 [ Symptoms ] my last cbc showed my levels were very low anemia  and cant stay awake should i seek immediate medical care  i was diagnosed with anemia about a month ago and my last cbc showed the hemoglobin mcv mch mchc are all low i then had my cycle it was heavy full of large clots and lasted for approximately 6 weeks now i cant stay awake and sleep about 20 5 hours out of 24 i dont have any medical insurance and i pay for doctor bills out of pocket at time of care i have almost fainted but not quite should i seek immediate medical attention or will it get better over time [ Disease ] i do not know anything about your mother to even guess as to why her shingles case is so bad but basically an individuals response to any disease is unpredictable post zoster herpetic pain the name for what she has can be terrible and my heart goes out to her there are topical pain medications oral pain medications and even anti viral medications that can be used so she will need to discuss those options with her doctor    the person who knows her case and medical history if you have researched shingles you ought to know that once you pass 30 days +  you are in a different category of suffering namely post therapeutic neuralgia which may last indefinitely i have had mine for a little over two years the virus infects the spinal cord nerve cells at a particular junction then spreads along a nerve pathway called a dermatome not much can be done without going to extreme drug prescriptions andor surgery if the pain dissipates and becomes mid to light in discomfort i found that ice applications andor direct pressure will turn off the pain by sending the brain a different nerve message aspercreme works for light to mild discomfort lidocaine topically applied handled it when it was a little more intense sorry about your mom i know how very painful shingles can be but hopefully hers will abate in intensity with time   not very encouraging i know but there it is by the way in talking to medical personnel i was told the shot does not prevent shingles but only softens the blow at best   and there has been an increase in shingles infections with the shots i am not a doctor but this info came from medical professionals in the field prays for you and your mom