Alvin,

You've got to be very frustrated! Most of all you must be in some terrific pain! You sure have had an outbreak of those blisters all over your body. Let's see if I can point you in the right direction.

Shingles, as you know, are fluid filled blisters that itch, and cause alot of pain. They are recurring and they generally follow a "nerve root".

How Is Shingles Treated?

Treatment for shingles includes antiviral drugs, steroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents. Sometimes additional medicines, like ibuprofen, may be needed to help control the pain.

The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be significantly reduced by immediate treatment with the antiviral drugs Zovirax, Valtrex, or Famvir. These drugs may also help stave off the painful after-effects of shingles, a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia.

The use of capsacin topical cream rubbed on the skin will also help to relieve the discomfort.

There also is, or soon will be a shot that will prevent future recurrence. You would have to talk to your doctor to see if that is appropriate for you.

Based on your symptoms, I'm not sure why the dermatologist has not treated you for shingles. I find it interesting that when you had received an injection of cortisone for the spider bite, which also cleared your blisters, I'm not sure why the doctor didn't put you on a course of Prednisone or maintain you on a low dose of prednisone once the blisters cleared.

I hope that I have been helpful to you and pointed you in a direction that will help get this resolved for you. I definitely would visit with your physician again...or try a different dermatologist and see if the above suggestions wouldn't be appropriate for you.

Good luck to you and Vicki...take care..it has been a pleasure.