OP here, I am way way beyond the 72 hours! It has been slow moving. At first I thought the first appearance was a pimple, a couple days later, I thought it was a rather odd Chigger bite, as we have started that season and the little beasts are hungry, then later thought it might be poison ivy, and eventually became clear-cut enough to become obviously the Shingles!
The initial site on my upper chest has not blistered but is colored. What became the main site on forearm has blistered, a few big blisters, biggest 3/8" diameter by 1/8" high, some small ones, looks pretty ugly but covers not much over 1 square inch. And a bump or blister here and there elsewhere.
Nothing on head or neck. No headache, pain, or fever ever. Only feeling-type symptoms are itchyness that comes and goes, had a bit of the tingles on that arm/wrist for less than a day and not continuous. Hypersensitivity I had and have off and on on that arm. The hypersensitivity was even the slightest air movement setting off a weird feeling. Had trouble sleeping, as exhaling through my nose was blowing across my arm a foot away, felt like a hurricane! And in walking, air movement was almost as bad. The hyper sensitivity was extended well above and below the main site. Solved that problem by putting on a sock sleeve that is not tight. Once I got used to the something-on feeling, hyper sensitivity stopped being a problem. Ugly to lift up and peer underneath at, however!
Gross for a moment - but I'm sure somebody wants to know... I am reactive to Chigger bites and Fire Ant bites, and opening blisters from those eases itching and greatly speeds up healing for me, always use 70% isopropyl alcohol before and after. Didn't work with Shingles big blisters, they re-filled in minutes. Seems the puffed-out skin is restraining the fluid, it's under a slight pressure, that pressure balances the pressure inside the skin. Release the external blister pressure, the pressure balance is lost, the skin quickly exudes more, till it balances. Osmotic pressure comes to mind, but is probably wrong. The pin hole seals up with I forgot what they're called, leukocytes? Anyway, it was experimental, didn't help, so not doing it anymore.
Antiviral - Researching has found that Valtrex (generic is Valaciclovir) changes to Aciclovir in the body. Seems that to do any good administration must start within 72 hours of first rash appearance.
From rxlist.com clinical area applying Valtrex:
Herpes Zoster
Two randomized, double-blind clinical trials in
immunocompetent adults with localized herpes zoster were conducted. VALTREX was compared with placebo in subjects aged less than 50 years and with oral acyclovir in subjects aged greater than 50 years. All subjects were treated within 72 hours of appearance of zoster rash. In subjects aged less than 50 years, the median time to cessation of new
lesion formation was 2 days for those treated with VALTREX compared with 3 days for those treated with placebo. In subjects aged greater than 50 years, the median time to cessation of new lesions was 3 days in subjects treated with either VALTREX or oral acyclovir.
So only one day of shortening for those under age 50, that ain't much! And for over age 50 they didn't use a placebo, but rather the base Acyclovir(also spelled Aciclovir), making me wonder if the effect of Aciclover is minimized with age (like "well, our Valtrex is just as good as Aciclovir for those over age 50!"). Some of this reminds me of the Tamiflu efficacy controversy. Either way, I'm way beyond 72 hours!
I'm hopeful that the spreading has slowed to a stop today, will see with a bit more time. I'm thinking that a bit of old Zostavax is still in there swinging away.
. I suspect that Zostavax is still helping out, somewhat. The blister spreading is slow moving, but wondering when the spreading will stop!
