Shingles pain worse at night

PS - the only way you can transmit shingles is through someone touching the liquid from inside your blisters!

Joining the shingles club... just been diagnosed this morning and on anti-virals.

Sorry to hear you're feeling shitty, OP. Illnesses often seem to be worse at night - think it's a circadian rhythm thing. Hope you feel better soon!

Has anyone had a mild case, am I definitely to expect feeling horribly wiped out at some point? I feel OK at the moment, just a bit tired and sore where the rash is, but it's only a small patch.

This is very normal with shingles - I’ve had two bouts in the past year. You must rest and be gentle with yourself - the pain may well ease and come back. The primary reason why it hurts more at night is to do with blood pressure.
Paracetamol doesn’t touch nerve pain. If you feel like you need more pain relief your GP should prescribe Gabapentin. This works specifically on nerve pain and is very effective.
I suspect that the reason I had a recurrence was that I tried to struggle on the first time and didn’t rest properly - don’t be like me!! If I got another dose of it I would accept however long the GP wanted to sign me off for.
Be kind to yourself!

I had mild shingles a few years ago. The GP told me to rest and I was like, but I feel fine? The nerve pain was more shuddery sick-making than actual pain. Queasy tingling. I’m FINE.

So I carried on working. From home, like you.

And then I was very not fine for about 5 days. Wiped out in bed.

It’s a bastard of a virus. You really do need to rest even if you don’t want to or feel you need to. I used the time well, watching multiple seasons of Emily in Paris I believe. May as well rot my brain if my body is rotting in bed. ;-)

Did they prescribe you anti virals? That should help pass quicker but think you have to start them within 48 hours.
Definitely agree with pain being worse at night.
Please, please dont underestimate how tired it makes you. You must rest x

So you haven’t been prescribed anti viral meds? They have to be started quickly after diagnosis. Is the rash tracking a nerve? Do you have blisters? Sorry to ask so many questions. I get why working from home is ok, but don’t overdo it. Just rest when you can.

I'm sorry you're in pain , iv'e had shingles twice a long time ago 10 years apart .
The second time affected a smaller area and didn't last long but i'm sorry to say i suffered pain on and off in the area for a few years afterwards, it wasn't unbearable and faded as time passed.
I agree with the others who tell you to keep resting and look after yourself in the forthcoming weeks and months , it is a nasty virus.

You definitely shouldn't be working. Your body needs time to rest and heal. When I had this I also had two weeks off and I needed it. I returned to work after two weeks but it was another one to two weeks before I was back to normal strength.

As others have said - night time can exaccberate pain. This will be especially bad if you haven't rested all day.

Scenes are always heightened at night. If you have a cut it always seems to throb more at night. From a primitive perspective you need to rely more on other senses at night because you can’t rely on sight as much, so senses like touch and hearing become more sensitive. It’s usually quite subtle but it’s definitely a thing.

I was signed off for three weeks when I had it OP, I really empathise with you. Like above PP, I thought the time signed off was excessive, and thought I’d be better in a few days. I was wrong, very wrong. My GP even said I might need longer off. Rest, rest and more rest is the answer. I think it happened because you did too much earlier today. Your body is fighting a nasty virus, and it’s telling you to ease up completely. I hope you feel better soon.

I think its just a shitty virus to have. My GP signed me off for 2 weeks and ordered complete rest which I thought was ridiculously excessive.. exactly the same thing happened to me and I needed to have another week off! Try not to worry. More rest and fluids. It will go away soon xxx