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Shingles

Runcarla

Veteran

10 days ago I got diagnosed with shingles. Symptoms started with a headache 2 days earlier, swelling and a red rash 24 hours later. Fortunately I started with the anti-viral meds within the 72 hour window for them to have some efficacy and I am on the mend.

I did not get a rash on my body, but rather the right side of my face and head. Fortunately, my eye was unaffected. I treated the rash and wounds with tea trea oil and Polysporin and there will not be any scars. The unremitting headaches have eased off for the most part but are not completely resolved. I'm not on any meds for pain. Cold packs bring near immediate relief. My scalp on the right side has the 'feels like a sunburn' sensation. (I cancelled my holiday aesthetics appointment and hair cut, since I don't think I could tolerate brow waxing or having a comb run through my hair!).

It is 12 days since the first symptoms and my main complaints are pain/discomfort where the rash was most in evidence, the occaisional headache, and fatigue. I have no endurance, and sleep a lot. Fortunately I am on a prolonged holiday vacation and don't go back to work until Jan. 8th.

I don't know anyone who has had shingles. Are there any fabbers with experience? How long did it take to recover? Anything speed your recovery?

For those who are 50 or older - get immunized! There is a shot that lowers the risk of having an outbreak.

(Edit: I did locate a thread from 3-4 years ago when ClearlyClaire had a go 'round with the virus on her torso.)

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34 replies

Latest reply was from Joy

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

My father had in 2003. He was miserable. I’m picking him up today from the airport. I’ll ask him what he remembers.
I do remember the rash was on his torso

donnat

Veteran

Omg Carla, I am so sorry, I had shingles and I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy. I had horrible back and stomach pain, a minor rash on one side of my hip.
It Started with stomach pain, I thought I had bad gas pain. The doctor perscribed gaviscon. It lasted for 2 weeks and just kept getting worse, Finally the rash showed up, then back pain so bad I laid on the couch and cried every night. I would say I had it for a month before I was diagnosed.
Finally, I got the medication, which took for sure, 3 weeks before the pain went away. I was off work 3 to 4 weeks. I still feel afraid and sad when I remember it. It was 7 or 8 yrs ago.

A friend of mind went and had the vaccine. She was in bed for over a week from it. She got really sick.
I hope you recover faster than I did and I will send you positive vibes.

Style Fan

Veteran

I am so sorry Carla. I have heard shingles is very painful. I will be thinking about you. Getting the vaccine is on my list of things to do.

Adriana

Veteran

Sorry to hear this. My husband had it a few years ago and got anti virus medication. It was relatively mild. He thought he had a pulled muscle in his back, before the rash showed up.
But a friend had it very bad. Of from work for months and took anti depressants to cope with pain. It can leave you with lingering nerve pain.
There is a new vaccin. I will certainly try to get it. After I saw how much pain my husband and friend had.
Take care.

JAileen

Veteran

Carla, I'm so sorry. I knew a woman who had it and it took her six months to get over it. I know another woman who had it and was over it in a month.

There's a new shingles vaccine - Shingrix. It's recommended even you had the other vaccine. I had the other one, and at my checkup tomorrow plan to ask about Shingrix.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/1.....ccine.html

Anonymous

My mother once had shingles on her forehead above her eye over 20 years ago and her doctor misdiagnosed her. It affected her vision so she quickly saw her eye doctor who promptly sent her to the hospital as it started to affect her brain.

Since then I learned the warning signs and when my DH thought her had poison ivy on his forehead (he was away on business) and I told him I was making a doctor's appt for him as soon as he got back. Sure enough shingles (two times for him already - so yes you can get it again!) On anti virals and I believe 4 to 6 weeks to feeling better.

I told my doctor that I never had chicken pox (at least that is what my mom told me), but he did not believe me and said that it could have been so mild that perhaps no one even noticed so he ordered a test to see if I had had it. Lo and behold it came back positive so I got my shingles vaccine the year I turned 60 (2016). My DH has not gotten his yet as I have read that a newer vaccine is out that is even better than the current one. Hopefully he will be able to get it in 2018 and insurance will cover it.

The Cat

Veteran

Sorry to hear this, Carla. I have not had shingles myself, but some of my friends have, so I know it can be very painful, and it took them weeks and months to fully recover. Hope you are able to to get a lot of rest. Best wishes.

Anonymous

My best friend had it. He was hospitalized for an entire week. It was awful. Because of him, I got vaccinated.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Sal

Veteran

How miserable- wishing you a speedy recovery. A big hug from NZ.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

OH, YOU POOR THING. I believe that shingles are extremely painful and unpleasant. My MIL had shingles, but recovered really well. Rest up and restore. Let your boys spoil you. Sending lots of healing thoughts, Carla.

