Quote:
What you have sounds more like hives than shingles.
Shingles come only on one side at a time and benadryl is only a temporary help for shingles and makes you tired.
Beg to differ.
I have had them so badly that I have had 3 to 4 different outbreaks in different stages going on either side of my sciatic nerve. I have had post herpetic neuralgia so bad that I couldn't stand, couldn't sit, couldn't do anything. And that was with NO outbreak. The benadryl helps greatly with the itching before the blisters come up. And, it will help you sleep so you can get some rest rather than feeling like you are on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I've had hives. I have allergies. I wish to God it was hives, but, unfortunately, it's not. I have between 8-20 outbreaks a year. Usually once every 6-8 weeks. Sometimes 2-3 times in one month. When it moves to a new spot is when the prodromal symptoms and the neuralgia is the worst.
Don't want to come across rude, or have people feel like I am trying to hijack the thread, but unless you have had shingles, you don't understand how it feels to have someone tell you that you don't, or it's not that bad. It is a very sensitive subject.
Dangerous-so glad you got on some medication that works for you!
Are they planning on keeping you on a maintenance dose of the antiviral to help prevent future attacks? Keep us posted! Hope you don't get it again!
Shelly
BUT I am holding it together with the oxy-codone. 
