Anyone had shingles?

[SurgeHopper]

So apparently I have it. I didn't really even realise. Had a weird rash in my scalp, nurse checked it out, oh yeah, it's shingles.

Apparently it lays dormant in your system and can reappear. Especially with stress.

Anyone got any cures or something that'll ease it?
It's not really bad, just a bit sore.

Nurse said I can't have the medication as it first manifested more than a week ago, so it's pointless.

I have on my forehead and scalp. I didn’t get it too badly but did get the antivirals. It took a few weeks to heal.

A few weeks! Crikey

Were the antivirals a cream, or tablets?

Don't go near anyone who might be pregnant. You should keep it covered and be aware that you are infectious to anyone vulnerable to chicken pox. Including anyone immunosuppressed.

You can buy the cream OTC.
If the rash hasn't healed I can't see why the nurse wouldn't give you the tablets tbh.

I have loved having shingles, unlike everyone else I've met I just get a rash and no pain. Due to my job it means two weeks full pay off work, last two bouts were in the summer, I just spent the time in my garden

I had it under my bra line. It was the most awful thing - took my sore bra off and the aching continued.

Had it multiple times. Horrible. Rest and build up immunity - but it will just flash up when i get run down.

Yes, I've had Shingles twice. Severe both times. My immune system was shot for months afterwards and I have had lasting health problems. Shingles often gets minimised as an illness but shouldn't be.

From experience, please please look after yourself. Rest, rest and more rest. Eat and drink well, avoid stress and rest.

Yes, I had it while pregnant, was given antivirals with advice that they were less likely to cause my baby harm than the shingles! Only about 5 spots, but it was agony. My 17 year old has just had it, he didn’t tell me till he’d had the rash for about a week and doctor said antivirals have to be given within 24 hours to be effective, so he just had to ride it out. The rash was awfully painful, turned black and covered most of his torso, but he recovered fully after another week or so. Look after yourself.

I’ve had it twice during two separate pregnancies and it fucking sucks.

I was told the virus tends to choose a string of nerves on one particular area of the body it fancies and attacks it, so if you get it more than once it will most likely appear on the exact same area of the body every time. I had a perfectly straight line across my ribs of the rash/blisters both times. Didn’t itch at all, was just really sore and tender to touch - even a T-shirt rubbing on it was painful. Then the flu-type symptoms hit me like a bus after a few days of having the rash. I was poorly for a good few weeks the first time. The second time I noticed the rash really early, went to the Dr and got the hardcore anti-viral drugs which helped kill it off faster, but I was still very poorly.
As others have said, my immune system was shot to pieces for a long time afterwards. I caught every single cough, cold and stomach bug going for the rest of the year, and felt generally wiped out for a long time.
The Dr said it’s rare for someone of my age (early 20’s at the time) to get shingles - it’s usually young children and elderly people who are most at risk, but seeing as though I was in early pregnancy and under quite a bit of stress at the time, my immune system just packed it bags and fucked off, resulting in the dormant chickenpox virus having a little party and giving me shingles

Thanks for all the advice. I should have insisted on the the pills I guess.

I'm gonna try and relax as much as possible

Apple cider vinegar really did work on mine. I had them on the top of my thigh near my hip. So sore I couldn't wear any clothes on the bottom half! But I found that really helped soothe them. You might smell a bit funky though

The pills probably wouldn't have made much difference at this stage, you'd need to catch it before the rash is noticible, when you first notice the tingling.

I had it from my lower back down to my left thigh. It was the most painful thing I've ever experienced, the slightest touch was pure agony. You're lucky you don't have pain, I had it for a week.