Need advice - MIL terrible shingles eye pain for 10 months! Please help me help her 🙏

Victorious

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Jun 6, 2018
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10
Hi everyone.
First time posting. Up until now I've been able to find most answers simply by doing searches through the forum (you guys are so great!) But this time I am struggling to give my mother in law some meaningful help.

I am familiar with B1, B5 and niacinamide to protect nerves from harm. But what else can I advise her to take, or to do, to provide her some relief? It breaks my heart that she is continuing to suffer this way.

A little background:
She is 83 years old, is deaf since birth (which means she has not always had the best medical care as sign language interpreters are hard to come by). She developed shingles on her face and it invaded her left eye. She has had searing pain in that eye since then, over 10 months! She has been going to eye specialists and today they decided she needs eye surgery to lift the eyeball back up into its socket, as it seems to have fallen or dropped down a bit, which is contributing to her blurry vision and nerve pain. The dropped eyeball is a very recent development, within the last month.

Over the years I have counselled my in-laws on different helpful foods to eat, much of which was familiar from their youth. They are both quite hypothyroid, but both are very thin and dealing with many hypothyroid-related conditions. My father in law is 93 yrs old. He is deaf since birth. Since both are deaf, they didn’t have the education that most others have had (they grew up in a different time) ... and they have been at the mercy of hearing people all their lives. They are the most adorable people.

I myself have been dealing with severe nerve pain from spinal arthritis, as well as a number of other conditions. And I've learned quite a bit from this forum to help with that, in addition to the Peat approach to life.

In fact Peating has given me my life back.
So a personal thank you to everyone who has given your time and effort to help us all learn. I deeply appreciate you.

I hope someone can point me in the best direction to help her. I just hate seeing her suffer like this.

Thanks in advance!!
 
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V

Victorious

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Jun 6, 2018
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10
I should add, because of their situation, I am severely limited to the kinds of hormones I can recommend to them. I have given them lists to show their doctor to ask for tests of of specific hormones, but my sister in law overruled them ... so I can't tell them to ask for pregnenolone or progesterone or any hormones from their doctor. The doctor isn't progressive enough and my SIL thinks this is all craziness.

I am contemplating ordering more of the Progest-E myself to give directly to them, and I know they'll take it because they agree with me on everything I talk about with them about food and health. They always knew the old ways were best - real milk, real butter, real eggs, real meat, liver and onions, bone broths, real fruit etc. My SIL is the one who mainly looks in on them (she's in the vicinity), but they defer to her even when they don't like what she decides, because they need her help.
And I'm not confident enough in my knowledge of this topic yet to make the judgement call. Thanks again for any help you can offer.
 

Nfinkelstein

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Nov 13, 2020
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318
I second the lysine comment. BUT when shingles becomes ongoing neuralgia it is much harder. I would strongly recommend you buy 2 homeopathic remedies --- Mezereum 30c and Rhus tox 30c. Each will cost less than ten dollars. Begin with giving her 4 or 5 pellets of the mezereum every 10 minutes, about 3 times. Give it WHILE her symptoms are worst. If there is no improvement of symptoms within the first hour, move on to rhus tox and do the same thing. If no improvement from rhus tox, then nothing lost except some time and a few dollars. If you haven't experienced homeopathic successes or don't know much about it, I understand, but suspend judgment and give it a try.
 

AlaskaJono

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Apr 19, 2020
Messages
940
Definitely try the above. If homeopathy works well, positive signs manifest quickly, like in a day or 2. My experience is with acupuncture with positive results for herpes nerve pain. I never treated herpes in the eye though. But I did treat a client with eye issues, i.e. - fibromyalgia with acute temporary blindness. Positive results again. So, that is my suggestion. Hopefully you can find an acu/TCM practitioner with some experience, if the lysine or homeopathy doesn't work. Good luck.
 

Mossy

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Joined
Jun 2, 2017
Messages
2,043
Hi everyone.
First time posting. Up until now I've been able to find most answers simply by doing searches through the forum (you guys are so great!) But this time I am struggling to give my mother in law some meaningful help.

I am familiar with B1, B5 and niacinamide to protect nerves from harm. But what else can I advise her to take, or to do, to provide her some relief? It breaks my heart that she is continuing to suffer this way.