JillG

I had shingles that wrapped around the right side of my torso from my navel to spine in a sort of half-belt swath. I did get the antiviral med in time and am thankful that the shingles weren't worse. I was miserable for a good two weeks and uncomfortable for another four. It took several months for the lesions to completely disappear. I couldn't find a comfortable position for sleeping and spent several weeks (voluntarily) on the couch so as not to disturb DH with my constant repositioning.

I think the most important thing is to get the antiviral med promptly, which you have done. Other than that it's just a matter of time. Some cases are more severe than others. Even with having only a mild to moderate case of them myself, it was quite a while before I felt 100%. Be kind to yourself and give yourself time to recover.

deb

Veteran

Carla, I am so sorry to hear this. my dad had it on one side of his face and the doc was so worried it would travel to his eye. Please take care of yourself.

Joy

Veteran

Carla, I am sorry that you are having to deal with this. I came down with shingles while on a cruise. It took s couple of months and medication to get over it. My cousin had it affect his spine and had to quit work because of the pain. I don't think he has ever gotten over it, even years later. He says nothing touches the pain. I had the shot and have not had a reoccurance. Some people, like my mother, have it as a chronic condition. Do what you can to boost your immune system.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Oowwww ... am sorry that you are experiencing this. But very happy for you that it stayed out of your eyes! My husband got shingles (or something similar) on his back when we were in college and it was excruciating.

anne

Veteran

I'm so sorry to hear this Carla, and now I'm especially impressed that you have managed to keep up posting and commenting on YLF. My best wishes for your recovery.

Eliza

Veteran

Good wishes for a speedy recovery, Carla. There is a wide range of possibilities with shingles; hoping you are better soon. Don't know about shingles and coldpacks, but I am a big believer in ice for pain management.

My mother had very painful shingles develop on her back. Eager to help, the expert drs. gave her a couple of powerful neuroactive meds for pain relief. That proved worse than the shingles for someone with sensitivities to meds and their interactions.

Hang in there.

Inge

(website)

Oh no, Carla, I'm so sorry -(( It's good that the symptoms are easing up a bit already, but please rest as much as you need to.

Sending you healing vibes and a big hug from Antwerp!

Inge
xxx

Kat

Veteran

I'm so sorry that you're suffering through this, the pain- because it is nerve pain and thus, unlike musculoskeletal or other types of pain, can be a beast. As many fabbers have noted folks with prolonged pain, I wanted to share a link regarding post-herpetic neuralgia, which can be a complication or sequela of shingles, occurs more frequently in folks over 60yo, and ma¥ help in having a conversation with your healthcare provider if you have continuing pain. Here is the link: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0915/p690.html
While some of the advice has evolved (shingles vax now recommended by CDC for folks over 50 rather than 60yo, etc.), the information re: gabapentin and other Rx for pain relief has good evidence and may be useful in discussing things with your provider. Best wishes for a speedy and uneventful recovery!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I know a few people who have had it and it sounds miserable. I'm so sorry!

I am living proof that one can get chicken pox more than once -- apparently the case I had as a child was mild enough that I got it AGAIN in my 20s, while on my first ever real vacation (in Mexico). I will always remember having to pull out my Spanish-English dictionary to translate "viruelas locas." So I'm kind of paranoid about getting shingles. Now that I'm over 50, perhaps I should get that vaccination. Thank you for the nudge.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Carla, I'm so sorry you are dealing with this -- it sounds dreadful. I am crossing fingers that yours turns out to be a milder version. It's great that you are on holiday. Of course it's a shame to have the holiday spoiled by it, but getting rest is probably the best thing for it. I hope your family spoils and takes care of you.

DonnaF

Veteran

Carla; May you recover without postherpetic neuralgia.

DH, age 63 came down with shingles last July despite having received the vaccine when he was 60. It was a little on his back but mostly down his right arm and then to his hand and fingers. To me, the rash looked like poison oak. He started taking acyclovir within about 48 hours of the outbreak and improved until the Rx was gone.

And then he got shingles again. And again. And again. I forget now if it was four or five outbreaks. It was a whole lot, and basically the rest of the summer. Due to his lupus nephritis that was diagnosed earlier this year (spring?) he was on immuno-suppressants. The result was that the shingles would come back every time he stopped the acyclovir. The last time the shingles flared (the day of the big eclipse), they hospitalized him so he could be treated via IV. After five days in an isolation room in the hospital, they sent him home because they didn't want him to pick up an infection(!), so he got his last few days of IV at home.

I think he has been suffering from postherpetic neuralgia since the second or third bout of shingles. The gabapentin helps the pain, and this past week the doctor gave him an Rx to help him sleep. He also complains of numbness. He has started acupuncture but it is too early to tell whether it will work. His second appointment is on 12/26.

