>She is tandem nursing two children.  She is using some of the dietary
>supplements (L-Lysine) recommended but wonders if there are any drugs to
>treat shingles that are compatible with breastfeeding.  She may be able to
>manage without, but wonders in case the pain becomes very bad. Thanks in
>advance for any replies.

Julia, I found a post that I sent to lactnet in 1996 which tells about my
treatment for my shingles.  It was very effective, more so than drugs, I
think.  Pass it on to her and let me know if she has any questions about
any of it.

If she chooses to take the drugs, Hale covers both Famvir and Acyclovir and
their effects on the breastfeeding mother and baby.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
_____________________________

Janaki,OOOHH! Shingles! I had shingles last fall and it was so painful.  My
doctor wanted to prescribe Famvir, a new drug, and I could have it free
because the clinic was testing it.  Well, I don't use many drugs and I
wasn't thrilled by guinia pig status.  I declined.  I read everything I
could find and contacted people knowledgeable in  nutritional, herbal and
homeopathic remedies. I had a remarkably smooth course and I anticipate no
recurring pain as is common when the nerve pathways aren't healed.  A
friend had shingles in April this year and chose to take the drug. His
course was much longer and more painful, and he is still having severe
nerve pain occasionally.
Here's what I did:

        Immune boosters: Vitamine A, Garlic--tabs and in food, Echinacea,
Golden seal                          (the last two in tincture)

        Nerve healing:  Vitamin B Complex

        Anti-viral:  Llysine, and eggs for zinc

        Specific:  Homeopathic remedy for chicken pox

        Diet:  Veggie juice and other vegetables high in Vit A

        Skin comfort and drying:  Tea tree oil (it really felt good and I
am left with         no scarring) applied several times a day

Sounds wild, doesn't it?  I may not have needed all of these but none of
them do harm and I really wanted to HEAL and not just recover from the
symptoms.  If you are reluctant to suggest the unfamiliar you could refer
her to a knowledgeable person.   Echinacea is becoming common and vit B,
eggs and veggie juice (v/8)would not be strange, nor would garlic.  (She
really needs to boost her immune system because a compromised immune system
is why this thing comes up.) Tea tree oil topically wouldn't be unusual
either.  But I feel the homeopathic remedy was really helpful, so I would
highly recommend it.

My friend took the drug, also codeine for the pain, and felt much worse.
This is a study of TWO--very scientific!

I would certainly try these treatments, none of which would harm a nursing
baby, before I would stop nursing, robbing the baby of antibodies that my
body is producing in abundance as I recover.  I believe the risk of the
baby's getting chicken pox would be much greater, now that he has already
been exposed, if he were removed from the breast.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
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