For future reference. If anyone gets shingles, my dad had a severe case on his side and stomach and he said the pain was excruciating and the only thing that allowed him to sleep was a topical cream called ZOSTRIX-H.(it has to have the H behind it). A doctor in the emergency dept. told him about it. Although it is for arthritis, it works wonders for shingles. The doctor also told him "I didn't tell you about this"
This was years ago so I don't know if it's still available.