mrsD
Many thanks for your response, your reply gives me hope. If you wouldn't mind answering a couple more questions I would really appreciate it but let me first say that I am very sorry you are suffering with Shingles. I know how very painful it is. I hope you feel better soon.

A little background: Early on I did take Lysine but since it didn't help keep the "attacks" away I assumed it didn't work and I have just never gotten back to it. I bought some today and will start immediately. Also, when I can tell I am about to have a Herpes outbreak I up my dosage of Acyclovir which in my current condition is most likely exacerbating all my symtoms. That has been the situation this week and I have been in terrific pain this week.

1.How much Lysine do you recommend per day?
2.If you were me would you wean yourself off the Acyclovir?
3.If this is the cause of my PN and Lysine helps, do you think my symptoms will go away and or improve or once damaged it's too late for help?

Even if it doesn't help it sounds like I need to get off the med's.....it's funny (not ha ha) now looking back to when I first started this med, I remember asking the doctor if this drug might have long term side effects. I was convinced it was safe to use. I was kidding myself but I was in so much pain several times a month due to the Herpes that I would have believed anything.

I specifically asked two doctors if they could attribute my PN to long term use of Acyclovir and both emphatically said NO. No discussion, no nothing, just no the med's do not cause this.........I'm more than a little frustrated with the medical community. I will take the information you provided me with to my followup with my new "pain" doctor however I don't see him until mid July. Ugh!

I cannot begin to tell you how much finding this "site" has meant to me. I will be forever grateful. mrsD, you are like this little guardian angel just hovering over everyone trying to make sure we are all going in the right direction. I haven't yet begun to fully understand my condition but at least now I a place to go for help.

Please take care and my prayers are with you all.