"Emergency treatment"

Recently, I set out on a holiday from Melbourne to Lakes Entrances. I had a pain in my right side, similar to a stitch, and I didn't like tight clothes in that area so changed into looser clothing.

My partner commented that I had a rash on my back in the painful area. We stopped at a Sale motel because I wasn't feeling well. Half way through the night I took myself to emergency because I couldn't stand the pain. I am normally fit and healthy and in my late 60s.

The staff were very kind and a doctor saw me, took blood and urine, and gave me Buscopan. Approximately an hour later I was given Endone. Neither of these offered me any relief and eventually I was given intravenous morphine, which of course helped!

The problem is I was released without diagnosis and 2 days later saw my GP as instructed. By then, I had full blown Shingles. I am now in excruciating pain and after 7 days am not on the road to recovery.

The Emergency Department did not seem particularly busy that night. The doctor saw me once in the time I was there except for discharge. I said the pain was a constant deep ache but occasionally it felt like a pin being stuck in me (perhaps a sign of nerve pain?) This was written in the report as "pins and needles" a very different feeling.

I have a video of the extent of my Shingles which illustrates the level of pain that I am in, if you are interested in seeing this. I believe if a little more care had been shown I could have been given the antiviral drugs that would have prevented the agony I am enduring, I feel with no end in sight!