Hep C and shingles...What a combo!!!

[Diane12855]

I first broke out with shingles 14 years ago while going through a very tough pregnancy and have broken out every since then 2 weeks after a stressful event in my life. For the past year I have noticed that I felt really weak for a day or two before the initial itching started. Since I discovered I have hep c in February I have had one break-out after the other. I count 12 places on my back that are in different stages from getting ready to erupt to new scars. Apparently Hep C is getting more stressful on my body as time goes on. I'm waiting for my meds to get here... they were approved by my insurance company last week. Does anybody know if the Ribavirin will help with the shingles too since it is caused by Herpes Zoster virus? God I hope so!!! I'm about to itch to death!

[Diane12855]

I haven't taken anything for them for a long time. I have some antiviral prescriptions but the side effects made it hard to work. Luckily I only have the intense itching and not the pain that so many other people report. I'm thinking the limbo effect might be why I keep having the breakouts. I try to put it out of my head, and not think about ANOTHER day going by and not getting my meds, but you know how that is, the more you try to not think about it, the more you do. My doctor has prescribed ADs for me, but the first ones caused my heart to race (114 bpm while resting) and palpitations, so the nurse told me to get off of them, and then it took another week to get the doc to call in another prescription... which the pharmacy can't get, and for some reason the doc put that they couldn't give me generics... which the pharmacy CAN get. Tomorrow it will have been 2 weeks since he first told me he wanted me on ADs before I start tx, yet I haven't been able to start anything yet...........Yep! I guess I do see why I keep having break outs after all.........FRUSTRATION!!!

Maybe I should look for another doctor.......

[merryBe]

can't promise anything, but the stress of knowing you need to treat can cause flare ups in several conditions, shingles virus amongst them.

hopefully, when your meds arrive you'll breathe a little easier, it's not easy being in limbo...can't promise, but the riba is antiviral, so this may help settle the condition down as well....try to hang in there, and only take the steroids if all else fails...they are very hard on the liver....

unfortunately hcv effects the whole endocrine system, and hence the body's abilitys to fight of viruses and to modulate its natural steroids is altered. This is why various metabolic disease and arthritis are more common in the hcv cohert than the general populace.
I know it's a hard sell, but try not to worry...and you might want to ask your doc for an antideprssant if you are really stuggling now....the tx will make all those emotions even worse, and both herpes and shingles have that component, a carrier has them for life, but breakouts are stress related.  If I had to choose methods to settle down shingles, I'd pick natural ones or an antideppressant before restorting to the steroids, although a brief course is sometimes needed just to settle things down, be sure to wean off of them ASAP in order to protect your liver from further damage.
mb

[susan400]

I had shingles, too.  I had it when I was 28 yrs old and it was on my facial nerve on my forehead, up into my hair and down almost into my left eye.  The pain was very intense!!!  I was more than likely Hep C positive at that time since my first indication of Hep C was back in 1985 when I tested positive at an outpatient walk-in clinic for Non-A/Non-B hepatitis..., this was before they had ever heard of HCV and didn't yet have a test for it.  Anyhow, was 24 when I had the non-A/non-B hep test and the shingles showed up on me 4 yrs later.  The doctor at the clinic who ran that first hep test, basically told me, "looks like you had an old infection of hepatitis, but it's non-A/non-B so I wouldn't worry about it" and then, he sent me on my way because back then, they didn't realize what they were dealing with.  So, when I got shingles then 4 yrs later, I had never treated yet.  I didn't actually get the Hep C diagnosis until 1994 and did not ever treat until 1997.  So, the shingles was many years before any Interferon or Ribavirin.  I have never had a recurrance of shingles since the 1st time.  I don't know if that helps any or not.  Take care.  Susan400

[Diane12855]

Have you started treatment for hep c? Did you notice if it cut back on the break-outs?

[puppiepaws]

O" Boy do i know that combo, makes u agited as crap and miserable.. Hope we get all of it gone

[copyman]

the interferon should help with the shingles. It will boost your immune system.
good luck starting tx.

[mj6000]

I hope you feel better soon!
Some people have had trouble with their "refills" arriving on time or some other unforseen delay and would advise that you might want to wait about a week before starting treatment after you get them. That way you'd be ahead a week on the "date" it was filled. Then of course advise the Dr of when you actually started. I personally got all mine on time but had a couple of close calls. I took my first shot right away.I couldn't wait to get started. It's just an fyi.

[Rockerforlife]

Revitalize your immunity with vitamins. Since a weakened immune system probably caused your shingles, you may get quicker relief if you strengthen your system with vitamins. In addition to prescribing medication, John G. McConahy, M.D., a dermatologist in New Castle, Pennsylvania, often advises his patients to rebuild the damaged structure of the nerve by taking 200 milligrams of vitamin C five times daily at the first sign of shingles. He also suggests a broad-spectrum multivitamin/mineral supplement that contains zinc, along with a B-complex vitamin supplement.

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/48/178.cfm

[Rockerforlife]

Home Remedies For Shingles

Powder two aspirin tablets and mix it in 2 tbsp of chloroform or alcohol. Apply this paste on the affected area. This will provide good relief.

You can apply wet dressing to soothe the burning sensation

Avoid being in humid areas. Always keep yourself cool.

When blisters get infected, dab them with hydrogen peroxide.

Keep the blisters open and dry. Do not burst the blisters by scratching.

To provide relief, make a solution by mixing 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar in 2 cups of water. Use a cotton cloth to moisten the affected areas by using the upward movement.

To prevent itching and to reduce pain you can dust colloidal powder.

You can make a solution by mixing aloe vera gel, raw honey and leek juice to be applied on the rash.

You can also sponge the blisters or rashes by use of vitamin E oil, apple cider vinegar, cool goldenseal, mugwort or peppermint tea.

Baking soda and water solution can also be applied as a cold compress.

Apply a mixture of yogurt and zinc oxide along the particular path of the nerve. If it is applied before the outbreak it would help to curb the outburst of blisters.

Avoid food which contain amino acid such as chocolate, cereal grains, nuts and seeds

Eating pear of having its juice in ample amounts is good, as it has a great supply of antiviral caffeic acid.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/articles/170/medicines-and-remedies/home-remedies-for-shingles.html