Anyone had shingles errupt while on treatment?

[sunru]

Hi, just wanted to thank yu for suggesting a second opinion about whether to treat now or not.  I am  so grateful to some of you for suggesting 2nd opinion from a good hepatologist.  Turns out that I was able to see one of the leading hepatologists at ucsf last week and I got the help I needed. This doc is so famous that the recommendations sent to my kaiser doc were fully accepted an acted on immediately. One of the recommendations was to switch from victrellis to incivek since I had not started the PI's yet  The hep dr. said there would be new, shorter term, more effective drugs possibly available in one year. Only that interf/riba will still be in the picture. I started triple tx on 4/13  and have not started the incivik yet but wait, since all this has happened on Monday so many things have transpired: raging UT infection and Shingles!  I emailed my doctor about this on Friday and he said he will see me immediately which looks like Monday4/29.  The shingles pain starting in friday night and I'd hoped the large quantity of antivirals would kill it off. It only gets worse and tonight the nerve pain and rash on my back and under arm is spreading....absolutely unbearable pain. I had to take a whole vicadin last night and tonight in order to write this message  I tied a shawl around my chest a few hours ago just to relieve the tingling nerve pain that has become so intense. Tonight was interferon shot night and I am pretty sure that I won't be able to do the shot tonight to add to more discomfort at this point. I have to go off tx as of today. The pain is so great that not one doctor could seriously look at me in the eyes and recommend continuing at this point. Sorry about the drama, my guess is try again with some of the new drugs in a year or two. I will take the inf/riba with the new drugs down the road.  I've had shingles before and have found the only thing to keep it from manifesting is to take immune support.  Just in two weeks my cbc and white blood counts are so low that is why this happened to me. So if I'm able to take a non-interferon tx that would have to be my only option I could see as a possibility. Sorry, don't mean to discourage any of you. This is just an unusual thing that happened ot me because I'm early stage 4 compensated.condition.

[sunru]

Thank you for sharing your experience of having shingles. Yes, it is a pain that you never forget especially when you've had it at least once. It makes it easy to diagnose even if the doctors can't figure out one rash from another as they play their little game of knowing it all. There is no reason I need to prove anything to anyone at this point the bottom line is how much pain can one person endure. That is why I could not do my interferon shot last night along with stabbing nerve pain in my back. Mine starts on the left side with little red bumps and starts spreading under my arm and up to my shoulder. The first time it did not go up to my neck and face but it seems to be spreading in different directions this time. This whole rash onset on Tues started as what appears to be intf/riba side effects from sweating. Then the shingles was triggered by the other rash.  I feel fortunate to have this happen so early on before starting the PTIs.

Are you stage 4? Did you go through tx? Did the antibiotics help with shingles?  I have to check  with my hepatologist at ucsf medical center regarding what I can take for it and what not to take. I've had it with these kaiser docs and the harsh treatment and lack of care.

Thanks for your post.

[sunru]

Oh dearest one thank you so much for your feedback. Last night I called the advice nurse and she helped me a lot to get through the night with the nerve pain 10 X stronger than the night before.  
I was so positive about having one last chance to get through tx. I guess my body is just not allowing the harsh side effects anymore and this was a lesson that I needed to go through in order to get it, and know what I can handle as far as tx goes in the years to come.

[heart_in_the_keyes]

I will et an episode of shingles about once a year.  My hepatologist does not want me to get the shingles vaccine because of my liver conditions.  Your doctor can tell you if he recommends it or not.  Since it is available at most drug stores with med/checks now, sometimes people get the vaccine when they should not.

Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic that will help you.  There are also creams that he can prescribe,

I am only so glad that I recognize it immediately and know what to do for me.  I will only get it on my forehead, cheeks, neck and upper back.  I usually have to tape on socks so I won't scratch during the night.  Knock on wood but haven't had my usual spring episode probably because I do not have the extreme stress I was under at work for the last few years.  For our business spring was the worst and very, very stressful.  Since they sold the company and I don't work for them anymore, no more stress,

Shingles are unbearable.  Good Luck. Let us know what he says.  And Pooh is right above.  Untreated rashes of any type can cause complications.  It's best to get a handle on it as soon as possible.

[pooh55811]

I am sorry you are having these problems, the shingles, and all of the pain.
If it was me, I would go to the emergency room right away. I would not wait until Monday to get pain relief and to start the specific medications used to treat shingles. When I had shingles I was immediately prescribed Valtrex, a drug which is specific for Shingles. It worked very quickly. However, the longer Shingles goes untreated, the more severe it can become and the more chance one has of developing complications. I would not wait if i was you.

If you do go to the ER be sure they are aware of your cirrhosis and your Hep C treatment.

Also, it may be a good idea to get a Shingles vaccine at some point in the future. I got one in 2011. I am glad I did. The vaccine will not necessarily prevent all Shingles outbreaks but it is effective in preventing the majority of Shingles outbreaks.

Best of luck.