A little background:
She is 83 years old, is deaf since birth (which means she has not always had the best medical care as sign language interpreters are hard to come by). She developed shingles on her face and it invaded her left eye. She has had searing pain in that eye since then, over 10 months! She has been going to eye specialists and today they decided she needs eye surgery to lift the eyeball back up into its socket, as it seems to have fallen or dropped down a bit, which is contributing to her blurry vision and nerve pain. The dropped eyeball is a very recent development, within the last month.

Over the years I have counselled my in-laws on different helpful foods to eat, much of which was familiar from their youth. They are both quite hypothyroid, but both are very thin and dealing with many hypothyroid-related conditions. My father in law is 93 yrs old. He is deaf since birth. Since both are deaf, they didn’t have the education that most others have had (they grew up in a different time) ... and they have been at the mercy of hearing people all their lives. They are the most adorable people.

I myself have been dealing with severe nerve pain from spinal arthritis, as well as a number of other conditions. And I've learned quite a bit from this forum to help with that, in addition to the Peat approach to life.

In fact Peating has given me my life back.
So a personal thank you to everyone who has given your time and effort to help us all learn. I deeply appreciate you.

I hope someone can point me in the best direction to help her. I just hate seeing her suffer like this.

Thanks in advance!!

Hello and welcome.

I have a very anecdotal situation I can share; please take it with a grain of salt and not as must-do advice.

My middle aged brother had the exact thing: severe eye pain, due to a severe shingles attack. It was the largest concentrated shingles wound I've ever seen. He went to a doctor and was told he may lose his sight or eye. They gave him some medication, but it never took the shingles entirely away. It reduced it from an emergency state, but the burden of the wound and pain remained to varying degrees, and it greatly affected his life.

He is not in a good health state; he has severe teeth issues as well, which is the link to his accidental remedy for shingles. I had learned of SSKI (potassium iodide) for periodontal disease and serious teeth issues from @Jam on this forum. I recommended it to my brother for his teeth. He took it, but then relayed that it made his eye feel "normal" again. He noted that his eye had never been "good" since shingles, but that now it was "okay". It's worth noting that this was 6 months after his initial shingles attack; like your MIL, he had been dealing with this for some time.

Like I say, very anecdotal. When I inquired further about it to him, he said he bought the crystals, pills, and liquid, of potassium iodide, and took about 240mcg twice a day (which is a small dose compared to what @Jam had taken for his teeth and other issues). I believe the liquid he purchased contained both iodine and iodide; and I don't know what combinations he took of the three forms he purchased. I'm sorry for the vagueness, but I don't have the exact specifics. At the very least, it may be worth looking into SSKI and see if there is any history with shingles for it.

Given the state of your MIL, and age, no doubt you want to be as cautious and informed as possible in whatever you do.

Best of luck to you and your family.
 
Last edited:

Peachy

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Apr 21, 2021
Messages
2,359
I like the homeopathy idea. I've never used it for pain, but I have used it for something acute and was surprised at how well it worked. I also like the idea of trying progesterone (rubbing it in the temples as I've seen recommended here).

It sounds like you don't have a lot of control over their daily diet, but even if you brought them a pot of soup once in a while, some liver (vitamin a for eye health), etc, it would go a long way.

Incidentally, I noticed this thread because a year and a half ago, my then 10-yr old daughter got shingles in the eye. She didn't take systemic medicine - just an antiviral eye gel which seemed to work. Other than that it was lysine, ginger, rest and nutrition. Ironically, today, a year and a half later, she thinks it is back! So, it sounds like it can reoccur rather quickly. Point being, makes sense to continue the antivirals like lysine and ginger even when not flared (though I'd personally cycle lysine).

I hope your MIL can get some relief!
 

Peachy

Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2021
Messages
2,359
Definitely try the above. If homeopathy works well, positive signs manifest quickly, like in a day or 2. My experience is with acupuncture with positive results for herpes nerve pain. I never treated herpes in the eye though. But I did treat a client with eye issues, i.e. - fibromyalgia with acute temporary blindness. Positive results again. So, that is my suggestion. Hopefully you can find an acu/TCM practitioner with some experience, if the lysine or homeopathy doesn't work. Good luck.
Good to know - you're an acupuncturist? I may note that for future questions :)
 

Lilac

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Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
636
I have no experience with shingles. But I would not hesitate to try Progest-E. I have seen it work a lot of different cures or improvements. At the least, it provides an anesthetic effect. I would rub it into the inflamed area with some olive oil or coconut oil.
 

