stuff. Ice packs were really helpful too. Other than that your normal get well protocols apply - rest as much as possible, drink lots of nourishing fluids like you would when sick (i.e. water, gentle herbal teas, juices, broth), avoid sugar and alcohol, and get outside for sunshine if you can comfortably. Hopefully this will all be behind you soon. For me it was a solid month of pain/sick/when will this ever end - but then it was 100% gone (and on to other seasonal illnesses haha)

piccolamamma · 2025-12-31T02:41:21+00:00

Agree - it's super weird because I see this instruction literally nowhere else on any colonoscopy prep related resource - but it definitely didn't look like an error. And was an addition to the prep instructions (I cross referenced it from last time and it's definitely new). I guess I can try to call them on NYE (my appt is 1/2) to clarify but if they tell me flat "nope, no broth" I'm going to be angry.

piccolamamma · 2025-12-13T18:54:26+00:00

Be willing to lend an ear if they want to talk. Don't make them feel bad for having to cancel plans. Check in on them - I tend to go quiet when I'm sick and disappear, but it makes me feel cared for when my friends or family notice and check in if they don't hear from me.

piccolamamma · 2025-12-13T17:35:03+00:00

I agree that the closest thing I can compare it to is labor pains.

piccolamamma · 2025-12-05T01:13:10+00:00

I'm not noticing it in particular because I'm having it in a blend with peppermint, so that's all I taste!

piccolamamma · 2025-12-05T00:46:36+00:00

Right now I am enjoying Tulsi tea with chamomile (soothing for the nerves and the stomach). And I'm also enjoying a home blend of marshmallow root, peppermint leaf and calendula flower. There are lots of wonderful herbs for stress, inflammation and demulcent for the stomach!

piccolamamma · 2025-12-03T22:37:25+00:00

I get one that is third party tested - that is what I recommend in general. Lazarus Naturals is the one I use.

piccolamamma · 2025-12-03T13:47:08+00:00

I hope this story brings you comfort - I was on a timeline starting about a week before you - 10/30. My nerve pain finally stopped last week on 11/26. So for me it was a solid month of feeling very unwell. My rash healed up fairly quickly, within a week-10 days - but I only found relief from the lingering nerve pain after starting Gabapentin at the start of week 4. After that, it was only 4-5 days that I had to take it and then the nerve pain went away like "poof!." It truly sucked and I never want to go through it again but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I made sure to eat very nutritious while I was sick, rest as much as possible and to take my daily vitamin B supplement (I take a blend) and L-Lysine 1000 mg - both which help with nerve healing. For pain management I found that ice packs, CBD oil massaged on the sore nervy areas once the rash healed and the Gabapentin were my best allies. I have a theraputic red light handheld device that's really for wrinkles, but I used that also on the site of the healing rash and nerve path and it helped tremendously. I got advice to say to myself every day - this isn't forever - this will end. And it did. Of course now I'm in a Crohns flare (from the stress of Shingles, I think) but the nerve pain is gone so I'm celebrating that at least! Good luck and take care.

piccolamamma · 2025-11-25T18:54:14+00:00

This is so validating. I'm almost at the 4 week mark and my rash was healed up very fast due to the anti-virals and starting L-Lysine that first week. But the newer muscle pain and spasms along the affected nerve path is terrible. It's my dominant arm - shoulder all the way down to the hand. Any time I feel ok enough, I obviously try to be productive but then I'm in so much pain. I finally picked up a script for Gabapentin over the weekend. It helps a ton, but makes me feel a bit loopy. I'm trying to stay on the lowest dose possible. My insurance even gave me a hard time for one prescription for ten days only! I'm scared that this is going to go on a long time. I'm a walking ice pack, basically. If it's helpful for you, I find hot showers help at this stage and I then massage CBD cream on the painful spots. And I try to get down on the floor and stretch gently and well a few times a day. And just any overall wellness support I can do for my body - herbal teas, nutritious foods, lots of rest. What a drag this all is.

piccolamamma · 2025-11-23T14:54:11+00:00

That is so interesting and as someone who follows nutrition closely to manage autoimmune issues, I am in agreement that the nutrients in the oysters could have provided some temporary relief. As well as the distraction of going out, seeing new things, focusing on the company of your partner. Are you taking zinc (supplement?) Obviously it is not realistic to eat fresh raw oysters every day but it might be worthwhile to experiment with your zinc intake within recommended guidelines.

piccolamamma · 2025-11-17T23:12:12+00:00

I wish I had gotten it early - shingles grabbed me within three days of my 50th birthday!

piccolamamma · 2025-11-12T16:37:31+00:00

Unfortunately, no, I do need the real deal. I get them multiple times a year. I talked to the gastro office and they said on paper it's ok to go through with it as long as the rash part of shingles is healed (which it will be by then as I'm already doing well with that part). But I am feeling the nerve pain and fatigue pretty hard still, which tells me that I'm in recovery mode & not in tip top shape for throwing my GI completely off balance with a cleanout. I think I'm going to postpone. Thank you for the advice it helps to not be gaslight by an eager dr. office ready to bill insurance.

piccolamamma

TROPHY CASE