Got shingles 3 weeks ago. The rash is slowly fading but the postherpetic neuralgia is kicking my butt. Gabapentin, Ibuprofen, Lidocaine patches, Aspercreme with Lidocaine , apple cider vinegar with pepper mint oil soaks and cold compresses are making it manageable, but when it flares it is horrible. Can't stand for my shirt to be touching me when it flares. Today's public service announcement is if you are age 50 (I'm not there just yet) and have not had you Zoster vaccine, get it. If it decreases your chance of getting shingles then it is well worth it. On a side note, I thank God for modern medicine.. I can only imagine what folks in the past had to go through. Should the SHTF, it's going to be terrible for people who have nothing to help manage it.