I Think I Might Have Shingles . I Am 71

Posted on Sat, 14 Sep 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : i think i might have shingles. I am 71 years old. About 1 week ago i started getting extreme sensitivity, needle-like pain on my skin on my right thigh and hip area. Red bumps or rash developed on my right buttocks a couple of days ago, and today there is a rash on my upper right thigh and hip area. The skin sensitivity seems to have greatly diminished, but the red bumps/ rash are increasing. I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for Tuesday , September 17. What can I do about this between then and now?

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Use acyclovir tablets and calamine lotion over them.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.

Your description of symptoms matches exactly the shingles symptoms where the skin sensitivity happens first then rash and vesicles appear.
You may need to take acyclovir tablets orally in order to help stopping the rash from appearing in other parts of body.
Also acyclovir cream can be used over rash. Calamine lotion can be used on skin to ease pain.

Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T