Normal Human

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Joined
Dec 6, 2022
Messages
105
I agree as well with the homeopathy idea. Ray Peat covers the bio-metabolic angle better than anyone, but homeopathy is the most effective form of medicine known, and it sounds like a better fit for her case than diet/hormones. I think the best thing would be to consult with a homeopath so they can take a more in-depth case which will increase the likelihood of them finding the correct remedy. George Dimitriadis in Sydney, Australia is a homeopath I would personally recommend.

Hahnemann Homoeopathic - G & J Dimitriadis - Parramatta, Sydney
 

LucyL

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Oct 21, 2013
Messages
1,244
I have no experience with shingles. But I would not hesitate to try Progest-E. I have seen it work a lot of different cures or improvements. At the least, it provides an anesthetic effect. I would rub it into the inflamed area with some olive oil or coconut oil.
This. I would absolutely second rubbing progest-e with olive or coconut oil in the skin around the area. I have used it a lot for different types of nerve pain, and it has always provided relief within a couple days. I would apply twice a day until there is relief. The only caution I have from personal experience with using Progest-E on my face, as a skin cream for wrinkles around the eyes, is it has induced flimmers, small spastic twitches in the muscle/skin around my eyes. I'm not sure what causes that, and probably it is unique to me.

But Progest-E works extremely well for nerve pain in my hands, elbows and even what I suspected was a shingle outbreak in my armpit region once.
 
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Victorious

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Messages
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Thank you so much everyone for some really great responses! I'm going to investigate everything shared. I have some Lysine at home already (totally forgot about that one!). I'll report back how things go.
 
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Victorious

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Jun 6, 2018
Messages
10
I second the lysine comment. BUT when shingles becomes ongoing neuralgia it is much harder. I would strongly recommend you buy 2 homeopathic remedies --- Mezereum 30c and Rhus tox 30c. Each will cost less than ten dollars. Begin with giving her 4 or 5 pellets of the mezereum every 10 minutes, about 3 times. Give it WHILE her symptoms are worst. If there is no improvement of symptoms within the first hour, move on to rhus tox and do the same thing. If no improvement from rhus tox, then nothing lost except some time and a few dollars. If you haven't experienced homeopathic successes or don't know much about it, I understand, but suspend judgment and give it a try.

Thank you both to @Mathgirl and @Nfinkelstein. I will get her on the lysine right away. And I will look into the homeopathic remedies too.
 
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Victorious

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@AlaskaJono thank you. I will investigate the acupuncture for her head area, I'm sure there's some referred pain happening, rven more now that the eyeball has dropped in the socket (*ouch!!!!) . I know electroacupuncture has been helping with my post cervical RFA procedural pain. Good idea
 
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Victorious

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Joined
Jun 6, 2018
Messages
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Hello and welcome.

I have a very anecdotal situation I can share; please take it with a grain of salt and not as must-do advice.

My middle aged brother had the exact thing: severe eye pain, due to a severe shingles attack. It was the largest concentrated shingles wound I've ever seen. He went to a doctor and was told he may lose his sight or eye. They gave him some medication, but it never took the shingles entirely away. It reduced it from an emergency state, but the burden of the wound and pain remained to varying degrees, and it greatly affected his life.

He is not in a good health state; he has severe teeth issues as well, which is the link to his accidental remedy for shingles. I had learned of SSKI (potassium iodide) for periodontal disease and serious teeth issues from @Jam on this forum. I recommended it to my brother for his teeth. He took it, but then relayed that it made his eye feel "normal" again. He noted that his eye had never been "good" since shingles, but that now it was "okay". It's worth noting that this was 6 months after his initial shingles attack; like your MIL, he had been dealing with this for some time.

Like I say, very anecdotal. When I inquired further about it to him, he said he bought the crystals, pills, and liquid, of potassium iodide, and took about 240mcg twice a day (which is a small dose compared to what @Jam had taken for his teeth and other issues). I believe the liquid he purchased contained both iodine and iodide; and I don't know what combinations he took of the three forms he purchased. I'm sorry for the vagueness, but I don't have the exact specifics. At the very least, it may be worth looking into SSKI and see if there is any history with shingles for it.