DH also has diabetes that is reasonably well controlled but his shoebox full of meds tends to do a number on his blood sugar. I tell him that no, his numbness has nothing to do with his diabetes based on when and where it started.

In asking around, shingles seems to be much more common than had ever occurred to me. DH is probably the poster child, and I think the stress induced by a family member triggered the breakdown in his immune system. I think he is also off those immuno-suppressants which were the drugs people with organ transplants take, except that he's got all his original organs.

Take care!

cindysmith

Veteran

I've heard that shingles is miserable, so sending you (((hugs))) and get well wishes.

Anonymous

Hope you are feeling better!

Scarlet

Veteran

My husband had shingles a few years ago. Funny thing is we had a newborn and a two year old at the time, and neither of us have clear memories about it! Seems to me that it started on his ankle, and it took around a month until he was back in fighting form. I believe that in his case it was brought on by a lot of stress, so I hope that you are not in a stressful situation. Wishing you a swift recovery. Hopefully you can take things slow over the holidays.

Debbie

Veteran

Rest as much as you can. A friend of mine had it and her Dr said the most effective treatment is the anti-virals and rest,

Gail

Veteran

So sorry to read this I hope that you feel better soon. My MIL had shingles this past fall. She got the meds right away but still had a terrible rash and was in a lot of pain. She ended up being prescribed steroids which only slightly helped. She seems to finally be feeling better now but it has taken her about 3 months.

K.M.

Veteran

I'm sorry you had shingles. I had it a few years ago when I was only 38. My rash went from the middle of my back around my rib cage all the way to the front. I got the antivirals in time to slow down the rash and stop further lesions. Still it was AWFUL. The pain was ridiculously intense for about two weeks since the start of symptoms. It felt like someone was continuously holding a cigarette against my skin, even where there were no visible lesions. The kicker: I was breastfeeding and there were lesions on my breast!!! I had to cover them painstakingly, and worse, my baby was 11 months old so hadn't yet been immunized against chickenpox. She got an early dose of the vaccine because it can be caught by contact with shingles lesions.
If I remember correctly the worst of the pain went away after a few weeks. On and off I'd have a bit of pain near the origin point (on my back) for several months after. Then no more pain. It's been almost six years and I have neither pain nor scars (knock on wood).
Agree with you: people should get the vaccine and also learn how to recognize the symptoms. My doctor wouldn't have thought of shingles as quickly if I hadn't brought it up because of my age.
And now wishing you a singles-free new year!

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Sending get well wishes your way, Carla! I had mild shingles last year, right at the beginning of fall 2016. I wasn't actually diagnosed until a few weeks later, when I suddenly thought that might explain my symptoms.

I would only say it was mild due to the short course. I woke up in the night with an excruciating back pain, isolated to one side mostly around my waistline. I could not ease it by lying down, sitting, stretching, bending, walking, or Tylenol all night. Fortunately it mostly disappeared by the next morning, though I wasn't able to sleep at all. I thought it might be a kidney stone, or spasm. Shingles never occurred to me.

At least 10 days later, I noticed an intense burning sensation about the size of an oreo on the inside of my upper thigh, same side as the back pain had been on. In a day or two, still painful, it turned into a rash of tiny blisters, and over the next day or three, they broke and started to itch. By the time the blisters were almost healed, I had the thought that it might be shingles, so went to prompt care where I was given the antiviral medicine Rx.

I did not get a vaccine. I was told by the prompt care person that the vaccine doesn't protect completely or against all "varieties." It's very expensive so I chose to forgo it.

I sympathize with those who get worse cases, as my relatively mild case was bad enough, I think.

Again, get well soon!

Laurie

Veteran

Oh Carla, big sympathy from me as well. And thank you for the suggestion about the vaccination. I had not thought of it, and will ask my doctor who I am seeing this week.

Many years ago I was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma and had a lot of complications so I spent a week in the hospital at MD Anderson. I had a pleural effusion, and when the fluid was drained I coughed for 12 straight hours. The next day a nice volunteer visited me and said that the young lady who was in quarantine in the room next to me had heard my coughing and wanted to know what was happening (pre HIPAA!) Long story short, it turned out she was exactly my age, was recovering from non-Hodgkins and was in the hospital with a terrible case of shingles. We became friends (and are both here to tell our story 22 years later!) She said that the shingles was the worst part of her whole experience, including enduring a bone marrow transplant (which caused the shingles).

You are super healthy, so hopefully your immune system will kick this quickly. Good that you have more time off to give yourself a rest and downtime. Get well soon. Not a fun way to start 2018!

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