My mom has had shingles 3 times in the last year, all in the same place. now they are on the other side of her abdomen as well. what can we do?

Vaccine: The shingles vaccine may help. Otherwise you will have to keep taking Valtrex (valacyclovir) or famvir.

Unusual: It's unusual to get repeated outbreaks of shingles. Sometimes cutaneous herpes simplex can be confused with shingles. It looks very similar, but is usually less extensive. If there's any doubt, a culture or pcr from the blister can make the diagnosis. Either way, the treatment is the same: chronic suppression with daily valacyclovir.