Given the state of your MIL, and age, no doubt you want to be as cautious and informed as possible in whatever you do.

Best of luck to you and your family.
This is a very interesting concept. She has blood pressure issues, often going too low. I wonder how that might play into it. Potassium would help stabilize her BP, as well as salt. I have some cream of tartar handy, how would that compare to crystals, pills or liquid potassium iodide?
 
OP
V

Victorious

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Joined
Jun 6, 2018
Messages
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I like the homeopathy idea. I've never used it for pain, but I have used it for something acute and was surprised at how well it worked. I also like the idea of trying progesterone (rubbing it in the temples as I've seen recommended here).

It sounds like you don't have a lot of control over their daily diet, but even if you brought them a pot of soup once in a while, some liver (vitamin a for eye health), etc, it would go a long way.

Incidentally, I noticed this thread because a year and a half ago, my then 10-yr old daughter got shingles in the eye. She didn't take systemic medicine - just an antiviral eye gel which seemed to work. Other than that it was lysine, ginger, rest and nutrition. Ironically, today, a year and a half later, she thinks it is back! So, it sounds like it can reoccur rather quickly. Point being, makes sense to continue the antivirals like lysine and ginger even when not flared (though I'd personally cycle lysine).

I hope your MIL can get some relief!

Oh goodness, poor girl! How awful. I'm so sorry she had to deal with shingles so young. The combo of ginger with the lysine is a good idea, I'm glad it helped your daughter I use that for other anti-inflammatory situations but that makes sense in this application. You're right I don't have much control over their diet but if I tell them weekly liver will help, they will do that. They lived on weekly liver and onions for most of their lives and stopped only in the last several years because some people called it weird and gross. But they both love it so I am confident that if I endorse it as wise they will eagerly return to it.

I believe they gave her an antiviral gel already, right from the beginning, and have increased the dosage several times. Though I may be misinterpreting what she shared with me. The lysine & ginger combo is smart.
 
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Victorious

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I have no experience with shingles. But I would not hesitate to try Progest-E. I have seen it work a lot of different cures or improvements. At the least, it provides an anesthetic effect. I would rub it into the inflamed area with some olive oil or coconut oil.
Ok thank you. This confirms what I was feeling. Even a little relief is better than none.
 
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Victorious

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I agree as well with the homeopathy idea. Ray Peat covers the bio-metabolic angle better than anyone, but homeopathy is the most effective form of medicine known, and it sounds like a better fit for her case than diet/hormones. I think the best thing would be to consult with a homeopath so they can take a more in-depth case which will increase the likelihood of them finding the correct remedy. George Dimitriadis in Sydney, Australia is a homeopath I would personally recommend.

Hahnemann Homoeopathic - G & J Dimitriadis - Parramatta, Sydney

Yes I think I agree. I am going to employ the lysine & ginger and Progest-E suggested here to begin giving her a little immediate relief, and then consult a homeopath for treatment options. We're in Canada so I don't know if your contact could advise her, but I'm sure there will be someone locally who can help her. Thank you
 
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Victorious

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This. I would absolutely second rubbing progest-e with olive or coconut oil in the skin around the area. I have used it a lot for different types of nerve pain, and it has always provided relief within a couple days. I would apply twice a day until there is relief. The only caution I have from personal experience with using Progest-E on my face, as a skin cream for wrinkles around the eyes, is it has induced flimmers, small spastic twitches in the muscle/skin around my eyes. I'm not sure what causes that, and probably it is unique to me.

But Progest-E works extremely well for nerve pain in my hands, elbows and even what I suspected was a shingle outbreak in my armpit region once.

Ohh that is good to know! I was merely thinking the progesterone would reduce inflammation and ease pain, but hearing it is good specifically for nerve pain is very encouraging. We'll watch for what you caution about. Thank you kindly
 

Normal Human

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Yes I think I agree. I am going to employ the lysine & ginger and Progest-E suggested here to begin giving her a little immediate relief, and then consult a homeopath for treatment options. We're in Canada so I don't know if your contact could advise her, but I'm sure there will be someone locally who can help her. Thank you
Sounds like a good plan. And yes, my contact can consult internationally through Skype. Best of luck!
 

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