Could taking a depression pill prevent lasting agony of shingles? - Daily Mail

A ‘bumpy, burning rash’ began to develop down one side of his forehead, just above his left eye and eyebrow, a symptom which immediately ‘gave the game away’ to doctors examining him: he had shingles.

Four months on — six weeks of which was spent in a darkened room to prevent light aggravating his sensitive eye — David was still in agony and relying on large doses of powerful painkillers.

For 80 per cent of those who catch chickenpox, the virus resides in the body without causing problems, explains Dr Ashish Gulve, a consultant in pain medicine at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and medical advisor to the Shingles Support Society.

Dr Gulve says the lack of effective treatments for the long-term pain means it’s important that patients seek help quickly if they suspect it might be shingles as antivirals can stop the virus replicating.

A study published by Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the U.S. in November found shingles was linked to an almost 30 per cent increased risk of heart attacks or strokes in those without previous cardiovascular problems.

Then my eldest son [now 19], who’d been struggling with his energy, skin and stomach, got help and was weaned back to great health by eating red meat, butter, eggs, fruit and honey, and cutting out bread, pasta and veg.