Shingles

Hi @Giovanna_BCNA! I saw the GP today, who said he’s 99.9% sure it’s shingles, but he took a swab to make sure it’s 100%.  Since about two weeks have already passed, and the rash has crusted over, it’s no longer contagious. However, I can’t take  medicine, because it’s only effective if you start taking it 3 days (72hrs) maximum after the rash first appears. The medication is not a cure, it only helps the rash heal more quickly and also helps avoid long-term damage, which is usually nerve pain in the area that’s affected. I forgot the medical term for it (PHN I think). If you don’t get medication in time, you just let it heal on its own, like mine is doing. He suggested Calamine (?) ointment to help with the itchiness, and to keep it covered to avoid scratching and irritation. As I’m going through cancer treatment and will continue with hormone blockers, he suggested I keep a look out for further outbreaks, so I can get them treated as early as possible, to avoid it getting into the bloodstream. That’s mainly for immunocompromised people. Otherwise, it doesn’t necessarily have bad effects on the body. I hope this information helps anyone who thinks they might have it or who might get it in future.
Mon Xx