Painfull shingles pls need help

zohra

It almost two months ago my mother done with chemo. Her surgery delay because she has shingles now.She has them in her back left side. Now , there is just rashes not blasters  but its swelling. she has lot of pain inside and burn out side. Is there any special medicine  for shingles. She don't have insurance and we cant afford to visit doc.  Its very pain full. She is using pain killer. Any information will be help full.

Thanks

zohra

jancie

I lost my post so I will try again.  My doctor prescribed gabapentin which takes care of the pain at the nerve endings which is where the pain is coming from.  I was also given a massive dose of antibiotics.  I don't know of anything over the counter that would work unless it had some sort of "numbing" ingredient in it that could be absorbed through the skin.

New-girl

My mom is 80 and I am taking her the the dermotologist this Friday for her shingles.  I have goggled everything I can find.  My mom first got them almost 3 years ago and they are getting progressively worse.  They are now all over her face and neck.  She was given Lyrica ( which is almost the same as Gabapentin) but never took it.  I am desperately looking for a doctor to treat her.  What I have read is that it is much worse with people with weakened immune systems such as people with cancer.  My mom doesn't have cancer that we know of but this is very painful and not much information out there. I will post what her doctor says after our appointment.

ICanDoThis

There is a medication called Valtrex that is an anti-viral, which shortens the pain and duration of a shingles outbreak. I got it from my primary care doc, but, if your mother only has an oncologist, ask him or his office if they can prescribe this for you.
I know that you cannot afford another doc visit, but treating this can help prevent very serious side effects.

I am so sorry that you are trying to navigate our insane health system for those without insurance at the same time your mom is fighting cancer.

DellaHJ

This is my 3rd time in a year with shingles!  I am 49, and I had one outbreak right before I was diagnosed and two since.  One of which I have right now.  How can I build up antibodies to this awful stuff????

Moderators

zohra, in case you didn't see our reply on your other thread about your mother's shingles (and if the info here can help others!)...

zohra, we're sorry that your mother is dealing with shingles. There are medicines to treat shingles and shingles-related pain, although your mother will need to see a doctor. There's more information near the bottom of this page about Treatment-related Pain, from the main Breastcancer.org site.

Also, you may find resources to help with the cost of medicines and treatment in the Paying for Your Care section of the site, even when the patient is uninsured or under insured.

• The Mods

Letlet

Does she qualify for charity care at your local hospital? Perhaps she can go to the urgent care section if she has charity care.

zohra

THANKS FOR ALL REPLIES